Total Horse Makeover

Whether for show or fun, spring is a great time to jump start your grooming program with a Total Horse Makeover. The basics are the same but, for show, you can get noticed with extra attention to details or, for fun, zip things up with new hair style or accessories. As you can see from the before and after photos, even the best of horses can be helped by some simple grooming steps:
1. Start with a good rub down with a rubber curry comb, avoiding the horse’s face and legs. Working in a circular motion to loosen old winter hair and dirt. If the coat is thick, you may want to try a shedding blade, being careful to not pull hair too hard.
2. Use a brush to remove the excess hair and dirt uncovered by the curry comb. Starting at the top of the neck and working toward the rear of the horse and down.
3. While the horse is dry is a good time to use the clippers to trim muzzle whiskers, ears, bridle path and fetlocks.
4. Pick/Clean your horse’s feet – noting any issues that may need attention by a farrier.
5. Next wet the horse all over (except face) with the spray from a hose using comfortably warm water. If you do not have warm water available from the hose, you can use warm water from a bucket. Start with the front feet and then back so that the horse becomes comfortable with the water. Avoiding the head, work from the neck down and then to the back and down and the rear down. Lastly spray/wash under the body and then the tail.
6. Add shampoo suited for your horse’s coat type and/or color to a bucket and add comfortably warm water to make suds. Using a sponge or brush, dip into the suds and make circular motions with and against the grain of body hair ensuring that you get down to the skin. Again working from the neck to the rear – avoiding the face.
7. You may want to use a different shampoo specifically formulated for mane and tail when you have completed the body shampoo. There are products which can enrich a horse’s tail and mane true color. You can squeeze shampoo directly into mane and tail, working through with your fingers to the roots. If you find dandruff or fungus, be sure to apply a product specifically suited to dealing with the condition before you rinse your horse.
8. Rinse the shampoo off with a hose or sponge from bucket. Again starting with the top of neck and working down and back toward rear, be sure to rinse well around the base of the tail and under the tail/between the legs.
9. Wash face with a sponge or towel that is wrung out – being careful to not get water in eyes. You do not need a lot of shampoo on the face a small amount on the rag will be sufficient. Wipe out the nostril area, lips and ears with water and soft rag.
10. To start drying, use a scraper starting with the neck to rear and scraping down with the grain of the hair.
11. Before your horse is completely dry, spray or wipe on conditioner. Do not apply to saddle area if you are going to ride because it can be slippery.
12. As a finishing touch, wipe a towel over the horse's coat to make it shine.

Extra touches:
1. For relaxation, your horse may appreciate a massage. With your fingers together, start with making small circles along the spine. Start out with light pressure - watching your horse's reaction to ensure that it is not too much. Work from the neck to the rear on each side of the spine and, if you and your horse want to continue, move down the body and to the legs - continuing with the same small circles. To learn more there are a number of good equine massage books available.

2. For show, paint hooves with a hoof blacking product and add a little extra shine product to the muzzle and above eyes.

3. For fun, braid or curl your horse’s mane and tail and add accessories to complete your total horse make over.

Extreme Makeover

My good friend Vicki Smith and her husband Mark, (you will know them as the owners of Sudden Impact) came in from Washington state this past week. She is very good (because she really likes to do it) with grooming horses. She thought since she was here and they love to hang out at the barn during the time they are here anyway, that she would take a couple of our horses and do an extreme makeover and over tips on good grooming of your horses. We had fun doing the before and after shots and thought you would enjoy seeing the difference too. I will be posting them here this afternoon, so keep in touch.

Birth Of A Rocky Mountain Horse Foal

I have just put a new video on our website, it is of one of our mares foaling. We allow our mares to breed and foal in the pasture, and since they are usually born at night, I have never been able to get video of them before. You will love this video! Go to our front page www.vanbertfarms.com and see it from there.

Enjoy

Still excited about the show

I finally got the video on that I told you about yesterday, you will see it to the left here. I have also worked on another one today. It is the entire class of the trail championship. We didn't win, (but I thought my mare should have) :o) Oh well, that is why we have another show coming up. Anyway, check it out you will see all the horses that were in that class. This class was the only one I really had enough time to video, but now that I know how to edit these things I will try to have more in the future.

It is time to go trail riding, so if any of you are interested give Dad a call. He and Mom go about 2 -3 times a week and they are always looking for buddies. Speaking of trail rides, do you have a good horse this year? If you need one go to our site and check out our horses under saddle, we have a really good group right now, ready to hit the show ring or the trails.

Show Season Keeps My Head Spinning

Boy, I have been remiss in posting here and I apologize (again) :o) Show season has opened with a bang and we have been very busy. Now that the weather has cleared a little everyone is ready to hit the trails and show ring. The great thing about these horses is that they excel in both. I made a video of the show, (just a some short teaser clips) to give you an idea of the fun we have. On it you will see my mare, Autumn Venture. She is the red chocolate with the white mane and tail, on the last part of the clip and going out of the show ring. She is wonderful on the trails and great in the ring. You can't go wrong with the Rocky Mountain horses if you are looking for the "The Very Best of Both Worlds" Check out our web site too because we are posting new horses for sale every few days. There are some really nice ones on there right now. You won't find better anywhere else.

I'm Back

I know....I didn't post when I said I would. First, I want to clear up a couple of things....I, Vera post for the blog, my Dad, H.T. has been writing for the blog. He is not much on typing or working with computers, so I do that for him. Sometimes I refer to I as him and sometimes it is me. (Is that about as clear as mud)? :o) Anyway, I, Vera am the one that went to the Equine Affair in Columbus, OH, Dad and the rest of the gang went to NC to the first UMH show of the season. Both places were very successful. I hope everyone has signed onto Mary's blog. It is real interesting and she has already told everyone about the show. Our farm took some really nice horses and many ribbons came back home. S.T. won the Classic and Park Championships. :o)

Heather and I had a good time, talking and talking. Since that is what breed fairs are all about, we did our share. We met many nice people and hope we shared good information about the Mountain Horse breeds. I am posting a picture of our booth. I hope to some day soon, sponsor a fund raiser that will bring in enough money to be able to purchase a professional booth for the United Mountain Horse Assoc. It would be great to have something that is easy to transport and easy to set up, and looks professional. This is such a wonderful horse, and I want to be able to share it with everyone catching their eye is the (mane thang).

It's Horse Show Time!

I have been negligent in writing for the last couple of days and I apologize for that. We have been very busy preparing for the 1st horse show of the season. It is being held in Ashville, NC and will kick off the show season with a lot of anticipation as to what will be gracing the show ring this year. We always look forward to seeing the new stock that will appear this year and the new clients that have found their way to the Mountain Horse breeds.

I, on the other hand will be heading to Columbus, Ohio for the Equine Affair Breed Fair. I will be representing the United Mountain Horse Association and promoting the 3 phase Event. That event will be coming up soon. Everyone needs to come out and enjoy another venue for the Mountain Horse Breeds.

I will be coming back Monday and reporting to everyone all the news, so check back in Monday for a full update :o)