Posts Tagged ‘horse leads’
Saddles-Old versus New
I don’t know about you but when I grew up the saddles were completely leather the saddle pads were very simple and not decorative. Plain Jane type tack and saddle, snaffle versus straight bit. Of course you had to take care of what you had but everything seemed so much simpler when it came to choices.
Now you have still have the leather saddles but also saddles that are made of synthetic materials or a combination of the two.
A lot of what you purchase will also depend on how you ride.
Obviously good materials and good quality are essential in all gear. But has anyone tried both? There are pros and cons to all types and it can get confusing and costly for a beginner to figure it out.
In conducting minor research on the different models I found that
Synthetic is:
Lightweight
Easy to keep clean
Sometimes less expensive
Durable
Leather
Deeper seat
Heavier
Care needed
Durable if cared for
Your thoughts?
Animal Massage
What activities do you do with your horse?
The deep bonds acquired with your horse can allow each of you to find fun in all that you do. A horse can be a part of your life for many reasons. But no matter what the reason, you have to care for it to maintain that trust and bonding relationship that you have developed.
Since their bodies are made up of huge muscles to the maximize power when exercising they need to be addressed. The muscles can be addressed in a technique called equine massage, regardless of the activity.
As with people massage, equine massage addresses
• Increased circulation
• Eliminate toxins from the body
• Increased flexibility
• Increase Muscle tone
• Increase Range of motion
• Relief of pain due to over use of muscles or trigger points (knots) in the muscles
• Stress relief
The activities of the horse, massage therapy greatly increases the muscle tone for greater strength ability. Massage may also lessen the injury potential in your horse. If your horse is injured, providing massage will assist in the healing process by providing fresh oxygenated blood to the injury area, deeply assisting the healing process.
Look for the next article on Reiki for animals.
The Glam Pet For 2010
Give them a gift of a New Look!
In 2010, give your pet the gift of glam! A regular grooming regimen will make your pet feel proud, pampered and healthy. After all the pampering of their bath and brushing and teeth cleaning, why not dress them up in a new dog collar and outfit. Or purhaps you will need a new halter for your horse or a lead rope.
What will you do for you pet today?
To Blanket or Not to Blanket
That is the question
Horse blankets are usually used while a horse is in the pasture, in a stall or trailer. There are blankets made for all weather conditions. Heavy blankets are normally made with a canvas type material and then lined. Some are water resistant but not necessarily water proof. There are light weight horse blankets that are made of a canvas material with no liner and may be water resistant but not water proof. Spring or fall horse blankets are made with a water proof material.
The blankets can also be used to keep the horse from growing a winter coat in the winter.
Gift of Adoption
If you read the newspapers or watch the news you have a slight idea of the animal abuse that occurs day in and day out. It is a never ending battle of what the American Humane Society fights daily.
I am taking a hint from the American Humane Society and asking that if you are thinking of adopting a pet for a family member or friend, please remember that it is a huge decision to take on your own. You may have the best of intentions to rescue an animal in need but if the receiver of that gift that does not appreciate the gesture than it is more heartbreaking and confusing for the animal to have to return the adoption center.
The best way to give the gift of adoption is to wrap a dog collar, dog toys or a horse halter in a box and present that as a gift with a card. In the card let them know that you are giving the gift of adoption to them at a time when they can visit a shelter and choose the best pet for them.
Providing a gift in this way is providing happiness for both the animal and the person receiving your gift.
Check out www.americanhumane.org for more information on adoption.
Horse Halter Training
I am not going to tell you that my way is the right way or the only way to train your horse on halter use. I will tell you that it is best to start them as young as possible. Although a horse of any age can be halter broken; but the older they are, the more time and effort it may take.
As with any training it helps if you have spent some time with the horse to get to know his temperament. If they are not use to people and touch, it is best to start off very slowly. Let them get use to your presence and touch before introducing the halter.
Let the horse become accustomed to the look, feel and smell of the halter and it will make it easier for you to introduce it over the head. Let him smell the halter and get used to it being around. Horses like to have time to become familiar with new things, just like humans or any other animal. Once the horse seems satisfied that the halter is not going to hurt him, slip it on him.
