Horse Tips: Horse Grooming

1. Fix a mane that lays on the wrong side. Wash and condition mane on the side that you want it to lie on. Spray liberally with vinegar (white or cider) and comb it through. Loosely braid the mane and leave it for several days.

2. If your out of mane & tail detangler, use WD-40. If your horse gets a knot in his tail or mane, spray on WD-40 and let it sit for a moment. Work the knot out with your fingers.

3. Make a quick homemade, leave-in conditioner. Mix equal parts conditioner, vinegar and water in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray on mane and tail, brush and go.

4. Don’t bathe your horse to often. Frequent shampooing may actually dull your horses coat.

5. Spray on a coat polish after a bath. I will repel dirt.

6. Use sunscreen, if your horse has a pink nose. They do get blistered easily.

7. Instead of paying a high price for a horse grooming box, go to the hardware store and get a tool caddy. Same thing, but lots cheaper.

8. Use white vinegar to cure yellowtail. Soak tail in vinegar for about 5 minutes before shampooing.

9. Color enhancing shampoo will bring out your horses natural tones and highlights.

10. To keep ticks out of your horse's ears, spray inside ears, once monthly with Frontline. This really works! (Frontline spray works best). You can get this from your vet.

11. A cheap pair of rubber gloves are great for removing hair during shedding season.

Horse Tips: Feeding Horses

1. Your vet should perform a wellness exam on your horse at least once a year.

2. If you feed your horses treats, feed in moderation, or feed them out of a bucket. To many treats can lead to a biting horse.

3. Horses should have free access to salt, year round.

Horse Tips: Wound Care

1. Preparation H works great for reducing proud flesh on wounds. It also encourages new hair growth.

2. Listerine mouthwash helps with itchy tails and mane. Dilute 3 parts Listerine with 1 part water. Pour on tail.

3. To treat thrush, mix 4 parts water and 2 parts Clorox or Lysol in a spray bottle.

4. Band Aid or store brand wound wash, has the same ingredients as Wound Relief Spray - and it's cheaper.

Horse Tips: Miscellaneous

1. Always work your horse on the ground before riding. This is a good time to check for soreness and to find out what kind of mood he’s in today.

2. Try Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean your tack.

3. Check your horse’s stall regularly for protruding objects.

4. After every ride, wipe your tack down with a damp rag. This will save time when it comes time to actually clean your tack.

5. Make your own homemade fly traps:

• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• water
• plastic container with lid

6. For rusted, stainless steel bits, soak them in vinegar for several days to dissolve rust.

7. If your horse hates wormer, clean out a used worming syringe and fill it with applesauce. Give it to him occasionally. He will love to be wormed.

8. Try Sno Seal for all your leather needs. It works great!