Horses by Fun For Kidz

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Presents... 3 Check It Out! 4 How Is Your Horse Talk? 7 Cuddling a Horse 8 Cotton 10 10 Magnificent Horse Facts 12 Puzzles 14 Make a Balancing Horse 15 Cowboy Clark & Larry 16 Seven Sensational Horse Breeds 18 Snickel Fritz 20 A Horse Is a Horse 22 Horse Care 23 Draw a Horse 24 The Island of Wild Ponies 26 How Not to Buy a Horse 28 Riddles & Rhymes 29 Kids Corner 30 Puzzle Solutions 2

Horses are amazing animals. Maybe you are a horse owner or enjoy riding a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horse. Perhaps you just love watching, petting, or reading about horses. Regardless, this issue will make you want to visit a horse! Do you know the difference between a horse, a pony, and a miniature horse? Did you realize that there are some wild animals that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look like horses but are in the horse family? What about horse feelings? You can discover what a horse is trying to tell you by its ears, tail, and voice.

SunKids/Shutterstock.com

Perhaps you can take a trip sometime to see the wild ponies of Assateague Island off the coast of Virginia and Maryland. Check out the video of these wonderful ponies on the Fun For Kidz Facebook page. But for now, settle back under a tree, maybe near a pasture with a grazing horse, and enjoy your new issue of Fun For Kidz!

by John L. Sperry

What is this horse telling you?

Watching and being around horses is fun and safer when you understand horse talk. If you want to know what a horse is thinking or feeling, keep one eye on a horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ears, another on its tail, and your ears listening to its nickers, whinnies, and nose blowing. Ear language is the easiest to understand. With ears perked forward, and an intent look, the horse is saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hmmmm, pretty interesting. I ought to check this out.â&#x20AC;?

When a horse talks to you, do you listen? Horses are very social animals. They love company and dislike being alone. It comes from ages ago, when horses banded together in herds for safety. What one horse did not see or smell, another would. Out of this need to be safe in a herd, a wonderful horse language developed. It allows horses to express a whole range of feelings and moods to each other and to you, once you understand.

Trotting toward something interesting

When a horse has one ear forward and the other back, it will be hard for anything to sneak up on it. This horse is alert, listening for sounds coming from both back and front.

Makarova Viktoria/Shutterstock.com

If you see a horse with ears turned to the side and slightly back, it’s saying, “Aaahh, I’m relaxing right here.” If one back leg is cocked, with just the tip of the hoof touching the ground, that’s a dead giveaway. The horse is speaking relaxation and may be asleep. Be careful approaching a sleeping horse or bang! It may kick before realizing that it’s just you, a friend. This isn’t meanness. It’s just an instinct to strike at an unexpected enemy.

A resting horse. See the tip of the hoof touching the ground?

“Watch out. I’m getting angry!”

There is no mistaking a horse’s expressing anger. The horse’s ears will be flat, back against its head. If its eyes are blazing, lips curled, and jaw snapping, you’re looking at a horse that can run chills up and down your spine. A horse is naturally fearful of anything that means danger. When cornered, an angry horse can strike fear even in a stalking cougar. A horse’s tail, like its ears, can speak to you. A fidgety person will pace back and forth. A nervous horse will do that and switch its tail too. It could be just a fly bothering it. On the other hand, if its tail is switching constantly, look around. Something or someone is likely getting on its nerves.

This horse may be saying, “Shoo, fly!” Or it may be nervous or confused.

