Myth Busting!

Extracted from the March 2014 issue of The Stable Magazine – www.thestablemagazine.com/march 2014

The internet is wonderful. It's changed all our lives by providing seemingly unlimited information and extended social interaction with the click of a button. The internet is also a fabulous place to market horses for sale or stallions at stud (on Horsezone, of course).

With all the information out there, on the horse front, have you ever wondered what is actually fact and what is fiction? The Stable Magazine helps clear up some things for you...

NO BUILDING PERMIT FOR A HORSE SHELTER

Myth Busted? No, however…

As the story goes, this farmer could not get permission from his shire or council to construct a shelter for his horses in his paddock. The post goes on to say that there was no law regarding the construction of oversized furniture.

Well - the photograph is real! But it didn’t have anything to do with the laws, and there is speculation that it may or may not have been intended as a shelter for the horses...

When published in TIME in 2003, the caption for this photo read..

“Three horses try to hide from the rain under an oversized table and chair in a pasture near Doellstaedt, eastern Germany. The huge garden furniture was installed by a local wood merchant to promote his products.” Still, it’s a brilliant photo and worth a share!

ONLY HORSES WITH SPOTS ON THEIR RUMPS ARE APPALOOSAS

Where to start with this one? Well - firstly, Appaloosas aren’t the only spotted breed of horse! The gorgeous Knabstrup (a horse breed that originated in Denmark in the 1800’s) and Palouse ponies are two other examples of breeds that feature a spotted coat. Spotting is also seen in miniature ponies - and we’re pretty sure those minis aren’t dually registered with the Australian Appaloosa Association! Secondly, Appaloosas have a range of different coat patterns - including leopard (a white base coat covered in coloured spots),  snowflake (a dark base coat with white spots or flecks through the coat) roaning, or a blanket or spotted blanket (a dark base coat with a solid white or spotted white marking over the hindquarters). Appaloosa horses can even appear to be a solid colour - with no visible spots at all! So this myth is entirely busted! Appaloosas, while known for their colour, have other distinguishing features, which can include mottled skin colouration around the eyes and muzzle, vertically striped hooves, and white sclera of the eye. 

Result? BUSTED!

MINIATURE PONIES DO NOT REQUIRE THE SAME CARE AS FULL SIZED HORSES

I heard recently that miniature horses don’t need to have regular checks or maintenance done on their teeth. Of course they do!! They’re a horse just like any full sized horse! Sure, they might have a lot of personality for their size - and they might eat a little less than a regular horse, but they still need to be wormed, to have their hooves done, to eat a balanced diet, have their weight maintained at a good level. Oh, and you’ll have to secure your fences. Come to think of it - minis are probably even more work than full sized horses!

Result? BUSTED!

A GOOD HORSE IS NEVER A BAD COLOUR... AND COLOUR DOESN'T MAKE A GOOD HORSE

Everyone wants a horse that is stunning to look at. Breeders can breed to attempt to achieve a certain colour of horse, and the rarer the colour, the more valuable the horse will be.

Colour is just luck in the genetic stakes, and whilst it may be a bonus, it doesn’t guarantee you have a great horse. Far more important to you as an owner and rider are your horse’s temperament and conformation. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying that a horse with great colour can’t also have good temperament and conformation – just make sure you’ve got your priorities right.

It’s a bit like dating a really good looking guy who’s self-centred and whose intellect is a few rungs below yours – great to be seen with when you’re on a date, but too much like hard work the rest of the time.

My experience? The best horses I have known have been chestnuts.

Result? CONFIRMED!

HORSE SPELLS 'HORSE'

This one has been doing the rounds for quite some time. While we all know that pinto horses have wild and unique markings, the chance of this particular pinto’s coat spelling out five legible letters of his species IN THE CORRECT ORDER is just too much of a coincidence for us... and we were right. A little research pointed us to a Photoshop competition where another photo of the same horse (unaltered) shows a gorgeous pinto - but with no spelling of the word ‘horse’ on his coat.

Remember that Angolian Witch Spider? Yeah, that was Photoshop too. (You can relax now!)

Result? BUSTED!

A DEAD JOCKEY ONCE RETURNED TO THE RACETRACK

Yep. Well.. sort of. In March 1936, jockey Ralph Neves hit the dirt when he fell from his horse, Fannikins when the horse stumbled. The track vet pronounced Neves dead, but in a last ditch effort, took him to hospital and gave him a shot of adrenalin in an attempt to stimulate his heart. Neves was toe-tagged and it is said that he had died. Temporarily. 20 minutes later, Neves sat up, demanded to go back to the track and ride his other horses. Wearing only one boot and his riding pants, he hailed a cab and reappeared at the racetrack, much to the shock and surprise of the crowds in the grandstands!. Pronounced dead at nineteen years of age in 1936, Neves went on to ride racehorses for another 28 years.

Result? CONFIRMED!

SEE MORE MYTHS BUSTED OR CONFIRMED HERE

Thank you to The Stable Magazine for this article, which was originally published in their March 2014 issue. Check out The Stable Magazine online now for FREE. Read this article and many more at www.thestablemagazine.com