| Home Remedies You Can Use | | | | you have to try to believe! Sprayed into the tail |
| Anyone involved with horses knows that riding is | | | | or mane, WD-40 is a fantastic detangler, and |
| a very small part of the larger horse experience. | | | | works even better (and is much cheaper) than |
| Groom, maid, waiter, servant, and nurse are | | | | most commercially available products. A small |
| among the hats we wear while caring for a horse. | | | | amount sprayed directly into matted areas can |
| The sheer amount of “stuff” one | | | | make brushing through the tangles a breeze. Take |
| must collect in order to care for horses is | | | | care using WD-40 (or any detangler, for that |
| astounding, from shampoos and conditioners, hoof | | | | matter) right before riding- if you get it on your |
| paints, leather cleaners, grooming supplies, | | | | hands, your may find your reins slipping out of |
| supplements, bottles, and tack- there is no end to | | | | your hands! |
| the amount of paraphernalia that goes along with | | | | 3. Clorox Bleach- Thrush is one of the most |
| one horse! | | | | persistent hoof related problems known to horse |
| Although your local tack store may be a valuable | | | | owners. Many products exist on the market to |
| source for a variety of the things you and your | | | | combat thrush, most of them quite pricey! |
| horse need, sometimes a little ingenuity can save | | | | Old-time horsemen and farriers will tell a different |
| you time, money and solve some of the more | | | | tale when recommending a good thrush product- |
| common horse-related problems. Next time you | | | | bleach! Poured into a spray bottle, spraying a thin |
| need to tend to your horse, try one of these | | | | coat of bleach to a clean, picked hoof once daily |
| time-tested home-remedies instead of reaching | | | | for several days will help to quickly eradicate |
| for that expensive bottle- you might just find | | | | thrush. Weekly re-application will help to prevent |
| these work better! | | | | further problems. Take care to avoid getting the |
| 1. Vinegar- Tired of that yellow, urine soaked tail | | | | bleach on you or your horses skin, as it will sting |
| on your pretty white horse? With stubborn stains, | | | | and burn. |
| all the expensive bluing shampoo in the world | | | | 4. Sugar- There are a variety of salves, creams |
| might not get out that yellow (but it may give it a | | | | and sprays that are available to combat wounds, |
| nice purple hue!). To help whiten tails, soak the tail | | | | and every person has their own favorite product. |
| in plain, white vinegar for 5 minutes, before | | | | For stubborn, infected wounds, plain white sugar |
| washing and conditioning normally. Those bubbles | | | | applied on the wound can help to combat |
| you see are cutting through the urine and stains, | | | | infection, and stimulate healing. The sugar changes |
| getting down to the nice white root. Vinegar is | | | | the pH of the wound, creating an inhospitable |
| safe for the hair, and actually can contribute to a | | | | environment for bacteria, and helping to clear out |
| shinier, healthier tail! Used weekly, vinegar can help | | | | necrotic flesh and promote healing in wounds. |
| to prevent urine from becoming too ingrained on | | | | 5. Diapers- Hoof abscesses are a frustrating |
| the tail. | | | | problem that often requires days and weeks |
| In horses prone to developing enteroliths (stones) | | | | careful treatment, as well as bandaging to keep |
| in their intestines, a cup of Apple Cider Vinegar | | | | the foot clean as it heals. Instead of spending |
| mixed in the food once to twice a day can help | | | | hundreds on bandage material like vet wrap and |
| to reduce the pH level in the gut, and inhibit stone | | | | elastikon, tape a child’s diaper to the |
| formation. Most horses tolerate the taste of | | | | underside of the foot-using duct tape. The diaper |
| vinegar in their food very well. | | | | will keep poultices and medications in place, last |
| Finally, vinegar is a naturally insect repellant. Adding | | | | longer than regular bandage material, and the |
| vinegar to the food, or even diluted and sprayed | | | | extra padding it provides will help the foot be |
| directly on the horse, can act as an excellent, | | | | more comfortable as it heals. |
| chemical free fly repellant. | | | | For more great horse stuff, just click the links |
| 2. WD-40- The amazing rust-buster has a plethora | | | | below. |
| of barn-related uses- but here’s one that | | | | |