A tail tucked between a horse’s legs can mean a badly frightened horse, one that’s ready to kick. Check the ears too. Are they back? The language is clear. Play it safe. Nickering, whinnying, and snorting are horse talk too. If you go into a pasture of horses that don’t know you, watch. One may start toward you, ears forward in interest. Then it may stop, snort, and bolt back to the herd. The snort is a fear signal. It’s a warning to the other horses that danger could be near. Have you ever been lost in a crowd? Did you cry or call out? The whinny or neigh is the cry of the horse. Hear it, and you know something is wrong in the life of that horse. It could be that a horse’s companion is missing or has suddenly disappeared from sight. The nicker is grand horse talk. It’s the “all is well” signal. It may come when an owner turns her horse loose in the pasture after a long ride. Or when the owner has come to feed the horse grain and hay or spoil it with a sugar cube. Our thinking changes when we understand even a little horse talk. Now we know that horses have moods and feelings, just like us.

How do you cuddle a horse? You groom him! To a horse, the stroking, petting, and attention that comes with grooming are as good as a cuddle. If you don’t have a horse, do you know someone who does? Maybe you can help groom horses in a nearby stable.

pirita/Shutterstock.com

This girl is gently brushing her horse’s mane. She used her fingers to untangle the hair first. Looking good!

You wouldn’t want a stiff brush rubbed along your face. Neither does your horse. A soft dandy brush cleans a horse’s face, ears, and legs. These brushes also make the coat shine. He’ll like that!

pirita/Shutterstock.com

Different grooming tools do different jobs. Here are kids in action, grooming horses from head to tail.

Stones, twigs, and even nails get stuck in the soft part of a horse’s hooves. When something is in your shoe, you want it gone, right? Horses feel the same way. A hoof pick will dig out whatever’s there. Aaahhh – that feels better!

Horse tails get filled with dirt. Tail combs to the rescue! Gently, now. Horses don’t like their hair pulled any more than you do. To avoid a kick, always stand to the horse’s side!

Cotton

by P.C. Hernandez • illustrated by Jane Bodnar Finished at last! The chores took longer to do in the freezing Oklahoma evening, but now the warmth of the cabin called to young Cotton. Snow was falling again as he started toward the cabin, pulling his coat against his small, thin frame. His father met him at the door. “Not all the cows are in, Son. Better go get ’em before it gets any later.” Trying to be brave in front of his father, Cotton fought back his disappointment. He tramped through the snow into the old barn. Momentarily, he relaxed in the flimsy shelter, but the cold pervaded everything. Oh, he thought, to be inside the cabin, in front of the fireplace, waiting for Mama’s hot stew. Why couldn’t Herschel have been sent on this errand?

It didn’t seem fair that a seven-year-old should have to go out in the icy darkness to look for the cows while his older brother was already warm and snug in the cabin. But the rule was that the last one in had to do the leftover chores. Knowing his duty, Cotton saddled and mounted his pony and rode out into the murky, cold woods that were part of his family’s farm. Nighttime descended quickly, and the darkness was complete. Cotton couldn’t see where he and his pony were going. Not even the snowflakes, falling hard and fast now, could be seen. Cotton was afraid of the dark and the cold. Still, he nudged the pony on through the gloomy trees. Suddenly, they came across the cows, huddled together facing the storm. But when Cotton tried to turn the pony back the way they had come, the pony paid no attention and continued straight ahead. Cotton was terrified. He was so cold and stiff that he couldn’t look back to see if the cows were following. Tears froze on his cheeks. As the wind howled, Cotton knew he was lost, but the pony plodded on. Nothing that Cotton could do would make the pony turn around and go back. Finally, he gave up and let the pony go his own way. His mind felt as numb as his body did. He no longer thought about the cows, about the warm, cozy cabin, or even about being lost. He let the cold and the darkness overpower him. All at once, he seemed to hear voices. He thought he must be dreaming. He was sliding off the pony. No, he was being pulled into his mother’s arms. As she hugged him, her warmth enveloped him. “Oh, the poor child,” Cotton heard her say. “Why did you send him out in this blizzard? What if he had gotten lost?” Then came his father’s stern voice. “There’s no way he could get lost. The pony knew the way home.”

