How to Choose the Best Blanket for Your Horse this Winter

Here is a quick and easy guide to blanketing your horse this autumn/winter. If it is sunny and calm, add 10°F to what is shown in the guide.

If your horse is clipped...

60-65°F -- Turnout sheet
50-60°F -- Sheet over lightweight liner
40-50°F -- Midweight insulated turnout rug, or turnout sheet over stable blanket
30-40°F -- Heavy turnout rug, midweight rug over stable sheet or fleece liner, ot turnout sheet over stable blanket plus liner
20-30°F -- Heavy rug over fleece liner, or medium rug over quilted liner or stable blanket
Below 20°F -- Heavy rug over quilted liner or stable blanket, or midweight rug over quilted lliner or stable blanket plus fleece.

If your horse is NOT clipped (meaning he/she has a full coat)...

50-55°F -- Turnout sheet
40-50°F -- Sheet over lightweight liner
30-40°F -- Midweight insulated turnout rug, or turnout sheet over stable blanket
20-30°F -- Heavy turnout rug, midweight rug over stable sheet or fleece liner, ot turnout sheet over stable blanket plus liner
10-20°F -- Heavy rug over fleece liner, or medium rug over quilted liner or stable blanket
Below 10°F -- Heavy rug over quilted liner or stable blanket, or midweight rug over quilted lliner or stable blanket plus fleece.

Despite following these rules, it is still important to change or adjust your horse's blanket every day whether the weather changes or not to avoid sores due to rubbing. Also, make sure you check your horse to make sure he/she isn't too hot or too cold.

If your horse is not warm enough, his ears will be cool to your touch, exposed hair coat will stand on end, his/her body will be tense, he/she will be shivering, and his/her will be tail clamped. If he/she is t

oo warm, he/she will be restless, and will have sweat under his/her blanket(s).

*These guidelines first appeared in the September 2001 issue of Practical Horseman magazine. For more on blanket design features that help your horse's blanket fit his individual conformation, see the November 2003 issue.

Got Bots?

With the cool autumn weather comes new autumn pests, namely bots.  Bots are the equine representatives of a specialized family of flies that of spend the cold winter months within the stomach of horses.  


How do they get there you ask?  Adult female bot flies glue their eggs to the hair shafts of specific body parts of the horse. The eggs on the hair coat are stimulated to hatch by a combination of warmth, moisture, and carbon dioxide. All of these are supplied whenever a horse nuzzles its lower legs or grooms the coat of another horse during which the larvae attach themselves to the lips or tongue of the horse.  


After molting into the second larval phase, the bots are swallowed, and they spend the winter in the horse's stomach.  


Come spring, the bots detach themselves from their equine host, and enter their new environment via the horse's manure.


So how do you get rid of bots?


There are several methods to reduce or eliminate bots on or in your horse.  The first and most labor intensive method is to try and remove the eggs from the coat.  You can do this by using fine combs, razors, rough bot-removal blocks, sandpaper, or by scrubbing with warm water or coating the eggs with petroleum jelly.


The second method is to use wormer.  Ivermectin and moxidectin are the only two ingredients that remove larval bots from the stomach effectively, and should be administered after the first hard frost of the season.  This is best time because the horse will not ingest any more bots that late in the season, so the wormer will likely remove all of them.


Have any other effective bot removal techniques?  We'd love to hear about them; feel free to post a comment here or on our Facebook page.

Equestrian Clearance: Making Horseback Riding Affordable for Everyone!

We know that it can sometimes be a challenge to find quality equestrian products at a great price, but we just made it easier! Shop our Online Outlet today!

3 Basic Hoof Care Tips

With all the dry weather we have been having lately, it is important to pay close attention to your horses hooves.  Here is some good information on hoof care to help you along the way--even when the dry weather subsides:


1) Use Your Hoofpick Often:  
Horses' hooves should be picked daily.  In addition, you should clean your horse's hooves before and after you ride.  Keeping your horse's hooves clean will prevent lameness and thursh.


