“Horse boots?” you ask. “Horse blankets…does my horse come with its own wardrobe?” The purchase of a horse can bring so many changes; it can overwhelm the owner just by the information needed on the supplies.

For your journey into horse care, you’ll need good horse blankets. More than one is quite handy as one alone is sure to get dirty and need attention just when you count on it the most. The horse blanket, of course, usually goes along with owning a western saddle, which requires the use of a blanket underneath because of the lack of padding. It would be cruel to use a western saddle without a horse blanket, and usually a pad is used in addition to the blanket. You want optimum performance from your animal. You get that result by taking good care of your horse, which mean using the proper equipment and supplies.

Aside from the horse blankets, pads, and saddle, you’ll want other things such as a horse trailer for hauling the animal, a properly fenced area for grazing, a barn for storing hay and stalling the horse, curry combs for the care of the mane and tail and to groom the horse’s coat of hair, a big water barrel or trough, grains for feeding, bridles, bits, a halter, and various other items that might come in use.

Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following:

One of those items could possibly be horse boots. Don’t worry, you won’t have to take your pet shopping and spend hours at the shoe store while they choose their selections! You could be amazed, however, at the stores that do sell horse boots and at how many varieties there are. There may be as many as there are different selections of blankets.
Your beloved pet need not be dressed in its “horse clothes” each time it leaves the barn. Unlike our clothes, which we could get arrested for not wearing in public, your horse would wear its clothes only when appropriate for the situation.
As with the horse blankets, the horse boots are not just for looks. You can, however, match the color of the boots to the color of the blanket, if that is an issue for say, show purposes.

Available for purchase are vinyl boots, bell boots, rubber bell boots, and splint boots among others. You can buy boot covers to keep the boots clean.

One of the important uses of horse boots is for the miniature horse used as a guide horse for the blind. These tiny creatures are extremely intelligent and must be protected from the abuse of the city sidewalks and scorching pavement.
Horse boots have occasionally been used in lieu of horseshoes, yet another necessity for the new horse owner to learn about. The shoes in question do not refer to dress shoes or casual wear, but the shaped metal pounded into the bottoms of a horse’s hooves.

Hardened surfaces can be brutal against a horse’s hooves. Especially a horse subjected to tough work conditions. One type of horse that comes to mind is the horse used for police patrol duty in cities.
No matter what activity you choose to use your horse for, remember it is under your care and control and deserves the best treatment.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his soon to be top ranked Perpetual20 affiliate site: Perpetual 20

Dressage is a riding discipline that celebrates discipline, grace, elegance, and beauty. It is a riding discipline that is made even more beautiful by its simplicity.

When is comes to outfitting the dressage rider less is better. A rider competing in the lower levels should be wearing well polished black hunt or field boots. They should have invested in a pair of britches. A clean white shirt should be worn with a collar and ta stock pin. Covering the white shirt should be wearing a dark colored jacket. The riders hands should be covered in dark colored gloves that will help disguise the movement of the riders hands. If the rider has long hair is should be gathered up and tucked neatly out of sight. On the riders head should be a black helmet. If the rider is a junior rider, under the age of eighteen, many show committees require that the rider’s helmet should meet ASTM/SEI standards and have a fastened harness. Unless the rider is aboard a hot horse (high spirited horse with an excessive amount of go) the rider should have a pair of spurs which help dress up the rider’s leg.

A rider competing in the lower levels of dressage should make sure their horses tack follows the same simple guidelines as the riders apparel. Before entering the competition the horses coat should be clean and well groomed. Long before leaving for the show the rider should have pulled their horses mane and on the morning of the show they should have plaited the shortened, thinned mane into several tidy braids, if they have a horse with a nice steady head set they can wrap the braids with white adhesive tape, at the lower levels of competition braids are not actually required but they are a sign of respect. The tail should be left upbraided. The horses hooves should be polished with either clear or black hoof polish. The horses bit should be a simple snaffle, curb bits are not acceptable in dressage competitions, the bit can not include any copper. The bit should be attached to a plain leather bridle. On the horses back their should be a leather saddle. At the lower levels of competition the rider can choose between a black or brown colored saddle and they have the option of using a dressage saddle or a dressage saddle. Under the saddle their should be a saddle blanket, the blanket can be black or white and be either a square cut or can be shaped to follow the line of the saddle.