Horse Sense

Help the cowboy round up all the horses and bring them to camp.

by Jessica Shaw

Test your horse sense! Fill in the boxes choosing your answers from the words and numbers below. 1. A pale yellow to copper.

horse ranges in color from

2. A rider competing in show jumping uses an -style saddle. 3. The unit of measurement for horses is a equal to four inches.

4. A horse is measured from the ground up to the horse's . 5. A rider competing in barrel racing would use a -style saddle. 6. An spots of color on its body.

horse usually has small

7. If well cared for and healthy, horses can live to be more than years old. 8. A

horse is brown with a black mane and tail.

9. A wide white marking on a horse's face is called a . 10. A small white marking between a horse's eyes is called a . by Steve Gordon

Choose from the following. Not all answers will be used: western, bay, star, foot, Appaloosa, neck, 15, English, bolt, palomino, blaze, hand, pinto, withers, 25

A-MAZE-ING HORSES by Guy Belleranti

Find your way through the maze by connecting letters to spell out: SADDLE UP AND FIND YOUR WAY THROUGH THE MAZE. You may move any direction, but no letter may be connected more than once. The unconnected letters spell out 20 horse-related terms. Horse-related terms: _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _, _, _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _, _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _

©Liz Ball www.hiddenpicturepuzzles.com

Mystery Picture Puzzle

©Liz Ball

hat tulip ring duck bowl 3 fish apple tepee carrot whale saddle crutch helmet 2 birds blanket 2 hearts hay fork music note cowboy boot

J ust Hors i ng Aro u nd by Stephanie Kelley

How many fun facts about horses do you know? 1. How many hooves are off the ground when a horse gallops? 2. The most common wild member of the horse family 3. This part of a horse is really its toenail! 4. This is how many miles per hour a horse can run. 5. A young male horse. 6. A full-grown male horse that can be used for breeding. 7. A female horse that’s fully grown 8. A young female horse 9. A horse that is between one and two years old 10. A term used for an old, worn-out horse 11. A type of small horse 12. A sturdy pony with a long, thick tail and mane and a shaggy coat Word list: pony, filly, stallion, Shetland, zebra, yearling, four, colt, hoof, thirty, nag, mare

Gallop to Page 30 for the Answers. 13

Gravity is a force that pulls things downward. If you drop something, it will fall down. Try setting a ruler with its middle on your fingertip. It won’t fall down. Why not? Every object has a CENTER OF GRAVITY, the place where gravity pulls on it. The ruler’s center of gravity is right in the middle. As long as your fingertip is under the center of gravity, the ruler CANNOT FALL DOWN! Another name for the center of gravity is the balancing point. The ruler balances on your fingertip. Here is a science “toy” you can make that has an unusual balancing point.

What You Need: • sheet of thin paper • a pencil • glue or paste • a piece of cardboard • scissors • a 12-inch-piece of stiff wire • 5 pennies • sticky tape

trace this horse

What You Do Lay the paper over the outline of the horse, then trace the horse with the pencil. Glue the paper onto the cardboard. Cut out the horse. Try setting the back feet of the horse on your fingertip to balance the horse standing straight up. It will fall off! The horse is an odd shape, and it is almost impossible to balance it as you did the ruler. You must change the balancing point. Follow the illustration to see how to bend the wire and tape it to your horse. Stack the pennies and wrap tape around them to keep them together. Tape the bundle of pennies to the end of the wire. Now, balance the horse on your fingertip. You can do it easily! You can even rock the horse back and forth, and it won’t fall off. The new center of gravity is in the stack of pennies. The pennies can’t fall down, so neither can the horse!

Color and decorate your balancing horse. It will look great balancing on a shelf or on the edge of a table.

