Curly horses have a certain gene which causes their hair to curl. In addition to curls in their coat, they may have curls in any or all other hair (such as the tail, mane, or even eyelashes). The growing popularity of this group of horses is due to:

1) Hypoallergenic. Curly horses appear to be unique in that people who suffer from horse allergies generally have a reduced reaction to curly horses or no reaction at all.

2) Appearance. The curls or waves in the coat of these horses gives them a unique appearance, which many people find attractive.

3) Feel. The soft feel of the coats make petting these horses especially enjoyable for both children and adults.

4) Temperament. These horses are reputed to be particularly calm, sensible and intelligent. As such they are especially suited to children and for therapy.

The curly hair genes are relatively rare, as the vast majority of horses have straight hair. However, the genes can be found in many different types of horses, from miniatures to standards to drafts, of any build and any color.

The type of curl varies from horse to horse. It can be large and heavy, or small, or even fine pin curls, or waves instead of curls. Sometimes the coat is straight as in a common horse, in which case the horse is identified as a curly horse only by the fact that its parents were curlies and that it displays the other characteristics (e.g. hypoallergenic).

As the above shows, there is a great deal of diversity in curlies (size, color, build, curl characteristics). This diversity is partly due to the fact that the curly genes are naturally occurring and there has not been a long term breeding program to develop a uniform set of characteristics against a breed standard. In fact, an official breed standard has not yet been agreed. Consequently, one should feel free to choose a curly horse which one finds attractive without worrying greatly as to whether the horse fits a certain standard.

Before buying a curly, keep in mind that the coat curl changes with season (curl is greater in winter) and age. The degree of change depends on the individual horse and its bloodline, with some horses remaining curly all year round and others having straight hair in summer. Curly horses also tend to have shorter and thinner hair in manes and tail (somewhat like the Appaloosa breed), although the extent of this also varies greatly depending on horse and bloodline. Therefore, it is useful before choosing a horse to see it in both winter and summer (ask the seller for photos). It is also useful to look at other horses of the same bloodline but different ages to see the expected changes as the horse ages.

If you are choosing a curly because these horses are hypoallergenic, be aware that the extent of this quality varies from horse to horse and that the benefit varies from person to person. Consequently, any combination of horse and person may exhibit no allergy, a reduced allergy, or the usual horse allergy. Therefore, one should test the person with the horse to determine the extent of the benefit. If one has extreme allergic reactions, take medical advice on how to do this test safely.

Other names for the curly horse include: North American Curly Horses, American Bashkir Curlies, and Bashkir Curlies. There are also a number of named bloodlines, each with their individual characteristics.

Duber Stewart writes on Horse Care and has a special interest in Curly Horses as an emerging breed.

categories: horse,horses,pet,pets,animal,animals,allergy,allergic

Posted under Horses

Because I love horses, I really appreciate horses that give the rider a great ride. When I first learned about the Paso Fino horse breed, it changed my concept of a good horse ride. A Paso trail ride can be only likened to floating on cloud 9 in my book. One of the reasons is the Paso's natural gait.

A horse's gait is the way that it moves. When you determine a horses gait, you look at a number of factors including speed, foot pattern, and foot sequencing during the movement. This can vary from the walk to the full gallop, but what we are interested in when determining a good horse for trail riding is one that goes at an intermediate speed. The Paso's unique pattern of foot movements makes the ride very smooth and there is not a lot of up and down motion for the rider.

You can hear the individual hooves in Paso's 1-2-3-4 gait as the horse moves. It kind of reminds me of the riderless horse that rides at the funerals of presidents when they die. Granted it is different, but in my mind it has a stately feel to it. When riding a Paso Fino horse, it almost makes me feel like royalty.

The Paso Fino gait is known as an "ambling" gait. The term "ambling" gait refers to an intermediate gait of a horse. Ambling gaits are faster than a walk slower than a canter. This movement in the Paso Fino is lateral. Lateral movement is where the front and hind feet on the same side of the horse moves in sequence.

In the Paso Fino gait, there are essentially three speeds to its ambling gait. Listed from slowest to fastest, there is the paso fino, paso corto, and paso largo. There is also another one referred to as the Paso Llano and is unique to the Peruvian Paso.

There are many competitions that demonstrates the wonderful gait honed in performance Paso Fino horse training. In competition, performance Paso Finos are much more animated in their leg motions and much faster while keeping their 4-beat gait. It is really a sight to see. To many, the gait looks like a well orchestrated hat dance by the horse... all I can say is simply amazing.

Even if you're not looking to get started with a performance Paso Fino and are just looking for a good horse to ride, the Paso Fino makes an excellent horse to own. If you like to go on trial rides, you can't beat the beautifully smooth and steady horse gait of this horse breed. Have fun and go ride a Paso!

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The Elixir of Long Life, that is what it has been called in the past. What is this natural food? Kombucha tea, simply enough. We have seen it in the cooler at the health food store, and many know of its benefits. Did you know that your pets can also benefit from Kombucha, inside and out?

One of the conditions that dogs can experience is called hot spots. This is annoying and painful for your dog. Kombucha has been used on these bald spots on dogs to soothe and promote healthy tissue.

If your dog has growths, something that has become more common in recent years, it is likely a fatty tumor, harmless but worry some nonetheless. Your vet can perform a simple test to withdraw a little fluid from the growth to verify that it is truly just fat, and may suggest leaving it unless it interferes with movement. You can give your dog a detoxification tonic of one teaspoon of Kombucha in their drinking water to aid in reducing fat and improving overall health.

Most animals age much faster than people, and we must watch as they transition from healthy and active to slower movement. Kombucha tea was carried by Japanese soldiers as an elixir to give energy in battle. You can give your pet Kombucha in their drinking water, or directly in the mouth using a dropper. This gives them an energy kick and a nutritional boost.

Bothered by the flea season? Kombucha can be sprayed on irritated skin to bring soothing relief. Some animals are allergic to fleas as well, and the acidic balancing for skin and hair makes your animal more resilient to these pesky flea attacks.

Has your pet ever been given antibiotics for treatment? Antibiotics reek havoc with the digestive tract, but Kombucha tea will help restore the positive flora that your pet needs for good digestion. You will see a correction in their bowel movements as well by adding Kombucha to their diet.

Healthy coats are a sign of good health. By adding Kombucha to your pets diet you will be aiding your pet in balancing their acid and alkaline balance and add beneficial nutrients to their diet. Sounds like a win-win situation to me!

Both you and your pet can benefit from the addition of Kombucha to your diets. Give it a try, it's easy to grow your own Kombucha, or find in your local health food store. Kombucha tea, the natural, nutritional mushroom.

Posted under Horses