What is Therapeutic Riding?

Therapeutic Riding, also known, as Equine Assisted Therapy, Equine Facilitated Therapy, and Riding for the Disabled, is the use of the horse and equine-oriented activities to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals, including cognitive, physical, emotional, social, educational and behavioral goals.

Therapeutic riding is practiced in some form in most countries in the world. Great Britain formed the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) program initially to promote competition and equine sports for the disabled. Germany and Switzerland have been in the forefront of developing and establishing Hippotherapy as a medical model of equine-assisted therapy. The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) in the United States puts forward a model that incorporates therapy, education, sport, and recreation/leisure activities.

• At some centers, the emphasis is on learning riding skills and using these skills for recreational or sport purposes. These would include trail riding, driving, vaulting and competition.

• An emphasis on education and/or psycho/social development usually includes educational, behavioral, social, and emotional growth. Specific goals in these areas are incorporated in the standard riding lesson.

• The therapeutic/medical model integrates principles of medical and/or psychological development into various uses of the horse. In this case, the use of medical practitioners such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, speech therapists and others become an important part of the program. A specialized form of therapy called Hippotherapy is sometimes employed by physical, occupational and speech therapists who are trained in this area.

• Many centers use an integrated approach, involving all three of the above approaches. Most centers, as well, use a team approach to therapeutic riding. The team consists of some or all of the following: riding instructors, volunteers, educational specialists, behavioral specialists, and medical professionals.

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Rabbits as Easter Gifts

Thinking of bringing home a live bunny as an Easter gift this April? Did you know that…

…Pet rabbits can live from seven to ten or more years and require the same long-term care as dogs and cats?

…Young children and bunnies aren’t such a good match?

…Pet rabbits aren’t low-maintenance pets―they have specific dietary and veterinary needs, and must be handled with care?

…Pet rabbits must live indoors, with their human families?

…Thousands of ex-Easter bunnies are abandoned to shelters or into the wild each year when their novelty wears off?

If your family's set on getting a rabbit, start by giving a chocolate bunny or a stuffed toy for Easter and, if your young children are really serious about it, a book on rabbit care. If they're still begging you for a bunny after the holiday has passed, go to your local shelter or rescue group and find out how to adopt a rabbit (or even better, a bonded pair) of your dreams. For info on bunny care and rescue groups, head to the House Rabbit Society.

You can also help spread the word that rabbits are not disposable pets by getting involved in the Make Mine Chocolate! campaign. Started in 2002 by the Columbus House Rabbit Society, the campaign aims to educate the public about the challenges of owning a rabbit and encourages parents to give chocolate or toy bunnies as Easter gifts instead of live rabbits. Check out the group's website, MakeMineChocolate.org, for more info.

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SALTWATER & FRESHWATER FISH

I’m asked that question often. There are the obvious differences in color & form, and also the environmental and scientific differences. But, from the practical standpoint of fishkeeping, the differences are not as many as a lot of people think.

The basics for keeping freshwater fish also apply to saltwater fish (keep the environment stable with adequate filtration, monthly partial water changes and temperature control.) The only major difference is that with a marine aquarium you must add salt to the water (by mixing a dry salt blend) and the cost of the fish themselves is much greater in most cases. Of course a varied diet is important for both freshwater and saltwater fish. One other difference is that most saltwater fish are wild caught specimens whereas most freshwater fish are either tank or pond raised. The transition into a captive environment from the wild can sometimes be difficult, hence the theory that saltwater fish are more "delicate than freshwater". Most aquarium problems occur in the newly set up aquarium, by people who don’t understand the basic principles of biological filtration. In their enthusiasm they start up the aquarium with too many fish and/or the wrong kinds of fish, then overfeed them and conclude that marine fishkeeping is too difficult. This is why you hear stories about people spending a whole lot of money on saltwater fish and giving up within 6 months or so because their fish kept dying. Be patient, start with 1 hearty fish per 10 gallon of water (damsels or clownfishes are good choices), feed them lightly and give the aquarium 3-8 weeks to cycle and in most cases you will succeed.

Whether you choose Freshwater or Saltwater fish, READ and LEARN as much as you can and you will enjoy the hobby so much more because you will have minimal losses and your tank(s) and fish will look so much better!