Cowboy Clark ran over to Larry’s backyard.“Did ya hear? Mrs. Whiskers says there’s a horse over on Alpine Road. Let’s giddy-up and meet this beautiful equine.” Larry was skeptical. “Are you sure? This is Mrs. Whiskers we’re talking about.” “Spittle me this: How can I be sure when I’m standing here gabbing with you? We need to get over there now.” Cowboy Clark took a step forward. “You think she has too much tumbleweed in her?” “What?” “It’s a saying, like you reckon she’s lying?” Larry warned, “We’ve never seen a horse within a mile of here and, all of a sudden, there’s one two blocks over? Something doesn’t smell right.” Refusing to give up, Cowboy Clark continued down the street. “Mrs. Whiskers even knows his name. It’s Hobby, and that sounds like a perfectly good name for a horse.” Not wanting his friend to go alone, and a little curious himself, Larry followed Cowboy Clark. “Keep your nose up, Larry. We’re bound to pick up his smell,” Cowboy Clark insisted, keeping his own nose high in the air. After three hours of checking in cellars, garages, under bushes, in gardens, and even after asking a rabbit in a hutch if she’d seen a horse, they found nothing. Disappointed, they headed for home. When they got to the end of Alpine Road, they heard a familiar voice. “Hello, boys,” Mrs. Whiskers purred. She was on her back under a lilac bush. Cowboy Clark was upset. “We’ve been up and down this street, Mrs. Whiskers, and there’s no horse in these parts. I can’t believe you sent Larry and me on a fool’s errand.” Mrs. Whiskers turned and, with her tail pointing north, encouraged the boys to follow her. When they came to the third house from the end, Mrs. Whiskers darted around to the backyard. They came around the corner and found her perched on top of a wooden stick with a stuffed horse’s head on top. It was a toy that a young child would pretend to ride upon. “It’s called a hobby horse,” she purred. Chuckling, she wandered over to sit in a patch of sun and lick her paw. “Mrs. Whiskers!” both Cowboy Clark and Larry howled.

Seven Sensational Horse Breeds There are over 300 breeds of horses, each with its own unique personality. Many breeds are super bright and learn quickly. Other breeds can be a little stubborn. Some run and some work. There are breeds that weigh 1300 pounds or less, then there are gentle giants that can weigh over 2000 pounds! Whatever the breed, horses are loved the world over. Ready to meet 7 interesting breeds of horses?

The Appaloosa is one cool horse. Besides having a fun name, most have polka dots on their coats. This breed was developed by the Nez Perce Native American tribe. Courageous Appaloosas have big bodies with thin tails and manes. Their strong legs and hooves (some are striped!) are perfect for walking in rocky areas.

Shaggy Shetland Ponies pack a lot of strength in their small bodies. At 28 inches to 42 inches tall at the shoulder, they are small, even for ponies! Like most pony breeds, Shetlands have short legs and thick coats. Shetlands are gentle and intelligent but can be very naughty.

Easy-going Gypsy Vanners have long feathering hair flowing down their lower legs. These laid-back horses have shaggy coats, rather flat heads, and powerful short bodies. In the old days, the Irish and Roma traveling peoples used them to pull caravans.

It’s easy to see how the Bashkir Curly horse got its name. Some have just a little wave in the mane, and others have tight curls all over their bodies. Take a look at this one’s eyelashes! Curlies are calm, smart, and easy to train.

If there were a crazy ear contest for horses, the Marwari would win the prize. Only this breed has inward-curving ears. This hardy sport horse originally came from India, where they carried soldiers. They are loyal and brave.

Only one horse has a metallic coat that shines in the sun! The Akhal-Teke (pronounced aekal-teki) is an old breed. Tribesmen rode these speedy, athletic horses across the plains of central Asia. These horses are tall and thin, with delicate features.

The elegant, obedient Lipizzaner was once bred for royalty. They carry their silky tails high and proud and move lightly. Some world-famous Lipizzaners have been trained to perform complicated “dance” movements. A foal is born dark, but its coat lightens to nearly white by the time it is 10 years old.

by Jennifer Reed When the two-week-old baby arrived at our farm, he earned the name Snickel Fritz. This funny name means “naughty boy.” It fit our new baby perfectly. It wasn’t that he meant to be naughty. He was just being a baby. A baby miniature horse, that is! Fritz, as we called him for short, loved to nip, kick, leap in the air, buck, and rear. Baby mini horses are very special. They are unusually small for horses. At birth, Fritz measured just 18 inches from the ground to his withers. The withers are located at the last hairs of the mane. By the time he was two months old, he weighed around 50 pounds. Basically, he was the size of a medium to large dog.

