Any horse DIY tips you want to share?

Question

I recently learned that you can use furniture polish on manes and tails instead of the expensive conditioner. Also heard that you can put vegetable oil in feeds instead of splashing out on cod liver oil.
Whether or not these are true, do you have any handy tips? Maybe some recipes for healthy treats for horses?

Answer 1

Add Apple Cider Vinegar to horse feed; helps repel flies, Garlic Powder Works as well.



Ivory Liquid soap works well for cleaning saddles.



Alvera juice helps keep a horses coat shiny and healthy. Also helps with Stomach ulcers, makes them go away.



Preperation-H helps tighten tissues in a wound and helps it heal faster



Here are some recipes: http://www.moniteausaddleclub.com/horse_treats.htm



Here are some other money saving ideas:

http://www.moneysavinghorsetips.com/



Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Ok Ask to lead the horse - make sure it respects your space Request to pick the horses hooves - this is important, if you are not confident enough to do this because you have only had RIDING lessons not ones on caring, then don't take responsibility for a horse. Are you sure you know how to care for one? Riding lessons don't teach you what to do with a horse that isn't very polite. Once you spend enough time with a horse they test you. If you're not confident enough they will walk all over you. In terms of riding the horse: Make sure you try all the horses paces. Walk, trot, and canter. If you don't have experience galloping then don't do it.. And don't launch into a canter the moment you get on. Now for the old horse, go in figure eights. Make them tighter and tighter but obviously not too tight. Its good for their muscles when they are that age to stretch. Just sit up, look forward, all the things they taught you in the school but this is your choice. No one is telling you not to stop and pat the horse, or to decide to get off and check her foot if she seems lame. The person "renting" these horses to you wants to see you care for their health, and ask about any specific needs or feeding that they are usually given.

Answer 3

Non-stick cooking spray is an awesome way to shine your horses hooves without getting clods of dirt stuck to them. Also if you are having issues with static on your horse, dryer sheets are the way to go. Just rub them down the tail and rump it's all good.

Answer 4

treats: crushed cherios, flour, grated apples/carrots, vegtable oil, apple sauce, sugar, oats, etc. Just mix it all together make it the consistincy of cookie dough then spoon the dough onto a greased cookie sheet untill slightly crunchy and dry. Just give them a few cookies a day. (apple saucemakes them soft whitch is good for older horses) (vegtable oil makes their coat shiny)



If you're into paraelli and you're running short on time. you can do the friendly, porcupine, and driving game while you warm up and cool down at the walk.



you can write your horses name on their halter in sharpie so you know whitch halter is theirs if there are more than one halter of that color.



regular balls work as well as special horse balls and their a lot cheaper ;)

Answer 5

zinc from tesco for mudfever! gonna try that for sure thanx midnight ashes,

jayes fluid for thrush. use an old coke bottle put 1/3 jayes an fill with water then pour on feet as an when needed an scrub with brush. works better than anything else (tip from farrier)



cooking oil on hooves to help prevent cracks (another 1 from my farrier)



liquid paraffin on legs prone to mud fever as a barrier



put cigarrette filter tips in stud holes in shoes to stop them getting clogged with mud



in winter put a normal plait in your horses tail. it stops the wind knotting it an helps prevent loads of mud,shavings etc getting into it. i dont mean a propper plait just a normal everyday one from bottom of dock.



i have been using jayes fluid for years on horses feet. it not used neat. io have had it on my skin without any bad reaction. it is applied to the sole and frog not the skin. it is an everyday disinfectant

Answer 6

If you're out of tail detangler and you can't just go out and buy some more, use oil-based fly spray.

Answer 7

I have learned a few things over the years.



When it gets snowy or icy, use cooking spray and coat the sole of the hooves. The snow and ice won't stick so bad and it makes it a lot easier to pick the stuff loose from the hooves. Works great and is cheap. Won't see the horses walking around on snow stilts!



Use a Downy dryer sheet and wipe the horses ears and face, then tie to the crown of the bridle. This really keeps the Deer Flies away. Use it on you too and tie some place convenient. This is a golfer trick but works great on horses. Also, use the Downy brand, the other brands don't work as well.



For fly spray, save a lot of money and your hands. Get a pump garden sprayer for mixing fly spray. But the bottles of concentrated Permethrin fly spray and mix as directed. The spayer makes less noise and you don't have to keep hand pumping. Great when you have several horses. The mix can also be sprayed in barn areas, the horse trailer, porches, pet areas, etc.



Invest in a portable misting system and use PVC to build a simple stand. Easy to take with you and set up when on horse camps, etc. Since most places have water spickets, it is very hand way to cool both horses and people during the peak heat hours. Will also entertain bored kids.



When at shows or on the road, place any supplements into zip lock sandwich bags into measured amouts to make feeding time easier and less big stuff to pack.



Always keep a Gerber or other multi tool handy. Put it in your saddle bags along with some quality duct tape. Keep those empty plastic water bottles also. For a horse that throws a shoe on the trail, you can cut the bottle into shape of hoof and tape to the sole for an emergency shoe fix. Better than having to hand walk the horse out.



Learn to use a lariat and get your horse to accept it. Carry on trail rides and use it to move limbs and what not off the trail. Makes good training time and improves the trails. Also can come in handy for emergencies. Have had to pony back stray horses on the trail after accidents, and other things.



Just a few hints and helps.

Answer 8

2oz oil of citronella mixed with 13oz of petroleum jelly makes a excellent fly paste



Aerosol fly spray for the automatic sprayers fit nicely into the cheep sprayers from Airwick and glade ( $9 each vs the$30 for the horse store brand) And they are more time adjustable with 9,18 and 36 minute intervals.



