Tips from the Great Horse Men & Women

[xxshowponyxx]

Yes, I remember rolling banks, and the straw that went across the door. We also used to make wisps from hay, cut our own chaff and make haynets out of baler twine. In fact I still cut my baler twine off the bale at the knot even though I havent made a haynet for years!!! ( it was only writing this thread that made me realise I still do this!!! )

[hoorayhil]

The purple crystals are potassium permangnate and my dad used to use it to disinfect our fishtank, as it wouldn't kill the fish just the germs! Not sure if you can still get it.
The other thing everyone should have in their first aid box is a bottle of peroxide. Just chuck it in any open wound to clean out and protect again tetanus, but stand clear it stings! I used to use it on newly shaved (human) legs and it slowed down regrowth.

[sarahp]

I had to use PP on my son's chicken pox spots when he was a child!

[traffik]

brown paper on top of sunday nights feed mash(mondays was always horses day off) kept feed moist and warm.
brown paper over top of kaolin & bandaged . learnt in dizzy days with eventers abroad.
treacle and cider vinegar my mothers daily diet to keep arthritus at bay.

[princessstacie22]

cornucresin on an old scab, encourages hair regrowth.
Have tried it and the hair grows back alot quicker!!

[xxshowponyxx]

Jan 10, 2010 18:03:55 GMT princessstacie22 said:

cornucresin on an old scab, encourages hair regrowth.
Have tried it and the hair grows back alot quicker!!

I have used this as well and it does work......however make sure you 'stroke' it on in the direction of hair growth. The first time I used it I rubbed it in in small circles round and round, and the hair grew back funny!

[lizzie]

Peroxide on Mud Fever Scabs to soften them and then soak them off with warm salt water.

Pig Oil on Feathers to protect them from the mud disolving them through the winter.

Fairy Liquid on White Feathers really lathers up well and is a lot cheaper than all the blue shampoos.

I still have some Jute rugs and if I felt it was the best thing for the horse they would come out.

Lovely thread and got some good tips from it especially the Cider Vinegar for Arthritis.

[showingforfun]

I use this mixture for fly repellent and it works a treat.

Cider vinegar and water in equal parts
Fairy liquid- couple of squirts to mix
and a few drops of citronella & tea tree oil.

Smells fairly bad but does keep the flies away.

[traffik]

weak fairy washing up liquid sprayed around straw beds stops ponies eating it.

[hacklover]

omg jute rugs!! where did they go. a couple of thick blankets under a jute rug and they were soo sooo cosy, i loved it.

[zara]

colic drench 3 tble spoons brandy mixed with liquid paraffin warmed the stomach of a colicky
pony and they pass dropping with ease

[lovemyhorses]

if you put a peice of silver in a water bucket outside it stops it going green and slimey. If you put a tennis ball in a water bucket outside in the winter it stops it freezing. ** BEST TIP OF ALL I THINK**- if you put hairspray on your bridle before a competition it makes it look clean and shiny and doesnt make the leather go hard and sticky works so well (i usually do it just as im about to tack up) A judge told me that one !!

[lovemyhorses]

if you put a peice of silver in a water bucket outside it stops it going green and slimey. If you put a tennis ball in a water bucket outside in the winter it stops it freezing. ** BEST TIP OF ALL I THINK**- if you put hairspray on your bridle before a competition it makes it look clean and shiny and doesnt make the leather go hard and sticky works so well (i usually do it just as im about to tack up) A judge told me that one !!

[showingfanatic]

wow i found this thread so interesting! keep them coming guys

[Tallyho]

i think i actually love this thread!

Yes to thatching - don't use straw now though.
Yes to vaseline in feet
Yes to guiness in feed.

Apple in water bucket to stop it freezing in winter

And oh my god. We used to have an old copper urn to boiler linseed and barley in when i was a kid.

On numerous occasions having returned from hacking for hours in the freezing cold my mum would find me up to my shoulders in the urn - love the smell.

Nowadays - is a burko water boiler ok to use for boiling it? What about a 6.5 litre slow cooker left on over night?

God - i'm looking forward to winter now!

[jennawhitehead]

To give my horse a shine before going in the show ring i put on Mr shene furniture polish it works a treat !

[jennawhitehead]

Do bots get onto your horse ??
Well get them of then put oil on where they go the most.

[jennawhitehead]

Use white towels as a gangee they are alot cheeper

[leahwright]

Oct 9, 2007 13:08:34 GMT spot said:

we used to put stout or guinness in feed and cider vinegar

#

How funny we still give malabou sweetheart stout.. meant to give a shiny coat!

[ladybumble]

My best tip was from an almost unknown but top rider in his day man called Alwin Varlie (sorry about spelling) His tip was:

Always listen to people and take note of what they say because one day u never know that advice from the mad all git might just solve the problem u have at the time.

And by god he was right

Also you never stop learning and everyone has a point of view that you should respect even if it differs from your own.

[lillicob]

If you have a horse/pony who doesn't drink much at a competition, cut a couple of apples up and pop them in the bucket, works every time, bobbing the apple and they always end up drinking too.
If you have a horse/pony who won't have the clippers on their head, get a bic type razor cut the plastic off right in front of the blades with strong sharp scissors, and away you go does the hairiest chins and whiskers.

[crimsoncloverep]

I remember, we viewed a house once, and they had these gorgeous old stables attached to the house, they were only small, and at one end was a huge AGA type heater, to keep horses warm in the wintere and after hunting, and a old cooker thing, to make the feeds! It was so sweet

[showjumper007]

Garlic is brilliant for flys they absolutely hate it
Vaseline is great to put around dark eyes it

[showjumper007]

To get a better seat whilst riding ride bareback. I do it 5 minnets before schooling or jumping on my horse

[lisalittlechild]

the fabric conditioner one is fab will save me loads of money!! love it!!

[nightwish]

Nov 25, 2007 21:34:51 GMT lawkholme said:

sweet itch we found that using Avon Skin So Soft mixed half and half with water stopped our mare rubbing her mane off it might not work for all but its worth a try

this is true, it works for mt mare too. but i dont mix it with water i put it on out the bottle x

[lordharding]

A sprig of elder in their brow piece will keep the flies away whilst out hacking.

[bumblebee]

I've started using those vacuum storage bags for storing rugs - best to go for ones that fit one rug each so then you only have to open the one you need. Pop the rugs in, vacuum the air out and they compact down to about 1/4 of the size - perfect for storing.

[highlandpony<3]

For bad feet.... Copper sulphate mixed with sudocreme untill mixture is completely blue... pack it into the clefts by the frog and paste it all over the bottom of the foot. hardens it really nicely... copper sulphate can be brought from ebay v.cheaply.

[kates]

i'm 29...but was taught about the horsey world from my mum, and i still use all these tips today...but not the mr sheen one...which i might add is on my shopping list i've just written using these hints and tips.,

I have a show on sunday and I'm going to try and prep him on a budget, and see what happens...