Fritz is a unique breed. The American Miniature Horse was developed over the years from different breeds of horses. The mini horse is a smaller version of big horses. They come in many different colors. Fritz is a black and white pinto. A miniature horse must be no taller than 34 inches when fully grown. That is what distinguishes a mini horse from a pony or other horses. They are quite gentle and rarely bite or kick unless, of course, they are babies and

Snickel Fritz taking a walk with his mother

haven’t learned their manners yet. With training and love, even mini horse babies like Fritz become wonderful animals. Taking care of a baby mini foal requires patience and understanding. Babies do not intentionally misbehave. They must be carefully and consistently trained and loved. When he was around two months old, Fritz was halter trained. This meant that a halter was put on his head so that he could get used to it. At first, Fritz hated the halter. He raced around the corral, rearing and snorting, as he tried to get the halter off. In about an hour, he realized the halter wasn’t coming off. Once he was halter trained, he was trained to walk on a lead. This way, people could walk him from one place to another. Baby mini foals can nurse until they are about five months of age. But they can be separated from their mothers at around three months. By this time, they are eating hay, grass, and grain. Because they are much smaller than a horse, they require less food. But all horses, especially babies, require shelter and a place to graze and run. In order to get Fritz used to people, we play and “handle” him every day. He is brushed, hugged, and patted. His feet are picked up and cleaned. He likes to follow people around in the corral. Fritz is growing every day. Soon he will be a stallion. But everything he has learned as a baby will make him a lovable and well-mannered horse later in life.

A Horse Is a Horse by Frances Mill illustrations by Pamela Harden This summer, maybe you’ll go horseback riding. Did you know that if you visit the zoo, you might see some relatives of the horse? A horse is a horse, of course, but don’t be too sure. A rhinoceros is related to a horse. I bet you thought this animal belonged to the pig family, right? Wrong! Rhinos are not the only pig-likelooking animals that are related to horses. The tapir also is related to the horse. All three of these animals belong to the order Perissodactyla (pair-ISS-oh-DAKtil-uh). This means “odd-toed.” The odd numbers are one, three, five, etc. We know horses have a single hoof on each foot. The hooves are a horse’s toes. Rhinos have three toes on each hoof. Tapirs, however, have four toes on their front hooves and three on their back hooves.

The teeth of perissodactyls are perfect for what they eat. They use their front teeth to bite off plants. Their back teeth are close together, perfect for chewing grass, leaves, and other plant matter. We all know what a horse-type nose looks like. You’ve probably seen a donkey’s, a zebra’s, a burro’s, or a wild or tame horse’s nose. Now take a look at two other horse noses. The rhinoceros has horns on the middle of his nose made of compacted fibers of keratin. This is what our fingernails and hair are made of. I’d hate to be scratched by a rhino’s nose nails! A tapir has an extended wiggly snout that can be used as a snorkel when the animal is under water. He uses this flexible trunk-like nose to pull food into his mouth. Let’s not start on elephants! They belong to a different order of animals. The four-legged animals that we are talking about have tough, thick skin. Their hair is often bristly. A horse is a horse, of course, but some of their relatives surely don’t look like horses at all.

by Karen S. Hopkins • illustrated by Shannon Comins Canter, gallop, walk, and trot,

Warming up and cool-downs, too,

Practicing control a lot.

How much more is there to do?

Bridles, saddles, bits, and reins,

Lots of work to love a horse.

Brushing coats and combing manes.

I wouldn’t change a thing, of course!

