Horse Care Tips December 21st, 2009
KEEPING WHITE SOX WHITE
After washing your horses white legs cover while wet with Baby Powder this will stop the dust settling and in the morning the powder will just fall off.
WHITEN MANES & TAILS
White cooking vinegar will help whiten manes & tails (and help keep flys away) as well as Magic silver white & Blueo found in the supermarket (washing powder section). Soak manes & tails, then rinse off, then follow up with a show sheen.
PULLING MAINS & TAILS
If you have a horse that objects to having his mane pulled, then rub a little oil of cloves into the hair line as it numbs it a little. Use rubber gloves (or you fingers will go numb) it take about 5 minutes of rubbing before it works.
ABCESSES
ThermaCares pops abcesses with little muss and fuss.
Buy regular oval shapes. That size works well for any size horse.
Make a draw by using either icthymol or make a thick paste of hot water and epsom salt.
Clean out the hoof, pack with the draw.
Cover it with a washcloth and stick the ThermaCare to the washcloth.
Cover with a diaper and vet wrap or duct tape.
Keep the horse turned out in a small area, movement helps a lot more than stall rest.
The heat pad keeps the packing moist and very warm for 8 hours..it’s like soaking for 8 straight hours instead of for 15 minutes many times a day.
It also doesn’t turn the hoof mushy like soaking for 8 hours would do. 9 times out of 10 the abscess will blow the first wrapping or second time.
After 8 hours remove the whole wrapping.
Clean the hoof and let it air dry for an hour or so.
Then repeat the whole process with a new heat pad.
The constant heat makes that pocket of pus move really fast to the area that’s heated.
The packing and covering softens the outside enough to help it blow out when it reaches the outside surface. No more soaking many times a day for days on end.
SHOW TOUCH UPS
Use baby wipes for your show touch ups. It also works well for tack and boot wipe downs.
EMERGENCY BANDAGES
Keep diapers and maxis on hand for the bandage emergency. They are also great for holding poultice in place.
FLY PROOF BANDAGING
Pantyhose make great wound coverings when you need the flies off and the air in.
PULLING ON TIGHT BOOTS
Put a plastic grocery bag over your foot and leg. Boots slip right in!
POLISHING BOOTS
Fleece mitts made for washing cars work great for polishing up your boots.
SHINE UP YOUR BITS, STIRRUPS AND SPURS
After washing all of your items with soap and water, polish with newspaper. It makes everything shiney and is safer than any polish.