2) Keep the Moisture in Your Horse's Hooves Regulated:

 When conditions are wet, apply a sealant such as Tough Stuff or Cornucrescine Daily Hoof Barrier.  These products will prevent the horses hoof from absorbing excess moisture as well as ammonia, urine and urea.     
 According to Carr Day & Martin:
"When the hoof is exposed to excessive amounts of water, moisture molecules flood the hoof structures.
The hoof swells to accommodate the water, which then weakens the hydrogen bonds that form the springlike and zig-zag structures. The weakened hydrogen bonds cause the shock absorbing springs to become stretched, elongated and unable to re-coil.

The hoof structure is therefore changed and ceases to act as a shock absorber. Hooves in this state may look surprisingly healthy as any minor cracks tend to disappear due to horn expansion. However, the horn is weakened and prone to being soft and crumbly. It is not surprising therefore that shoes are easily lost, especially in heavy-going."

When conditions are dry, apply a moisturizer such as Cornucrescine Daily Hoof Moisturiser or Wunder Hoof.  This will give the hoof the extra moisture that it needs to prevent cracking and splitting.  
This is especially important if the environment quickly changes from wet to dry.  According to Carr & Day Martin: 
"Rapid removal of moisture from the hoof does not give the spiral and zig-zag structures enough time to re-align. Hydrogen bonds stretch, break and are unable to reattach and realign, so the structure collapses.
This damage can cause the horn to become dry, brittle and often exhibit cracking."


3)  Schedule Your Horse for Routine Farrier Visits Every 6-8 Weeks:
Domestic horses in light use are not subjected to such severe living conditions as horses living in the wild, and hence their feet grow faster than they can be worn down.  Without regular trimming, their feet can get too long, eventually splitting, chipping and cracking, which can lead to lameness.
Depending on your horse's needs, he or she may need shoes.  Horses who are doing a lot of work or working on hard ground will need to be shod. Some horses with weak hoof walls, flat soles or other problems might need shoes even if they’re not working.

Vaccination Schedule and Guide for Horses

With the autumn right around the corner, it's time to get ready for vaccinations. While the easiest way to have your horse vaccinated is to call your vet, it is also the most expensive. For that reason, you may choose to administer vaccinations yourself, so we have provided a vaccination guide to help you decide what you need and when.

For Hobby Horses, the recommended schedule goes as follows:
Spring: Prestige V or Encevac TC-4
Fall: Prestige II

For Performance Horses, we recommend
Spring: Prestige V or Prestige V+VEE
Summer: Prestige II
Fall: Prestige II
Winter: Prestige II

For Mares, we recommend
Pre-breeding/Spring: Prestige V
5 Months: Prodigy
7 Months: Prodigy
9 Months: Prodigy
10 Months: Prestige V

For Foals, we recommend:
6 Months: Prestige V
7 Months: Prestige V
9 Months: Prestige V
12 Months: Prestige V


Always check with your vet to be sure that you have chosen the program that is right for you, and don't forget to have your vet out for Spring check-ups and Rabies, Potomac Horse Fever, and West Nile prevention.

Not sure how to vaccinate your horse? Here is a step by step injection guide:

1. Choose the injection site
a. Neck Region: most frequently used. Must hit the safe area of muscle which is BELOW the large ligament (ligamentum nuchae) and ABOVE the cervical vertebrae (neck bones). Also, avoid the jugular area.
b. Hindleg or Hamstring Region: easy to reach, but may incite kicking.
c. Chest or Pectoral Region: easy to reach, but may incite striking or cause swelling.

2. Use a 20-22 gauge, 1.5 inch needle.

3. Use a new, sterile needle for each dose of vaccine and for each horse.

4. Keep needle sheathed until immediately before use.

5. Disinfect skin with alcohol. Tap skin a few times and thrust needle in quickly, deep into the muscle, straight all the way to the hub.

6. Carefully attach syringe to inserted needle. Pull back plunger slightly to insure you are not in a blood vessel. Blood will appear if you are. If so, withdraw and try again. If not, administer the vaccine.