Picking hooves and braiding tails, Filling up more feeding pails. Mucking out the stable floors, Checking – are there any sores?

a r w a D

e r o s H 1.

by Andrew Wales

written and illustrated by Andrew Wales

A. Make the practice drawing. 1. Begin sketching basic shapes. Two round shapes make up the front end and back end of the horse. Connect the two shapes with lines that slightly curve. (Fig.1)

2. Draw the two lines that make up the neck. Now begin the head. (Fig. 2) 3. Next, start drawing the legs. Add the ears and lower jaw to the head. Then add the finishing touches: legs, hooves, tail, mane, etc. (Fig. 3) Sketch out the shape beneath the horse that represents the shadow. (Fig. 4) 4. Shade your drawing with pencil. Think about darks and lights in the horse and the texture in the grass. (Fig. 5) B. Keep on sketching.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop with just one drawing. Look for other horses you might draw. Are there any near where you live that you might visit? You can also use books on horses from your local library as a reference. C. Send us your drawing. Choose your best drawing and send to Fun For Kidz, PO Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817-0227, or email to kidscorner@funforkidz.com. Tell us about your picture and where you found the horse you have drawn. Be sure to include your name, age, and where you live. You might see your drawing in a future issue of Fun For Kidz!

The Island of Wild Ponies by Diane Winebar

How they got there in the first place is a mystery. But horses have lived on Assateague Island, off the coast of Maryland and Virginia, for more than 400 years. The ponies live freely. They run on the sandy beaches. Brisk Atlantic Ocean winds lift their manes and whip through their tails. They roam the marshes and pine forests of the 37-mile-long island. Assateague is their home. Legend says that long ago, some horses survived a Spanish shipwreck and swam to the island. Many believe that early settlers let their horses loose on the island to graze. When round-up time came, a few of the horses escaped and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be caught. Whatever happened, the horses that once lived with people became feral. That means they returned to life as a wild animal, and they were on their own.

The horses adapted to their new environment and, as the years passed, something interesting happened. Because of the poor-quality plants they had to eat, they grew smaller. Now the adult island horses are smaller than a regular horse. This is why they are called ponies. Their short, stocky build makes it easy to move through marshes, swamps, and thickets. Like their ancestors, today’s Assateague Island ponies munch on marsh grasses, salt hay grass, bayberry shrubs, and even seaweed. They eat throughout the whole day just to get enough nutrition. The ponies drink from freshwater ponds. Because of their salty diet, they have to drink twice as much water as domesticated horses. This is what gives the ponies their big, round bellies! The ponies live in family groups and hang out near marshes in the spring and fall. That’s where the best eating grasses are. Summers are hot and humid, so the ponies spend time on the beach. Do you think they have fun playing in the waves? The ocean breezes carry away pesky mosquitoes and biting flies. When chilly, damp winter comes, the ponies seek shelter and look for food in areas filled with shrubs. Their thick, furry coats protect them from winter storms. For hundreds of years, Assateague was isolated, and only a few explorers came and went. Then people began hearing about the wild horses, and the ponies became famous. The island was turned into a national park to preserve the unspoiled natural area. After long bridges were built, people were able to visit the the island’s most popular residents. The ponies don’t give rides, and it’s not a good idea to get too close. They may look tame, but their calm behavior can change in an instant. Even though they are little, these are powerfully strong animals! If people treat them like tame animals, it will take away the wildness that makes them special. If you go to Assateague Island, respect the ponies, the other wildlife, and the land. Remember that you are on their island. This way, the ponies will be there for years to come.

