More Fall Tips for Horses
Now, for the human half of the equine relationship, things should be getting cozier, too. That's because the change of season is bringing the return of one of our most popular features, the Barn Party! That's right, the Barn Party Chat is coming back on a new night, Fridays, starting Nov. 4. Just log into the Paddock every Friday at 9 PM Eastern and hang out with other horse people going crazy waiting for spring. Worried you'll forget? We can send you a free email reminder, just sign up here!
We'd also like to extend a great big thank you to our readers for your enthusiastic response to requests for assistance for horses and horse owners affected by Hurricane Katrina. Every response sent to me was forwarded to horse organizations asking for volunteers and foster homes, and while a few of you did not hear from them, several of you let me know that you did. Some of the organizations were so overwhelmed that they only responded to offers of help that were in the areas they needed most, and were not able to respond to each group and individual who contacted them. But I was overwhelmed with the response to the pleas for assistance from our readers, including some offers not only of shelter for horses, but for their owners, too! Horse people are the best, and you all should be proud.
Christie Keith
Hoofbeats Editor
HorseHobbyist.com
Contact me!
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Our HorseHobbyist.com bookstore, featuring books, videos, and magazines hand-picked by our editors, publishes its top ten best selling books each month on our Bookstore main page. This month's number one best selling title is:
A Good Horse Is Never a Bad Color
Check out the rest of the Besteller List in the HorseHobbyist.com Bookstore.
Currently featured on the HorseHobbyist message boards:
Can a Show Horse Become a Trail Horse?
Great Horse Books
By Christie Keith and our readers!
I'm not sure when I've had as much fun as going through all the responses to our query on "Great Horse Books." I think we all had the same childhood, as our number one book is not likely to take anyone by surprise: National Velvet. The rest of the list is a combination of childhood favorites, training and husbandry volumes, and stories of great horses. I discovered a few new books, and re-discovered some old friends, too - yes, I confess, at the ripe old age of 46, a reader's recommdation got me to dig up an old copy of Misty of Chincoteague.
(Note: A few of these books will be described as "not available at this time" when you click on the title, but if you then click on the image on the page, you'll be taken to a site where you can order used or collectible copies.)
In order of frequency mentioned, with ties listed alphabetically, the Hoofbeats Readers' List of Great Horse Books:
Happy Fall, everyone! It's definitely getting to be that time of year, when outdoor activities become indoor activities. In fact, I know some of you have had your first snowfall already.
Beautifully constructed, strong, and powerful, the Paso Fino came to the Spanish-speaking new world around 500 years ago, combining the blood of the Andalusian, the Barb and the Spanish Jennet (now extinct). Discovered by American soldiers in post-WW II Puerto Rico, its popularity quickly spread in the US and Canada.
The Paso Fino is born with its distinctive gait, lateral rather than diagonal, with a four-beat cadence. Each "beat" is perfectly timed and rhythmic, resulting in a smooth, comfortable ride with no up and down motion. When done properly, the rider appears motionless in the saddle. A picture is worth a thousand words, and video is worth more; you can view the Paso Fino in competitions both modern and historical on the 
With horses averaging around 14 hands, the breed standard calls for a horse ranging from 13 to 15-2. They come in a literal rainbow of colors, excepting only the Appaloosa pattern.