Queen Elizabeth II’s lifelong bond with horses was one of the most cherished and enduring aspects of her reign. From the time she was just four years old, when her grandfather King George V gifted her a Shetland pony named Peggy, her passion for horses began to blossom. Over the decades, her love for these…
In barrel racing, some riders believe that using a whip encourages their horses to run faster. However, evidence suggests that whipping can actually slow a horse down. When a horse is whipped, it may instinctively tuck its hindquarters to avoid the discomfort, which affects its stride and forward momentum. Additionally, excessive movement from the rider,…
Old Billy, born in 1760 in Woolston, Cheshire, England, holds the record as the longest-living horse, reaching an extraordinary age of 62. Throughout his life, he worked as a barge horse, pulling vessels along the canals for the Mersey and Irwell Navigation Company. He was described as looking like a large Cob or Shire horse,…
Endo, a 22-year-old Appaloosa gelding from Corvallis, Oregon, has amazed the world by earning three Guinness World Records despite being completely blind. Known as “Endo the Blind,” he has become a symbol of strength and determination in the horse community. At eight years old, Endo was diagnosed with equine recurrent uveitis, a painful condition that…
Sable Island, a remote crescent-shaped sandbar located approximately 300 kilometers southeast of Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a remarkable population of wild horses. These horses, with their thick, shaggy coats and sturdy bodies, have lived freely on the island for centuries, becoming a symbol of resilience and natural beauty. Despite the harsh environment, they…
Twitching is a traditional method used to restrain horses during medical treatments, grooming, or other necessary procedures, especially when a horse becomes anxious or uncooperative. This technique involves applying pressure to a horse’s upper lip or, in some cases, the ear, using either hands or a tool called a twitch. A common twitch consists of…
Wallace the Great, an 11-year-old mule, made history by becoming the first of his kind to win a British Dressage competition. This was possible only after British Dressage changed its rules, which had previously banned mules from competing. Wallace, ridden by Christie Mclean from Stroud, Gloucestershire, took part in a British Dressage Quest Club competition…
Pit ponies were horses and ponies used in coal mines for centuries, working in darkness and carrying heavy loads underground. The first recorded use of ponies in British mines dates back to 1750 in the Durham coalfield. Their use increased after the Mines and Collieries Act of 1842, which banned women and children under ten…
During the production of Sleepy Hollow in 1999, Johnny Depp formed a strong bond with Goldeneye, the Andalusian horse who played Ichabod Crane’s companion, Gunpowder. Goldeneye had only one eye and was considered too old to be of further use after filming ended. The original plan was to have the horse euthanized once production was…
Tommy Woodcock and his horse Reckless shared a bond unlike any other in Australian horse racing history. Their relationship was captured in a now-iconic photograph taken by Bruce Postle on the eve of the 1977 Melbourne Cup. The image, which shows Woodcock lying beside Reckless in the stable, perfectly illustrates their deep connection. Without being…