How Not to Buy a Horse

Taking riding lessons before you get a horse is a great idea! You’ve been horse crazy your whole life, and the day has finally come. Your parents have agreed to buy you one! You’re ready to rush right out and bring home a horse – any horse. But first, pull up a hay bale and have a seat. There are some things you should know. Before you start looking at horses to buy, consider horse-sitting for someone who has a horse. Or volunteer at a stable. This way, you’ll become very comfortable around horses. You’ll learn how they behave and how to care for them. Where will your horse live? These are big animals, and they need room to play and exercise. If you don’t have plenty of land and a barn or large shed where your horse can go in bad weather, you’ll need to board her at a stable. Look for a boarding place before you buy your horse so she’ll have a home waiting for her. You’ll need to have tack, like a saddle, grooming tools, and other equipment. And don’t forget the hay budget. Horses eat a lot! Think about why you want a horse. Do you want a family horse to love and care for? One you can ride down trails or in pastures? Then you don’t need a fancy, expensive show horse.

Now it’s time to look for your horse! As you search, be smart and avoid these mistakes: 1. Buying the first horse you see. The wrong horse can ruin your fun and excitement in a hurry. Look at several and ride them. Ask questions about their personalities. See how they act when they’re with people. When you finally settle on a horse, have a veterinarian check her out before you buy her. 2. Thinking younger means nicer. A young, inexperienced horse can be nervous in new situations. She may get scared and hurt you without meaning to. Horses usually aren’t ridden until they are at least two years old. Your first horse should already know more about riding and carrying people than you do. Try to buy a horse that’s at least six years old. A horse this age or older is calmer and is great for beginning riders. 3. And thinking bigger means better. Maybe you dream of riding a big, fast horse. Did you know that riding a horse involves more than just sitting in the saddle and holding on? As you ride, you’ll be controlling your horse. A big horse with huge, powerful muscles is not the best fit for a beginner. You need a horse you can handle. 4. Going to the wrong ‘horse store.’ The best place to buy a horse is probably not at an auction or through a horse dealer. Problem horses that former owners have sold back can be there. At auctions, the horses can seem calm, but that’s because they are confused by all the noise and activity. They’ll show their real selves once you get them home! Your best bet is to visit a farm that raises the breed you like. Most horse breeders want to raise and sell only healthy horses, with no surprises. Once you have your very own horse, a whole new world will open up. Lucky you! You’ll get to view the world from a saddle!

by Laurie Frazer Did you ever touch a horse’s nose? Did you notice that he has no toes? When he eats his lunch, it’s oats and hay, And when he bucks, for him it’s play. He wants you just to be his friend, To pat him every now and then. His favorite spot he always shows. Did you ever touch a horse’s nose?

by Virginia Mueller illustration by Roy Green

For just as long as anyone I know of can recall, The style of a horse’s shoes has never changed at all. But maybe it’s much better they don’t wear stylish shoes. Just think how many races a high-heeled horse would lose!

Q: What did the pony say when it had a sore throat? A: I’m a little hoarse. Q: What do you call a horse that lives next door? A: Your neigh-bor Q: How long should a horse’s legs be? A: Long enough to reach the ground Q: What is the difference between a horse and a duck? A: One goes quick and the other goes quack. Q: Which horse can jump higher than a house? A: All of them – houses can’t jump!

Q: What does it mean if you find a horseshoe on the road? A: It means some poor horse is walking around in its socks!

Hey, Kids!

Send us your stories, poems, drawings, photos, and jokes & riddles for publication! We’ll send you a free copy of the issue your work appears in. Already a subscriber? Give your extra magazine to a grandparent! Remember: When you write to Ziggy, the Fun For Kidz dog, he will write back. We can’t wait to see what you send in! Be sure to include your name, address, and age on everything you send in.

EMAIL TO: kidscorner@funforkidz.com

OR MAIL TO: Kids Corner, PO Box 227 Bluffton, OH 45817-0227

Zander Stateler with Huey

Send in a photo of you and a horse! The horse can be yours or one you know. Readers will see it in our next issue!

iggy’s Mail Zone ATTENTION READERS!