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Horse Blankets. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

Once a rider has reached the upper levels of dressage competition their are a few subtle changes in their show attire. FEI rules require that they wear a pair of white britches. Hunt coats are no longer allowed, riders are required to wear the longer, more elegant shad belly. Although their is no rule banning the wearing of a helmet most riders choose to wear a derby style hat. Black gloves are replaced with white gloves.

Just like the riders show clothing there are some changes made in the horses tack. The bridle must be made of black leather, in the horses mouth their should be two bits in the horses mouth, a snaffle bit and a curb bit. A whip is no longer allowed in competition. The horse must be braided. The saddle must be a dressage style cut and be made of black
leather. Some riders have chosen to add a jewel encrusted brow band to dress up a plain horses head.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

In addition to being structurally designed to steal your breath , horses have a hair coat that is designed to withstand the elements. As long as they have plenty of fresh water, lots of roughage and a good shelter there is very little reason to blanket a horse. Most breeds have skins that are fairly tough. In addition to a tough skin they are blessed with a wonderful hair coat. Their hair is designed to fluff and catch pockets of air, once the air is caught in the hair it is warmed with the horses body heat. A healthy horse with a good hair coat will stay warm, wrapped in their air pocket throughout the winter. If you don’t believe drive past a field of unlamented horses in the winter, chances are pretty good that they will be completely ignoring any shelter they have been given. The only time the average horse has a real problem with staying warm is if they have gotten wet, or if their hair has been flattened by mud.

Just because the average horse doesn’t need a blanket in the winter doesn’t mean that they all don’t. Several breeds, including Arabians and Thoroughbreds, have thin skin that is easily chilled. Older horses can also have a difficult time staying warm. Horses that have had an injury or illness that caused them to loose hair. Horses that are underweight are another group of horses that should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t develop a chill.

I trust that what you’ve read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

There are a variety of reason’s horse owners might choose to leave their horse blanketed during the winter months. Some people who ride during the winter months choose to save time cooling out and waiting for their horse to dry after it has been worked by body clipping, horses that have been body clipped must be blanketed.

Several show barns might decided to leave their horses blanketed so they are able to attend shows in the early spring with a horse that is sleek and shiny as opposed to a horse that is covered in a thick winter fuzz.

In the summer there are three main reasons a horse owner might choose to blanket their horse. Some horses, especially light colour ones are prone to sunburn, wearing a light weight blanket allows these horses to be outside without burning. Some horses are highly susceptible to bug bites a turnout fly sheet prevents bugs from biting their sensitive skin. Horse owners who spend a great deal of time on the show circuit will use a light weigh sheet to prevent the sun from bleaching their show horses coat. A few horse owners will even resort to a heavy weight turnout rug in an attempt to help sweat off a few of their equine friends excessive pounds.

You can’t predict when knowing something extra about Horse Blankets will come in handy. If you learned anything new about Horse Blankets in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

If you don’t have accurate details regarding Horse Blankets, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.

Most horse owners have started out the same way… loving and caring for ponies. Former pony owners look back on their pony owning years and a distant far away expression comes over their faces. It is nearly impossible for a horse owner not to have a pony story, some good some not so good.

For the most parts ponies are tough. They seldom seem to be struck low by the illnesses and maladies that seem to strike their larger equine counterparts. Their toughness is one of the reasons that ponies are so often a good match for children.

Pony owners who live in northern climates that keep their ponies outside during the frosty winter months have to do a few things to make sure their ponies stay sound and healthy.

