Equipment must fit well and remain clean—or your horse’s coat will pay the price.
Come
spring, you can often (sadly) tell which horses wore blankets and which didn’t.
We don’t mean noting horses that are shedding buckets of hair vs. those with
relatively short coats. We mean the ones with chafed spots on their hips and
shoulders. But rubs... | read
Western Saddles Are (Slowly) Changing
In days
gone by, a cowboy toted his saddle with him everywhere. He tossed it up onto any
horse that came his way—tall or small, razor-backed or mutton-withered. If the
saddle was comfortable and fit the rider, it was just fine. No thought was given
to how it fit the horse.... | read
Since the horse’s knee has more freedom to move than any other joint in the
lower leg, it’s also the toughest to bandage. Bandaging a horse's knee may be needed for
wounds, after surgeries, to hold ice packs in place, and for pressure to control
swelling from inflammation.... | read
Not long ago a saddle blanket was something you put under your
saddle to keep the sheepskin lining of the saddle clean. Today that thin blanket
has been waived in favor of thick pads designed to cushion the horse’s back
rather than just keep the hair and sweat at bay. Fleece, felt, foam... | read
