Work Smarter: Tips To Decrease Horse Stall Maintenance Time

Keeping clean stalls can be one of the most time consuming chores in the barn for some people. Would you love to spend more time with your horses and less cleaning their boxes? Check out some of these tips to decrease horse stall maintenance time!

Set your box up to where it is most convenient to keep disinfected. One of the best ways to do this is to install rubber mats. This is great whether you have a concrete or dirt or clay base. A mat is porous, provides great traction, is durable, and really cuts down on the labor involved in going through stalls. They are also great for your horse’s legs if he is in a lot, and is extremely cost-effective.

The next item of importance is what type of bedding you put on top of the rubber mat. There are tons of choices here, but there are some that stand out. You want something with good absorbency, easy for sifting, and that will encourage your pony to lay down. The most strongly recommended options that meet these standards are shavings. Pellets, and sawdust. These are great choices for simplicity of prolonged maintenance.

Every job is more difficult without the right tools. Imagine a painter with no brushes or accountant with no calculator! Make sure you have access to picks, wheelbarrows or muck tubs, and that they are functional. Keep any equipment you need in working order. Use the most efficient device for the job at hand. If you are picking up after a pony, don’t use a horse-sized pick, use one designed with ponies’ smaller droppings in mind!

When you do it every day, especially if you have a larger herd of horses to care for, it can become harder to want to spend the time doing it the right way. Implement some of these suggestions to help yourself out. The consequences of poorly maintained stalls can be dire for your equine. They can develop skin diseases from the bacteria, as well as respiratory issues from the ammonia. Something else to worry about is the breeding of mosquitoes in the buildup. They can carry West Nile virus, among others, and we all want to avoid that!

One of the biggest detriments to not keeping a proper sanitized area is the increased likelihood of thrush in your horses! This is a terrible fungal infection that eats away at the foot, and it is caused by too much trapped moisture. It creates a horrible stench and is very uncomfortable for your mount. If left untreated, you could be looking at a lame animal. Avoid this altogether by keeping his stall clean. Use the tips mentioned to cut down on your effort spent doing that, this way you are more likely to do it right!

Think of all the ways these suggestions can actually help you! Money can be saved on materials, labor, and services. There will be more happy owners and happy horses!

There you go! Start using a few of these tips to decrease horse stall maintenance time today! Spend less time working and more time riding!

by Adriana Noton
About the Author:

Looking for a cost-effective stall mats for your horses? These environmentally-friendly rubber mats may be just what you need. Rubber stall flooring provides comfortable support for your horses, and helps to relieve joint pressure by absorbing shocks.

Basic Principles Regarding Horse Equipment

There is a lot of different horse equipment that you can buy in order to have a great riding experience and to keep your horse in good condition and well groomed. Much of this equipment you can even purchase online these days, which gives you access to a very wide range of products.

Some of the equipment for riders includes:

Helmets, jodhpurs, clothing, footwear, gloves, body protectors and posture aids, chaps, gaiters, spurs and so on. You can also find specific clothing and accessories for events such as jumping or dressage.

There is a lot of stuff that you will need to get for your horse too. Some of the items that you will need to purchase as a first time horse owner include: a good saddle, a bridle, bits, a saddle rug, girths, a saddle pad, grooming equipment and you can even get supplements to give your horse and keep their health in top condition.

Some of the items that you have to have when you have your horse include:

A head collar with rope, bridle, bits, a saddle, girth, boots, helmet and grooming equipment. If you are buying several items together, then you might be able to get a discount if you ask for one or receive some items for free.

The saddle is a very important purchase and you need to make sure that you buy just the right one for you and for your horse. You should get a saddle that is recommended for you by a saddle fitter and this will reduce the chances of having any injuries done to you or to your horse. Getting a general saddle at first is a good idea as this allows you the most options. You can buy more specific saddles later down the track as you need them.

When you have your own horse you need to ensure that you are ready for the responsibility and commitment that it entails. Part of this responsibility is grooming your horse and you will need to buy a few grooming tools for your horse’s mane, body and hooves and ensure that they are healthy and clean.

There is a lot of horse equipment you will need to buy, but you can get the essentials to start out with and then build up the rest of your equipment gradually. Having a horse is a commitment, but it is also a singular joy that you are going to fall in love with.

by Justin Wade
About the Author:

Mathew Jordan is a specialist as regards horse riding equipment. To discover all sorts of things on the subject of horse riding equipment, explore the online business at Horse Equipment UK

Horseback Riding Instruction: Understanding And Curing Bridle Lameness

Bridle lameness (Zgellahmheit or ‘rein lameness’ in German) can be a mystifying phenomenon until correctly identified.