7. After withdrawing needle, massage area for 30 seconds after injection to distribute vaccine and help avoid soreness.

8. Allow horse to rest and get free exercise for 2-3 days following vaccination, during which time horse may experience slight soreness and lethargy.




*This post is based on the Safe-Vac program by Intervet.

Weird Stories for a Weird Saddle Shop

In honor of making it into Weird N.J., we want to hear your weirdest/funniest horse-related stories.

Post your stories here:

Equine Trivia

Curious about the questions that you might have missed during the Summer Sale? Here are all of the fun horsey trivia questions and answers!


Q1. Name the 3 US fall horse shows that were referred to as the "indoor circuit" or simply "indoors" Hint: they are all cities
A1. In order of schedule: 1. Washington (DC) 2. Harrisburg (PA) 3. New York (NY)

Q2. What major horse show in North America takes place after New York,
but before the Florida circuit? Hint: it's not in the USA and is also a city
A2. Toronto

Q3. Name the prestigious horse show that takes place in PA in the May
and June timeframe.
A3. Devon

Q4. Can anyone participate in most of the rated hunter divisions at Devon?
A4. No, you have to earn enough points to qualify to be eligible to enter.

Q5. If someone said to you: "I'm showing my gelding in the strip class" what type of hunter class would they be referring to?
A5. Hunter breeding/confirmation classes

Q6. What protects a horse from nicking his front pasterns and stepping on his front shoes with his back hooves?
A6. Bell boots

Q7. Name the horse that set a Puissance record, won a silver medal in
the Pan American Games, and was a top grand prix jumper in the USA in
the early to mid 70's.
A7. Sympatico

Q8. What famous 16.3 h. bay gelding did Michael Matz ride in the 1979
Valley Forge Grand Prix?
Hint: This horse won Horse of the Year, won three Pan American Games
Gold Medals, and more, and was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of
Fame
A8. Jet Run

Q9.Which is both the oldest and the longest in distance of the 5 English classic flat races?
A9. St.Leger

Q10. Which cowboy of the big and small screen rode a white horse called Topper?
A10. Hopalong Cassidy


Q11. Which character, played by Alan Young, was the owner of TV's talking horse Mr. Ed?
A11. Wilbur Post

Q12. Are the famous Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian or American side of the River Niagra?
A12. Canada

Q13. Who scored the pop success in 1972 “Riding A Horse with No Name”?
A13. America

Q14. For what purpose were miniature horses originally bred?
A14. To pull carts in and out of coal mines.

Q15. What are two coat colors a horse can have with a white mane and tail?
A15. Grey and palomino

Q16. Name one of the four face markings that have more white than a blaze?
A16. Bald face, medicine hat, bonnet face, and apron face.

Q17. What is the difference between a roan and a gray horse?
A17. A roan has a mixture of white and dark hairs at birth and stays the same throughout its lifetime. A gray is born a solid color. Gray hairs develop and progress with age, turning the horse lighter as it gets older.

Q18. What is a tapadera?
A18. A stirrup cover.

Q19. A pigeon toed horse will do what when it travels?
A19. Paddle

Q20. Name the racetrack where the Kentucky Derby is run.
A20. Churchill Downs

Q21. What do you call the deep grooves on either side of the frog?
A21. Commissures/Cleft

Q22. What bone is dislocated when a horse is stifled?
A22. The patella

Q23. Name one of the two draft horse breeds that originated in England.
A23. Shire and Suffolk.

Q24. Name the order in which a judge will call for the gaits of five-gaited horses.
A24. Walk, trot, slow gait, rack, and canter.

Q25. What is the front rise of the saddle called?
A25. Pommel.

Q26. What is the common name for Equine Infectious Anemia?
A26. Swamp fever

Q27. What is the primary cause of a horse barn fire?
A27. Careless smoking or use of smoking materials

Q28. What is added to a grain ration to settle dust and make it taste good?
A28. Molasses

Q29. When would you hear the cry, "Tally Ho?"
A29. At a fox hunt when the fox has been sighted.

Q30. In which direction should a hoof pick be used?
A30. From heel to toe.

