Random Horsey Stuff Thread

Flipo's Mum

Flipo's Mum

Heavy owner of a Heavy
Aug 17, 2009
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Perthshire, Scotland
Just two things I'm wondering about.
1. Using a numnah or saddle cloth under your saddle, do you put it on separately, or do you use the tie thingies to keep it on? Why?

2. Cross ties. Who does it, why does it seem to me that its more normally done in America?


Anyone else got any meanderings they want to ask, discuss or just vent about?
 
1. Numnah - I put it on separately as the velcro bits dont reach with the prolite pad on.

2. Cross ties - when we had a stable I used to do it when clipping.


Exercise sheets (the cut out ones with velcro at the front) - over the leg or under? Id go under because if it was windy and they were over your legs surely it would turn into a kite?
 
Pad goes on first without the straps, I don't need them to keep it in place. I like to make sure its all positioned well,then saddle then girth which gets laid over the top as well etc. Actually that being short it tends to fall on the floor.
Cross tie no, I sometimes tie or ground tie if doing feet.

I have "apparently" the most kack handed way of doing up a girth although I had to learn correctly for the exam, I went back to my way as its easier, just not for the onlooker-it looks positively difficult. :smile:
 
I long since gave up putting a numnah on Storm - she's just not suited to one! Which means I have to clean my saddle after every ride............but, when Joe was a live, we used the thingies to velcro it onto his saddle. He had a very posh sheepskin numnah under his dressage saddle, which OH loved - and he said he went better in it.
I have tried both ways with Storm, ie, not bothering tying it on and having it loose and using the straps - either way it just does not work for us. There is a danger it can rub on the withers which always worries me so now I don't use one.
Cross ties - why indeed? I think it's American but could be wrong. You see it a lot in films - but the other night in Midsomer Murders they had a race horse in them - don't know why? Perhaps it keeps them in place better?
 
Another question:

Why do some people routinely disinfect their horses feet / hooves? I have no clue as to why you'd do this unless there was some infection already present like thrush? Why tamper / upset the natural balance? Please feel free to tell me why, I am probs talking out of my rear and it's something that I should be doing.........................I know some people do it more when their horse is without shoes?
 
I tuck the straps under the saddle flap but don't attach and don't use girth straps. Not sure why.

I cross tie in the washroom as it keeps him in the middle

I sometimes hibi scrub his feet just as I thought you're ment to haha.

Would you get a saddle fitted from someone who suggested you use a gel pad under it to make it fit better? Just curious as I don't see the point unless perhaps the horse is slightly underweight. Where I work they had 5 ponies who needed new saddles and she made them all get gel pads with them???
 
I would. I think its saddle company saddles that recommend a prolite pad with there saddles. I think for horses with muscle wastage really unless you have the money to be buying a new saddle with there development then you havent got much choice.
 
Saddle cloth I put on first then put saddle on top and slide the whole thing back into position then attach all the straps. If I'm lazy I'll put the whole lot on together but I always checked the saddle cloth wasn't bunching anywhere.

Cross ties: I've never used them but I imagine it would be good for anything you would need that little extra control for (like clipping or vet procedures).

exercise sheets: under the leg, I had a long waterproof jacket that covered my legs so I didn't put the exercise sheet on over my legs but if I was really cold or didn't put my jacket on then I'd be tempted!

Hibiscrubing/disinfecting feet: I do it every now and again especially if I think she might start getting prone to thrush through being stabled and walking round a dirty bed or if the ground was getting particularly bad.

Saddle fit gel pad: I would if there was a very good reason behind it - like muscle wastage etc but I'd ideally be looking to use the saddle without it eventually.

I can't think of anything right now but I'm sure I will!
 
The wrap around exercise sheet I always believed was cut to go around the saddle, not you. If you include yourself it doesn't really keep you dry, how would you trot and surely that just pulls the fillet string up the horses bum!


I only hi I scrub feet if I have a problem, but bin winter I may every few with product to keep hard, tip to myself trim first cos it sure does make them hard!

Gel pads I would think were to give extra comfort and protection not to aid the fit? Promote SIDS the fit, but isn't a substitute for a crap fit, nor is a padded numnah, you wouldn't wear thicker socks if your boots didn't fit properly.
 
Saddlecloths and numnahs, I leave attached, no reason in particular other than that's what I've always done. I always make sure it's flat and not bunching anywhere though when it is on.

Cross tying, I have never done it, the was a mare on the old yard that needed cross thing but that was back when I first started riding I know she had lami just about as severely as a horse could get it without needing immediate euthanasia so not sure if it perhaps had something to do with that, but that's going back 15 years ago or more now.