Snow can be dangerous. Each time a pony takes a step on the the snow they start to gather snow in the bottom of their hooves. Each time the pony takes a step the snow becomes harder pack until the pony is forced to walk on rounded balls of ice. Not only is walking treacherous on the ice balls, if the pony missteps or slips they can strain or twist their
legs, either on of the injuries could create a lameness that can plaque the pony for months. Smearing petroleum jelly on the bottoms of the ponies hooves every couple of days can prevent the snow from gathering on the ponies hooves.

Regular dental work is as important to ponies and horses as it is to their human caretakers. If you notice that your pony is suddenly loosing a great deal of weight have your veterinarian take a look at their teeth. If your veterinarian notices any sharp edges on your ponies teeth make sure the teeth are floated. Going into the winter months it is especially important to make sure that your ponies teeth are in good shape.

Make sure your pony has plenty of access to good fresh water. If you don’t have water heater for your buckets plan on breaking the ice several times a day.

Ponies who are kept outside must have access to shelter. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a simple three sided lean-to facing away from the wind is enough. The most dangerous condition is if the weather is both wet and cold.

Although many people tend to take the cold blustery winter months off, preferring to stay inside to riding. That doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with riding during the winter, riding through snowdrifts can be almost as good for conditioning as riding in a deep sand arena. If you choose to work your pony it is important to make sure its dry and free of sweat before you put it out in the field. A heavy dense winter coat can sometimes make this difficult. Some pony owners opt to body clip (remove all the long winter hair). Ponies that have been body clipped can not be turned loose in the elements without some form of protection. Pony owners who decide to keep a body clipped pony outside should use a warm turnout rug to protect the pony from the elements.

If you are a pony owner who uses a turnout blanket make sure the blanket is well fitted and clean. Check underneath the blanket for rubbing and chaffing on a daily basis.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

Turn-out rugs are exactly what they sound like. Turn-out rugs are blankets that are sturdy enough to handle the wear and tear of life outside. They are designed to hold up to the roughest of play. They are also designed to rip if the horse gets caught on something in their field.

There are two types of turn-out rugs. The heavy variety are designed to be used during the cold winter months while the lighter blankets (the lighter variety of blankets are typically called sheets while the heavier type are called rugs).

Quarter sheets are strange looking things. Held next to the full size sheets and rugs they look like somebody forgot to attach the from half of the blanket. Blanket designers haven’t forgotten a thing. Quarter sheets are designed to hook to the saddle and cover the horses haunches. These blankets are typically used to keep a horses muscles warm while the rider
waits to go into the show ring after a rider has finished their pre-class schooling session. Some riders decide to save money and instead of purchasing a quarter sheet they simply use their stable sheet folded in half to cover their horse.

You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Horse Blankets. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.

Stable sheets are light weight sheets that are too thin to be used outside of the stabling area. They are generally used to cover the horse after its been groomed and bathed. They have the very specific purpose of keeping the horse clean. Some riders use stable sheets to cover a horse while it is being transported. Many large stables have their stable sheets
custom done in their stables colors. Some catalogs and tack shops refer to stable sheets as dress sheets.

Coolers are another type of blanket that are self-explanatory. Coolers are placed on a hot horse to help slow the cooling process. They cover the entire horse, ear to tail. The open design of coolers allows the air to flow through them. Coolers are typically custom designed in a stables colors and can be monogrammed. Several shows give away coolers, instead of trophies and ribbons, as an reward for high point championships.

Fly sheets are blankets that are designed to help keep flies from pestering their horses. Horse owners can choose between a close knit fly sheet or one that has a large weave pattern.

Blanket liners are typically designed from thin smooth material that is designed to slide smoothly across the horses muscles without rubbing off the hair or chaffing the skin. Typically blanket liners cover only the horses chest and shoulders where blankets typically wear at the horses hair.

