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Administrator on December 30th, 2008
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From MyHorse.com, here are some great tips for that special day:
1. Vet’s phone number
2. Clean towels of various sizes
3. Iodine navel dip
4. Obstetrical sleeves
5. Clean bucket
And don’t forget a reliable camera! (That one is from me, personally!)
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
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Administrator on December 19th, 2008
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In my readings, I came across this piece of information and wanted to share it with my readers:
It’s winter in most parts of the country and horse owners may find their equine friends locked in the barn more frequently and for more hours at a time. The stalled horse, besides being bored, can turn destructive, irritable and may develop health problems. But there are ways to keep the confined horse more comfortable.
In the wild, horses move in a herd from ten to 20 miles a day, foraging along the way. The equine digestive tract relies on constant eating combined with movement to remain healthy. When they’re locked in a stall, the digestive tract slows down and dangerous stomach acids build up, increasing the risk of colic or gastric ulcers. Given what we know about horses in the wild, we can make stall time safer and healthier by following these few simple steps:
1. Provide toys. Stall toys, such as plastic apples, a milk jug on a rope, or any other commercially available, safe equine toy can take the edge off of boredom and prevent horses from chewing
2. Similarly, provide as much good quality forage as possible as often as possible, fed on the ground to encourage grazing-like activity.
3. Open the windows or arrange your barn so your horses can see each other—they’ll be even happier if they can touch noses with a pal or share a run with a compatible friend.
4. Minimize the amount of processed grains a horse gets in the winter, especially if his work load decreases substantially. Research shows that grains can cause a build up of volatile fatty acids, one cause of equine gastric ulcers.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on December 16th, 2008
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Good advice from MyHorse.com:
A good daily grooming is essential for healthy horses—especially in winter. Daily grooming helps a horse build a healthy coat, fight off fungus and makes weight loss and wounds easier to spot. It also builds a strong bond between humans and horses.
As the weather cools and in some climates dampens, you’ll need to pay particular attention to your horse’s hooves. Horses that stand in damp paddocks develop thrush and scratches, both of which can be easily prevented with a little daily maintenance.
If you want to give your horse a bath when the weather is cool, you still can—provided you have a few of the right tools. Following is a brief guide to cool weather grooming and bathing techniques.
1) Curry (using a circular motion to lift the dirt) and brush your horse every day. Use a rubber curry comb and a longer bristled brush to lift off the dirt. Use a soft brush around his face. After you’ve given him a good rubdown, you can spray him with a non-silicone grooming solution to keep further dirt at bay and rub him down with a clean towel.
2) Pick his hooves daily. Apply a dilution of Lysol disinfectant (2 oz. to 1 gallon of water), dilution of bleach, or a commercial thrush product, every week.
3) To give a horse a winter bath, work in sections and with the hottest water available that your horse can stand. A stock tank heater and a bucket work well for this purpose. As you finish each section of the horse, rub off the excess water and cover with a towel. When you’re totally finished, cover the horse (and the towels) with a fleece cooler and walk him in a warm place until he’s dry. A good rule of thumb is not to bathe a horse if it’s colder than 55 degrees.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on December 9th, 2008
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SAVE THE DATE … Equestfest 2008, an exciting show featuring the 2009 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade equestrian participants, is scheduled for Sunday, December 28, 2008 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Equestfest provides a rare opportunity to see the parade’s equine acts up close in a wide variety of performances, including many not presented on the parade route.
Equestfest 2008 will feature a “Hats off to Entertainment” theme, including roping acts, jousting demonstrations, precision riding teams, and a host of other exhibitions. The ever-popular All American Cowgirl Chicks and Medieval Times, Mirimar Saddlebreds, Cowgirl Historical Foundation, California State Firefighters, Wells Fargo, World Famous Clydesdales, Dunkin Acres Miniature Donkeys, Spirit of the West Riders, New Buffalo Soldiers and the Riders of the Real West, are among the many acts scheduled to appear. The action-packed event also offers a family-friendly day of exhibits, food, music, and, of course, horses of all kinds.
Equestfest will run from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm (rain or shine) at the LA Equestrian Center’s covered Equidome and surrounding area. Tickets are $10 per person (children under 5 are free) and can be purchased prior to the show online at www.sharpseating.com or by calling (626) 795-4171. Tickets also will be on sale the day of the event. The LA Equestrian Center is located at 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank. There is parking fee of $5 per car.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on December 8th, 2008
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Here is the third and last installment! Enjoy!
“It’s not traditional to wear a helmet when you ride western.”
No, it’s not. But consider what the traditional hat of the cowboy really was. It was a form of protection. Cowboys wore gloves to protect their hands, chaps to protect their legs, sturdy boots to protect their feet, and a bandanna to protect their face. Extra cinches, deep seats and tapadaros (hoods) on their stirrups, were all forms of safety protection. Their hats were primarily functional–protecting them from the elements. If the cowboy of yesteryear had the knowledge and technology we have today, I have no doubt a helmet would have been part of their gear. Tradition, like fashion, is not a justification for ignoring safety. Even cowboys knew that.