Write to Ziggy, the Fun For Kidz dog. If you write to Ziggy, he will write back to you! Send letters to: Fun For Kidz Attn. Ziggy PO Box 227 Bluffton, OH 45817-0227

Or email to: kidscorner@funforkidz.com

Dear Ziggy, When I woke up today, my hamster was full of energy! So I put him in his ball and he rolled so much, he got tired! Then he was ready to sleep. Maybe you could do a hamster issue. I like all the issues of Fun For Kidz. Your biggest fan, Regina Andrews

Dear Ziggy, My best thing about your magazine are the cartoons. I am 7. My sister is 3 and my brother is 9. My favorite animal is a dog. I like the Big & Little Cats issue (March/April 2020). Scott Hurley

Hi Readers! I’m sending you some knock knock jokes! Knock, knock. Who’s there? Amma. Amma who? Amma not going to tell you! Knock, knock. Who’s there? Cows go. Cows go who? No, silly, Cows go moo! Knock, knock. Who’s there? Spell. Spell who? W-H-O Cassie Wildermuth, age 11

A-Maze-ing Horses on page 12

Mystery Picture Puzzle on page 13

S T A L D L L S I O N G E L D I U E N G D A C O L T R E I N P B I T F I L L Y S U G H A D A D L E M U S T A R O N T G P I N D N T O B R I H D L E H A P P F A L O O A Y T S A C I I N C I H B R O W N C S H O S E S M N A R E S R T I R R U M P S F O D A L U H A L T E R A Z P A L O Y O M I N O P O N Y E STALLION, GELDING, COLT, REIN, BIT, FILLY, SADDLE, MUSTANG, PINTO, BRIDLE, APPALOOSA, CINCH, BRONC, SHOES, MARE, STIRRUPS, FOAL, HALTER, PALOMINO, PONY

Help the Cowboy Maze on page 12

Just Horsing Around on page 13 1. four, 2. zebra, 3. hoof, 4. thirty, 5. colt, 6. stallion, 7. mare, 8. filly, 9. yearling, 10. nag, 11. pony, 12. Shetland

Horse Sense on page 12

1. palomino, 2. English, 3. hand, 4. withers, 5. western, 6. Appaloosa, 7. 25, 8. bay, 9. blaze, 10. star

Photo Credits: Alysheba at the KY Horse Park by Heather Moreton from Louisville, KY, USA / CC BY 2.0 4 (top); Horses abreast Betty Wills / CC BY-SA 4 (bottom); Appaloosa (resting) by Jean from Shelbyville, KY / CC BY 2.0 5 (top); ©[racorn/123RF.COM] 7 (top-left); ©[Lubos Chlubny/123RF.COM] 7 (bottom-left); Striped hooves (Appaloosa) William Thiel / CC BY-SA 16 (top-left inset); Shetland ponies by Tim Green from Bradford / CC BY 2.0 16 (bottom-left); Horse portrait (gypsy Vanner) Saffron Blaze / CC BY-SA 16 (bottom-right); Curly horse mane Penella22 / CC BY 17 (top-left); (Akhal-Teke)Penyulap / CC BY-SA 17 (top-right); Marwari filly Heather Moreton / CC BY 17 (bottom-left); Lipicanec PRMO by Srdjan Živulovič 17 (bottom-right); el tapir en el Coca, Ecuador by Jaime Santin (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons 20 (top-right); Horses on the beach at Assateague by Flickr user: judithsweet CC BY 2.0 24 (bottom); Assateague ponies MD1 - Acroterion / CC BY-SA 25 (top-left).

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V i s i t U s O n l i n e ! F a c e b o o k . c o m / F u n F o r K i d z • w w w. F u n F o r K i d z . c o m Vol. 19 No. 4 • JULY/AUG 2020 Publisher: Thomas M. Edwards Editor: Marilyn Edwards Associate Editor: Diane Winebar Graphic Design: Gaurakisora Tucker Marketing Director: Jonathan Edwards Circulation Manager: Mark Studer Science Editor: Larry White Science Illustrator: Alan Wassilak Cowboy Clark & Larry Editor: Lisa Rehfuss Cover Artist: Chris Sabatino

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