Helpful Tips?

[Jill]

I thought it would be good to start a thread of helpful tips for people. Here are some of mine:

• If you don't have water pumps / faucets in your barn or at the paddocks, you can use 5 gallon plastic gas cans (never used for gas before) to lug water in the winter when your hose can't be used due to freezing. This works better than buckets because the water won't slosh out on you.
• When using "stud chains" never put them over the nose as it can cause damage, and never lunge with one. Put the chain under the chin, not over the nose. You still have the control you want/need but will not damage the horse's face.
• Keep an eye on your water and feed buckets. At the place where the metal loops around to attach to the plastic, the black rubber end caprs fall of over time. This leaves a gap and horses can rub and catch their eye lid which then rips. This happened to us 3x over the years before we finally figured out what was happening and every year, others here post that they learned this the hard way, too.

Let's hear your tips!!!

 

[Jill]

Oh, I thought of another one I almost had to use the other day! Keep a box of binder clips (those metal clamps from an office supply store) in with your show grooming kit. In a pinch, they make great holders for your exhibitor numbers at the shows. They aren't as pretty as the ones made to hold show numbers, but they work just as well

 

[Leeana]

• Baby oil GELL works much better for show grooming then baby oil, also is allot easier to work with on the horses face
• If you are showing horses in classes back to back or if you are showing one horse in classes that are really spread out, if you paint their hooves and then spray ULTRA HOOF POLISH ENHANCER over the hooves, all you have to do is wipe the dirt off the hooves after each class with a papertowel, not need to repaint. I've shown horses one day and then the next day just had to wipe the hooves off and no need to repaint. It helps repel dirt off the hooves plus adds extra non oil shine to them.
• Those little wedge makeup sponges are great for applying eye makeup and baby oil/jell to the face. I buy 3 or 4 packs every year and they are cheap too. Keeps your hands oil free and makes doing the makeup much easier and the finished project comes out nicer. A must have for me!
• If you have a horse that will not stand still to have their hooves painted (especially w/ black polish), Apply leg wraps or shipping boots so they dont smear the polish onto their lower legs when they step over or move.

Hmm will try to think of more. Edited for spelling

 

[Jill]

Oh! I like the one about using makeup sponges for the baby oil gel. I'm going to be putting that to good use

Thanks!!!

 

[pinck43]

It's that time of the year for burrs.I tried something different to get them out of manes, tails, and forelocks. WD40. I sprayed on my hands and rubbed through the hair and the burrs just slip out. :aktion033: dionne

 

[MiLo Minis]

It's that time of the year for burrs.I tried something different to get them out of manes, tails, and forelocks. WD40. I sprayed on my hands and rubbed through the hair and the burrs just slip out. :aktion033: dionne

I really wouldn't suggest this as WD40 is toxic and shouldn't be sprayed on you or your horses. Show Sheen works well for this or even plain old cooking oil.

 

[SilverDollar]

I thought it would be good to start a thread of helpful tips for people. Here are some of mine:

• If you don't have water pumps / faucets in your barn or at the paddocks, you can use 5 gallon plastic gas cans (never used for gas before) to lug water in the winter when your hose can't be used due to freezing. This works better than buckets because the water won't slosh out on you.
• When using "stud chains" never put them over the nose as it can cause damage, and never lunge with one. Put the chain under the chin, not over the nose. You still have the control you want/need but will not damage the horse's face.
• Keep an eye on your water and feed buckets. At the place where the metal loops around to attach to the plastic, the black rubber end caprs fall of over time. This leaves a gap and horses can rub and catch their eye lid which then rips. This happened to us 3x over the years before we finally figured out what was happening and every year, others here post that they learned this the hard way, too.

Let's hear your tips!!!

Thanks for the tip about the water buckets. How scary! :new_shocked: I will definitely put that one to use.

 

[Bess Kelly]

DUCT TAPE.......

This works on the buckets where the rubber tips have slipped off.

I use it to tape the breeder alerts to the mares halter. Works great. They are snug and secure. No pouch needed. Started this because I raise the tiny ones and the leather pouch was huge.

Halloween makeup. I usually buy some at the end of the costume sales. Creme makeups in many colors. Never know when you will need a dab at a show...small amounts & inexpensive.

The water jugs Jill mentions...you can get them in blue or white...before I got my heated tubs I used them to tote hot water! She's correct, they don't get you soaked like a bucket. PLUS, you can carry them in the back of a wagon, car, whatever, and tops are on them. If I forgot to drain a hose, I still use them for water!

Christmas tube lights. I keep a string in the aisle of my barn for a soft, all night light. If you need to go out for a barn check, it's enough to see and not be intrusive to the animals.

Need to scrub a bucket and no brush? A handfull of sand works well, as does an old piece of baling string that has been balled up.

 

[Ferrah]

Hair spray. I will never be without it. Works like magic to take off black hoof polish if you accidentally get it on your horses legs.

 

[jbrat]

It's that time of the year for burrs.I tried something different to get them out of manes, tails, and forelocks. WD40. I sprayed on my hands and rubbed through the hair and the burrs just slip out. :aktion033: dionne

I've known people and have personally used WD40 on manes and tails for burrs for many, many years and have never seen or heard of any problems. It works great and it evaporates rather then leaving the hair all greasy or oily. THats the tip I'd have given too. It also puts a nice shine on mane and tail before a class. (being used on mane and tails there is little to no contact with the skin - if you spray it directly on the burrs or hair, or spray it on the comb)

I also like to use cheap corn starch for white socks - or any white.

Listerine for a quick clean up and/or flaky skin. its good for lots things.

Saving old socks for tail bags and/or barn rags.

