Dancing Hooves Ryskool

30/10/2026

🫏❤️ MULES: ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING ANIMALS ON FOUR HOOVES! ❤️🫏

If you’ve ever owned a mule, you already know there’s something special about them. But did you know just how amazing these long-eared creatures really are?

A mule is born from a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). They get some of the best qualities from both parents, making them incredibly strong, intelligent, and hardy animals!

And here’s something interesting! A male mule is called a John, while a female is called a Molly.

🧬 They’re genetically unique!
Horses have 64 chromosomes, donkeys have 62, and mules end up with 63! That odd number is why nearly all mules are unable to reproduce.

💪 They’re tougher than you think!
Mules are known for their hard, durable hooves, incredible stamina, and ability to navigate rough terrain. Their hooves are generally tougher than a horse’s, making them excellent trail companions.

🌿 They’re easy keepers!
Mules are often more efficient at using their feed than horses. They can maintain their condition on less food, but that doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a few extra cookies! 😂🍪

☀️ They’re built to handle the elements!
Mules are hardy animals with tough skin and often show greater tolerance to certain weather conditions and environmental challenges.

🦵 Watch out for those back feet!
Here’s something that might surprise you. Mules can kick backward, sideways, and even forward with remarkable accuracy! Those long ears aren’t their only impressive feature!

❤️ They can be lifelong companions!
Mules often live 30 to 40 years, and some have even reached 50 with excellent care. That’s a whole lot of years filled with love, adventures, and personality!

🧠 And let’s talk about their intelligence!
Mules are famous for being stubborn, but what many people don’t realize is that they’re incredibly smart. They tend to think before reacting and aren’t always willing to put themselves in a dangerous situation.

The more you learn about mules, the more you realize they’re truly one of a kind. ❤️

Around our farm, we’ve learned that every mule has its own personality, its own little quirks, and a special way of stealing your heart.

And if you ask our mules, their greatest superpower is convincing us they haven’t had a cookie all day! 😂🍪

🫏❤️ What’s one thing about mules that surprised you? Or what’s something your mule does that amazes you? Tell us in the comments!

30/10/2026

Did you know? How to determine your horses age in human years.

That youngster can be pretty old🤣

27/10/2026

Looking at whorls is a time honored method of judging a horse’s temperament.

Long held as superstition, there is science to back it up. Hair and brain are formed from the same fetal cell layer. Because they form at the same time it makes sense that as a fetus develops the hair growing over the brain, and body, can shows signs of what is going on underneath.

The placement of a whorl on a horse’s face can tell us a lot about their personality.

If it is up high, above eye level, the horse will be very smart, energetic, and outgoing. An extrovert.

To the right, our right as we face them that is, shows a right brained horse, reactive, emotional, nervous, defensive.

A whorl placed below eye level should be an introvert, sometimes considered lazy or stubborn they are smart, easily bored, and can be distrustful. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a mule that didn’t have a low whorl.

A whorl that sits on the left side of the face, again our left, means a left brain horse. One who is confident and willful. The farther a whorl is from center the more pronounced the effect will be.

A center whorl is the most common and doesn’t tell us a whole lot. With that type of whorl we need to look at the shape of the head, ear, eyes, all the other clues we are given.

When we get into two or more whorls it gets even more complicated. They can show tendencies from two very different brain types. Whorls that are stacked, one above the other, show a horse that is an introvert and an extrovert. Side by side whorls will be right-brain, reactive, and hot, as well as left-brain, unreactive, and confident.

The more whorls the more interesting the horse. The people I’ve talked to who have horses with three or four or more whorls have loved them.

Whorls can pop up in some unexpected places across the body of the horse too. All horses have whorls on the neck that will tell us where they prefer to flex or what direction they like to turn towards.

Whorls on the body can tell us if they will be sensitive to the cinch or girth, or possibly even to the saddle. Whorls on the legs and belly can tell us how the horse will move. There are many whorls that we don’t yet know the meaning of but all whorls have a message for us if we will listen.

All horses are individuals. With careful thought and effort, we can find the best ways to work with them no matter what whorls they have. A whorl is not a way to see if a horse is ‘bad’ instead, checking whorls is one way for us to gather clues. Those clues can help us figure out a horse’s temperament and suitability for both us and whatever discipline we are hoping to pursue.

23/10/2026

🐎🖤 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗬 🖤🐎

✨ 𝗔 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘, 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 & 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 ✨

Some stories entertain us. Others stay in our hearts forever. ❤️

First published in 1877, Anna Sewell's Black Beauty is more than a beloved horse story. Told through the eyes of a magnificent black horse, it takes us on an unforgettable journey through friendship, suffering, courage and the extraordinary power of kindness.

Nearly 150 years later, its lessons remain as meaningful as ever. 🌹

🌿 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗

💬 “There is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast, it is all a sham.”

Perhaps the most powerful message in Black Beauty. True goodness isn't measured by what we say, but by how we treat those who depend upon us. ❤️

🐴 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦

💬 “Only ignorance! only ignorance! how can you talk about only ignorance?”

These unforgettable words remind us that thoughtlessness can cause terrible suffering. Sometimes cruelty comes not from hatred, but from failing to understand another living creature. 💔

🌸 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦, 𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦

💬 “If we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt.”

A remarkable lesson in courage. Compassion means more than feeling sorry; sometimes it means speaking up when others remain silent. 🕊️

❤️ 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦

Throughout his life, Black Beauty encounters gentle hands and harsh treatment, loving friendships and heartbreaking losses.

Yet his story reminds us that animals experience fear, trust, exhaustion and affection. They deserve patience, dignity and respect.

✨ 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦

Anna Sewell wrote a story that helped generations reconsider how horses and other animals should be treated.

Its enduring message is beautifully simple:

🐎 Be gentle with the vulnerable.

❤️ Choose compassion over cruelty.

🌿 Never underestimate the power of kindness.

Because sometimes the greatest lessons about humanity come from the animals who cannot speak for themselves.

05/10/2026

🐴🤎 TUSSEN MY PERD SE ORE – FOTO KOMPETISIE! 🤎🐴

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Het jy ’n gunsteling foto van jou perd se ore en die mooi uitsig voor julle? 📸🌅 Dan is hierdie kompetisie vir jou!

✨ Inskrywing: R20 per foto
📸 Maksimum: 3 foto’s per persoon
🏆 Prys: ’n A3 Canvas van jou wenfoto!

Stuur jou foto, bewys van betaling en ’n kort beskrywing na Ilana: 083 445 0188 of Juan-Mari: 074 097 6264

Die foto met die meeste likes wen! ❤️

📅 Kompetisie eindig: 28 Oktober 2026

Gaan haal jou mooiste “tussen-my-perd-se-ore”-foto en deel dit met ons! 🐎❤️

Dancing Hooves Ryskool

24/09/2026

We would like to wish the Kakamas team the best of luck. They will be leaving tomorrow to Parys to participate in the Western mounted games Nationals championship. May you enjoy every moment amd your hard work and long practice hours pay off.

14/09/2026

A very warm welcome to this handsome guy. Sire has a new owner with a heart for the sport, the love for the horse and the ambition to ride.

We are looking forward to see this guy and his little girl grow, learn and work together.

14/09/2026

14 days to go!!!!
Part of the riding or not your part of the heart of Kakamas where it all started and we are pround of you and your horse for what you have achieved so far and will be achieving in the future. Looking forward in see you girls competing and wish you the best of luck. Hard work pays off!!

13/09/2026

13/09/2026

And we're back
This girls had so much fun yesterday. We had a little roadtrip to a place where you can hear only you, no traffic, no rush just silence and fresh air.