Exercise sheets, I have a wrap around one for Tegan and I always put it under the saddle flap for the whole kite reason. I wouldn't buy a wrap around one but it was given to me and fits her nicely. I have full chaps to keep my legs warm and dry.

Constant disinfection of anything I can't understand. My horses get treated for things as and when they need it. In the winter their legs are left muddy, they live out 24/7 and I haven't had any mud fever issues. *touch wood* I cannot remember the last time I had to treat them with anything more than sudocrem or a spurt with purple spray.

Jasper used to get the most horrendous mud fever with his owner. Turns out she was hosing his legs down every night and then turning him back out. That was the one thing my old boss used to go mad about in the winter. Leave to dry and brush off she used to shout lol!!

And she's right, I've never hose his legs off and she warned me as he likes to stand in muddy patches I will have a horrendous time with his mud fever if he was to live out 24/7. Lo and behold I instantly stopped the hosing off and he's not had any mud fever in the 5 years he has been mine! Yes it's not a great sight seeing them mud but I'd rather put up with muddy legs than have to spend most of my evenings treating them for mud fever!

Gel pads, I think that saddler was making quite a bit of money out of selling the pads lol!

I can see how the gel pads would help with a horse with wastage that will fill out to a saddle, but not to make a terrible fitting saddle fit.
 
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Great thread!

I keep my saddle pad (luxurious sheepskin thing) attached to my saddle and lift the whole works on and off.

As for cross ties, I thought everyone used them (I'm in Canada). I' guessing when you board, as I do, you need to make sure your horse doesn't interfere with others. That being said, most of the time I'm out by myself and if not in cross ties, Rusty would happily circulate through the barn, visiting other stalls, poking his nose in the feed room, etc. he's clearly been trained to stand quietly in them, and isn't bothered a bit.

Funny story, showed my non-horsey sister a picture of Rusty modeling a new blanket, while in cross ties, and she asked if I ever let him out of them.
 
Two things I wish some boffin would invent: A wormer that does not come as a paste to be squirted - but a tasty treat that even the fussiest of neds will gobble. I know there is a tablet form but it does not cover all worm types.

A spray on protectant for their legs against mud fever. I have Keratex powder but when her legs are at their zenith she won't let me near properly to powder them firmly - we end up with a white stable base!! Instead of mud chaps which are fiddly I would like a liquid spray on "sock".
 
Trewsers said:
Two things I wish some boffin would invent: A wormer that does not come as a paste to be squirted - but a tasty treat that even the fussiest of neds will gobble. I know there is a tablet form but it does not cover all worm types.

A spray on protectant for their legs against mud fever. I have Keratex powder but when her legs are at their zenith she won't let me near properly to powder them firmly - we end up with a white stable base!! Instead of mud chaps which are fiddly I would like a liquid spray on "sock".
Click to expand...

They have, its called an easy wormer and its great. It means I don't get bashed into the walls anymore.

Mud fever spray
http://www.mudfever.net/

http://www.bitlessbridle.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=107
 
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newforest said:
They have, its called an easy wormer and its great. It means I don't get bashed into the walls anymore.

Mud fever spray
http://www.mudfever.net/
Click to expand...

Where can the easy wormer be obtained? Our vet must not have heard of it - even they struggle to worm madam! OH has developed a technique - but I am always on pins as to what will happen - even after 8 years!!!

That mf spray sounds interesting - tho actual liquid socks would be even better:redcarded::biggrin:
 
I use the tie thingys for saddle cloths and numnahs, it stops mine slipping back etc.

Cross tying - as others have said, it can be handy for certain things.

Exercise sheets - I have the ones that go under, I think the ones that go over the riders legs have a potential to be dangerous if you fell off.
 
Trewsers said:
Where can the easy wormer be obtained? Our vet must not have heard of it - even they struggle to worm madam! OH has developed a technique - but I am always on pins as to what will happen - even after 8 years!!!

That mf spray sounds interesting - tho actual liquid socks would be even better:redcarded::biggrin:
Click to expand...

http://www.easywormer.com/about.html

You may find one on eBay if not IMO its well worth the money. Before I got the cob the vet always did her as she was a tinker, but that tinker weighs in at 464kg and my stable wall doesn't give if I get squashed again. The third session she knew what I was up to with the gadget but gone was her general no way on this earth, she was calm and that's the main thing for me.
 
Thanks for the link NF - do you think it would still work with madam because she chucks her head up and rears slightly? I will see what OH thinks. The trouble is, as soon as she becomes suspicious she's off on one - and because she has a history of not liking her head touching (taken me years to work on this and I have gained her trust a lot) I wouldn't want anything to cause a set back. She can be wormed if OH takes the "surprise" route - just that I still worry! Sorry if that doesn't make sense, you'd have to watch her to know what I'm waffling about!
 
newrider.com
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