Product Review - FURminator deShedding Equine Tool

We got to try out a new product this weekend called the FURminator deShedding Equine Tool Fredi, Myself & Perry all flipped for it.

When I got my FURminator in the mail it was like Christmas so I ripped open the package. I couldn’t get to the barn right away so I had to test it out on the Pug. I don’t know if the rest of you are like me, but when I get something new especially for a horse I have to have it out of the package and play with it immediately. I brushed the dog and all of that dead under coat started coming out in the blade. He sat quietly and allowed me to brush him. When I use a regular brush he usually squirms around and looks at me with those big sad eyes. He is kind of fragile so it was nice that I could be gentle and the grooming tool still worked.

I had one horse left in the barn that had not yet shed out and I was saving the test for her, but by the time I had gotten to the barn her owner had come and groomed her for hours so I couldn’t do the true test I wanted to do.

I was left with Perry who still had a few spots of patchy winter hair. We grabbed the FURminator and dug in HARD. I’m so used to scrubbing hard with a rubber curry to pull out the winter hair. Perry’s head popped up in the air like, “WHOA! What are you doing?” I then realized, the tool required no effort and started to run it through her hair softly. The old hair was easily coming out along with a lot of dirt that was next to her skin. I couldn’t believe how much dirt actually came up to the surface without using any effort or any dirt flying into my face like it does with traditional grooming methods. Fredi took over the grooming and Perry was stretching her neck and her top lip started to quiver in enjoyment.

Fredi grabbed the next brush and brushed off all the dirt. Perry was now so clean, SHINY, and soft. Judging by her reaction and how she looked after her grooming session I would say Perry gave it four hooves up. I absolutely love this product, and I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to make grooming easier and have their horse’s hair coat shine.

The FURminator Company makes all kinds of products for Horses, Dogs, and Cats for healthy skin and coats. You can check it out HERE to see why I am so excited about it!

A list of retail locations can be found on www.FURminatorEquine.com

Deanna

Blocker Tie Ring

It's not often that I find a "new" piece of horse equipment that I find so extraordinary but I was recently alerted to The Blocker Tie Ring. It's fantastic for training a horse that pulls back when tied.

Usually when I sack out a horse, I only ground tie him but with the Blocker Tie Ring you can safely tie the horse while you sack him out and teach him to stand comfortably tied at the same time. You don't have to worry about any more broken ties, halters, lead ropes, or worst of all a broken neck.

You can use the tie rings with a single tie, cross ties, or trailer ties. I think I need at least ten of them.

Check it out HERE.

Deanna

First Aid Kit For Horses

You know what they say about horses:
"They can find a needle in a haystack and then get injured by it."



It’s a great idea to have a First Aid Kit ready.

By having a First Aid Kit ready, if your horse gets into trouble, you don’t have to go rummaging around for some basic supplies. I am not a vet, but I always liked speaking with my vet and figuring out some basic treatments I can do myself at home. My vet had always been aware that I would often rescue horses and to try and keep the costs down. He would help me figure out what I could do on my own without the extra cost of him making a trip to the farm.

It would be a good idea to check with your vet about a First Aid Kit for your needs at your horse’s next vet appointment. Have him or her look over your inventory and make suggestions as necessary.

I keep my first aid kit stocked with:

• VetWrap – used to wrap any injuries, but it has many uses!
• A cotton roll – for cleaning and protecting
• Gauze
• Boric Acid – To be used as eyewash
• Band Aids – For humans!
• Banamine – I like the paste. This works great for mild colic.
• Scissors – To cut bandages etc.
• Q- Tips – I’ve actually used Q-Tips to clean out some nasty thrush on a neglected horse. Now I keep them in my First Aid Kit as a precaution.
• Peroxide – I prefer to use this diluted 2:1
• Epsom Salts - great for soaking hooves if there is an abscess
• Antibacterial Soap – This works great to clean superficial wounds and cleaning your hands before touching a wound
• An Iodine Wash
• Horseman’s Dream Cream – A very gentle first aid cream for minor cuts and scrapes. This is my most used product.
• Bute also known as Phenylbutazone – a painkiller by prescription only.
• Linament – For soreness, stiffness, and sprains
• Dandruff Shampoo – works great for flaky skin in body, mane and tails.
• Disposable Syringes- these work great without needles to inject peroxide into a wound.
• Ice Packs - for swelling
• Wound Powder - or some similar product containing a coagulant to stop bleeding.
• Thrush Buster – Creates a physical barrier on your horse’s hoof. It is purple so you can actually see when it needs to be reapplied.
• Thermometer – I have always been able to tell if a horse has a fever without one, but I cannot always predict the exact temperature, so I like to have a thermometer on hand so I can check on a horse’s progress. A horse’s normal temperature should range between 99 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Clorox –Years ago, I had rescued a horse with severe rain rot. My vet suggested I use a mixture of Clorox and water. Ten parts water to one part Clorox (10:1), and it worked great! It very quickly cleared up the rain rot without harming the horse.

You know the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
The best thing you can do for your horse is to periodically check his stall and pasture for anything that could potentially harm your horse. Keep every area that your horse is exposed to free from obstructions. Even with the best of intentions, a horse will eventually have a scratch, scrape, or some other minor injury so be prepared!

I am sure my readers have many other helpful tips on what to keep in a First Aid Kit For Horses.

What’s in your First Aid Kit?

Deanna

The Night Latch Strap

I don't know how I ever missed this, but I recently discovered the Night Latch Strap for Western Saddles. It's very similar to the English Grab Strap which is another great product that I was familiar with.



If a horse starts bucking, you have something to hold on to help keep you in the saddle. I would even take it a step further.

What I really like about the Night Latch Strap, is that when a rider is learning to ride, there is something to hold onto instead of the saddle horn.

When a rider holds on to the saddle horn they round their shoulders forward, tip forward, and lift their bottom off of the saddle. All of these things are undesirable. A rider can place two night latch straps on a western saddle if they would like to hold on with two hands for longe line training. They will then keep their position with shoulders back, bottom seated deeply in the saddle, shoulders stacked on top of hips, and still have something to hold onto.

If you don't want to purchase one, you can learn to rig one yourself by clicking HERE.

The possibilities are endless. What a great piece of equipment, thanks Ann-Margaret!