It is important that you watch your mount carefully during your horseback riding instruction for signs of discomfort which need to be cared for as soon as possible.

What is Bridle Lameness?

A perfectly sound horse in the paddock, or when lunged in a halter, which suddenly goes lame when lunged in the bridle or being ridden, is known as ‘bridle lame.’ This condition shows itself by uneven head nodding, as if the horse were lame in one foreleg, and in extreme cases the horse appears to suffer chronic back issues.

He is leaning on one rein and avoiding the other, which makes his walk and trot strides uneven. The result of this unbalanced contact is that the horse is moving in a constantly crooked motion, with one of his hind legs making shorter strides than the other, leading to apparent lameness.

Bridle lameness can effect a horse regardless of energy level or health. If a horse is not managed properly in the early phases of its training, even an experienced rider may unwittingly cause the condition by forcing the animal to over exert itself. The horse may fluctuate between being hesitant and rushing ahead. Horses may not exhibit the behavior in an extended trot, though in collected trot they may try to go above the bit and refuse to step forwards. Nodding head and non-symmetrical stepping is also common.

What Causes Bridle Lameness & How Can It Be Cured?

A rider who lacks balance and is stiff in one arm can cause bridle lameness in his mount. Rider stiffness results in a mount that is not able to relax in the back. As a result, the horse’s legs are forced to work harder to compensate for the imbalance. This can result in an injury to the horse’s leg due to the uneven stress.

If you suspect that your horse might be bridle lame, pay special attention when practicing your horseback riding instruction to developing a correctly balanced seat, while keeping an equal but light touch on both reins. Ride your horse forward without rushing him and allow him to establish his own natural rhythm.

A horse that has been exhibiting bridle lameness for a long time will require patience on your part. He’ll probably take a while to adjust to no longer feeling crooked when he is being ridden. Once he’s allowed to move forward, feeling straight and free, into a comfortable, elastic gait, he’ll no longer show signs of being lame under the saddle.

by Jim Milton
About the Author:

Jim is a professional horse rider and instructor. Check his how to ride a horse site for a complete horseback riding ebook and more horseback riding instruction help.

All About Fences For Horses And Ponies

Is there such a thing as fail-protected fencing and gates? Maybe someday! Within the meantime, there are specific steps it’s best to take to ensure your horse not solely stays in his enclosure, however remains there safely.

First of all, consider visibility. Your horse must be able to see his fencing, otherwise injuries are imminent. While your horse shouldn’t have any trouble seeing a wood or PVC fence, wire fences pose more of a problem. Colorful tape or ribbon tied to the fence every foot or so makes the horse aware of the fence.

Next, consider the height of the fence. Fencing must be high enough to deter the horse from going over, and low enough to deter him from going under. How high is high enough? About nose high (the horse’s nose, that is!) should do it. If you have more than one horse in the enclosure, put it at the height of the tallest horse’s nose.

There are many different types of fencing to choose from, but electrical, wood, and PVC are essentially the most popular.

Electric fence is the most economical for horsemen on a budget. The most popular forms of electric fence for horses are galvanized wire, plastic-coated wire, 1/2-inch electric polytape, or 1 1/2-inch electric polytape. A good way to make wire fence visible to your horse is to tie brightly colored cloth on every strand every three feet or so. In addition to the wire you’ll need insulators, posts, hardware, and a charger. For about $200, you can buy everything you need to build a small electric fence corral.

In case your budget is bigger you might wish to examine wood—both board, slipboard, or rustic rail. While lumber prices will differ from area to space and do fluctuate, wood is at all times dearer than wire. Wooden fencing is extra aesthetically pleasing than wire and can add worth to your farm, however it’s going to also value you money and time in upkeep. Fences made out of non-stress treated wooden must be painted or stained regularly, and broken or harmful boards must be replaced as noticed. When installing board fencing, be sure to nail the boards to the within of the posts, and not the skin, to forestall them from popping off when a horse leans against them. Nail heads needs to be flush, and the fence posts needs to be stable. If you’re in a situation where it is imperative that your horses do not get out—your pasture borders a busy road, you need to separate stallions from mares, etc.—you may want to think about working a strand of electrical wire alongside the highest rail of the fence.

If money isn’t any object you will get attractive fencing with little or no upkeep. PVC fencing is aesthetically pleasing because it appears to be like like wooden from afar, but it never needs portray and won’t rot, rust, splinter, or break. Some manufacturers claim it is stronger than wood.

Regardless of what kind of fence you choose, once you have it up it is important to walk it frequently for safety reasons. Make sure there are no downed wires or boards that horses could get caught in or escape through. All fencing must be free of any protruding wires, nails, or pieces of splintered wood that a horse could injure himself on. As you walk your fence, replace any broken, sagging, or splintering boards and downed wires as you notice them. Always check your posts for sturdiness by grabbing them and giving them a good tug; if you live in an area where the ground temperature changes frequently you’ll need to do this more often.

