Spider the Horse Falls into Snow Covered Pool

Firefighters were called to rescue an 11 year old American Paint horse that had fallen through a snow covered pool cover into a swimming pool in Sherborn, Massachusetts.

When firefighters arrived Spider the horse was in the deep end of the pool shivering with cold and nervousness. Firefighters considered a number of rescue options, finally opting to cut through the ice and pool cover and lead the nervous horse to safety.

The horse had escaped from his barn while nobody was looking. Unfortunately the gates between the barn and the swimming pool could not be closed due to the snow which also obscured the inground pool.

Spider the horse walked onto the surface of the pool which was protected with a high strength swimming pool cover. Advertisers of this particular pool cover proudly indicate that it can take the weight of a small elephant. Unfortunately the pool cover wasn’t strong enough to take the combined weight of both the snow and the horse.

There were fears that Spider would succumb to hypothermia as the pool heaters were no longer in use and the water was covered in a layer of ice. But firefighters managed to successfully return him to his stable in about half an hour. He’d suffered a few minor scratches on his feet and ankles but the biggest concern was the cold.

Spider the horse was dried and treated to a vigorous rub down and warmed up with propane heaters. It was clear that he had not suffered any adverse affects from his cold, mid winter dip.

Pool owners are warned that their swimming pool covers may be able take a lot of weight but if there is already snow and ice on the cover and then it is walked on the additional weight can be enough to rip through the cover. Combine this risk with the camouflaging effect of the snow and you have an immediate danger. Pool owners are encouraged to put a fence around their inground swimming pools to prevent accidents like this.

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Have you ever seen the fast horses galloping in the races? Well, these horses are called Standardbreds, and they are well known for their skill in harness racing, being the fastest trotting horse in the world. In continental Europe all harness races are conducted between trotters. Standardbreds have shorter legs than the American thoroughbred race horses and longer bodies. Often their hindquarters are several inches taller than their withers, which provides them with the power and thrust necesary to trot or pace at high speeds. Standardbreds are any color, usually chestnut .

Standardbreds are the horse of choice for the Amish, because they often find these inexpensive, sound horses at local auctions or right off the track. The horses handle the change from the busy racetrack environment to the farm roads of the country. Standardbreds can be found ridden for pleasure or show in many disciplines: jumping, dressage, equitation, trail, team penning, endurance, gymkhana events, saddleseat, and even sidesaddle. There are even growing associations for racing Standardbreds under saddle — trotting or pacing just as they do in harness. Standardbreds race since either a pacesetter or a trotting horse. Trotters, as the name implies, race at the traditional trot.

Standardbreds are known for their skill in harness racing, being the fastest trotting horse in the world. Usually these horses require good food and good protection during the winter and rain, breeders recommend using Rambo horse blankets or  Turnout horse Blankets to protect this unique animals. Standardbreds are any color, usually chestnut, black, or brown; they average 15 hands (60 in./160 cm) in height and weigh near 1,000 lb (450 kg). Standardbreds will trot in some races in which they need to trot out very quickly while maintaining their natural gait. If the horses break gait and do not return immediately, they are disqualified from the race.

Standardbreds have a wide range of height, from 14.1 to 17 hands (57"-66"), and most often are bay or the darker variation of bay called "brown," although other colors such as chestnut and black are not uncommon. Gray and roan are also found. Standardbreds are a relatively new breed, dating back just over 200 years, but it is a true American breed. Standardbreds are bred for racing and require training before general riding. If trained correctly and consistently, they will adapt well to other tasks after retiring from racing.

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horsemanship

Horses are not cheap to own because of the many horse tack supply items that they require. Consider shelter, food, tack supplies, and a whole lot more and you will understand why. While not everyone would want to own a horse, ranchers find horses to be very interesting and useful creatures. They are willing to go the extra mile just to provide their horses with all the necessary tack supply items they need.

Horse clippers are primarily used for keeping different parts of a horse neatly trimmed or shaved, whether for vanity or showing purposes, or for health reasons. That is why it is important to think about the important aspects of choosing the right horse clippers before you finally decide to buy. There are hundreds of types and brands of these clippers available today; however, there are four things to take into consideration, which include the motor, the size, the power and the speed. Clippers with decibel ratings are also efficient since most horses are easily startled by loud and strange noises.

Other important tack supplies are the tack trunks, which are made and designed to organize and store your horse accessories. Normally, these trunks vary in size and make. There are also some that come with grooming totes that are perfect, especially if you have a lot of things to carry when you are traveling with your horse. It is common to see separate compartments inside a tack supply trunk and they are useful for storing your grooming supplies, horse equipment and accessories, such as combs, brushes, hoof picks, sweat scrapers, sponges, and the like. Leg wraps can also be placed inside the trunk. By nature, tack trunks are created to look good. However, it is important to look for trunks that have built in wheels. That way, when you are on the go, you can conveniently maneuver your trunk.

The lids of tack supply trunks also matter. These tack supplies should have well padded lids designed for sitting. There are also those that are made for standing on. Normally, these types of lids have a treaded rubber cover and are suitable for horse owners who need an extra height to groom or braid a horse’s mane. Remember that in any case, finding the right trunk can get confusing because of the many brands and types available. Be sure to choose the one that suits you best.

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