No matter what type of blanket you decide to use it is important to make sure that the blanket properly fits your horse.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Horse Blankets. Share your new understanding about Horse Blankets with others. They’ll thank you for it.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Several horse owners use fly sheets as a form of fly control.

The material used to make fly sheets is the same type of finely woven mesh material used
to make vinyl lawn furniture. The same type that has been used since the 1960′s. Fly sheets are typically constructed of polyvinyl that is resistant to UV rays and comes in a wide variety of colors (including blaze orange for horse owner that live in the middle of a hunting region.) The polyvinyl is normally designed in a loose weave pattern. Polyvinyl is damage caused by dirt and oils.

Horse owners have two different types of fly sheets to select from, a scrim sheet and a turnout fly sheet.

Fly sheets that are designed for turnout purposes are typically made of a stiffer lightweight material then scrim fly sheets. When outfitting a horse with a turnout fly sheet owners should make sure that the sheet fits well enough that the breast straps, surcingles, and leg straps do not have to be tightened excessively which can impede the horses movement. Owners should not cross the leg straps of a turnout fly sheet. Leaving the leg straps uncrossed will allow the horse to flap his under his belly without ensnaring it in the straps. When purchasing a fly sheet for turnout owners should look for one made of a lightweight mesh material that is easy to clean. In the event of severe stains (manure and grass are the most common) blanket owners can try using a stiff, sudsy brush directly on the stain. this works especially well if the blanket is laid on a concrete surface. A fly sheet made with polyvinyl will typically dry within thirty minutes of being washed. Machine washable is ideal. It is not a bad idea to purchase two turnout fly sheets, that way if one gets dirty or tears owners have another one available.

A well crafted turnout fly sheet will be designed to tear if the horse gets it caught on something but should be designed in such a way that the damage will be minimal.

Most horse owners prefer elastic leg straps on their turnout fly sheets over the nylons variety.

Scrim flysheets are designed to be used while the horse is in a stall, typically after a thorough grooming has removed all the naturally protective dirt and oils from the horses coat. Scrim fly sheets are designed to loosely cover the horses body. because of the loose fit horses should never be turned loose while clothed in a scrim fly sheet. Many owners also use scrim fly sheets as an anti-sweat blanket.

The mesh design of fly sheets will not prevent the horse from becoming dirty and dusty like solid blankets.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Horse Blankets. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

A fly sheet should help wick moisture away from the horses body which will keep them cool and comfortable throughout the hot summer months.

This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

The horse blanket has been around for many years. As long as cowboys and Indians have existed, so has the use of the horse blanket. A welcome addition to any true-blue western cowboy’s stock of horse paraphernalia, the horse blanket can be useful and pleasing to the eye as well.

Most story books about horses and cowboys or Indians will include a reference to or a picture of a horse blanket. It is also a work of art for collectors and to western museums.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

Where to buy a horse blanket is not a problem as there are so many outlets available both online and in the ‘real’ world, so to speak. A selection could be as close as your local feed store. Many magazines that advertise western or Indian related items will carry horse blankets. Some of the bigger, well-known flea markets also are sure to have someone dealing in horse blankets. Some of the companies that sell western items and equipment are American Saddlery, Cottage Craft, Classic Equine, Horsewear, and Cowboy Brand.

A horse blanket was used in the Wild West days of gun fighting, in theaters with plays about western days, in farms and ranches around the globe. Soldiers who fought wars on horseback used the horse blanket. There are rodeos across the United States, and you won’t see a rodeo without seeing a horse blanket. It is well-known to people who don’t even ride horses. You can find them sold at travel stops and tourist stores, although some may only be decorative and less functional to the real cowboy or cowgirl. A restaurant that advertises steak as one of its main attractions might have a statue on display with a horse and its trusty blanket.