( Troxel is introducing their Western Hat Helmet! Looks just like a cowboy hat! Call me at 888-245-7730 to order yours today!)
“Helmets are ugly looking.”
Again, there are helmets in many different styles, like the Troxel Sierra and the Troxel Cheyenne. (And the new Troxel Western Hat Helmet.) If you don’t like the way the shell of your helmet looks put on a funky helmet cover. This a great way to personalize your look.
“Helmets are expensive.”
ASTM approved helmets cost as little as $50. (Even less!) This is a small expense compared to the amount you could spend on hospital costs or long term care.
Riding helmets are made specifically to withstand a fall from a height or a blow to the head by a hoof. Bicycle, hockey, baseball and other helmets are not made to protect the head from these incidents.
Why Not Use A Bicycle Helmet for Horseback Riding? from the American Medical Equestrian Association, outlines why a riding helmet is safer than a bicycle helmet.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Troxel helmets and Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on December 5th, 2008
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Seond of three installments. Tune in for the final few tips!
Top Reasons People Don’t Wear Helmets While Horseback Riding…….
And Why They Are Poor Excuses
By Katherine Blocksdorf, About.com
“It will mess up my hair.”
I have one young friend who can take off her helmet and look like she just walked out of a shampoo commercial as she flings her locks in the sunlight. The rest of us have helmet hair. While a good shampoo and blow dry can do wonders for fixing your hair, brains are a little trickier to fix.
“I’m a very experienced rider.”
A study conducted by a team of Alberta researchers found that riders who reported an injury had an average of 27 years of riding experience. New riders had a relatively small incidence of injury. (Alberta Researchers Study Equestrian Injuries)
“Helmets are hot and uncomfortable.”
With the number of styles and fits now available there should be a helmet to fit everyone. Many are adjustable for a custom fit. All have a slightly different fit and are different weights and styles. Try lots of helmets on before you buy. Ask your friends what they like. With a little research you should be able to find a helmet that will keep you both more comfortable and safe.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Troxel helmets, Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on December 4th, 2008
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Again, in a couple of installments, some valuable information for every adult and child who enjoys being on a horse, and my recommendation for always riding with a Troxel helmet:
Top Reasons People Don’t Wear Helmets While Horseback Riding…….
And Why They Are Poor Excuses
By Katherine Blocksdorf, About.com
There are a lots of excuses for not wearing a helmet when you ride. But there is no good reason. The quietest, most well trained horse can cause injury if it is startled or hurt. Ask anyone who has accidentally ridden over a nest of ground wasps, or were riding calmly along when a car backfired. A helmet won’t make you invincible, but it will help protect the one part of your body almost impossible to fix — your brain. Please don’t use these excuses and do use an ASTM approved riding helmet every time you ride.
“It’s my head, and I’m willing to take the risk.”
You might think, it’s my head and I’m willing to take the risk. But, what if your head meets an arena wall, fence post, rock or hard ground? Head injuries can lead to permanent debilitation. And while it may be your head, have you decided who will spend their life looking after you if you can’t look after yourself due to a head injury? If you think you don’t need a helmet then you should look your son, daughter, spouse, or friend in the eye and tell them: I don’t need a helmet, but if I am wrong it will be your job to care for me.
“I can’t wear a helmet in the show ring without being penalized.”
Dressage riders, western riders, and other folks who compete might feel they will be penalized if they wear a helmet in the show ring. I can understand this from the judge’s point of view. When comparing two equal riding performances, with one rider wearing a hat, and one a helmet would you consider the helmet a negative? Might it be a disrespect of tradition or a indication of insecurity of the rider? Or is the helmet wearer just showing good sense? I wish judges would reward the latter, but unfortunately this often isn’t the case. There is no justification for valuing fashion and tradition over safety. Shame on any judge or association rulings that penalize helmet use.
“I know how to do an emergency stop and dismount.”
Emergency Dismounts – How to do Emergency dismounts and emergency stops are useful skills to learn, but they don’t replace a helmet if you take a fall. Falls can happen so quickly that you don’t know you are going to come off, leaving you no time to prepare.
“Helmets give me headaches.”
The solution to this problem is not to avoid using a helmet, but to find one that fits. Also, I find I get headaches when I’m out all day with my horse. The problem I discovered (it took me years to realize this) was not the helmet, but dehydration. Riding is a sport and like any athlete you have to care for yourself properly, especially when heat and stress can take their toll.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Troxel helmets, Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on December 2nd, 2008
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From MyHorse.com, here are a few tips on dealing with high winter winds:
Prepare for High Winter Winds:
1. Remove loose, dying or overhanging tree limbs that might cause injury in high winds.
2. Make sure barn door latches, siding and roof material is well-secured and will hold up.
3. Bring in all the unsecured items from around the barn, arena and patios.
4. Have your best online source for weather forecasts bookmarked and be familiar with the site. Plus, have a working radio with batteries in the case of power outages.
5. Have a backup plan for water, shelter and warmth for your horses in the case of prolonged power outages.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!