Articles and Tips

Tips for the Horseman

St. Andrews Stables — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:08:34 +0000

MAINTENANCE AND GOOD HEALTH: DO NOT feed cattle feed to horses –Rumensin a chemical that contains monensin, found in cattle feeds helps aid in the digestion for bovine. Rumensin is fine for cattle; it's TOXIC and FATAL TO HORSES. It damages their heart muscles, and horses that eat feed containing Rumensin will die from heart failure - or will be permanently and badly damaged.

Grooming Tips

St. Andrews Stables — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:06:49 +0000

GROOMING TIPS: A power washer is a great tool for the barn. It will not only clean the stalls and barn, but also works great to clean blankets and pads. Place your riding pad against a solid object and power spray from top to bottom, leave to dry in the sun. This works great for all type and makes of pads, with the exception of full wool fleece. Full wool fleece should be brushed and fluffed.

Leather Cleaning

St. Andrews Stables — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:06:13 +0000

LEATHER CLEANING: Proper cleaning is perhaps the most neglected horseman duty. Extend the life of your saddle with a little care and time. Bring an old saddle back to life!! Set a side 30 minutes once a year depending on frequency of use. Look for cracks in the bridle leather around the bit attachments and on the rein, these areas will be most affected by the saliva.

Hoof Care

St. Andrews Stables — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:05:33 +0000

HOOF CARE: Horses require a farrier year round not just in the summer when you are riding – the hoof grows year round. Do not trim your horse’s feet with a cattle hoof trimmer – their feet are different and grow differently than cattle. Make sure the hoof is evenly balanced on all four feet. Have a professional farrier trim your horse’s feet. – No hoof, No horse. Take one of the weekend farrier courses, often advertised in the Horse Country. These weekends course are a great idea, it will give you an idea on how complex the hoof is, and how much you will appreciate your farrier...

Basic First Aid Kit

St. Andrews Stables — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:04:42 +0000

BASIC FIRST AID KIT: Betadine scrub – for cleaning wounds

Handling

St. Andrews Stables — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:03:17 +0000

HANDLING: Don’t spread infectious diseases – if your horse has a running nose or a cough, do not take them off your property. Do not share tack – pads, blankets, cinches, grooming equipment with other horses outside your own herd - skin fungus can be transmitted to your horse from these materials.

Training Tips

St. Andrews Stables — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:01:52 +0000

Wear a helmet. Before mounting – do a safety check on your gear and horse – make sure your saddle is in place walk to the off side and check to make sure nothing is turned under the saddle. When mounting – take your time, don’t rush, give your horse time to adjust to your weight by shifting the saddle on his back, before placing your weight on him.

Interesting Facts

St. Andrews Stables — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:57:30 +0000

INTERESTING FACTS:

According to a recent study, there are approximately ten million horses in the US, with the largest number of horses being used for recreational purposes.

Resource Horse.com