This page is to give everyone extra
tips about training, cleaning gear, preparing for shows etc. Hopefully
you will gain some extra knowledge and improve things and helps things
look better or be more organised.
HANDY HINT no.1
After riding your horse,
on a hot day, or if your horse has built up a sweat under the saddle, leave
the saddle blanket the wrong way up hung over the saddle so that the sweat
can dry out and not be damp for your next ride.
HANDY HINT no.2
At a show, before entering
the ring, and after you have applied the 'hoof black' wait two minutes
for it to dry, and spray on some hair spray. This will give the hoofs an
extra shine and prevent the 'hoof black' coming off too soon.
HANDY HINT no.3
On hot days at a show, bring
a spray bottle filled with water, and inbetween events, if your horse is
very hot, spray him lightly. Trust me, your horse will appreciate it.
HANDY HINT no.4
(my secret recipe)
When putting make-up on
your horse for showing, if using a commercial make-up, put as much as you
will use in a separate container, and add 1/4 of that amount of vaseline
(petroleum jelly). Stir this up so it is a paste, then using a cloth, apply
it. This will give it a neat(er) look and give it extra shine.
HANDY HINT no.5
If there are some brown
mucky stuff on your horse's bit, that will not come off with your fingers,
use a metal dish scrubber to get it off.
HANDY HINT no.6
DO NOT wash your white dressage
bandages or saddle cloth with your other things, wash them separately.
(I've learnt from experience, by having my white bandages turn out blue!)
HANDY HINT no.7
If there is something outside
the arena you are riding in that is making the horse distracted, leg-yield
the horse past it with it's head facing towards it a couple of times. This
will make your horse concentrate on YOUR AIDS and not at the "boogy" thing.
(I'm not sure if that will work with other horses, but it certainly works
with Elle)
HANDY HINT no.8
If your horse is really
strong during one of your riding sessions and just wants to canter off,
put him/her into canter and don't let him stop until you feel ready. If
you get tired before your horse does, um..... well, just keep trying until
he calms down.
HANDY HINT no.9
If you just get a new bridle,
only oil it once (the first time) and from then on, use leather creme,
as if english leather is oiled too much, then it tends to go spongey. Using
leather creme softens the leather, but does not make it go spongey.
HANDY HINT no.10
If your horse is contisently
licking the bricks around the stable, well, I suggest you get a mineral
or salt block, because he MUST have some sort of deficiency to be doing
that (!)
HANDY HINT no.11
Do not brush your horse's
tail everyday but only after you have washed and while the conditioner
is still in you should comb it through using a wide tooth comb. In other
instances use your fingers to get out the knots. Every time you brush your
horse's tail, about 5 hairs or more come out, and your horse's tail is
very precious!
HANDY HINT no.12
If you have a separate bridle
for shows, and your bit came in its own box (or you may have another box),
keep your bridle in a cotton bag (the leather parts) and the bit in a box.
It will stop the leather from going hard and getting cracked because the
moisture is held in, and the box will help to keep the bit unscratched.
HANDY HINT no.13
If your horse is anything
like Elle at shows....this will help. If your horse dribbles alot (especially
after eating lucern hay!) while being ridden and you find green gunk all
over the bit (s) and around the mouth, between your events, have a spray
bottle filled with water handy and quickly take of the bridle and squirt
the bit and around the mouth until there's no gunk left.
HANDY HINT no.14
If your horse has a habit
of trying to walk away while you are mounting, get someone to hold your
horse or...if you are by yourself, keep mounting and dismounting until
your horse gets sick of moving around in circles and stands still.
HANDY HINT no.15
If you horse has a habit
of walking away while putting on a bridle, put your bridle on your horse
in a holding pen, and let your horse walk round and round and round and
round and round (you get my picture!) until she/he learns to stand still.
Patience is the trick, but the end result is good!
HANDY HINT no.16
When clipping the hairs
out of ears, for show horses especially, stick a big lump of cotton wool
in both ears (big enough so that it won't fall in!) therefore, the horse
won't here the clippers and no hair will fall in!
HANDY HINT no.17
Always keep a spare piece
of bailing (I have no idea if thats how you spell it) twine with you at
shows. It may come in handy.
HANDY HINT no.18
To keep the tail hair flat
before a show, get an old thick and strong stocking, cut the foot off at
the bottom, sew a seam round that edge, and slide the stocking up the tail.
Fasten this with a large safety pin, (making sure the pointy bit will face
away from the horse if unfastened) to the back of your cotton rug. For
extra security, also use a tailbag over the stocking.
HANDY HINT no.19
A packet of unscented (most
horses will not like the smell of scented wipes) baby wipes or wet wipes
in your grooming bag/tack box/ showing kit will come in handy. eg. Giving
your boots a quick wipe-over before you enter the show ring or wiping your
horse's corners of the mouth etc.
HANDY HINT no.20
I have tried this and have
seen a major improvement with Elle's behaviour while being ridden in the
indoor arena. (I'll just explain what Elle was doing) Even when Elle was
behaving like an angel outside, she was really nervous and strong in the
indoor arena. Firstly I just let her go inside by herself so she could
just "chill-out" and familiarise herself with the surroundings. Secondly
I established a routine which I still use at the moment. It is: bring her
in from her yard, tack her up, lunge her in the round yard, take her into
the indoor arena, walk her around until she is walking calmly, get on and
walk her on a loose rein, take up the contact and start working properly.
This has made a lot of difference and she works like a little angel. Once
I did not stick to my routine and she misbehaved! If you have a similar
problem, try something similar. It may or may not work.
HANDY HINT no. 21
I do not have this problem,
but if you have a grey/white horse that is clipped and rugged, and you
have dark grey or black stains forming on the shoulders, try rubbing some
"show sheen" on it before you put on the rugs. This smooths the hair so
the rugs do not rub so much.
HANDY HINT no. 22
I know a lot of you are
probably not much into sewing with a sewing machine but this may help all
you people who have to plait their horses mane regularly (I dunno how to
spell it). You will need:
-
A sewing machine and thread
-
about 1m square of fabric
-
the spongey stuff that you put
inbetween fabric (I'm not sure what that is called)
-
binding fabric
-
and maybe your mother or grandmother
(someone with sewing expreience)
There are no exact plans to
follow, but make a waist apron looking thing based on the style of a 'bum
bag'. Sew as many compartments as you like (for scissors, spray bottle,
thread, needles, comb, brush etc etc) and sew on the binding fabric enough
so you'll be able to tie it around you waist. This is only the basic explanation,
for a more detailed explanation email
me making the subject line - HANDY HINT no.22
HANDY HINT no. 23
If you have a habit of leaning
forward while riding, put a folded old towel or folded saddle blanket etc.
under the front of the saddle. To begin with this will feel uncomfortable
but you will get used to it.
HANDY HINT no. 24
If you have a habit of hunching
or having your hands too low etc. place a whip or stick between your elbows
and back (horizontally) while you ride. Watch though that you do not stick
your neck out to compensate the new position.
HANDY HINT no. 25
If you have a habit of not
keeping your thumbs on top, try riding with your thumbs pointing to the
sky, or if you lapse out of this too quickly, try riding holding a thin
stick between your thumbs (underneath) and fists.