DUCT TAPE - what a great product,lol. a must have!

I'll have to get a couple gas cans for this winter, thanks for the tip. I hate carrying buckets - freezing cold out and end up with wet frozen pant legs ARRGH!!

 

[ChrystalPaths]

After each feeding, refill the cups with each horse's name on it with the next feed and keep a written explanation of who is who, what each needs and how it responds to people they may not know.

I say this because a month ago while picking up my grandson I got waylaid in Watkins Glen and knew I'd never make it back before dark. SO..I called a neighbor (horse person) and asked her to please turn the barn lites on as Halley had never been in the dark. Well she went down, turned on the lites and let them in and gave them a bit of hay til I got home. It would have helped her had she known that ifo. Now I leave the barn lites on all day, the feed cups are always ready and the hay fluffed for feeding IF I need her and there is pages of info and phone numbers just in case. (Mathew yours is one also!)

 

[Leeana]

Thought of some more on my way home!!!

• Those dog chew toys that squeek are GREAT for posing horses for professional pictures, foal pictures or any time of posed picture. The best thing to get expression/neck at home. My pup has this squeeky lamb chew toy and i think i use it more then she does.

• Black shoe polish works great on the hooves. Especially if you spray the Ultra Hoof Polish Enhancer over it afterwords. Drys quicker then hoof polish
• I think i might be the ONLY person that does this buuut, i found a NEW use for shipping boots! Instead of going through all the vet wrap on the mares tails when hand breeding, just strap on a shipping boot to the base of the tail or the tailbone so no hair gets in the way of the stallion doing his job. I used these all summer. Easy on ...Easy off and you dont go through a whole thing of vet wrap every hand breeding.

• When clipping the heads on the horses, if oyu get a LARGE dog collar and put around the horses throatlatch, its much easier to clip. I use to just slip the halter down but then they always played with it and bobbed their heads and swung it around. Dog collars work great for clipping the heads.
• Those large magic markers are great for doing the rims of the hooves up around the coronet band so you dont get any on the hair untop the hoof.

 

[Floridachick]

FYI WD-40 is very toxic. It also absorbs through your skin!

Here is the SDS http://wd40.com/Brands/pdfs/msds-nmp_canada.eg.pdf

It's that time of the year for burrs.I tried something different to get them out of manes, tails, and forelocks. WD40. I sprayed on my hands and rubbed through the hair and the burrs just slip out. :aktion033: dionne

I've known people and have personally used WD40 on manes and tails for burrs for many, many years and have never seen or heard of any problems. It works great and it evaporates rather then leaving the hair all greasy or oily. THats the tip I'd have given too. It also puts a nice shine on mane and tail before a class. (being used on mane and tails there is little to no contact with the skin - if you spray it directly on the burrs or hair, or spray it on the comb)

I also like to use cheap corn starch for white socks - or any white.

Listerine for a quick clean up and/or flaky skin. its good for lots things.

Saving old socks for tail bags and/or barn rags.

DUCT TAPE - what a great product,lol. a must have!

I'll have to get a couple gas cans for this winter, thanks for the tip. I hate carrying buckets - freezing cold out and end up with wet frozen pant legs ARRGH!!

 

[Country Girl]

Very good thread! I will be coming back to it for days after this to get the great tips you people have!

Emily

 

[dannigirl]

I have several 2" wide dog collars. When we are jumping out of our trailer and harnessing our horses, I will put a dog collar on him before I loosen the halter. I just hate having even the second or two without some sort of control when I used to take the halter off and put it around the neck. I can also get the collar a bit tighter so they cannot slip it off as easily if they pull back on me.

Angie

 

[Jill]

Great tips, people! Keep them coming!!!

 

[Kathy2m]

If you have a hoof abscess or injury you can use disposable diapers on the bottom of the hoof with duct tape.

Just dont get the duct tape on their hair.

A vet told me this one..For wrapping some wounds on the legs use pantie liners instead of gauze they dont stick to the wound.

Great thread Jill.......Kathy

 

[Mini Mouse]

I love this thread. It's GREAT for new horsey people like me. THANKS!!!

 

[jacks'thunder]

Another water bucket idea.. for those of you with cats use your kitty litter containers! Make sure that are completely cleaned and disenfected! The smaller ones with the twist off cap are perfect for hauling warm water to the barn in winter and the larger rectangle ones are perfect for an extra bucket out in the barn. You never know when you need a bucket with a tight fitting lid! I actually fill some of theses up durring the hot weather, freeze them in a chest freezer and pop the huge icecube out and putter them in my large waterers! My Horses love them!

: I know kinda goofy but I just can't see throwing away a perfectly good bucket! LOL! I use them for storing treats, salt block pieces, filling other water buckets, take along in the trailer if it's going to be a long ride.

Also I keep a small thing of that antibacterial hand cleaner in my barn. I get kids that visit and with llamas, goats, horses and so on it good to be able to clean off every ones hands quickly! I actually use it every time I leave the barn!

Just my 2 cents! :bgrin

Leya

This is a super fun thread!! I can't wait to read more!! :lol:

One more before I head out side, I always keep a small knife in my barn. The little fold up kind! Use some bailing twine, tie it to your knife and hang it up high! That way you know exactly where your knife is at all times! I'm one who used to keep it in my pocket but then I'd forget it in the house, wash it, leave it in the garage or on the kitchen counter!

But Now I know exactly where one is all the time! I can count on that! LOL!

 

[The Simple Life Farm]

Also, the large cat litter buckets with the snap lid can be cleaned and decorated to use at the shows. You can put last minute touch-up supplies in them, close the lid, and you have a handy place to sit while waiting on your class.