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Post by ruthp on Jan 18, 2008 10:06:28 GMT 1
Spend time just being with your horse. Not doing, asking or expecting anything. Have a picnic in the field (you might want to wait a few months for this one!), or simply sit and read a book. Don't forget to look up every now and then to take joy in how beautiful your horse is. It might sound a bit soppy, but we're often so focussed on trying to achieve something with our horses that we sometimes forget just to enjoy them for the fantastic animals they are.
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Murphy's Law
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Posts: 272
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Post by Murphy's Law on Jan 18, 2008 10:58:38 GMT 1
Oooh - just thought of another thing ... Cold black tea is brilliant for bathing eyes to keep them clean, bright and healthy - a cold tea bag is good for our tired eyes as well. I always keep a sealed container with cold tea and some cosmetic pads at the yard for the horses eyes - especially in the summer when the flies like to hang around their faces. Modified cos I have just thought of something else I was told once and use all the time now ..... Buy a tub of Aqueus (not sure of spelling ) cream from the chemists for keeping hooves moisturised in the dry months. Very effective and much cheaper than a lot of the specialist hoof preparations
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Post by Susan on Jan 19, 2008 10:16:21 GMT 1
Riders Magic for tails it keeps them tangle free and helps stop mud sticking also to lay mane under neck cover . Cheaper then Cowboy Magic
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Post by Amanda Dolby on Jan 23, 2008 1:05:11 GMT 1
Ride/handle the horse you have in front of you - not the one it was yesterday or the one you hope it to be tomorrow
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Post by nich on Jan 24, 2008 17:54:01 GMT 1
babywipes/wetwipes are essential for the tackbox - wiping eyes, noses, udders, girly-bits, and of course your own hands afterwards! also very good for taking dust off a horse's coat after grooming.
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Post by lottiedude on Jan 25, 2008 18:15:19 GMT 1
If you have to soak haynets in freezing weather, have them tied ready to a leadrope clip (with the leadrope removed of course!), so they will be handy to hang, and remove, if the string freezes. Also handy if you have a friend feeding your horse, it saves them time and you know your nets are tied the way you feel best!
Use a sponge scouring pad to clean tack. It gets all the grease off without you having to scrub too hard. Spit on your saddle soap, rather than using water, it won't lather so much and will work in to the leather much better.
Clean bits and stirrups in the dishwasher! They really sparkle when they're done!
To prevent mud fever, hose your horses legs and apply hibi scrub (check for reactions first). Don't rinse, and bandage over night. When the legs get wet the following day, the hibi scrub will kill the nasty mud bugs before they can invade your horses skin.
If your horse does get mud fever, don't pick at the scabs and make him sore. Cover his clean, dry, legs with Heel to hoof or nappy rash cream, wrap in cling film then apply stable bandages over night. In the morning, the scabs will come away without distressing your horse. Repeat the following night for really stubborn scabs, but after that, use the above method to remain scab free!
Whenever the vet or farrier visits the yard, ask them to say 'hello' to your horse, and perhaps offer a titbit. That way your horse won't always associate them with something unpleasant.
Put wormers, or bute, in the fridge, to reduce the smell, before administering.
Tie a piece of breakable string (Not baler twine!) to the clip ring on your headcollar. Attach the leadrope to this when the horse is tied up. It's handier than having lots of untidy string tied to every ring on the yard, and means it's easier to tie up and release the quick release knot in an emergency.
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Post by jill on Jan 27, 2008 16:06:52 GMT 1
During stressful situations start yawning - this tip has worked really well for me especially with anxious and nervous horses. This works with dogs as well, it's a non threatening thing to do.
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Post by Cameo on Jan 27, 2008 19:48:55 GMT 1
Buy a couple of Pelham roundings - useful for all sorts of things - tying stirrups to girth in longlining, hold straps for learners, bit to headcollar for emergencies, rein to saddle for grazing, etc etc. If your horse says "No", always ask yourself "Why?" before you do anything else. Always be the bringer of good things to your horse. Wellies a size too big will keep your feet warmer. When the owner is ready - the horse will appear! When asking something new - ask first "Is he ready for this?" At the risk of sounding like a missionary (!!! ), read this: www.totalsaddlesolutions.com/whygotreeless.shtml
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Post by deserthorse on Jan 28, 2008 19:29:57 GMT 1
Not sure if this has mentioned but this is my favorite tip and in my mind a very much underestimated issue in riding.
Rider: take care of YOURSELF! Have regular massages or some other therapeutic treatments (reiki, shiatsu). About once a month is good. It has a tremendous effect on your well-being and therefore, also on your riding and horsehandling skills. For some reason horse people are very often people who demand insanely much from themselves and spend hours and hours of doing things for their horses, but do they ever think what would make THEM feel better? No. If you don't feel good, the horse is not going to feel good either, so make sure you're giving yourself enough pampering.
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gypsyrose
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Post by gypsyrose on Jan 29, 2008 18:57:27 GMT 1
Also (physiotherapist told me), you should always do stretches before riding! Riding is a sport, and like any sport, you should always ensure you warm up before you even start riding! We even stretch our horse legs before a workout, but how many of us have ever taken 5 minutes to stretch our legs, arms or backs before we get on the horse? Helps to prevent cramps and soreness!
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Post by fin on Feb 4, 2008 0:11:19 GMT 1
Never, EVER snog a moulting horse whilst wearing lip gloss.
;D
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Post by beany1 on Feb 4, 2008 0:36:31 GMT 1
The best advice I ever had was 'take no notice'. I know this kind of goes against the reasoning behind empathy and trying to figure out what the horse is scared of, but I'm the type to get even more anxious if I see something the horse may/may not spook at.
Instead I blot it out, look ahead, take no notice and my horse gets much confidence from this!!
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eden
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Posts: 662
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Post by eden on Feb 4, 2008 12:05:55 GMT 1
Never, EVER snog a moulting horse whilst wearing lip gloss. ;D Finn I like that one.
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Post by jacksmum on Feb 4, 2008 18:07:35 GMT 1
This was always one I was told, especially when dealing with t/bs. Basically just ignore spooks, etc, it really does seem to work.
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Post by jen1 on Feb 4, 2008 20:52:32 GMT 1
dicovered by accident last week, ,,lol ok i use an old tooth brush to clean my nails, (dont find nail brushes any good,) except i used toothpaste by accident, sparkling clean nails, lol
tip picked up from monty about 20 years ago, i use it with my herd and any new horses that come here, is to wear the same jumper or coat when dealing with them, i keep one unwashed coat hanging around the yard, it seems to work with the newbies and one of my horses scowls if i smell like a "uman"lol
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