Let’s Ride! Planning for the Upcoming Riding Season

Photo By: www.garyascott.com

Spring is here and now is the time to begin planning for the 2013 riding season. The possibilities may be endless of where we can ride. We all have our tried-and-true spots that we love to ride, but could there be some riding venues that you have yet to try? The most difficult part of the equation is when we can ride. Life sometimes gets in the way of our riding when our responsibilities to home and work get in the way.

OFF-SEASON PLANNING

If you ride with a group of folks, as many of us do, you may want to have some off-season conversations about where they would like to ride and possible dates that they would be available to ride. This is particularly important when you are talking about rides that are longer than a weekend. Many horse folks plan their vacations for camping and trail riding. 

WHERE TO RIDE
Once you have the dates in mind, you have to decide where your riding venue will be. A good rule of thumb is to ride closer to home when you have fewer days to ride and venture out when you have more time to invest in travel. It doesn’t bode well if you spend more time on the road than in the saddle.

When investigating a new riding venue talk to folks who have first-hand experience of riding there and get their opinion of the trails, the camp, accommodations for horse and human alike. Does the camp have full service sites with electric, water, and shower/bath facilities? Are there stalls for the horses or hitching rails? What are the camping fees and riding costs for bridle tags, etc.? Contact the establishment and ask for brochures or any other printed information, or just have phone conversation to get a feel for the place. Always inquire about what kind of trails are available for riding. If you don’t get this information, you may show up at a venue with very challenging trails and a green horse or rider – not a good combination.  After you have all information available, share what you have learned with your riding partners to get their take on how they feel they would like the area. 

BOOK EARLY
Once you know if the new riding venue will work, it is a good idea to book reservations early, particularly if you will be riding during a popular time of year. Horse camps will fill up quickly and you won’t want to wait too long to risk not getting a spot.

When planning your riding season it is best to have a good mix of locations, including those you have ridden before and new ones you would like to explore.  Making plans early will insure you will get to spend some great time in the saddle enjoying the surroundings of some wonderful trails.

Happy trails!

By: Darlene M. Cox (kyhomeagain@gmail.com)

RECOMMENDED TRAILS

Check out this blog post to see what trails our fans are riding.

Stamp Out Hunger

This year Horse Saddle Shop is teaming up with the USPS to Stamp Out Hunger. Every year in May the USPS organize the largest one day food drive in the nation. This year, we want to help. We're offering 1% off for every 1lb. of food brought into our Bremen store (up to 10%).

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Just bring in a bag, or two, or three, ... to our Bremen, IN location. We'll weigh your donation and give you the appropriate savings off of your same day purchase.

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BRING?

In general, any non-perishable food will work. If you're having a hard time finding something or just need a few ideas, below is a list of general food items and infant/baby items that you might consider including.

General food items:Oatmeal
Whole grain pastas
Brown rice
Tomato products
Canned vegetables
Canned fruit, especially with low sugar
Canned fish or meat
Shelf-stable milk
Beef stew, chili and similar meals

Infant and baby items:Baby formula
Canned milk
Infant cereal
Jars of baby food
Powdered or canned milk
Baby Diapers

And even if you can't make it into the store by May 11th, don't forget to put some non-perishable food by your mailbox on May 11th for your local letter carrier to collect!

Terms & Conditions: Sale includes all in-stock merchandise with the exception of saddles. Discount will be applied at the time of purchase, valid through May 11, 2013. Discount is limited to one per customer and a maximum of 10% off your total purchase.

Top 10 Gift Ideas For Mom

Let's face it, moms love just about anything their kids get them on Mother's Day - candy, flowers, cards, handmade crafts - it's the thought that counts.

But it doesn't hurt to put in a little extra effort and splurge on something you know mom will REALLY enjoy. We know, that takes some effort, maybe a little planning, and sometimes a little extra money. Well, don't you worry, we've put together some ideas that we think will make your Mother's Day shopping a little easier this year. Check out our Top 10 gift ideas for mom.

Don't wait too long though. You'll want to order by May 5th if you want it delivered by Mother's Day!

Happy shopping and happy Mother's Day!

Inventory and Dispersal: The Art of Being "Tack"ful

One Person's Tack is Another Person's Treasure

For many of us, the cold winter months mean no riding and give us a lot of down time as we await the arrival of spring. Aside from the everyday care that we provide our horses, there is still an important and possibly profitable task we can undertake while we are in our winter hibernation – inventory of our tack.

