List of stall bedding options

Hello everyone!

Today I want to tell all of you the different bedding options that are available to you. I have tried quite a few over the years and got multiple kinds sometimes. I learned that some work better for different reasons and some others are better for different uses all together. Here I will list my tops choices and what I thought about them. The best thing to do is just try some yourself and see what fits you the best.

1. Wood shavings.

These are probably the most popular form of bedding that you will find at any farm store and can be used for several types of livestock or small animals. This bedding is very good with absorbing up any liquid, but it is very hard to pick up solids without taking a lot of the bedding in the fork and dumping it with the rest of the used bedding. It is very good as a starter or if you can afford purchasing lots of bags a month.

2. Straw

Straw is another good one to have if you want it to be absorbent. Just like the shavings, it is very difficult to pick up the dirty areas without getting the clean stuff in your fork as well. I worked at a stable that used straw for bedding in some of the stalls and it was very difficult to clean up well. The whole stall should probably be cleaned fully out every other week, so it doesn't get too gross and unhealthy for your horse.

My top three favorite breeds of horses

Hello Everyone!

Over the years, I have encountered and been around many different breeds and sizes of horses. Breeds have their own characteristics. Like the way they ride, their temperament, and how they need to look in the show ring. Everyone has his or her favorites, including me. I have my top three breeds, which are Quarter Horse, Paint Horse and Appaloosa. I will explain a little bit about each.

1. Quarter Horses are probably my number one favorites by far. I have owned two of this breed and I would get another one in a heartbeat. They come in mostly solid colors, except for a little coloring on their faces and legs. They are very smart and agile. They have the speed to do barrels and other speed events. They are great for ranch work, showing in various classes, and family trail rides. They really can be ridden in so many ways and with enough time, they can be the best partners.

2. Paint Horses are very similar to Quarter Horses in their build, temperament, and coloring.  Unlike Quarter Horses, Paints can come in color patterns other than solids. They can have patterns that are similar to some cows, so part of the horse could be white and other parts could be black, and this combination can come in several colors. They have an easygoing temperament and are good for anyone and for most disciplines.

3. Appaloosas are by far the most colorful of the three that I am mentioning. They usually have a blanket of white over their rump that has the same color spots as the rest of their body. They are also sometimes covered in spots all over their body. They have a more spirited temperament than some other breeds, but after the trust is build, they can be calm companions.

Tail Extensions

A lot of you have probably noticed or wondered how most of the horses at a majority of the shows you have attended have very long, flawless looking tails. You might be wondering if these people know how to keep the tail looking nice, full, and long. You may be thinking there is something you can fees them or some wrap that will protect the tail from becoming damaged. While some of these techniques do work at keeping the tail healthy and strong. This is probably not the drastic difference you would be seeing at a show, what these perfect tails are a horse version of hair extensions. They are made of horsehair and come in many different colors and lengths. All you need to attach them is rubber bands to make a braid, then you will use the string to tie it into the braid and then you will need electrical tape to secure it. Keeping it hidden and looking natural can be a challenge depending on how thin you horses tail is. It is best to attach it as close and a little above the lowest point of the tailbone. Gently comb through the tail and make sure it does not show while the horse is moving around. Once you are sure it looks its best, you are ready for the show ring. This has almost become a requirement for shows today, especially the more elite ones. Therefore, if you plan on showing in any major shows, I would encourage you to purchase one of these as soon as you can before the show so you have time to practice putting it in. So if you plan on doing any showing, I would highly recommend you buy one of these for your horse. 

Check Out These Products

This product is excellent for those of you who are wanting to train your own horse, teach your horse some new skills, or get rid of some of their bad habits that they developed. This information and training techniques are old manuscripts from a very famous horseman that this person has made available so you can now purchase and learn from the very best. By using these old-style techniques, it says that you can train your horse in hours when it would normally take you months or even years. So if you have a horse that you have been having trouble with, I would strongly recommend you check out this training material. Here is the link to his page where you can purchase this amazing material and manuscripts. Click Here!

A lot of you have probably heard of essential oils or the very popular brand of essential oils, doTERRA. Just like those oils that are used for human consumption and are safe to apply, these oils are specifically made for animals such as dogs, cats, and horses. They are made by veterinarians and are approved for animal consumption. They have one made for horses, and it is easy to give them to horses. They also mention that just because horses are large animals, it does not mean that they will need a larger dose. Instead they may be able to have the same size dose and it work the same. Here is the link to their site with more information on how to administer it to each horse and the dosage. Click Here!

