Miniature horses are one of the fastest-growing equine breeds in the world today. These elegant and cute horses, no taller than 38 inches (from the withers to the last hairs), are attracting a lot of attention. They can be bred like regular horses and even ridden.

Miniature horses require tack similar to a regular horse. It includes bits, carts and wagons, harnesses, saddles, bridles, reins, halters, girths or cinches, martingales and other accessories, but in smaller sizes than for normal horses. Most miniature horse tack equipment is made of fine leather for strength and durability. Some accessories such as curb straps and stirrup hobbles are also available in different colors, such as natural, light, dark, black, and burgundy.

Prices of miniature horse tack differ based on the material, size and model. A floral-embossed saddle with 8-inch suede seat may be priced at around $125, while a blanket and a girth may cost around $14 and $7, respectively. A miniature Western saddle with or without tooling and an 8-inch suede seat is priced at approximately $200. A bridle may cost around $25 and a miniature Eggbutt bit may be priced at around $20, while a 3.5-inch stainless steel Eggbutt snafflebit may cost around $30. A leather halter may cost $12, while a nylon halter may be priced at around $8. An entire English tack set comprising of saddle, bridle and pad is also available for just $200. Some manufacturers are also offering custom-made miniature horse tacks as per the exact size of the horse.

There are also some stores that offer miniature horse tack on discount. Prices would be slashed as much as 20-30%. Miniature horse tack accessories can also be bought over the Internet. There are several sites that have exclusive products featured for miniature horses. Products can be compared and even ordered online.

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Anyone who has not experienced the thrill of horse racing with the sound of hooves thundering by, the jockeys with their colors urging their mounts on, the crowd on tenterhooks waiting for the outcome of the game and very often their fortunes, does not know what he is missing. Even more than the gambling, it’s the sheer excitement that grips spectators where horse racing is concerned.

Let’s take a look at the history of horse racing in our country. It all began when the US was just a colony and the first track was in Long Island. The Jockey Club was set up in 1750 and horse racing spread all over North America. The famous Kentucky Derby was first organized after the Civil War and today is among the three most famous events together with the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness. Not just in the US but all over the world, this sport has become popular among all strata of society. If a person cannot go and watch a race, he can always sit glued to his TV set with nail-biting concentration.

Bulle Rock was perhaps the most famous horse in the 18th century but the most popular one is Seabiscuit, which won its first race in 1937. The intrigue that surrounded this horse, which was a target for a death threat, has inspired a book and a movie. One particular attempt on its life made headlines!

Let’s look at the lineage of horses in the horse racing circuit. The thoroughbred is the most famous and was imported from England. It has an Arab and Turk ancestry. It can keep going for long distances and can carry a lot of weight, which makes its perfect for racing. Almost all the famous horses on the racing scene are thoroughbreds. For smaller sprints, the Quarter horse is usually used. These also find favor in ranches and farms. They are sometimes crossed with thoroughbreds to improve their speed.

What attracts a lot of people to horse racing events is the thrill and adventure of men and beasts pitted against each other. Equally important is the betting. Today, this has been elevated to almost a science with bettors needing to know about a horse’s ancestry, medical history and temperament before they put down their money. This is a high-risk sport like all other fast sports and injuries to both horse and jockey are common. Horse racing season has also evolved to be a fashionable event with a great deal of designer outfits on show. In fact, today, there’s a perfect blend of sport and style in every racetrack around the world.

Copyright 2006 Ngullen Rivera

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There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to betting on the horses. Some people believe that it’s impossible to profit in horse racing. Some believe that all you need to do is bet the favorites. Still, others believe that the only way to make money is to bet the huge long shots and pray for a miracle. All of these thoughts are false. You can make money betting on horses, and you don’t need to pick favorites all the time or bet on miracle finishes often.

Here is a juicy piece of information for you. The favorite wins the race (thoroughbred racing) about 33% of the time. Therefore, if you simply bet the favorite, you will be losing 67% of the time. Since favorites don’t always pay too well, you would end up losing over the long run. Still, money can be made betting on favorites. Each race is different. In some races, the favorite might be an even money favorite. In others, the favorite might be a 3-1 favorite.

How you bet is just as important as how much you bet. A common bet is called across the board. When you make this wager, you are betting on the horse to win, place and show. If the horse comes in first, you win all three bets. The show bet is the most conservative wager in horse racing, and it pays like it. It’s common to be paid only 20 cents on the dollar for a show bet. Many inexperience bettors place a show bet “to be safe,” but it’s a money sink.

Unless the horse is going off at a good price (odds), making a show bet is a losing proposition. The best way to wager on a good horse is win and possibly place—never show. Think about it this way, if I told you I had a proposition that you might win 33% of the time, and it will pay 1-5, which means you bet $5 and win $1, would you jump on it? Of course you wouldn’t. This is kind of what it’s like to make a show bet on a good horse.

At the end of the day, how you wager can up accounting for half or more of your success potential. Bettors that don’t figure this out wonder why their bankroll is not larger after their “winning” day. Place your bets properly and you will be halfway home to being a successful horse racing bettor. Money can be and is, made in horse racing every single day. On busy days, there are more than one hundred betting opportunities to take advantage of. One last piece of advice. If a race is not favorable to you—odds wise—move along. There will be plenty more races to bet on.

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