More tips to make caring for your horse easier

Measuring for a horse blanket

With a tape measure, measure from the middle of the chest to the back of the tail. I just measured my mustang-cross at 7 years old he wears an 80!  I think I need a stepladder to climb into the saddle!

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Chestnuts

To soften the hard chestnuts on a horse's legs, apply vaseline to them daily for 4-5 days, then at the end of the 5th day gently peel off some of the layers and buff with a fingernail brush (soft one not a file).

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Prevent Scarring

Desitin ointment is good to apply to wounds as it will prevent scarring. This is after the wound has been properly treated, or vetted.

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Prevent Thrush in the wintertime

Take a spray bottle and fill it half with bleach and half with water. After picking the hooves clean, spray this mixture lightly on the bottom of the hooves, hold the hoof up briefly to dry then release.

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Sledding anyone?

Purchase a plastic sled with handles. Place your muck bucket on top of the sled. Thread a rope through one of the sled's handles and up through the muck bucket handle. Then tie both ends of the rop together, thus making a handle to haul the sled that won't freeze in your hands. When the muck bucket is full of manure the sled will slide easily over the snow.

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How to make an ice boot

Put a bell boot on the injured leg. Fold the bottom up so that it sits on the leg upside down and inside out. Fill the boot with ice cubes and the ice will melt and the ice water will drip down the leg soothing it.

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Bot Removal

Use a lady's safety razor, but wrap a piece of wire around the blade. Stroke the razor in the direction of the grain of hair and the eggs will fall off.

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Show off

After putting on hoof polish spray before showing, spray on an aresol finger nail polish dryer for a real shine.

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Placing a Western saddle

Lay your arm in the groove of the horse's neck, where his neck meets his shoulder. Your fingertips will point to where the pad should lie.