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History of the Domestic Cat

Cats have always been a source of fascination for mankind throughout history. Today cats have become one of the world's most popular pets perfectly suited to the lifestyle of our day. They are beautiful, enigmatic and easy-to-care for pets. But where and when did the domestic cat originate? This page will give you some insight into this question.

It has been about 4000 years since the first cats were domesticated. The Ancient Egyptians were the first to keep and use cats to control vermin and other pests to protect stores of food. In Ancient Egypt, the cat was revered as a hunter and worshiped as gods and goddesses. The ancient Egyptians imposed the death penalty for killing cats and cats were also mummified before being buried.

Other ancient civilizations later began to domesticate the cat and took tame felines to Italy where they slowly spread around Europe. Eventually, they arrived in the New World with the Pilgrims. The short-haired domestic cat spread across the world from Egypt while long-haired cats came later from Turkey and Iran. The domestic cat also spread from India to China and Japan.

Except for a short period of persecution in the Middle Ages when cats were associated with the devil, by the eighteenth century cats had become popular household pets world wide.

The wild cats of today such as Lions and Tigers descended from early carnivores called miacids. From there the modern wild cat developed into three main types; the European wild cat, the African wild cat and the Asiatic desert cat. The domestic cat is thought to have evolved from the African wild cat because of its tabby markings.

Domestic cats today still take many characteristics from their wild ancestors. The arresting eyes, body shape, feeding and grooming habits are the same along with the ability to pounce into action at any given moment. It is this link that makes the domestic cat so fascinating around the world.

The non-pedigree domestic cat, the Moggie is the most popular house pet today with the black and white Moggie being the most popular followed by the black cat followed by the Tabby cat. There are also 36 recognized breeds of pedigree cats around the world with the Siamese cat being the most popular. Most homes today that keep pets have at least one cat in residence.

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Seven reasons to love cold-blooded pets, too!

Great commentary by Rachael Jordan on May 31, 2011

My dad always had iguanas as I grew up, so some of my childhood memories are of those awesome green creatures crawling up his wall-papered apartment walls and attending Cold-Blooded conventions where I got to pet Burmese pythons and hold DuMeril’s boas. I wasn't afriad of our first grade class' Rosy boa and I had two fire-bellied toads at home named Yzerman and Federov.

When I started dating my partner, Funk, I was elated to learn he had six — six!!!! — snakes, and I earned awesome points for wanting to hold them. We've since downsized to three snakes and added three bearded dragons. We are, officially, a reptile family. And it's rad.

There's a lot to love about our cold-blooded pets, starting at the beginning. After initial set up, reptiles are low-maintenance. Sure, they need heat lamps and the right environment in their cages or tanks, but once all that’s set up, reptiles get fed every two weeks and need watering once in awhile. Other than that, the critters need to be handled occasionally — or all the time! — and sometimes need a little help shedding.

It's a nice benefit that reptile tanks become instant décor — or even furniture! We have a gorgeous box tank that Funk’s grandpa built and Funk has turned an old bookshelf into a snake cage. The pieces look beautiful in our living room and the pets’ habitats have become part of our home décor.

Just like any other pet, our herps teach our kid responsibility. He’s definitely going to be helping out with the bearded dragons. We bought them when we were pregnant and have called them our son's dragons since before he was born. As soon as he’s able, he’ll be helping clean their cages and feeding them meal worms. Plus, how rad will that be to have his friends who come over might not have seen a reptile before?

Reptiles get a bad rap with the whole cold-blooded thing, but reptiles can cuddle, too! Have you ever had a snake wrap around your arms or curl up in your lap and just rest in the warmth of your body? It’s not a death grip; the snake is smart and knows it can’t eat you. Bearded dragons, meanwhile, love chilling on your shoulder or chest. You’re sharing your body heat with a cold-blooded creature.

It's important to note there are different options for feeding. I know many people freak about feeding the snakes live mice, but there are options. If you don’t mind the mice but aren’t cool with feeding them live, frozen pinkies are available for your snakes! Also, there are water-dwelling snakes which eat fish, if that's easier for you. And don’t forget about the other reptiles out there — most turtles and tortoises are vegetarians, bearded dragons eat meal worms and crickets, and iguanas eat everything from lettuce to corn.

While I'm definitely against the exploitation of exotic animals, they are pretty awesome as moving, living art. Our green tree python looks like a mix between a dragon and the snake, Kaa, from The Jungle Book. She is gorgeous.