Murpheys Oil Soap instead of expensive saddle creams, soaps and lathers.



Orvis WApaste is the BEST shampoo around, and its gentle. It does double duty in that not only can you use it on livestock, but on you and clothing as well. Quilters use it preserve the bright colors in quilts



A apple or pear floated in a water bucket encourages a horse to drink



Hooves buffed with a soft rag and a pea sized bit a of petroleum jelly shine better then polished ones. And sand/dirt wont stick



one or more of these >> http://www.perrisleather.com/product/202817/495/_/White_Cotton_Neck_Rope should be in every barn, trailer or tack box. lead rope, emergency halter.. Field halter.. it does it all.



Listerine ( or generic) mouthwash added to a bucket of warm water makes a good after ride brace for a horse. It also repels flys and bugs



Duct tape made into a loop and stuck to the inside top of a feed bin lid with catch, weavels and bugs in the food



thompsons water seal for decking can be sprayed on horse rugs to make them water proof



A clear vinyl shower curtain liner makes a cheep rain sheet for showing.



soaking bits or metal tack in a bowl filled with coke removes rust

Answer 9

tennis ball in teh water drinker in teh winter.





again baby oil & water for mane & tail conditioner, it also works well on teh coat making it look shiney!



white feathers on a horse? chalk... na use talc powder! just as good and waaaaay cheaper!





vegetable oil is a good 1. i use this.



ohhh if you have a herbal shop close by check out their prices!!! not kidding... i get a higher concentrated garlic powder/granuals much cheaper than in equine shops! youd be surprised!



if your horses wee is really strong/ smells bad chuck some cranberry juice down him! flushes out his system plus hell love the change in flavour! either in his feed or just in his bucket (Y)



baby wipes - great for loads of thigs... eyes, nose, bum... whatever means you can throw em away. =)



in teh summer great tip for keeping them cool... get an empty ice-cream tub put some water/juice in [watered down] and add chopped friut, freeze it. add soem more water and fruit freeze that. do it until full. take it down the yard put it in teh field or whatever and they have an awesome treat thatll keep em amused for hours =)



other treats - broken up bread, an egg, some of their fave mix and plenty of chopped veggies plus some normal bog standard oats [no added sugar please your horse will go loopey!] mix together bake off feed as a treat [not in acess! its just stupid =) ].



we did a week on cinnimon powder apparently gets rid of toxins. that combined with the cranberry... good combo(Y)



normal peroxide from teh chemist is good for thursh and any other hoof infections. just put some ina pot or bottle and use a seperate hoof oil brush and brush the under side of the hoof and around teh frog. if theres an infection or thursh itll fizz up. if so do it every day for about a week and should clear up. =)



realli dirty hands? veg oil and sugar scrub away (Y) clean =D



pony/horse rubbing its bum constantly rubbing its bum/tail??? dont bother paying out on loadsa expensive potions just buy some hibbi scrub and give it a damn good bath in that! perfect clean. and should stop the itching. if not bath again cos you prob didnt do it properly the first time. making sure you get deep down =) lol



hibbi scrub also good for all sorts! minor cuts/ wounds put it in teh water & wash clean. perfect for you n all may it be washing hands for your own cut. also no hibbi scrub available? just add some salt to the water and wash. nt too much though =)



any more ill add laterr. =)



hope ive helped so far! =)

Answer 10

I really wouldn't recommend furniture polish - it has alsorts of chemicals in that are harmful to horses! Instead, use a mix of baby oil and water :)

While you can add veggie oil to feed, it will not do the same job as cod liver oil. Unless your horse needs cod liver oil, then don't feed it! A splash of veggie oil will give shine to the coat :)



Here are my tips:



Use a mix of 1 part tea tree oil, 1 part citronella oil and 4 parts water as a fly repellent (spray bottles available from Tesco for about £1)



Use Dettoll, mixed to the concentration for treating cuts and grazes, to deter flies and treat wounds on sweet itch sufferers.



Instead of soaking hay in gallons of cold water, (which we all know = cold wet jods!) put the hay in a rubbish bin (a clean one of course) and add one or two kettle-fulls of boiled water. Replace the lid and leave to steam for half an hour.



Instead of buying expensive creams to treat cuts and grazes, I use zinc and castor oil cream (aka Sudocrem or nappy rash cream!) - great for those with mud fever as a barrier



On the advice of my vet, I supplement one of my horses (who gets mud fever at the thought of entering a muddy field) with Zinc (from Tesco!) and within literally a week, his mud fever had gone. I feed 4 tablets (60mg for a 550Kg horse).



Use a fleece/summer sheet as a base rug through winter - wash it weekly and it'll keep the lining of your thick stable rugs cleaner for longer. you can was a summer sheet in your machine, saving money on cleaning bills.



I know people who use nappies as poultices too, in place of animalintex. Personally I've never tried it but I don't see why it wouldn't work.



Baby oil and water in a spray bottle is a great mane and tail conditioner



Make treats using porridge oats (make sure they are just oats, not added sugar etc), add a little water and grated carrot/apple etc. Add a little bit of egg to bind the mixture together and bake in the oven! Remember that everything adds up so don't give these too often - one or two a day is sufficient.



ADD: Ooh also:



a mix of 1 part iodine to 4 parts linseed oil for feet - promotes health and elasticity.



Not sure about Jeyes Fluid for thrush...sounds a bit cruel to me (have you ever spilled Jeyes Fluid on yourself, agony). Instead treat thrush with liquid peroxide. It kills the bacteria by making the conditions inhospitable to them. Just a splash is enough. This is good for gravel too.