Keeping your horses legs pristine this summer!

Now that summers just around the corner (I'm typing this as it's thundering, lightening, snowing and boiling all at the same time) have you thought about how you intend to keep your show or travel bandages clean whilst in the warm-up at competitions or when travelling?

Golly Galoshes are here to help! They're perfect for keeping show horses clean and white socks bright whilst on the move or in-between classes.

In the lorry these waterproof, breathable and versatile leg gaiters are ideal for us over travel bandages, helping to keep them free from bedding and also clean in the warm-up! Even better, they help to keep all mud and dust off legs, allowing you to confidently ride into the ring knowing when it's time to dazzle in front of the judges, your horse has pristine legs!

Golly Galoshes are quick and easy to both put on and take off and also help prevent mud, sand and grit from getting underneath your horses protective leg wear. Even better, they're machine washable so you can use them time and time again!

Available in a variety of colours or plain black, Golly Galoshes feature a secure hook and loop fastening and full length zip with protective fleece lapel for security and comfort.

Prices start from £26.99 per pair for a Miniature Pony size, through to £35.99 for horse sizing.

For Further Information: www.gollygaloshes.com

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Tickled Pink - Stay dry this winter with Golly Galoshes

As mentioned before, every so often a gem of a press release drops into my inbox and I don't mind sharing it for all to see. 

I was excited to have this particular one sent to me last week, as an avid user of Golly Galoshes I love to shout out about them whenever possible. 

Spoil your horse this Valentines Day AND give your washing machine time out, by grabbing yourself a set of these ‘Hot to trot’ Pink Golly Galoshes!

Golly Galoshes are clever waterproof and breathable gaiters, designed to keep your horses’ bandages and boots clean, dry whatever the weather this winter.

Kiss goodbye to dirty and muddy boots and wrap them up with Golly Galoshes instead. When they start to get a little muddy just pop them in washing machine on a normal wash or rinse off with the yard hose - it's that simple and you don't have to worry about clogging your washing machine with mud from those boots and bandages again!

I also pop them over Ceaser's mud fever boots when he's in the field, meaning less washing and more time doing something we love like riding!

Available in a variety of colours including classic Pink, Black or smart Navy and with a reflective strip down the middle, Golly Galoshes are perfect for using as Hi-Viz additions.

So this Valentines, gallop off into the sunset with a set of Golly Galoshes, because you will fall in the love once you’ve tried them!

Prices start from £25.99 per pair Miniature Pony through to £34.99 for horse sizing. 

www.gollygaloshes.com

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Dressage to music - October

After a recent decision to have a few weeks off from competing in any Novice test I decided to just go out and try to get my qualification finished for the Music Championships.

After trialling just doing one test at the Area Festival we realised this worked much better than doing two tests. By doing just one I could warm up properly for 40 minutes and I wasn't faced with a then grumpy pony who before the second test thought he should be finished.

Warming up went well for the music class. It was the first time in about 3 months I was going to ride to my music, let alone the test - so I was a little apprehensive about things, but a nice positive warm up set us in good steed.

To start I walked for 15 minutes, ensuring to stretch and flex on both reins, to both the left and right. Towards the end of the walk whilst still on a loose rein I asked for some small leg-yield and half pass steps to gently encourage the hind legs to come underneath and start working properly.

After this I picked him up a little and asked for a more forward walk in the contact and then picked up trot. My new instructor - whilst old one is on maternity leave - suggested I do lots of transitions to stop Ceaser getting bored and anticipating what was about to happen, but ensuring with each transitions he stayed in the contact - something we sometimes struggle with. If he didn't then I quickly flex left and right and ask for it all over again.

We had also been working on the dropping of the poll during the canter transitions which is often our biggest mark looser, so whilst warming up I do some work in sitting trot, then rising, then sitting and so on, eventually leading up to the sitting trot and then canter transitions immediately. I don't know but this works and it's really helped with the loss of balance and contact through the trot to canter transition. My instructor thinks Ceaser may get a little 'upset' when I put my leg on to ask for canter when not warmed up enough, but whatever his reason, this new way of working seems to work perfectly and the tantrums when first asking for canter have completely gone.

So, in the trot I do lots of shoulder-in along the long sides, gently encouraging the hind legs to come underneath a little more. When I get the feeling I've got it, change from shoulder-in down the long side, to leg yield across the diagonal and so on, thus giving him some variation in what we're doing and keeping his mind active.

One I've got this we then ask for canter, but more like a medium than working. My new instructor also thinks I don't push on enough in the canter and every canter is more of a collected than anything, so lots of work lately to push open the frame, encouraging his knees to come up. Once I've got this the medium canter looks and feels much better and like he's taking me somewhere.

After this I gave him a five minutes rest and then picked him back up, this time slowing everything down and encouraging him to open his frame a little more and stretch into the contact rather than hollow into it. The plan with only doing one test is to keep him warming up right until it is time to go into my test as when I allow him a few minutes to walk it takes another few minutes to pick him back up.