Throughout our years of horse ownership and riding many of us have amassed an arsenal (some larger than others) of horse tack and related tools. The winter months are a good time to go through our cache of horsey gidgets and gadgets, clean them up, and assess if these items are something we still need or ones we could sell and make a little cash.

Organize and Categorize

Once you have located and cleaned your tack, group and list the items categorically by type of equipment and whether or not you intend to keep the item or disperse it. For items that you intend to keep, assemble and group them as needed (bits, stirrups, girths, etc.). If there is a certain bit you like to use on a particular headset or stirrups that look better on your saddle, assemble them prior to returning them to storage. Make note of items that you may need to repair and/or replace and plan to address this some time prior to the arrival of spring.

Selling Online

Within the cyber world, there are many online venues upon which we can offer for sale (or even trade) these pieces of horse memorabilia that have outlived their necessity for us but may be considered treasure by others.

For those items you wish to sell, decide on your selling price, take pictures showing detail, with measurements if appropriate, and post them onto such social networks as Craigslist, Ebay, Facebook, etc. If you are unsure of an asking price, search online for similar items from folks in your area to see what they are asking for their goods. You can then price yours accordingly.

When listing items for sale online, you generally have the option of choosing how you wish to be contacted, either via phone or (proxy) email. A good and accurate description of your item accompanied with photos will garner the most attention from those perusing the ads. Photos are a big plus when placing an online sales ad.

Once you have been contacted by an interested buyer and you have vetted them accordingly, you can discuss the logistics of exchanging the item and payment. Words to the wise: Never accept personal checks and beware of possible scams.

Consignment Programs

Selling online can be a profitable venture. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the process or just don’t have the time to take it on, take a look at consigning your saddle. Horse Saddle Shop has a great consignment program that you can learn more about here. They take care of the cleaning, marketing, and money transfer so you don’t have to deal with any of it.

It is amazing the interest even the most basic of items may receive in an online ad. You may possibly have many items others do indeed want and will be willing to purchase.

Once your items have been sold, delete your ads or mark them as sold, accordingly, then count your money and determine what new horsey item you are going to buy with your new found funds.


Happy trails!


By: Darlene M. Cox (kyhomeagain@gmail.com)

Top Trail Recommendations

Back in January we asked our Facebook fans where they loved to trail ride. Well, the weather is breaking here in the Midwest and it's time to hit the trails. So we thought we'd resurrect our Facebook post and put together a map of recommendations by state.

If you don't see your favorite location listed, make sure to share it in the comments section.

Click map for larger view

5 Saddle Fitting Myths Every Horse Owner Should Know

Spring is just around the corner here in the Midwest - March 20 to be exact (we’re not counting or anything!). With thawing snow and budding trees you are probably itching to get out in the stalls and sort through the inventory of saddles, tack, and equipment you have collected over the years.

If you find yourself in the market for a new saddle, here are five saddle fitting myths to keep in mind as you search for the perfect fit.

Myth #1: One size fits all.

We frequently find ourselves explaining that one size saddle does not fit all horses. This seems like basic information, but for a first-time horse owner, it can be baffling to find that saddles not only come with different seat sizes for the rider, but they also come with different tree sizes for your horse. Regardless of how much your horse weighs or how wide you think his back is, measuring just to make sure can save you the headache of returning an ill-fitting saddle. Need more help? You can download our free gullet templates at www.HorseSaddleShop.com.

Myth #2: I’ll be able to buy a saddle that fits two different horses.

There is a rare exception to this myth, and that is if you have two horses that are extremely similar in weight, back width, back length, and wither shape. But a mere 25 pounds in the wrong spot, a 3 inch shorter back, or a slightly higher wither can mean a saddle fitting one horse and hurting another. If you are shopping for two horses, we recommend focusing on one horse at a time instead of trying to come up with a compromise between the two. Compromising saddle fit is, quite frankly, compromising your horse’s comfort, and therefore, his behavior. 

Myth #3: A good saddle pad will solve my saddle fitting problems.

Many horse owners think that putting a good saddle pad under an ill-fitting saddle will alleviate pinching, slipping, or uneven pressure. Good saddle pads can cause the saddle to fit better. There is much technology in the pad industry to help a saddle fit better and you should take advantage of that technology. However, padding-up to help eliminate sores from a poor fitting saddle is not a good choice. Many times, padding up will just magnify the fitting issues you are already experiencing.