Q31. Name the breed whose name was taken from the Palouse River?
A31. Appaloosa

Q32. What is a racehorse that performs best at distances of a mile or less called?
A32. Sprinter

Q33. The Moab is the product of what two breeds?
A33. Morgan and Arabian

Q34. What is the maximum height of a pony?
A34. 14.2 hands or 58".

Q35. How many beats does a canter have?
A35. Three

Q36. Name three common grooming supplies.
A36. Stiff brush, soft brush, mail and tail brush/comb, sponge, sweat scraper, hoof pick, curry comb, shedding blade, cloth.

Q37. Name three of the five coat color variations.
A37. Dun, gray, white, brown, black, bay, sorrel, chestnut, buckskin, grulla, palomino, paint or pinto, and roan.

Q38. Name two places that you should not stand while grooming.
A38. Directly in front/ directly behind the horse.

Q39. How many bones are in the neck of the horse?
A39. Seven, as in all mammals.

Q40. How many eyelids does a horse have?
A40. 3

Q41. What grooming tool can be used to loosen the dirt in a horses coat before you go over him with a stiff brush?
A41. Curry comb

Q42. Name 3 common horse breeds.
A42. Appaloosa, Arabian, Mini, Morgan, Paint, Quarter Horse, Saddlebred, Standardbred, Tennessee Walking Horse, Thoroughbred, Andalusian, Belgian, Dutch Warmblood, Peruvian Paso, Racking Horse, Welsh Pony

Q43. What is it called when you have your horse’s teeth filed down?
A43. Floated

Q44. What are the people who trim and shoe your horse called?
A44. Farrier

Q45. Who’s the last horse before Secretariat to win the triple crown?
A45. Citation


Have any equine trivia that you would like to share? We'd love to hear it! Who knows? Maybe it will appear at our next sale...

National Helmet Awareness Day is July 10th!

The Riders 4 Helmets' campaign has one simple goal: to get more equestrians wearing helmets. So in honor of National Helmet Awareness Day, we asked real equestrians why they choose to wear a helmet. Here are some of their responses:

Jessica MacFarland Arce says, "I wear a helmet because it is responsible and sets a good example for our youth. Safe riding is fun riding!!! By protecting yourself today you're protecting yourself for your future!!! A safe responsible rider ALWAYS wears a helmet. Helmets have saved my life several times with jumping, excersizing riding, etc... One [time, when I was] jumping in an indoor over a 3'6" fence, my horse fell and I flew through a plexi-glass window in the viewing area, breaking 7 bones and only denting my helmet. The hospital told me that without my helmet I probably would have crushed my head and not survived the fall."

Wendy Bodine Helmet says, "[A helmet] saved my life at least once during a horse fall - horse fell too!! 3 broken bones, dented helmet - head was fine!!! New helmet was [an] inexpensive cost compared to damage that could have happened to my head!!!"

Steve Carr says, "My helmet is my best friend! Medivac'd to the trauma unit...Noggin to the arena gate...Learning to jump after 35. [I've] needed new helmets, but I'm still rolling. Rather crack my helmet than my head. :)"

Why do YOU wear a helmet??? We'd love your feedback!

And don't forget... visit the Toll Booth Saddle Shop on July 10th, and receive 15% off any helmet. Not in the area? Check out our Online Store.

The Truth About Equine Shampoos and Human Hair

Did you know that most shampoos and conditioners that are made for horses can also be used on human hair?
Horses and humans share a common pH factor and a similar chemical makeup when it comes to hair, so horse and human shampoos share many of the same ingredients. The only major difference is the concentration. Horse products are more concentrated than human products, meaning you do not need to use as much product each time you wash/condition your hair.

The most popular horse-to-human shampoo and conditioner would be Mane-N-Tail, but there are several other brands that are just as safe and effective. I recommend Cowboy Magic Rosewater Shampoo and Conditioner-- especially if you have hard water. It smells great, and it is specially formulated to remove the minerals that hard water can leave behind.

Other popular brands include: EQyss, Christina Said..., and Rio Vista.

