1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Horses
photo of Katherine Blocksdorf

Katherine's Horses Blog

By Katherine Blocksdorf, About.com Guide to Horses since 2005

Equine Colic Research by the University of Liverpool

Thursday August 7, 2008
Colic can be frightening because it seems to occur in otherwise healthy horses for no apparent reason. At the onset, you won't know if you are dealing with a mild bellyache or a life threatening condition. The University of Liverpool is making its findings about colic available online. This should be a valuable resource for both professionals and horse owners.

Read More About Horse Health

Emergency Planning for Horse and Pony Owners

Tuesday August 5, 2008
Who can forget the hurricane season of 2005? Whether we experienced or witnessed the disaster we learned the time to prepare for a disaster is before anything happens. Emergency Planning for Horse and Pony Owners will help you put together a disaster plan to keep your horses or ponies as safe as possible whether you are facing fires, hurricanes, blizzards or floods.

More About Emergency Horse Care

Take the Poll: What Countries Will Bring Home Olympic Equestrian Medals?

Friday August 1, 2008
Only 7 more days until the 2008 Olympics begin! I've posted my medal predictions for the Beijing games.
Who do you think will bring home the medals in the equestrian events? Who is your favorite rider? What country do you think will bring home the most Olympic Equestrian medals? Take the poll and leave your predictions in the comments below!

Olympic History - Medal Winners

Tuesday July 29, 2008
Equestrianism is one of the few Olympic sports where men and women compete on equal grounds. The only other Olympic sport that has men and women competing equally is sailing. Women weren’t allowed to compete in the equestrian competitions until 1952. Who was the first female to win and Olympic Equestrian medal? (Hint: She rode dressage in 1956.) Who are the medal winners of the past Olympics? Here are the medal winners including competitions no longer contested such as mail coach and long jump.

Read More About

Horse Photo of the Week - Apache

Sunday July 27, 2008
horse photo of the weekApache is a dream that only recently came true for new owner Didi. She's enjoying sharing that dream with granddaughter Alyssa. Read more about Apache and Didi on their gallery page. Photo 2006 Didi B.

Enjoy more horse pictures on the Horses Gallery and don't forget to use the Gallery Submission Form to send a picture of your own favorite horse, pony, donkey or mule!

Take the Poll: What Horse Sport Should Be Added to the Olympics?

Friday July 25, 2008
Several people have asked about reining being part of the Olympics.
The 2008 or 2012 Olympics were supposed to be hosting reining. So it looks like we might have to wait until 2012. The World Equestrian Games that will be held in Kentucky in 2010, will feature eventing (which combines jumping, cross country jumping and dressage) , endurance riding, vaulting, reining, combined driving, dressage and show jumping. Should the Olympics feature these games too? Take the poll and leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Lightning Safety

Wednesday July 23, 2008
Quite a few years ago I was riding in a competitive trail ride when a thunderstorm blew up. We were out on trail with no shelter nearby. Many people who are close to lightning strikes report a strange smell and I never believed that until I experienced it that day. The deafening crack of thunder spooked both myself and my horse. Knowing that sitting up on a steel shod horse made me a great lightning rod was rather un-nerving.

If possible you shouldn't ride during thunderstorms. But if the unavoidable happens your About Guide to Sports Medicine, Elizabeth Quinn, offers advice for Lightning Safety. And Safe Horse Riding in a Storm from Petcaretips.net has good advice about horses and storms.

Horse Photo of the Week - Nala

Monday July 21, 2008
nala horse photo of the week Here's a cool photo for a hot summer day. "This is my horse Nala (a mare), she is 9 years old and I have had her for 4 years now. She lives with my mothers horse in our backyard and I ride almost every other day." Read more about Nala on her gallery page. Photo 2006 Stephanie R.

Enjoy more horse pictures on the Horses Gallery and don't forget to use the Gallery Submission Form to send a picture of your own favorite horse, pony, donkey or mule!

Top US Equestrian Contenders

Saturday July 19, 2008
The equestrian sports are more about experience and skill than athletic prowess.
Madden and Authentic at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Getty Images Sport
This year, you'll see some of the oldest Olympians competing for medals, like Hiroshi Hoketsu, who at 67, is returning to the Beijing Olympics 44 years after his first Olympic appearance. Overall, the US is sending a strong equestrian team whose greatest asset is experience. Here are the top three riders, who have the best chance of bringing home a medal.

Read More Olympic Rider Profiles

Should Horses Be in The Olympics? Take this Poll!

Friday July 18, 2008
There are those that believe that the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" meaning "Swifter, Higher, Stronger" should not apply to horses. What do you think? Does equestrianism have a place in the Olympics? Vote in this poll and leave your comments below.

Poll:Should Equestrian Events be In the Olympics?

Read Archives

Explore Horses

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Horses

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.