A Must Read Blog

A blog that I found to be helpful and extremely personable that made it easy for me to relate to in many ways. The blog called, She Moved to Texas, which is the journey of a lady named, Lauren Mauldin. She shares the good and bad times of her life with horses and her posts are deep and full of truth. She talks about the financial struggles she has had while owning two horses and the hard decision it is to sell one, which I have had personal experience with, so I can fully relate. As far as showing she explains how she feels before during and after a show and says what she learned from it and how her and her horse, Simon, will grow their partnership and get even closer to their goals. Her blog doesn't just have posts on horses, she also shares her beautiful photography and vacations. The area I love most is not just how real and relate able she is for me, but also how she includes videos of her jumping and riding in shows. Jumping horses is something I love to do and seeing someone enjoy the same passion and excel at it is truly encouraging. I hope to be just as confident and strong of a riding as she is when I can ride more consistently again. Here is the link to her blog and I encourage all of you to go check her out. I know every single one of you will get something out of it. http://www.shemovedtotexas.com/

Check Out My Post

Hello everyone!

A couple weeks ago, I made a post called, Tack and Show Clothes Needed for English Versus Western Riding, regarding the necessary tack that you would need, whether English or Western, for showing and the different types of riding you may be interested in pursuing. Overall, I went into detail about what tack you will need and the clothing that is customary for show classes. I brought up several examples of different disciplines of riding and what tack you will need for each. The western riding examples I included were Barrel Racing, trail riding, Western Pleasure, ranch work, roping, and every day riding. For English riding, my examples included jumping, dressage, English pleasure, and even every day riding just like western. Bridles and blankets are things I discussed and listed, because I know those can be sometimes confusing on what kind is preferred for the riding you think you will be doing. I wanted to share this information and link to the post with all of you again, because in my opinion it is very valuable information that some of you may not know or want to get another refresher. Learning this information and having resources to utilize in the horse world is never a bad thing and I encourage all of you to check my post out and.  Here is the link that will take you back to my post, so you can get further information on the items you will need to purchase depending on the riding you are interested in. http://lifewithequine.blogspot.com/2017/02/tack-and-show-clothes-needed-for.html

How to Introduce Objects to Horses

As a lot of you may know, horses can be spooked from unfamiliar items that they may not be used to or have seen before. Horses are naturally fight or flight animals and have prey instincts, this makes them very wary of new objects. Items that I have played around with to help my horses get over their fears have included tarps, umbrellas, and large bouncy balls. This post from the blog Learning Horses explains the steps thoroughly in getting your horse used to objects in a safe way for both you and the horse. I love how she describes that this is not breaking the horse to the point where it is so deathly afraid its spirit is broken, it is merely slowly introducing objects and showing the horse there is nothing to fear. The horse's head is the most sensitive part of their body and they tend shy away from things close to it, especially if they fear it will hurt them. She stresses patience and to approach the horse and then retreat with the object. I completely agree with introducing foreign objects slowly. I have used it countless times with my own horses. It really works and I love reading about another person's experiences. I hope that all of you can try it out with your horses and have a much better relationship with them that is more than just fear and force, but instead is trusting and a partnership. I highly encourage you to check out this post by this amazing blogger. Here is the link: http://learninghorses.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-approach-and-retreat-little.html

Resources for Horse Shows

Hello to my fellow equestrian!

I have written several posts what you will need and what you can expect to see in the show ring and even the tack and clothing you will need for both you and your horse. I wanted to share a little bit about each one so you have better luck at finding them later and getting the information you need.

Several weeks ago, I posted about what you will need for you and your horse to be ready for the show ring and need to purchase to be ready. In this post, I went into detail about the tack you will need for to have for the riding you want to do. I also made a list of the show clothes you will need in order to look just as sleek and professional as your horse. I covered the two major riding styles, English and Western, and even gave examples of what tack and clothing to use in specific show classes and everyday riding. Here is the link back to the post. http://lifewithequine.blogspot.com/2017/02/tack-and-show-clothes-needed-for.html 

Another post I did regarding shows was about the classes you will encounter at most of the shows you will attend.  I explained a few classes that I thought would help someone who may be unsure of what they entail and whether they are for English and Western riding or either one. I explained what you would expect to see in Jumping, Trail, Barrels, Dressage, and several other classes. Here is the link to my post and I hope it is another valuable resource for you to come back to. http://lifewithequine.blogspot.com/2017/02/popular-horse-show-classes.html

Must Have Product for Your Horse!