So what are the benefits of crossing over? Many people argue that horse shampoos make their hair grow faster and stronger.   I can personally attest to having less product buildup in my hair which, in turn, has made it shinier and easier to manage.  Equine shampoos and conditioners are also much less expensive than many leading salon-brand human shampoos and conditioners. A 32oz bottle of the leading salon brand shampoo can cost up to $20; 32oz Cowboy Magic's Rosewater Shampoo, for example, costs around $10 and lasts twice as long because it is concentrated.

The benefits of crossing over don't end at shampoo and conditioner either.  Several equestrian brands, including Cowboy Magic, EQyss, and Absorbine, also offer detangler and shine products.  I recommend EQyss Survivor Detangler.  It does the job, it smells nice, and as an added bonus, it's cruelty free and environmentally friendly.

You can find these products online or at your local tack shop.  Don't know where the closest tack shop is?  Try Googling "tack shop near [your zip code]" or "saddle shop near [your zip code]"  It may be closer than you think!

10 Ways To Help You Be An Eco-Friendly Equestrian and Reduce Your Horse's Carbon Hoofprint

10. When schooling, wear T-shirts and socks made with organic cotton or bamboo and water-based inks. Cotton and bamboo are both naturally breathable fabrics, so it will keep you cool while you ride! Kerrits' g.r.a.s.s. and TuffRider's EcoGreen provide riding-friendly options.

9. Use plant-based, biodegradable, or all-natural truck and trailer washes. EQ Solutions is a good option.

8. Feed your horse all-natural horse treats: TudorBiscuits, Canterbury Cookies, Hilton Herballs, Beet Treats, Applezz…N'…Oats, Ginger Ridge Treats, and Uncle Jimmy's Licky Things are good options.

7. Choose all-natural supplements, wound care, and shampoos. Try using Equilite Products, Mare Magic, Himalayan Horse Products, products made with Tea Tree Oil, Herbal Solution Wound Spray, Wunder Hoof, Calm Coat, SuperShield Green Natural Gel, and/or Kirks Castile Soaps. Using all-natural products is a great option for horses with sensitive skin or allergies.


6. Replace your old fly spray with a natural insect repellent. Most companies that make fly sprays now offer a natural version of their formula. Some options include:
Toll Booth All-Natural Insect Repellent, Eqyss Premier Natural Botanical, Eqyss Premier Marigold Fly Spray, Ultra Shield Green Fly Spray, Supershield Green, Equisect, Nature's Defense Fly Spray, Calm Coat Fly Repellent, and Zero-Bite Fly Spray.

5. If you are not sold on "green" fly sprays, try St. Gabriel Organic Fly Swatter. It's a great product that helps you cut down on fly spray use (which means less chemicals and less waste from empty bottles). It is a dry product that you spread in stalls, or directly on manure that repels horn, stable, house, horse and deer flies, plus gnats, mosquitoes and ticks. A 10lb bag treats 1000 ft.

4. Conserve water by using Stock Tank Defense. Stock Tank Defense keeps your stock tanks cleaner longer which means less frequent washing, and therefore, less water used. It contains all natural beneficial bacteria, specially formulated for stock tanks, improving water quality for fresh, healthy drinking water for livestock, birds and wildlife.

3. Clean your tack with cloth towels or EZ Towels. This will reduce waste from paper towels.

2. Choose eco-friendly show clothes. Wear breeches made of bamboo or boots with bamboo footbeds. Bamboo is a renewable resource, is naturally breathable, and is just as comfortable as cotton. Companies like Kerrits' g.r.a.s.s. and TuffRider's EcoGreen provide both schooling and showing breeches and jods that are made with bamboo, and Ovation's Gold Circuit Naturals are made with bamboo footbeds.

1. When shopping at your local tack shop, bring your own bag(s) or bucket, or if you are only picking up a few small items, tell the cashier that you do not need a bag. Not only will it reduce your waste, but it will save the tack shop money, which allows them to pass the savings along to you!


Have an eco-friendly tip of your own? We'd love to hear it! Post it as a comment to this blog.



Also, stay tuned for our Go Green campaign with Equestrian Clinics. Coming Soon!