Myth #4: All saddles that claim to be semi-quarter horse have the same gullet width.

There are many variations to this myth. The truth is that the saddle industry uses terms loosely. Semi-quarter horse bars are often referred to as quarter horse bars, but others use the term quarter horse bars to describe wide bars, so the same saddle can be given different terms. This is very confusing to someone buying their first saddle. We have tried to wrestle this myth to the ground in our shop by standardizing our terms. We apply the term “medium” to regular, narrow, or semi-quarter horse bars and the term “full” to wide, full quarter horse bars.

Myth #5: I have to be an expert to tell if my saddle fits properly.

With all the helpful articles on saddle fitting on the web today, it can feel like you have to know a textbook full of information to be able to select a well-fitting saddle. Many customers call feeling exasperated wondering, “Is it really THAT hard?” No, it isn’t! All you have to be sure of is your horse and your saddle needs - no one can be an expert on those two areas but you!

Here are a few tips: If you are having a specific problem, like white hairs on your horse or saddle slippage, troubleshoot those areas first. If you know your horse’s build and figure out what size tree will fit, half of your work is done. Most saddle fitting problems arise from a saddle that…doesn’t fit!

For more saddle fitting myths and tips like this, make sure you visit our Help Center over at www.HorseSaddleShop.com

Winter Care for your Aged Horse

At the age of 51, I can attest that winter seems to be longer and colder than those of my younger years. Our aged horses most likely look at winter this very same way. The cold months of winter are the most difficult for an aged horse, particularly one that may also have underlying chronic health conditions such as holding a healthy weight, arthritis, respiratory issues or dental problems.

PREPARING FOR WINTER

It is best to prepare your horse in advance for the upcoming winter season, and it is very important to insure he is coming into the winter months at the best possible health, body condition and weight. It is very difficult for an aged horse to gain weight during winter due to the amount of energy required for him to keep warm; however, with consistent attention and effort you may be able to keep his weight steady.

You must keep your elderly horse warm during winter to prevent him from becoming chilled to the point of shivering. An enormous amount of energy is expended when a horse shivers to keep warm, and he will drop a lot of weight because of this.

COUNTING CALORIES

The most important tool in combating the chill of winter is nutrition. A horse expends a lot of energy trying to stay warm and this energy must be re-kindled with ample amounts of food. Calorie intake not only provides energy, but also builds fat which puts on a protective layer against cold weather. Hay, which metabolizes more slowly through the digestive process and provides the best heat, is the most important food product for your elderly horse during the winter months. If possible, keep good quality hay in front of him around the clock, particularly at night when temperatures are their coldest. If dental problems prevent your horse from eating hay, you can feed hay cubes. To up the calorie intake, grain can be made into a “gruel” when mixed with warm water. A heated meal will help warm your old guy up a bit.

Placing a heater into the water trough or bucket will also provide some warmth, as well as prevent colic since horses do not find cold water palatable and will drink less, whereby setting the stage for an impaction colic.

BLANKETING

Blanketing will keep your horse warm, but it is important that you check under the blanket every day to assess body condition to make sure he is not dropping weight. Blanketing can also be problematic for horses with Cushings disease by allowing fungal growth on the skin. It is very important to regularly inspect your horse to make sure there are no skin problems caused from the blanketing.

Be mindful of the weather and temperature when you turn your horse out. If it is cold, clear and sunny, your blanketed horse would be okay to spend some time outside; however, if it is cold, windy and cloudy with precipitation, it is best to leave him in.

WINTER TURNOUT

Mobility is an issue for an aged horse with arthritis or other lameness issues, who will find it very difficult to navigate over uneven, frozen ruts that lie in wait near pasture gaits and watering troughs. If you notice your horse having difficulty navigating in the pasture, you may want to stall him during the winter, with regular daily in-hand exercise. Also, if your horse has a respiratory problem such as heaves, it is best that he not be turned out in frigid conditions, because the cold air will worsen his condition. Hay should be moistened with water prior to feeding a “heavey” horse to lower dust levels.

Careful and observant attention to your older horse during the winter will bring him through the winter and into spring and another year to enjoy together.

Happy Trails!

By: Darlene M. Cox (kyhomeagain@gmail.com)