I have tried out so many different fly repellent products for my horses that they either liked or disliked. The fly spay that I would recommend to everyone who owns a horse is Pyranha’s Wipe N' Spray.  It is in a yellow container and comes in several different kinds of containers. My favorite is the normal spray bottle, because it is easy to use and works very well compared to other spray bottles and sprays. This product contains pyrethrum-based formula that you can easily apply directly to your horse, which makes it very easy and quick to use. I have tried many variations and brands of fly sprays and this is the only one that I have noticed really keeps the flies and other insects off for a long time throughout the day. I also like how the spray bottle does not make a noise when you spray it on your horse, which makes it a great product for horses who tend to spook from the sound of a spray bottle. I have used this product daily for trail rides and for shows and it works every single time. I do recommend that if you do use fly spray for a show that it be Pyranha Insecticide, which is the same product but in an aerosol can instead of a spray bottle. This spreads an even coating on your horse without it getting the horse covered in spray marks that will not look as good in a show. It is a very popular product for show, because it leaves your horse with a nice shine when you wipe it off. I would recommend this product to anyone and it has proved itself to work every time. Here is the link to the company’s site that will let you know even more about the product and the different kinds they offer. https://www.pyranhainc.com/products/for-horses

Popular Horse Show Classes

Showing is something I love to do! I know when I first started showing horses I had no idea what the classes entailed or what type of riding I would be doing in them. I will share with you what the popular ones you will find mean and what you can expect before you enter the show ring.

1. Halter/Showmanship

Halter and showmanship are a little different from the other ones I will be mentioning later in this post, but they both are very popular and will be at almost every show you attend. Halter is for displaying your horse’s build, coloring, how well it stands, and its confirmation. The goal is to have your horse looking its best, while standing perfectly square as the judge walks around and examines the horse with you leading on the ground. Showmanship is very similar, but instead you’re leading the horse in a pattern and having it move in sync with you.

2. Jumping

This class is self-explanatory. You are riding in English attire and tack for this class and the judge evaluates how well you get through the jumping course without knocking any jumps down.

3. Barrel Racing

This class is also well known and very popular in rodeos and western shows. This is a speed event where it is very important to get around all three barrels in the shortest amount of time.  

4. Dressage

A form of English riding where the goal is to go through a pattern and with a lot of speed and direction changes, but using as little number of verbal cues and very smooth transitions between each change.

5. Trail

Trail is very much like going through an obstacle course, except that you are riding the horse. You will be asked to do tasks such as open a mail box, maneuver through a gate, walk over poles, etc. This is a very good class to move up to if you want your horse to be less spooky and listen to directions.

Supplies Needed for Horse Care

Not everyone knows the work it takes to take care of a horse or the supplies that are needed to do so. I am here to share with you the basics in what you will need and what you can expect if you are considering owning a horse one day.

I have created a list of items that are necessary to have on hand and ones I found useful from my own experience. 

• Water buckets
• Food bowls for grain
• Plenty of hay
• Hay bag
• Grain
• Halter
• Lead ropes
• Soft brush
• Hard brush
• Curry comb
• Hoof polish
• Hoof pick
• Scissors
• Bandages
• Electrical tape
• Grooming tote to hold the brushes and other supplies
• Hose
• Sponges
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Sleezy (thin, fitted blanket to keep the horse from getting dirty again)
• Winter blanket
• Leg wraps
• Wheel barrel
• Plastic pitchfork
• Stall bedding
• Salt block
• Fly spray
• Fly mask

These items are very important in horse ownership and will help to keep your horse healthy and happy. Some items may need to be replaced every so often and others will last for the entire duration of your life with horses. This list does not include tack, such as saddles and bridles that will be used for riding, because I wanted to cover the basic care items first. I will be writing another post soon about tack and show clothes you will need if you decide to get in the show ring at some point. I also will provide what tack is used for what type of riding, so you can think about what your preferences are and interests. I hope this lists helps to clarify what you'll need if you want to have a future with horses.