Once you get the halter on, attach the lead rope and lead the horse around. Be patient. You may have to pull and tug a little to get the horse use to following you. After a while, when you feel your horse is comfortable with the halter and lead, take the halter off and put it back on. The more your horse sees that it is not going to injure them and that they can trust you the easier it will be to put it on in the future. It may only take a few times to succeed.
Energy Work for Animals
I was wondering if anyone else has ever performed Reiki or any other kind of energy work on their pets.
Since I began providing massage many years ago, I found that energy work was just another stepping stone to provide a noninvasive treatment to my pets. It seemed to lessen their arthritis symptoms and actually helped to enhance their recovery after surgery. It was also just another way to provide that special bond. It was also an amazing thrill to be able to provide a noninvasive treatment to those horses that are not use to the touch that massage entails.
The best thing about the energy work is that they don’t have to be tied up with leads or leashes, they don’t even need a dog collar on or a halter!
Step Up to Your Horse Tack Box
Tired of walking back and forth to get your tools? I have been in that position. I forget something and I have to keep walking back and forth to the barn to get it. Not fun when you are trying to get something accomplished. Horse supplies are not always in the right place at the right time.
Have you, no matter how hard you try to remember it all, you just seem to accidently leave something important at home when traveling with your horse(s)? I have.
Have you spent a lot of time just looking for all the important things you need to bring with you when you travel with your horse? I have.
I have found the most convenient thing to have, even when I have traveled. It is a step and a storage area in one. Actually it’s called Mounting Steps. It’s great for being able to comb the mane without having to reach up for a long period of time or have the inability to do so. We all know how long it could take to comb a mane or tail.
The steps can come in 2 or 3 step versions. But I absolutely love the 3 step version that has a lockable storage area in the top step. Whether I am traveling or at home it makes it a simple and easy solution to help keep my tools all in one place, when and where I need them. I especially like to keep the horse pick, grooming tools such as the curry comb and brushes. With the lockable top I can keep my supplies safe from others when I do have to travel. That saves me time and money.
I just wanted to give you one of my suggestions. Let me know what you think.
Clean and Picture Perfect Horse!
Please take my Picture
It is vital to keep your horses coat clean not only for the look of the shiny coat, but also for health reasons. Keeping your horse clean can help prevent dangerous diseases from wrecking havoc on your horses coat and skin. There are a few different pieces of grooming equipment that are needed for the proper grooming of your horse. Below is a quick overview of how I always have done.
First I make sure to secure my horse with a halter and lead rope. This is to make sure that it is safe for me and my horse. I also am sure to use a quick release clip in case I need to release the animal quickly.
1. Use a coarse curry comb to begin the process. Brush from front to back, beginning by the horse’s neck and continuing over and down towards the hind. Do this on both sides using circular motions to remove loose hair and bring dirt to remove dirt and debris. Use a fine curry comb to clean and massage sensitive areas.
2. Use a stiff brush to remove all the dirt and debris that were brought to the surface by the curry comb. You don’t have to press hard when using the stiff brush. But do use short quick strokes. Do not use the stiff brush on the face, the inside of the hind legs, and other sensitive body parts of the horse.
3. Use a soft brush for the parts of the body that you did not use the stiff brush on.
4. A sponge or a wet rag can be used to clean the horse’s eyes, ears, and nose.
5. You can use fingers to separate and smooth the hairs in the horse’s mane and tail but the easiest and most efficient way is to use a mane comb. Please take your time when working on the mane and tail as you don’t want to pull or break the hairs.
6. Don’t forget the hooves. Keeping the hooves clean will allow your horse to walk comfortably and will clean out any pebbles, dirt or foreign objects.
Once you are finished your horse should have a clean shiny coat, mane and tail. Beautiful!
There are also a variety of shampoos to use should you want to give your horse a bath. But either way you choose, keeping your horse clean is to help to make sure that no illness can infest your horses’ skin. It also is a way to create a special bond and to be able to recognize any changes to your horses’ body.