The thing about horse riding is no matter how different we are, we can all relate to the same jokes and experiences when it comes to anything equestrian. You might find yourself telling horse jokes to your friends, but unless they too see horses every day they just won't get it. Only other horse people will understand the memes and jokes featured in the post, so share them at the stables for best results!

Mud up to your knees, horse hair covering every inch of your clothing and gooey patches of horse slobber covering your arms where your horse thought it would be ok to nibble you a bit - the equestrian uniform always starts off with the nicest boots, the prettiest polo and the smartest jodhpurs, but inevitably at some point you will have to concede defeat and just accept that it is your fate to be covered in dirt!

The opinions of equestrian folk are often varied, and this image illustrates that perfectly! When we first started horse riding we likely all dreamed of cantering across meadows on a beautiful glossy horse; one that wins rosettes due to it's outstanding discipline, and certainly one with perfect grace and poise. Sadly, the truth is the equestrian life usually involves a sometimes clumsy horse who adores mud, a lot of mucking out, and a never ending stream of horse-related bills. However, we still think it's worth it!

On the subject of muddy horses, here's an all too familiar site; you just finish cleaning your horse in summer, he's shining clean, but a little damp, so you let him out in a sunny field to dry. Big mistake, because the horse's first thought is usually to roll about in the dustiest part of the field, leaving him caked in dusty damp dirt.

Ok, some people don't 'get' the whole dancing horses thing, but we hope after the UK's performance at the 2012 Olympics many more people have developed a love of dancing dressage horses.

As we said before, the uniform of an equestrian is mud, horse slobber and more mud!

Forget 'crazy cat ladies', some of us are definitely crazy horse people. After all, what difference does 'just one more' make really?

Let's be honest, the equestrian life is all-encompassing. Every spare moment is spent at the stables, every weekend is spent riding, and every other moment is dedicated to cleaning the stables, feeding your horse and grooming it. Not that we mind!

 Of course, at the end of the day, even though horses are sometimes a bit bumbling, a little clumsy, occasionally naughty and constantly dirty, we still love them, and find them entirely forgiveable!

Nothing brings you closer to nature and the countryside than a good horse ride, but maybe we should adopt a little technology into the equestrian world too! It's true that as a rider your vary rarely even need electricity to care for your horse, but there are a few apps and gadgets out there that will really enrich your rides and help with safety, so they are worth considering! Here are 5 of our favourite horse apps and gadgets:

Indicators for Horse Riders

To indicate when on a ride, we simply stick out our arm in the direction we want to go, but in low light or poor weather conditions, you might like these LED indicators for horse riders. These are simply LEDs sewn into the back of a jacket, and they're not actually in production yet as this was more of a DIY craft by a rider, but we'd certainly like to see them being made! Anything that improves safety for riders is a good idea in our books.

Horse LED Tail Lights

Riding in the dark or in winter? Then these horse LED tail lights are the perfect safety accessory. Unlike a high-vis exercise sheet, these are relatively unobtrusive, and your horse is unlikely to feel uncomfortable whilst wearing them. Regardless of their subtlety, these are still incredibly bright and cannot be missed when riding on the road!

Dressage Memoriser App

It can be tricky to remember a dressage routine, but this handy app helps you revise your route through the day ready for a competition. Not only that, but it's also a great aid to practising, as it sits in your pocket and records your route as you try it - it will even alert you if you stray too far from your route so you can correct yourself.

Horse Rider SOS

Many riders enjoy the privacy and freedom of going for a hack in the countryside alone, but there are of course, associated risks with riding alone. All it can take is one stumble and you could be unable to get back to the stables due to an injury. This clever app monitors your ride, and if you're not moving for a prolonged period of time, it will send an alert to a friend or family member by text message.

EquiSketch Records App

Have a lot of horses to manage? If you care for other people's horses or if you have your own stables, this app is an excellent way of managing all the appointments you might have including farriers appointments, vets appointments, and important events like when to give yours horses a deworming treatment. This app also monitors vital information for each horse such as medical records, and you can even monitor costs using this app too.

We love any excuse to celebrate our equine friends, but we think it's especially appropriate as we enter the Chinese Year of the Horse!

There's a lot of superstition and mythology surrounding the Chinese zodiac, which is quite fascinating to say the least. Being born under the horse means you are likely great at communicating, you love to be the centre of attention, you're cheerful and talented but also sometimes stubborn. (Sounds like many actual horses we know!)

Strangely enough some of the greatest horsemen in history were born under the sign of the horse; Ghengis Khan is one great example!

Here are the years of the past century that indicate you were born in the year of the horse:

• 1918
• 1930
• 1942
• 1954
• 1966
• 1978
• 1990
• 2002
• 2014

But remember, the Chinese new year actually begins at the end of January, so be careful when working out your Chinese zodiac if your birthday is in January!

What is lucky for those born in the year of the horse?

If you believe in luck, here are a few things which are especially lucky for those born in the year of the horse:

Element: Fire
Lucky Directions to Travel: North-East, South-West and North-West
Lucky Colours: Brown, Yellow and Purple
Lucky Numbers: 2, 3, 7
Lucky Flowers: Jasmine, Calla Lillies and Marigolds.

We think 2014 is truly a year to celebrate the horse, an animal which has lived and worked alongside us for thousands of years. That's why we've put together 10 amazing horse facts below that you might have never heard before. Why not contribute your own amazing horse stories in the comments below? We'd love to hear them.

So we want to know, why do you celebrate horses and the equestrian industry in the year of the horse? Leave a comment below, or get talking over on our Facebook page! You can also find us on twitter @edgemereltd.