A horse or pony may be on the top of your Christmas list this year. But horse ownership is a big responsibility, it can be expensive and safety is priority. So if you are in the position of asking your parents (or Santa) for a horse this Christmas here are a few tips that may help you out. Read How To Convince Your Parents to Buy You a Horse and get ready to go to work to prove a horse or pony is a good idea.

More About Buying Your First Horse

• Top Ten Mistakes New Horse Buyers Make
• Finding Your First Horse or Pony

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the US. On this day we remember the brave men and women who fought in WW1, WW2 and the Korean war, and those who have been involved in more recent conflicts. Let's also remember the animals who unknowingly contributed to our freedom. Over 200,000 horses and mules were used during WW1. Many of these came to a undignified end when the war ended. The Forgotten Army describes the use and fate of horses on the battlefields during the "War to End all Wars."

Have you just started riding, or do you have years of experience in the saddle? What's the most important thing you've learned so far? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

How Many Years Have You Been Riding? Less than a year One - five years Six - ten years Over ten years Not applicable Click here to view results and see other reader's responses.

Do you know about the common horse breeds? Try the horse breeds quiz to test your knowledge. Here's a hint; if you want to get 100% read through Horse and Pony Breeds. Have fun! Want to test your horse knowledge on other subjects? Here are a few more quizzes:

• Horse Terms Quiz
• Horse Safety Quiz
• Curb or Snaffle Quiz

Did you know you can get horse quizzes delivered to your email inbox? Sign up now for the Test Your Horse Savvy quiz series.

The weather is turning chilly, and I'm already grabbing a warm jacket before I head out the door. But does your horse need an extra layer for warmth as the days cool off? What do you think? Do you blanket your horses during the colder winter months?

Here's a quiz for you to try! Do you know the parts of the horse? Take this quiz and find out. Just identify the points of the horse under the red letters. Need to refresh your memory on the parts of the horse? Check out the Parts of the Horse Clickable Image Map first. Did you know you can get horse quizzes delivered to your email inbox? Sign up now for the Test Your Horse Savvy quiz series.

More Quizzes

• Curb or Snaffle Bit Quiz
• Horse Feeding Quiz

One of my favorite non-horse website is Lifehacker.com, a blog that features tips and tricks to make your life easier. Today Lifehacker blogged about DIY heated clothing. I am constantly looking for ways to stay warm during the cold weather. I don't know how many times I've come in from riding with my fingers frozen around the reins and my legs feeling blocks of ice.

A friend of mine swears by his battery heated socks, and I've used battery heated mittens for skiing. But I have never seen riding pants made like those for motorcycling riding, with heating wire through them. They look like a great idea. I'm pretty handy with a sewing machine and I've seen a soldering iron. I think we actually own one. So, would it be worth trying to make heated riding pants? Anyone willing to give it a try? Would they be a fire hazard in the barn? It would certainly be a twist on the term 'electric butt' or 'hot seat', the situation when a rider inadvertently fires up even the laziest horse because they ride with a too active seat. If you do make a pair of heated riding pants, please send pictures and instructions!

There are a lot of different ways to train a horse. Some horse owners only use Parelli, Lyons or other popular 'natural horsemanship' methods and some believe in using classical methods. Some people combine methods, and that's perfectly okay as long as you are consistent in the way you handle your horse. What methods do you use? Take the poll and leave your comments below.

Last week, in anticipation of an early snowfall, I parked my horse trailer in its winter parking spot.

Usually it's in the driveway, ready to be hitched up at a moment's notice. Somehow, even though until the snow files, the trailer is accessible, not having it in the driveway seems to proclaim the end of the show season and summer. That makes me feel a little depressed. Because I only have two horse bumper pull, winterizing isn't a huge job. I still plan to have it rust proofed and cleaned within the next week. If you have a larger trailer, or one with living quarters, winterizing might be a bigger job. Endurance rider Karen Chaton has good advice for getting your horse trailer ready for winter including how to prevent weather checking on tires and preventing your curtains from fading.

Read More About

• Choosing a Horse Trailer Towing Vehicle
• Safety Tips for Trailering Your Horse

There's an old saying "no hoof, no horse". Hoof care is a very important element of good overall horse care. Do you know how to care of your horse's hooves? Take the Hoof Care Quiz and test your knowledge. Did you know you can get horse quizzes delivered to your email inbox? Sign up now for the Test Your Horse Savvy quiz series.

More Quizzes

• Horse Breed Quiz - Take the Interactive Horse Breed Quiz
• Horse Safety Quiz - Take the Horse Safety Quiz