Favorite Finds Week Twenty One
The Halo
The Halo is something I found at the Dressage at Devon horse show so it is still very new to me and I’m still experimenting with it but so far, I’m really intrigued. The Halo uses four different therapies in one device: heat, magnet, red light therapy and vibration. My personal belief with these types of devices is that they are not going to “fix” something on your horse but I think if you use them as part of your program, it can assist in keeping things supple and reducing tightness or tension in the body. When I found out that I could use it on myself or my dogs as well as my horses, that was a big selling point for me. My husband and I have used it a few times now and I definitely felt my muscles in my neck and back relax after using it. My husband used it as part of his triathlon training program to relax his low back and he appreciated it as well. I am still experimenting with where on the horse to use it and so on but so far the horses have shown a good response so I am curious to see how it helps long term.
Conformation Video
I found this presentation from a Michigan State University student very useful. In one of my past favorite finds I mentioned a book, Sport Horse Conformation and I find this presentation to be a condensed shorter version. This video covers many but not all of the aspects to look at when looking at a horse’s conformation. If you are searching the market for your next horse or maybe you just want to evaluate your current horse, this video is a very helpful tool to get started. It’s important to remember that there is no perfect horse. You can pick apart any horse and find faults so remember to think about what type of work and level of work you will be asking the horse to do. The other important thing to remember is that just because a horse is conformationally sound and stable, it does not mean that he will not need help or assistance. I think of my horses as athletes; just because Usain Bolt is built to run, it does not mean he does not have doctors, nutritionists, massage therapists, etc to help keep his body in top shape. If you are expecting your horse to perform for you, you must treat him such that he can be the athlete you want.
Saddle Bloom
Have you ever seen white stuff on your leather tack and panicked? Don’t fret! It’s called leather bloom. Basically when the air becomes colder and less humid, the leather tightens, squeezing the oils out of the leather which produces a white dusty or waxy film. It is harmless and can be cleaned easily but it is important to know this because of the common misconception that it is mold. It generally means you’ve actually been doing a good job at cleaning your tack not the opposite. In the winter months, you may need to oil your tack more often to prevent them from drying out and tightening but pay attention to your tack and how it feels along with how it looks during different seasons. Generally you need to clean the tack more often in the summer to prevent mold and moisture and winter months you may need to add additional oil after cleaning to prevent it from drying out! Below are some pictures and tips for dealing with saddle bloom and mold!