It's my hope that the more people that own snakes and other herps, the more education gets spread about them. They aren't "bad" animals. Snakes do bite. They strike when they’re hungry and they think food is in front of them. Sometimes the heat signal from a hand reaching in their cage, especially when they’re hungry, can be mistaken for a warm mouse squirming around. But dogs bite, too; cats scratch; birds nip. All animals come with “what if” situations. Because of cultural mythology and a lot of hype, reptiles get a bad name. Like with any animal, it’s all about safe handling and good pet ownership practice. Our herp kids have become part of the family and overall experience of our home.

And no, none of our snakes are going to eat our son.

About Rachael Jordan

Rachael is a Master's student and alternative mama who loves her apartment-living on a college campus, tries to read everyday, and is constantly trying to figure out how to make a rental more Robot family friendly.

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If you're looking for pet supplies, pet stores, pet friendly hotels or dog friendly restaurants, specialty veterinarians, animal rescue, pet adoption, pet sitters and pet sitting, pet services, pet friendly services, dog parks and cat friendly bed and breakfast inns, etc- for all types of pets, birds, fish, dogs, cats, horses, reptiles, rabbits, sheep and goat, farm animals, small pets and pocket pets, etc- visit our site. It has all the free pet information and pet links you will ever need for your pet. And is totally free for anyone to use! BarleysList.org is Where People Go For Pet Info

Enjoy this excerpt from ABC News:

With the wind chill, it felt like nine degrees this weekend on the Upper West Side of New York City. That's why Peanut and Jelly, a pair of 10-year-old mixed-breed dogs, were sporting the latest in cold-weather canine couture.

"I think they're very cute," said owner Eric Amel. "I like seeing the dogs in their coats, so I don't think they look silly. I think they look very cute."

Cute, no doubt. But are all those pet parkas, sweaters and vests you've been seeing around the dog park during this cold snap really needed?

"For the most part, it's not necessary," said Matthew Cooper, an emergency veterinarian at New York Veterinary Specialists, a 24-hour emergency vet clinic in Manhattan. When it comes to enduring long walks in the cold, Cooper says, "I don't think the dogs mind it half as much as we do."

Some veterinarians take it even further, saying heavy coats can be dangerous for dogs. If they're getting a lot of exercise, it could lead to heat stroke. Plus, dogs don't catch colds, and low temperatures don't give them the sniffles. The truth is, many dogs don't mind the frigid temperature one bit.

For example, Iditarod dogs mush through more than 1,000 miles of Alaska snow every year in below zero temperatures.

"Certain dogs are built for this," Cooper said. "Certain breeds enjoy this. I mean, this is kind of what they've been waiting for. So to put a coat on them is kind of ridiculous."

Besides, some dogs already have plenty of padding. Like Ray Ramsey's pug.

"Any time it's like 10 below freezing, we put him in a sweater. Otherwise, because he's so heavy, he doesn't need it," said Ramsey, who lives in New York City.

If you play doggie dress-up, you're not alone. Last year, pet clothing was a $300 million industry. It's a trend fueled for years by Hollywood movies such as "Legally Blonde" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," and pet-loving socialites like Paris Hilton.

And when the temperature dips, dog owners will do anything to keep their pets warm and fashionable. Peanut and Jelly, for example, wear coats that cost owner Eric Amel between $80 to $100.

It's money you don't have to spend, according to Dr. Cooper, unless your dog has really short hair, or a case of the shivers. Of course that's easy for him to say. Turns out, his dog wears a coat, too. It cost him $125.

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If you're looking for pet supplies, pet stores, pet friendly hotels or dog friendly restaurants, specialty veterinarians, animal rescue, pet adoption, pet sitters and pet sitting, pet services, pet friendly services, dog parks and cat friendly bed and breakfast inns, etc- for all types of pets, birds, fish, dogs, cats, horses, reptiles, rabbits, sheep and goat, farm animals, small pets and pocket pets, etc- visit our site. It has all the free pet information and pet links you will ever need for your pet. And is totally free for anyone to use! BarleysList.org is Where People Go For Pet Info

What Kind of Horse is Right For You

What kind of horse you buy really depends on what you want to do with it, how much you can spend, and what you prefer.

