Thouroughbreds

   Thoroughbreds are a hot blood breed of horse. They are the fastest breed of horse and descend from some very fast Arabians. Thoroughbred blood has been used in many other breeds of horse in order to improve the other breeds and make them better riding horses. They are the fastest breed of horse in the world and dominate the racetracks. Thoroughbreds are also very good jumpers and are excellent equine athletes. Most thoroughbreds are bred for the track therefore they are very light and lean, but some breeders also breed them as sport horses making them suitable for jumping and giving them a stronger built. Though most of these horses are made for the track many of them don't make it far due to career ending injuries or lack of speed. These ex-race horses can make great jumpers or pleasure horses if given the chance.  Thoroughbreds range from 15.2-17.2 hands high. They come in black, gray, chestnut, white, bay, and palomino. Thoroughbreds are very high spirited with a brave and fiery temperament. Due to this they are not recommended for young and inexperienced riders as their first horse. Those are some facts on the thoroughbred breed.

Arabians

   Arabians are a gorgeous breed of horse. As you can probably guess they originate from Arabia. These stunning horses are one of the oldest breed of horse. They are hot blooded with a high strung temperament. Arabians originate from the hot dry Arabian deserts. These horses had to gallop miles and miles on the hot sand without food and water which resulted in this breed having an exceptional amount of stamina. They are also considered one of the fastest breeds considering Thoroughbred horses which dominate the racetrack  decend from them. Arabians generally have a lean compact body with excellent bone structure. These horses can range anywhere from 14.1 to 15.1 hands high. Arabian horses are one of the easiest breed to recognize. The have arched necks, beautiful dished faces, small noses, big eyes and carry their tails high. Purebred Arabians come in black, bay, dark bay, chestnut, gray and roan color. They have an excellent personality and even kids under 18 are allowed to ride stallions in shows. Arabians are excellent riding horses and dominate the world of competitive endurance riding. Those are some facts about the Arabian breed.

Exercises to Strengthen Your Riding Muscles

   Horseback riding is not just sitting on a horse and enjoying a ride, as we established on the last post. Real riding involves total control over your body which means you need to have strong muscles.    Today I'll be telling you some different exercises you can do to condition the muscles used while riding. A lot of riding is more about your muscle strength rather than cardiovascular fitness, but riding does involve a lot of endurance , so riders with a strong cardiovascular system will get tired less easily, therefore performing better on the horse. Some good cardiovascular activities include running, cycling, and swimming. Other than having a good cardiovascular system to ride well you need strong legs. Some good leg strengthening exercises include squats, lunges, and calf raises. Also I recommend doing wall sits as they really engage many of the muscles used in your leg while riding in one exercise. Lastly to have a good balance and posture on a horse you need a strong core. Some good exercises for strengthening your core are planks and sit ups. Those are some good exercises to do if you want to keep in shape, so you can ride at your best.

Body Parts Used while Riding

Today I'll be telling you about the different body parts used while horseback riding. Often people think that riding doesn't require any work, but in reality it does.  Unlike what most people think riding  is not just putting your butt in the saddle and letting a horse carry you around while you steer with the reins. To ride properly and actually get the horse to do what you want you need to have strong muscles. When riding you use your whole body but most of the work is done by your legs. Your legs are what keep you from falling off , tell your horse where to go and  how fast to go. Due to this  trainers will often tell you that if your legs aren't sore by the end of the lesson you weren't riding correctly. Also you need to have a strong core. Your core enables you to keep your legs in place. Also your core gives you your balance.  Basically your core is your powerhouse. If you have a strong core you'll be able to keep your balance which in turn will keep your legs which tell your horse what to do  in position.The body parts least used while riding are your arms, but having strong arms is also useful since after long periods of riding your arms get tired as well. In conclusion to ride properly you use your whole body. Next time I will tell you how to strengthen these body parts.