Short-Course: Your Next Competition Horse

Your Next Competition Horse is one of four online short-courses in the Horse Breeding and Selection Series presented by My Horse University and Practical Horseman magazine. Each of the four short courses will take approximately 1-2 hours to complete. As an added bonus, participants will have access to an informative online presentation given by a top equine expert!

Introduction
Every child dreams of owning a horse and galloping across the field. Some never grow out of this dream and, when the time is right, contemplate owning a horse. Unlike a shiny snowmobile or a boat, a horse is a daily investment in time, regardless of weather or other activities. However, the enjoyment of caring for and working with your own horse and establishing that unique relationship between horse and rider can be one of the most rewarding endeavors you will ever undertake. In the horse selection process, prospective owners should pay close attention to the way a horse’s body parts are put together. Conformation will affect the performance of a horse, and therefore, it is very important to have knowledge of what the ideal conformation of a horse should be and what faults a potential owner should avoid.

Course Topics
This course will cover some of the important factors a potential horse owner should consider before investing in a horse including how to find the right horse by matching horse and rider, identifying warning signs, and knowing the importance of pre-purchase exams. A horse with certain conformation faults may be susceptible to arthritis, joint problems, and lameness. In this course, the conformation of a horse, including balance, structure, muscling, and quality, as well as travel will be discussed. Criteria for breeding your next performance horse are also detailed.

Online Presentation
In addition to this course, you'll receive access to an online presentation featuring equine expert Dr. Mark Russell from Purdue University. Dr. Russell is the author of the “Your Next Competition Horse” article in the January 2008 Practical Horseman magazine.