The Beginning Rider

If you are a beginner, you will need an experienced horse that will teach you, and not fight with you. What breed, color, age, height, and sex you choose isn't that important. It is the horse's attitude, training level, and experience that counts.
Age doesn't make too much of a difference, but a young horse is not a good choice, because young horses don't have the ability to care for beginners that old, experienced horses do. Anywhere between 10-18 years old is probably what you will want.
Mares and geldings are both good choices, but just because you buy a one doesn't guarantee that it will be gentle. Mares and geldings can be meaner or wilder than stallions, it just depends on the horse.
The height of the horse won't affect its attitude (well, maybe it does.......ponies make up their height in attitude!), but it might effect the way you feel. If you are short, or if children will be riding the horse, you might want it to be a small one. I don't think that most beginners will want to go out and buy a 17 hand horse!
Color, of course, won't affect your horse in any way.
The horse's background is very important. You want a horse that has been ridden alot by alot of different people, and one that behaves well no matter what gets on its back. Old riding lesson horses, children's horses, 4-h horses, etc. are good choices. The horse you buy should be able to do what you want it to do, which is, in the beginner's case, be a calm dependable mount.

The horse's attitude is everything. If it acts sluggish, mean, or wild, you won't want it. You want a horse with a pleasing, happy attitude. One that is gentle and patient, but not stubborn or lazy. Sluggishness or anger may be signs that the horse is sick or lame. The horse shouldn't be overly jumpy or hyper, and it should like you. Sometimes, rarely, there will be a horse and a rider that just don't get along. They may both seem to fit each other, but they have 'personality clashes'. They just don't 'click'. If you feel the horse is unsure of you or unwilling to go for you, don't buy it.

The Children's Horse

If you are buying a horse for your child, it should follow the same guidelines as the beginner's horse, but it needs to be even safer. You should get a horse that has been ridden by children before, and has lots of patience. You will probably need to get a small horse or pony. I don't know why, but ponies have some sort of attitude. Not all do, but alot of ponies sort of act really tough and nasty. Most aren't well trained, because no one ever trained them, they just threw some kids on their backs. Why? There aren't alot of people small enough to ride ponies, except children. Some ponies are wonderful, they will care for kids and give them years of fun. Other ponies will take advantage of a kids, and most know every trick there is for unseating their rider.

Horse can be the same way- one horse will be extra careful with the little child on its back, the next will take advantage of it and run for the barn.

Make sure to get a horse that is very well trained, and that will take very good care of your child. And, make sure you teach your child to be safe around horses, and to always wear a helmet.

The Trail/Recreation Rider

If you buy a horse just for riding around and having fun on, it should be well trained and road safe. Get a horse that is used to trails, hills, traffic, and wilderness. You don't want a young horse that will always be shying and spoiling your rides. You will need a horse that is used to trail riding, and one that is used to the outdoors. A stall kept horse will not make a good trail horse, since it would be afraid of any ground that isn't perfectly flat, and shadows, wind, wild animals, etc. Make sure your horse rides well with other horses if you are going to go trail riding with friends. A horse that is always trying to kill the other horses isn't that fun to ride, as you spend all your time keeping your horse from misbehaving, and not enjoying the ride.

The Show Horse

If you are really into showing and competing, you probably don't need to read this, as you are probably well knowledgeable in this area of horsemanship. If you are looking for your first horse, and you would like to do a little showing, then you need to find a horse that can show. If you haven't ever showed before, a 4-h horse or open horse might be good. You will probably need a horse that is well experienced with showing, and that is well trained. You need a horse that can teach you, and one that is so used to its job, that even if you don't do everything perfect, the horse will. If you are focused on a particular event, then find a horse that is well trained for that event. Before you buy the horse, it is a good idea to see it compete, and maybe even show it yourself a little, to see if you like it.

The horse you buy should be well used to doing what you are going to have it do. If you are a beginner, don't go out looking for a show horse, and vice versa. Buy a horse that can, and will, do what you want it to do. Get one that has a good, willing attitude, and good training.

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If you're looking for pet supplies, pet stores, pet friendly hotels or dog friendly restaurants, specialty veterinarians, animal rescue, pet adoption, pet sitters and pet sitting, pet services, pet friendly services, dog parks and cat friendly bed and breakfast inns, etc- for all types of pets, birds, fish, dogs, cats, horses, reptiles, rabbits, sheep and goat, farm animals, small pets and pocket pets, etc- visit our site. It has all the free pet information and pet links you will ever need for your pet. And is totally free for anyone to use! BarleysList.org is Where People Go For Pet Info