The fibers in a good horse blanket will wick away the sweat from the horse’s back. Cooler blankets help keep the horse comfortable while they wait in the heat of the sun or in a hot building, such as an auction building or a barn with poor airflow. The horse blanket is easy to care for and only looks better as it ages, although excessive wear will merit replacement for your horse’s benefit. A torn or holey blanket is sure to have less ability to do what it is meant to do.
The horse blanket is a staple for the hard-core cowboy or frequent rider. It is a help to ranch hands when they have to stay out in the weather during round-ups of livestock. Even if the horse doesn’t need the blanket, the rider might. It makes a nice pallet to shield the rider from the ground should they spend a night by the campfire! It’s certain to pad the head better than a rock should a nap be necessary during work breaks. It may even be used as a changing curtain should a lady rider or work hand be mixed among the men folk! (No peaking, fellows!) You could place it under your basket and dinnerware to protect your picnic from the insects crawling around by spreading it over the ground or a nearby rock while you eat.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Horse Blankets.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

Those of you not familiar with the latest on Horse Blankets now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

Equine lordosis, more commonly called swayback is a condition that looks just like it sounds. Instead of a nice straight line from the the withers to the hip a horse with a swayed back has a spine that dips towards the ground.

The average horse person looks at horse plagued with a swayed back and automatically jumps to two conclusions. The fist the conclusion the person jumps to is that the horse is a senior citizen, if not completely past their useful years they are close to it. The second conclusion they jump to is that they horse’s spine was damaged through years of hard riding with an improper conclusion.

I know from personal experience that these misconceptions are not always true. I know this because I ride a young warm blood gelding, Spooner, who has been plagued with a swayed spine since he was a yearling. Although this gelding will be plagued with a swayback for the rest of his life it has in know way affected his working career. He has started a successful career as a show jumper and spends a great deal of his time schooling complicated dressage movements. He is
athletic despite his condition and I’ve never come across a more willing partner.

While he was an undergraduate at the University of Kentucky Dr. Patrick Gallagher noticed something interesting about horses who had equine lordosis. Humans and dogs that were diagnosed with lodosis were severely disabled while horses with the same condition where able to be worked and trained, something Spooner has proven to me time and time again.

It is estimated that only approximately one percent of the worlds horse population is diagnosed with equine lordosis. Because so few horses suffer from the condition very few researchers are willing to take the time to study it, preferring to spend their time on things like founder and colic. Dr. Gallagher became interested in the condition when he noticed that his father’s Saddlebreds seemed to run a higher risk of developing equine lordosis then other breeds.

During his graduate studies Dr. Gallhager started to notice that there was a direct correlation between a young horses skeletal structure and the chances of them developing lordosis. Although the dip in the spine was not normally obvious when the foal was born. As the foal grew and developed the back started to sway. The inverted curve of the spine normally stabilized when the foal finished growing. At six years old Spooner’s spine is just starting to stabilize (foals from Spooner’s family tend to grow taller until they are about six years old and several of them don’t completely broaden until they are eight).

The next thing Dr. Gallagher looked at was the foals pedigree and genetic make-up. He noticed that certain family trees did have a greater chance of developing lorodisis then others but was unable to isolate the exact gene responsible.

Perhaps the most important thing Dr. Gallaghers research proved was something I learned from Spooner. The back does not affect their work habits. Swaybacked broodmares have no trouble carrying a foal to term, while racehorses with lorodisis are not typically as fast as their straight backed counterparts the average performance horse appears to be unhampered by the inverted spine (Spooner has a hitch in one leg but that could be an injury instead of his back).

Gallagher and I are in complete agreement that fitting a saddle to the swaybacked horse takes a little thought. I have found that if I use my simple cloth square-cut dressage blanket under a thick barrel racing blanket my saddle not only fits well but I am also able to minimize the amount I am jarred by Spooner’s bouncing trot.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

Yes, that’s right. There are horse blankets made for ponies! Some ponies do live in the wild and are without the luxury of a warm blanket for the winter. It is unfortunate, for only the strong survive, whereas struggling weaklings in captivity are given a chance to become stronger. These do tend to get pampered and loved and have their warm blankets to help them through their shaky developmental stages.