Bear in mind, function is essential in terms of fencing, but so is safety!

by Rohan William Scott
About the Author:

Want to find out more about equestrian classifieds, then visit Rohan William Scott’s site on how to choose the best fox hunting horses for your needs.

Horseback Riding Lessons – Does Your Horse Pay Attention

When learning how to ride a horse it is important the animal remains attentive, be it your own horse of one you are simply borrowing from a riding school. If you fail to keep the horses attention during horseback riding lessons, you will find little benefit from one lesson to the next.

The horses provided by horseback riding schools are known for nodding off in the middle of lessons, because they grow weary of the routine nature of the sessions and the repetitive nature of effective teaching. It can be particularly difficult for newcomers to alter the horse’s activity at the same time they are trying to remain focused on giving aids properly and directing the horse accurately.

But part of learning how to ride a horse needs to include varying the routine if you don’t want your horse to ‘fall asleep’ while you ride. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to keep your horse awake and listening.

You need to know what your ability is and choose exercises within it, then use them to keep the lessons interesting for you and the horse.

Those involved in horseback riding lessons may wish to inquire with the teacher to see if they might put the techniques to work prior to starting the session. Perhaps you might suggest that the entire class give them a try.

1. Walking Techniques

Walk your horse on a light contact once around the arena on both reins. Then walk a 20 meter circle – starting with his easier side – taking up a stronger contact. Ask for longer strides, then shorter strides, then longer ones again.

Slow the walk down before circling in the other direction. Before bending your horse the other way, walk him in a straight line for one horse’s length. Ask him to alternate between longer and shorter strides once more.

When doing this you should notice that the horse is more alert, because it is being forced to pay attention to keep up with your movements.

Next, ride the horse in figure eight patterns, maintaining a constant cadence and focusing on easy changes between the left and right sides. Be sure to walk a full horse length prior to switching course, and get the horse ready for the next bend.

2. Trotting Techniques

The above exercises can also be performed in trot, and are an excellent way to prevent your horse from getting ‘stuck’ in one direction and leaning on one rein.

Introduce changes between trotting and walking, and then return to trotting once more. Try hard to make easy changes, in order to get the horse to listen compliantly to our aids and starts to accede to your contact.

If you are a more competent rider you can trot serpentines in 3 loops across the area. Try to get the horse to walk a few strides as you transition to a trot while riding from one long side to another. As you go on you will notice the horse is waiting for your aids, this is the objective, remember to use your legs and keep a forward movement. Be wary of the horse becoming hesitant between transitions as he begins to guess what is coming. To avoid this change up between trot and walk in different places.

3. Canter Exercises

Request lengthening as you reach the long side, and gain control of the horse prior to reaching the short side. Consistent switching from canter to trot and then a resumption of canter, incorporating cantering changing to walking, will help your horse remain at attention, as lengthening and shortening the horse’s stride on the circular 20 meter paths.

The preceding techniques will assist in maintaining your horse’s attention, as it changes his accustomed routines and acclimates his body to the desired movements, facilitating his cooperation. Helping the horse enjoy the things asked of him will result in more enjoyable horseback riding lessons for you.

by Jim Milton
About the Author:

On his horseback lessons site, Milton provides simple and comprehensive lessons including video instructions. Learn how to ride a horse the safe and the confident way.

Horse Wear, Common Classes Of Clothing & Accessories

Maybe you are new to owning a horse, or maybe you just want to get new clothing or accessories for your horse, there is nothing to worry about. If you need to learn about what types of each horse wear to get, then all you need to do is read! Once you have read about them, you will know exactly what to get.

The most common horse clothing purchased is horse rugs , horse bridles, and horse saddles. Of course, there are a lot more to buy, but these are a few of the main pieces. There are different types of each of these, which means you should read about what each one is used for before getting them, because you may end up with the wrong one!

A horse rug is a material which is fastened to the horse to benefit either the horse or the rider, some may benefit the horse by preventing things, or to keep it warm, but some may be to benefit the rider, or both at the same time. The main types of horse rugs are anti-sweat, fly, stable, and turnout rugs.

