Price Crash starts tomorrow 28th August 2010 for the Bank Holiday weekend and ends 30th August 2010.
Spend £20 or more and get 20% off !!
Offer starts Midnight tonight.
This weekend only.
Bank Holiday Price Crash
August 27th, 2010Top Tips for Mane Pulling
August 27th, 20101. A good time to pull your horses mane is when he is warm after exercise as the pores of the skin will be open. This will minimize pain and discomfort.
2. Mane pulling will not be finished in one session, so don’t rush. It is a slow steady process and requires patience. If you attempt to pull the entire mane in one session your horse may become fidgety or suffer discomfort.
3. Ideally you should pull the mane a bit and then give it a few days to settle. Study the mane again and pull more hair as needed. When you try to pull all the hair at once sometimes you can pull out too much or find it settles unevenly once you have finished.
4. Use disposable gloves to protect your fingers. They allow for a better grip without hindering on your flexibility.
5. Some people prefer to use thinning scissors or bladed pulling combs, that cut strands of hair rather than pull them out. Both options can work for immediate effect, but they will cause spiky hairs to erupt in a couple of weeks as the hair grows back.
6. If your horse fidgets it is likely due to boredom or a response to the tugging motion, not actual pain. When outright pain is felt, you either didn’t loosen the pores properly or you’re pulling too many hairs out in a singe swipe. Slow it down.
7. Some horses are simply more sensitive than others. If your horse finds the experience painful or stressful, consider finding another approach. Learn how to mimic a textured natural look via the use of thinning shears. It maybe more difficult to achieve the ideal finish, but it is not fair to your horse to inflict too much discomfort in the name of vanity.
More Poisonous Plants
August 26th, 2010
Some more poisonous plants beginning with B.
Black Nightshade – again this is a plant I don’t recognise but its berries cause various degrees of poisoning.
It looks like this.
Another plant which I do recognise is Bracken, this is most poisonous in early Spring when the shoots are tender or in the late summer in poor pasture conditions which encourages horses to eat it. Horses need to consume bracken for one or two months before problems become evident. Acute poisoning occurs when horses eat large quantities.
Long Distance Riding Routes
August 25th, 2010Just noticed an article about a group of long distance riders who are wanting to publicise routes and need information about accessiblity in other areas. The Equine Ramblers UK have added a new feature to their website listing routes used by riders across the coutry that can be linked up by long-distance riders. For more information click here. They are wanting riders to share their personal routes not just national trails.
Horse Whisperer
August 23rd, 2010I have just watched a television programme at the weekend with Martin Clunes about Horse Power, which is a two part programme on ITV . The Horse Whisperer helped him to “join up” with his horse. We have a useful book from the Threshold guides on Horse Whispering which you might find useful having been tempted by the programme.
Horse Dentist
August 20th, 2010It is coming round to the time of year when I need to have my horses teeth checked. In our area the water is hard and they build up tartar around their teeth which I do try to remove but this can cause soreness on the gums. There is a product we sell called Equus which helps to keep your horses teeth clean, I am going to try it out and will report back with the results.
Poisonous plants Black Bryony
August 19th, 2010Here is another poisonous plant to make note of.
Black Bryony is a plant I did not think I knew until doing some research for this blog, but I now realise that I do have some growing in the hedge and also in some fir trees. It grows from one stalk and climbs vigourously and has a white flower then berries. Here is a picture to help you to recognise it. It causes severe abdominal pain if eaten and profuse sweating then death.
Horse of the Year Show
August 18th, 2010I can’t believe it is coming up the time to book for this years Horse of the Year Show in October. It runs from 6th to the 10th October and is held at the NEC at Birmingham. I have been in the past and thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to go again this year.
Therapy Boots
August 17th, 2010This season we have had some very hard conditions and we have noticed an increase in the sale of cool boots. The newest we have on sale is the Premier Equine Hot and Cold Therapy boots. These boots are a complete package with special features. They come with water liners that can be used by simply soaking in a bucket of cold water for 45 – 60 minutes. These are great at a competition and can be put on immediately after competing. When they are used for the first time the crystals have to be activated for 12 to 24 hours. These liners are then attached with velcro to the outer breathable protection boots and used for up to 3 hours. It recommends that after the cold treatment you should simply change the water liner to the dry cotton liner for extra support as long as required. Hot and cold gel packs are supplied for extra treatment. The cold gel packs should only be used for 5 to 15 minutes sessions 2-4 times a day. Prolonged ice treatment can effect or discolour hair growth.
Poisonous plants beginning with A.
August 11th, 2010Most horse owners are well aware that Ragwort is poisonous to horses but there are also alot of other plants that are dangerous ones to watch out for here is the first on my list.
Annual Mercury is a weed I am not familiar with but it is toxic and damages the liver and kidneys. It is an annual weed, possibly native and found on cultivated land and waste places. It is also a garden weed and is widespread in southern England. Although of local occurrence it can be troublesome on lighter soils. Often found in sugar beet fields.
Autumn Crocus has a very pretty flower and is found in damp meadows and woodlands. Poisoning can occur in the Spring from eating the leaves and seed vessels and in late summer in eating the flowers.