How To Plait Your Horse’s Tail July 30, 2008

Firstly if you think your horse will need distracting give him some hay or something similar. Using the body brush give the tail a thorough brush. Holding it in one hand, and start at the bottom in small sections working upwards. Knots come out more easily this way and it prevents them piling up and making a big tangle of hair.

Dampen a water brush and brush the tail, this makes it easier to handle and plait. Beginning at the top take a small section of hair, one from the right, one from the left and one from the middle. Plait with them once, now take another small section of hair from the left side and add it to the left side of the plait. Cross it over to the middle of the plait. Then pick up a small section of hair from the right side of the tail and add it to the right side of the plait. Then cross it all over to the middle. Repeat this until you are three quarters of the way down his tail. Keep even and constant pressure when plaiting and always keep the plait in the centre otherwise it will come out all wonky.

Now give the dock, (the tail bone) a quick squeeze, to feel how far down you are. If you are about three quarters of the way down, start to plait the long hair, as you would to a normal plait, to the end of the tail.

With a plaiting band secure the plait, and fold the plait once underneath. Now you can tuck the end of the plait under the French plait, and secure it with your other plaiting band. Instead you can secure it by using a needle and thread with the end knotted.

Horse First Aid Kit Contents July 20, 2008

Your First Aid Kit for your horse should contain these, or similar products to the ones I have listed.

-A book on simple first aid
-Some buckets
-Gloves
-A clean towel
-Sharp scissors
-Bandaging material
1. Cotton wool
2. Elastoplast (or similar product)
3. Disposable, or Gauze diapers
4. Adhesive tape
5. Duct tape
6. An assortment of stretch cotton bandages, like stable wraps, and gamgee
7. Meloin dressing
-A torch
-Emergency phone numbers
-Water tight container to keep everything in
-A halter and lead rope
-Disposable syringes and needles
-A digital thermometer
-Vaseline
-Zink
-Tweezers
-A hoof pick
-Betadine (or similar product)
-Burn gel
-A hoof knife
-Antiseptic wound cleaner

-Part 4- Vet Check July 20, 2008

Once you have found the perfect horse! You should organise for a vet to come out and check the horse thoroughly for any problems which may affect his health.

A vet check is not very cheap, but it isn’t a waste of money either. You could save yourself a great deal of money.
The vet will check the horse for general health, obvious signs of injury (whether they are new or old injuries), soundness and conformation faults. The horse will be trotted out to look for lameness or any uneven or unnatural action. You are paying for an expert opinion and the vet will be able to spot things that we can’t always see.
Especially if you have already fallen in love with the horse, and don’t want to see any problems!

Quite often, the vet will find something which he will bring to your attention. Not every problem found will means that the horse will not be suitable for you. The vet will need to know what you want to be doing with the horse after you purchase him, so that he can make a decision about whether what he has found will be a problem. If you are going to be riding competitively at a high level, there will be more stress on the horse than if you just want to ride on the weekends and go to pony club.

Finally, if you and the vet agree that the horse seems suitable and healthy, then you are at the end of the long road to buying a horse, and you can now negotiate with the owners to purchase your new friend.

Good Luck!