After a horse has been running, it may need help cease the chills, which is the whole purpose of an anti-sweat rug. A secondary use of the anti-sweat rug is to stop irritation of flies, but that is mostly handled with the fly rug. The anti-sweat rug is made with (range of thicknesses available) cotton mesh. As just mentioned, the fly rug is the primary rug used to stop irritation of flies, and other insects. It is made by fine mesh, is lightweight and as well as its primary use, can also protect the horse from anything like sun burns, or prevent the horse getting dirty, etc. When the horse is just in the stable(s), or indoors, a stable rug is usually necessary. A stable rug keeps the horse either, or both, warm or clean. It is made by quilted synthetic material, but is not water proof. When your horse is just roaming the fields, mainly in the winder, a turnout rug is usually put on the horse. The turnout rug will keep the horse clean and warm, and it is light in weight so the horse will not get tired too easily. The only main concern with the turnout rub is that, usually, it is very easily ripped which means if the horse is roaming around and encountering sharp objects, the rug may rip.

A horse bridle is  tack, made of leather straps, which holds in place the metal bit in the horses mouth and the reins on the horse, for the rider to control it. There are two main types of horse bridles. The two types are English bridles, and Western bridles.

An English bridle is a more dapper design, and is usually used for show-off competitions, or show events, etc. A western bridle is the bridle that would be used for a more general use, for field or stable use, but this is up to the rider. Depending on which bridle you have, there can be many accessories to add on to the bridle tack.

A horse saddle is the main part of the tack; the part where the rider sits on, and which supports the rider. There are many different saddles, but which type you use depends on your horse and what you are getting the saddler for. For example, if you were to get a saddle for training your horse on jumps, or for taking part of a competition involving jumps then you may want to use the all-purpose English saddle.

There are many different saddles to choose from, for different horses, different events, or for different rider-preferences. If you own a horse with a wide-back then you may need a treeless saddle, or if you want to assure comfort for your horse you could choose the Australian stock saddle. Also, the reining saddle was made for a lighter saddle, and for a rider-preference saddle, you may want a dressage saddle if you need a deep-seat. If you want your horse to perform better, you may choose to get a saddle that was designed for the event you are taking part of. For a jump event, you may go with the all-purpose English saddle, but for a racing event, inevitably you would want a racing saddle. If you do not want a saddle for any events, and you just want a general saddle, maybe for taking your horse for a walk, you may choose to get a Western saddle!

If you are new to having a horse, or you have had a horse for a while but never really thought about clothing or accessories, then you are right in reading about it because there are a variety of different horse wear to choose from, and to fit your preferences too.

by Peter Higgin
About the Author:

If you are interested in horses, chances are you’re familiar with most of the horse wear that is needed to make your horse look well-dressed. You can also find a wide range of riding wear for yourself.

Equine Outings For The Entire Family

Even if you and your family already have some horseback riding lessons under your belt, or if you are horseback riding beginners, a great way to get everyone actively involved in a group endeavour is to take a horseback riding vacation.

Where are these lessons offered?

You can choose to ride in the States or experience a new country on horseback. Destinations include:

The African continent

Asia

Europe

Central and South America

Australia and New Zealand

Equine Holiday Package Deals

There are numerous horseback riding activity bundles you can purchase, so you are sure to find one that will fit your loved ones’ desires and abilities.

Some of these adventures are:

1. Staying at a guest or working ranch (Western riding)

2. Wagon trains

3. Riding courses traveling from one accommodation to the next

4. Horseback riding lessons and workshops

5. Learn either Western or English style riding on the trail

6. Take lessons on gaited horses, like the Peruvian Paso, the Icelandic Horse, or the Tennessee Walking Horse.

7. Pack trips that incorporate horseback riding tourists and pack animals riding through the wilds and camping under the stars after dark.

Reasonably priced group and family packages can be found, and each member of the group will likely be paired with one particular horse for the entire trip.

Many horseback holiday operators have instituted weight limitations for participants, thus it is important to verify any applicable policies prior to making any reservations if there is any risk of a member of the party not being able to fall under the limits.

Discover the perfect family trip:

Begin investigating your options through these two accommodating websites.

Both http://www.ridingtours.com and http://www.hiddentrails.com are very user-friendly and will provide you with many options from which you can select your ideal vacation either in the United States or elsewhere. In addition, www.ridingtours.com will provide you with some actual footage of their vacation options.

How Advanced are Your Loved Ones’ Riding Skills?

You will need to know what is meant by a beginning rider and a novice rider, so you can accurately measure your loved ones’ riding abilities as you choose your horseback riding vacation.

A beginner does not have very much riding experience and does not know how to make a horse canter or trot.

A novice can get on and off the horse on his/her own, can make the horse walk in a controlled manner, can make the horse trot for quite awhile, and can make the horse canter for short distances.

Whichever riding vacation you choose, your whole family will benefit from spending time together in a shared activity around horses.

by Jim Milton
About the Author:

Quickly, easily and safely learn the basics of horse riding with Jim Milton by checking his how to horse ride website now. Horseback riding beginners will feel comfortable and confident around their horses.