The National Park Service helps to protect the wild ponies. There is a small island near Virginia where the wild ponies are herded across the waters to another island once a year. This is a popular event, and the island is called Chincoteague (pronounced CHIN-ko-teeg).

An hour after they are born, ponies have the ability to walk. They may stumble and struggle at first, but they learn fast. The baby is called a foal and isn’t considered full-grown until age 5 or 6. Most people who have horses will try to have the mare give birth in their barn, in a stall, and a warm horse blanket is provided for them after the birth. If the mother has trouble with the birth, it is easier to monitor and provide care in a barn.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Horse Blankets story from informed sources.

Many people, who think it will be a good idea to give their child a pony, do not realize the special care a horse needs as it grows and develops. It is always good to sit down with your child and make a list of all the things any animal new to the family will need before purchasing. Horses especially will need plenty of room to graze and grow and will need their exercise and good medical care if a problem were to develop.

You may want to start with a small horse, such as a mini, if you do not plan to have your child ride a horse. The mini horse comes in a child-sized package! Don’t forget the accessories that come with owning the minis. There are horse blankets made just for this size horse.

Miniature Horses were created from breeding small horses that were used for work in coal mines to the small Shetland Ponies. The babies were then bred to make even smaller horses. The miniature breed is not actually considered ponies just because of their size. Ponies are 14 hands high, compared to the 8 hand size of a mini. But the baby minis are called ponies until they are grown, just as other horse babies.

You shouldn’t need as much horse tack for these mini horses because they are not used in the same ways as what is considered normal sized horses. There are places that sell tack just for the smaller breeds.

So now you know a little bit about Horse Blankets. Even if you don’t know everything, you’ve done something worthwhile: you’ve expanded your knowledge.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

Some use the horse blanket as merely adornment for their horses. A horse blanket was intended, however, to be functional. Although your pampered pet may not need a horse blanket in areas where the weather is always warm or mostly pleasant year-round, you would certainly want to use it for the comfort of your horse where it has to suffer from the cold or even just chilly weather. A horse blanket has been a part of horse accessories for many years.

Some people like to collect horse blankets and use them as decoration around their home. The western décor is a popular one, especially in some areas of California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado. Although not limited to these areas, the horse blanket has reached high levels of popularity.

If you have ever been to a rodeo, you are sure to have seen a horse blanket. It’s all part of the western charm of the rodeo. Maybe you aren’t a rodeo fan, but just love horses. You may be a horse racing fan, own a farm, or just have a horse for a pet. You don’t have to own a horse to own a horse blanket.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Horse Blankets story from informed sources.

Horse blankets are often sold in tourist attractions across the United States. Along the route from Texas to California, you can find horse blankets in the tourist stores along the interstate. Almost any farm clothing store will carry horse blankets to sell. Some hardware stores stock a few. There are those made in Mexico, for sale to the tourists who want to take home a warm or decorative memento of their travels. You can find them at stores or flea markets held on Indian reservations. You may be lucky enough to pick some up at garage sales.

Some like to scatter them around their home for use as throws to keep them warm as they watch television or a movie in their living room or den. They can be quite attractive tossed over the couch or favorite recliner. You can even use them as curtains or throw one on your bed to complete your room! Do you have an unsightly mess you wish to cover? Put that horse blanket to use! Give an old one to the kids to play with, for use with their outdoor picnics to spread on the ground for a nap, or to arrange their toys for a pretend farm scene.

A horse blanket can be carried in the car to use on long trips. It can cover your stained seats, your valuables bought along the way as you make trips to shop or visit the tourist attractions, or to keep you warm if your heater is on the blink!
Horse blankets are made of sturdy, durable materials and are long-lasting. There are blankets made of softer materials that just have a horse’s picture on it and not for actual use on a horse. It would probably be a stretch to even call it a horse blanket.

Those who only know one or two facts about Horse Blankets can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you’re learning here.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO