What Size Turnout-Blanket- Sheet for my Horse?

Today I would like to talk about how to measure your horse for a blanket or sheet. Come fall and winter my phone will ring with a customer who wants a winter turnout for their horse or pony. Usually my first question is "What size?" and my second question will be what weight are you looking for?, but that's another subject for another day.

To get the proper size blanket, turnout or sheet you need to know the size of your horse. How do you know this? You have to measure your horse. How do you measure your horse? It is very easy.

It is best to get a dress makers tape measure. These are cloth or vinyl and roll up easily and they don't make noise! It's best not to scare your horse with a noisy construction style metal tape measure and these don't bend easily either. The dress makers tape measure probably won't be long enough to do a complete measurement the full length of your horse but that usually isn't a problem.

You'll want to have someone hold your horse or have them tied in cross ties so he is secure and can't move around on you to much. Your going to measure from the middle of your horses chest to the middle of his tail, around the side of your horse. Most dress makers tapes only go to 60" in length and if your like me I can't quite stretch my arms that far. Here is what I do.

I put the tape measure in the middle of my horses chest and while holding it pull the tape around the front shoulder working my way back the side of my horse as far as I can reach comfortably. Once I have reached as far as I can with my opposite hand I will hold the tape with my finger and then let go of the front of the tape. Not moving the tape from the side of the horse I extend the tape to its full length of 60". Mark it with my finger and place the beginning of the tape where my finger is and continue around to the back of my horse around his hind leg to the middle of his tail. Marking that measurement. Then I add the first measurement of 60" to the second measurement, for our purposes we will say the second measurement was 17". This gives me a total of 77". Here is a nice link to the Weatherbeeta web page to show you how to measure your horse.

Turnouts, blankets and sheets typically will come in 2" or 3" increments. Horse sizes may start at 60" and go to 87", depending on the manufacturer. Since my horse in the example measures 77" which is in between a 76" and 78", I would choose the 76" turnout. You may ask why and the reason is the smallest measurement is given as the blankets size meaning.....a size 76" will fit a 76" and a 77" horse. The 78" turnout for my example horse would be to big.

Some manufactures make turnouts for miniature horses and some make pony sizes. You may see pony turnouts and horse turnouts with the same measurements. An example would be 60" pony turnout and a 60" horse turnout, so what is the difference you might ask. The difference is in the girth of the turnout. Pony turnouts are shorter through the body. If you have ever seen a horse size blanket on a pony you would understand. A horse size 60" blanket on a pony goes to their knees, which isn't safe for the pony as they could get tangled in it while rolling, getting up or down and cause themselves serious injury.

I hope this helps you to know how to properly measure and size your horse for a turnout, blanket or sheet. If you should have a question feel free to contact me at customerservice@horse-rider-etc.com . Join us on facebook 

New Wish for a New Year

It's a New Year and with a New Year comes reflections on the past and new visions for the future. This past year had been a very difficult year for Horse & Rider Etc and I have gone through a lot of changes. Circumstances beyond our control had forced me to move our location to a smaller facility. During the moving process I was met with several unforeseen construction issues, but through it all I strove forward.

As I look to the future of Horse & Rider Etc I have many visions of great things to bring to our customers. First for 2014 I am offering longer retail store hours. I will be open Monday through Friday 11 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 11 AM to 4 PM.

Second I have added new phone numbers for you to contact us 724-676-5465 and a new toll free number 1-855-487-1010.

New items are being added to the website daily to bring you a larger selection of products and be sure to watch the clearance pages for overstocked and discontinued items at great low prices. I will be offering a weekly Web Special on products you need at greatly discounted prices.

New Price Match Guarantee - I guarantee the lowest price on our products allowed but if you should find your item elsewhere for less I will match that price I guarantee it!

The web pages are being updated as quickly as I can and will be more technologically friendly very soon.

It is my sincere wish for you to have a Happy and Wonderful New Year with Horse & Rider Etc

Summer Horse Camp or Beginner Rider Apparel

The days are getting longer. The air is warming up and before we know it summer will be here bringing with it Summer Horse Camps, riding lessons and horse shows.

I have put together a list of some of the items that you may need for your child or teen to attend summer camp. These basics essentials are not only a great starting place for summer horse camp. The basic essentials listed here will work for someone who is just beginning to ride too. Very often I will receive a phone call or someone coming in the store that will say “My daughter/son , I just beginning to take riding lessons and I have no idea what they will need. Can you help me?” This list and information is designed to get you started with very basic riding apparel. Organizations will sometimes give you a list of items that your child must have or recommends.

Equestrian Riding Helmets – are the first most important item. Some facilities may provide riding helmets for their students or campers and others may require your child to have an ASTM/SEI certified riding helmet. Riding helmets are a must have piece of safety equipment when participating in equestrian activities, Western or English. I say activities, because not all head injuries are from falling off a horse. Head injury accidents occur while grooming, cleaning stalls and yes even spectating. Riders4Helmets has a lot of information about helmet safety, if you would like to read more.

 

 

When asked which helmet to choose for a beginner rider we recommend the inexpensive schooling helmets such as Troxel’s new low profile Liberty or the IRH Equi-Lite helmet to beginning riders and young children whom their parents are not sure it they are going to continue with this activity. These all-purpose schooling helmets are practical, budget friendly and offer a selection of fashionable colors.

 

 

Equestrian Boots - the next piece of safety equipment for you or your child. Yes, boots are considered a part of safety equipment. Equestrian boots will typically have a smooth sole and low heel. They are made this way so that your feet won’t slip through the stirrups easily but yet also slip out of the stirrup easily should you fall off your horse. Equestrian boots, Western or English, will also protect your foot should it be stepped on. My feet have been stepped on and stomped on numerous times and I was extremely happy to have had my boots on when it occurred. English equestrians can choose from short paddockboots or tall field boots, both are acceptable riding boots. We usually recommend an inexpensive paddock boot like the Saxon Equileather Zip Front or the TuffRider Starter Paddock Boots, especially for small children. The zip front paddock boots are easy to get on and off and are also very easy to care for. Depending on your skill level or organization, they may recommend tall riding boots. Children's field boots may come in leather or synthetic. Many parents perfer the less expensive Children's Starter Boots from TuffRider. These zip-back tall boots are also easy to get on and off and easy to care for.

 

Schooling tights, jodhpurs or breeches – your child or you, will need at least 1 pair of riding pants. Western riders typically wear jeans while English riders wear breeches or jodhpurs. Riding pants are designed to give your leg comfort and create less wear on your saddle. Regular jeans have a thick inner seam that can rub the rider’s leg. Regular jeans are not as snug fitting as riding pants and can bunch up under your leg causing bruises and discomfort. Today you can find riding pants that look like jeans yet designed for horse riding. There are several options, styles and materials to choose from in horse riding pants. We usually recommend schooling tights that are made of light weight cotton, have a gripper leg bottom, self-knee patch and elastic waist band such as the TuffRider Cotton Schoolers. These schooling tights are inexpensive, practical and comfortable to wear. Schooling pants can also come in a variety of colors to choose. I always say, because English riding is very traditional, that you get to have fun with schooling pants. Depending on your discipline it might be the only clothing where you can choose fun colors, styles and patterns.

 

Equestrian gloves – gloves are very practical. They help you to grip your reins and protect your hands and fingers from reins sliding back and forth. Gloves can prevent blisters when you’re not use to holding reins.  We recommend for children and beginner riders a Cotton Pebble Grip or the Power Grip Glove from Heritage gloves. These are an inexpensive, breathable and comfortable glove to wear especially in the summer months. Equestrian gloves are designed for horse riding with some type of palm grip and can come in several materials and price levels.

 

Half Chaps – are a very practical piece of equestrian attire. They protect the lower leg and will help the rider’s leg to grip better. Half chaps are not essential, therefore optional, but are a nice addition to their horse camp or beginner riding apparel. Half Chaps come in a few different materials to select from. The synthetic half chaps will be the least expensive. These can come in different colors and some have embroidered decorations, like the Ovation Elite Pony Half Chaps or Ovation’s Hearts or Stars Half Chaps. The leather versions typically come in black or brown, suede (rough), like the Intec Split Suede Leather Half Chaps or leather (smooth), like the Performer Half Chaps, most come with zippers for easy on and off but there are a few varieties such as the Devon Aire Suede HalfChaps with Velcro closures.

These are what we recommend for the basic essential pieces of riding apparel that you would need to get you or your child started riding in equestrian sports.

1.       Equestrian Riding Helmet

2.       Equestrian Riding Boots

3.       Schoolers, Breeches or Riding Tights

4.       Equestrian Gloves

5.       Half Chaps (optional)

We have put together a Summer Horse Camp Package with our recommended essential riding apparel at a very special price.

Happy Riding!

Protecting and Supporting your Horses Legs

The following is about the many types of bandages, wraps and boots available to the equestrian.

Chances are if you have a horse that you will someday need to use some sort of bandage, wrap or boots on your horse’s legs. There are many reasons that you may need to bandage or wrap your horses’ legs whether it be from an injury, exercise, traveling, or protection and support while you are training. Many products have been designed to help you with these specific needs and the following is general information to help you know what boots, bandages and wraps to use and when. My intention is to inform you of the many types of horse boots, bandages and wraps that are available and their typical uses.

Standing Wraps – are designed to be used when your horse has been or has to stand for a long period of time or when using poultice, liniments or medications from your veterinarian. These wraps will help to prevent or reduce swelling in the lower leg due to injury or exercise.

Quilt Wraps, Pillow Wraps and No Bow Wraps – are designed to be used in conjunction with Standing Wraps or Polo Wraps. These wraps have several purposes. They are a cushioning layer between a Standing or Polo Wrap and your horse’s leg.

Cotton Quilt Wraps - are made of cotton broadcloth and a polyester fill lining. These Quilted Wraps can be used for several purposes.  Leg wounds and injuries require covering and support these Cotton Quilt Wrap work well for that purpose. These wraps can also be used for protection and support when you are exercising or shipping/trailering your horse.

Pillow Wraps – have a thick layer of filling for cushion and protection. These wraps can be used with poultices, liniments and medications and when trailering your horse for long distances to give support.

No Bow Leg Wraps – contain a layer of foam to prevent them from sagging. These as with all the wraps described can be used for protection and support for injuries, wounds or when trailering your horse.

Polo Wraps – made from fleece and will stretch can be used alone or with a cushioning layer. These wraps offer support to ligaments and tendons and also protection from scraps and cuts while exercising, jumping or trailering.

Track Wraps – are cotton knit material that will stretch and can also be used for support and protection while exercising. Track Wraps are not as wide as stable wraps and because they allow more give these are used more as exercise bandages. Offering your horses legs support for their ligaments and tendons.

Bell Boots or Overreachboots – typically made of rubber, gum, PVC or (polyvinyl carbonate) and neoprene plus several other materials not mentioned. You can select from several different styles of bell boots. Ribbed, smooth, fleece lined tops, open (wrap around and closed), pull on and No turns. Bell boots offer your horse protection of the coronary band, the bulb of their foot and can help your horse to not lose shoes so easily. If your horse has a tendency to lose his/her shoes in turnout easily. If you have studs in your shoes you should always where bell boots on your horse to prevent injury.  These boots can be worn while jumping, exercising and trailering.
 

Splint Boots – are made of a variety of materials with a variety of closure styles. These boots are designed to protect the splint bone on the inside of the horse’s cannon bone. They do not offer support for the lower leg, tendons or ligaments.

Jumping Boots – typically made of a lightweight yet strong and flexible material. Lightweight so as not to add more weight to the horse while jumping. Galloping boots and Open Front Jump boots are two styles to choose from both of which offer protection from injury.  These boots are designed to protect your horse’s legs from injury during rigorous events such as cross-country jumping and fox hunting.  They do not offer any support for the lower leg.

Sport Boots – offer your horse’s legs support for their tendon and ligaments and wrap around their leg from below the fetlock to below the knee and help prevent suspensory injuries.  These boots can also offer a little protection from interference while performing or exercising.

Shipping Boots – sometimes referred to as travel boots. These boots can be used in place of quilts and polo wraps for protection. These boots are typically made of a durable material and cover their front legs from their knee to below the coronary band. Their back legs from the top of their hock to below the coronary band. Most people will use these types of boots for shorter distances and for long distances prefer some type of support wraps which will provide both support and protection.

There are other types of boots that are used for different reasons. Easy-Boots and Cavallo Hoof Boots are typically used in place of shoes should you lose a shoe or just want your horse to go without shoes. Fetlock Boots used to protect the fetlock usually the horses hind legs. Ankle Boots, Hock Boots and Pastern Boots and I think I have covered them all but if I missed some I do apologize.

Thank you for reading and Have a Great Ride!
Horse & Rider Etc