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Equestrian Care: Bathing A Horse
As most horse owners will know, there are many ways to get and keep your horse cleen. Some of these methods will vary depending on your horses preference to them.
At this time of year many of us are wanting to prepare and get ready fo heading out to the first shows of the season. This will not only include a more tailored training routine but will alse require you and your horse to look as smart as you can. A common way of gettin your horse sparkling clean is to give them a bath.
Items you may want to get out and ready prior to starting may include
- Large sponge
- warm water
- scoop / large cup as a method of applying the warm water to your horse
- Horse shampoo (many varieties are available depending on whether you want to e.g. brighten up white socks, bring out the colour of your horses bay coat, and many others have different horse related smells)
- mane / tail comb
- water brush (for hooves)
- mane and tale leave in conditioner
- wicking rug
- Safety tie
- sweat scraper.
Equestrian essentials: All weather surfaces
When you are asked what the most essential elements of equestrianism are all weather surfaces probably will not be the first thing to spring to mind. However you may be surprised to hear that anything from competition venues to training centres and stables need a patch of ground which can be used for some sort of physical activity whether it is sunny, raining or freezing. All weather surfaces are vital for horses to get exercise and to be trained for things like show jumping events.
All weather surfaces are made of synthetic materials rather than using the natural ground. Normal soil is prone to freezing and, especially with the wear and tear incurred with heavy animals like horses, wet weather can lead to it becoming a bit of a quagmire which is unusable. Therefore all weather equestrian surfaces are usually made from some sort of plastic material which is not so susceptible to the elements but feels similar underfoot – or hoof – to normal ground.
Various materials are used when it comes to all weather surfaces.
Equestrian College Courses
There are many equestrian courses available these days, from short one-day training courses to full time qualifications that are nationally recognised.
If you have not attended such a course before, or if you have been out of education for a long time, it can be difficult to know what is expected of you.
If attending a day course, your best bet is to ring up the institution at which it will take place and find out what the course entails. If there is any element of practical or yard work, it may be a good idea to wear jodhpurs or breeches and yard boots, or at least pack your riding gear in the car so you have it if necessary. Also, a pad of paper and pens will be essential for taking notes, as well as a highlighter to make important statements stand out. You may also need lunch, but you can check whether food is provided when you ring up, and aim to take a bottle of water and a snack to keep your concentration levels up!
Equestrian Dressing With Comfort
Being with horses entails one to be always under the scorching heat of the sun, freezing cold of the rain and in constant communion with the smell of horse urine and dung. Many people, even celebrities who are used to the conveniences that theirs assistants and money provide at their beck and call, enjoy the nomadic-like life being with horses despite its unattractiveness.
Being with horses does not mean that one has to lead a dull social life and sport outdated fashion style. Because having a herd of horses has become a symbol of status, fashion designers have dressed the Royal family in their horse sporting careers and horse-related events. Many designers have fashioned gears and riding apparel that do not only make horses and horse riders fashionably attractive but comfortable in their attire with this course of event.
One of the most basic aspects where riders must meticulously pay attention to is their choice of footwear.
Embracing the Equestrian Lifestyle
When you own a horse, you inevitably need to invest in some of the suitable horse riding equipment in order to thoroughly embrace the equestrian lifestyle. For a first time horse owner, making sure you purchase the full spectrum of equipment is necessary to ensure you not only get the most out of your experience, but you do so safely. For starters, the necessities of horse riding equipment include saddles, helmets, lunge lines, stirrups, stirrup pads, horse rugs, saddle blankets, and lunge whips. Additionally, it is a good idea to invest in spare equipment seeing that upon use, damage of the items will be inevitable.
When you set out to purchase your saddles, you need to take your riding style into consideration so you can be sure that you will be riding both safely and comfortably. Safety should always be one of your main concerns when buying equestrian equipment, so you want to make sure you are investing in quality riding gear and products.