The test started well, however I wasn't given chance to put my hand up properly for my music to start, so the beginning was a little rushed, but we managed to catch up and slow down again. Everything seemed to go well and I was pleased with the effort compared to the few previous tests we've done. Ceaser really seems to perk up when it comes to the music classes and both of us appear to enjoy them far more than anything else.

After watching the last couple of tests and with 6 in it, I expected to be pulled in roughly 3rd - the middle of the field, however I was gobsmacked to find out we had won the restricted section with just shy of 67%! I was absolutely thrilled to bits with the comments about the test we produced and especially pleased with getting 7's for all transitions - something we had spent a lot of focus on in the previous lesson with my instructor. Had it not been for the judge not really liking our music then it would have been a 70+ test, but sadly you can't please them all and those who know me and the reason my music is what it is, will know there's no chance of me changing it anytime soon.

Not so long ago things were getting difficult with Ceaser and he was becoming more and more reluctant to go forwards. After extensive chats with my vets and back lady we couldn't find anything on the outside wrong and we weren't overly worried about anything on the inside being wrong. So it was suggested I spend more time hacking and jumping to see if he was simply bored, as he would behave when we went elsewhere for a lesson, but not at home. Now his routine has completely changed; we hack at least twice a week, jump twice a week and school as and when I get time. I have a lesson elsewhere once a week, so if that's our only schooling session then so be it. I've finally got my happy-go-lucky pony back that is enjoying work much more. But more on that another time, just please make sure you vary your ponies work - it's so important to keep their mind stimulated and stops them getting bored and stuffy, just like Ceaser was beginning to.

 To conclude, I couldn't have been more pleased. One test and one red rosette with a decent score to accompany it. Overall a fabulous day out which left beaming!

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Carr Day & Martin - Global leaders in Equine care - product review

At the beginning of September I was approached by Carr Day & Martin about reviewing a series of products for them over the coming months and as you can imagine, I happily obliged and am tremendously grateful for the opportunity in working in collaboration with such a fantastic company.

I have used Carr Day & Martin products for as long as I can remember. Canter Coat Shine, Mane & Tail detangler, Hoof Oil; they all used to be on my birthday and Christmas list year after year but would never last long due to my patient pony happily obliging to being smothered in the various products daily.

In the sixteen years I have been using Carr Day & Martin products I've seen various changes to the unique selling points, the release of new innovative products to keep within the ever-growing and demanding equine market and most important I've seen a company dedicated to bringing both horse and rider the best they can offer. Whether it be through leather care, coat care, hoof care or health care, Carr Day & Martin are usually always the market leaders.

In February 2014 at the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Carr Day & Martin launched a revolutionary new spray technology. Rebranding across their spray products occurred and the old time favourites such as Canter Coat Shine and Mane and Tail detangler incurred a large overturn in both look, feel and use.

The Equimist 360 spray bottle was born

With Equimist 360, all your favourite and much-loved Carr Day & Martin products now benefit from an exclusive application technology allowing horse owners to get the perfect finish every time.

Doing literally what it says on the bottle, Equimist 360 can spray a full 360°, meaning that even if your dispenser is upside down or you're wanting to reach difficult areas such as the belly and undercarriage, you can always guarantee your product has been applied.

The functional new bottles deliver a new, innovative, wider spray pattern and a fine misting application which provides a completely even distribution of the product. Even better, those with nervous or young horses can now relax whilst using the spray bottles as they offer minimal sound when in use and the continuous spraying action makes product application more acceptable to horses who previously would not tolerate traditional trigger sprays.

Gone are the days when you feared for your product leaking out of the bottle or bits were left in the bottom when you were ready to throw it away as the new packaging provides unbeatable bottle evacuation, meaning no more product is left in the bottom.

You can almost guarantee that once you've experienced this revolutionary spray technology you'll never want to use a traditional trigger spray again and with Carr Day & Martin, you don't have to.

My thoughts

Working in Marketing full-time I know and believe that companies who want to strive and be the best have to always be one step ahead of the game, whatever the project. With the Equimist 360, Carr Day & Martin have introduced a unique and innovative spray bottle which has once again put them at the forefront of the equine industry.

First of all I tried the Canter Mane and Tail conditioner and quite honestly was impressed from the word go. Working full time and juggling three horses; one being Ceaser who I'm constantly training for our next competition and the other being an up and coming youngster, time is essence in an evening or in the morning and if I can save time I will do.

The Mane and Tail conditioner is fantastic. I tested the product for four weeks and out of those four weeks I only had to use the spray every 5ish days - and that was because I wanted a top up.

All mane and tails were by far easier to brush and the product left them with a silky feeling; allowing me to run my fingers through with ease - unlike before. When it comes to turnout I'm very picky and prefer all of my horses to have a tangle-free mane and tail, so this product was simply fantastic for me. Initially I was worried that I wouldn't be able to plait Ceaser's mane after having used the spray but unlike other products that make the mane slip through your fingers, this didn't and I was still able to get 11 neat plaits with ease.

For me this trusty favourite from Carr Day & Martin has only improved with time. The new Equimist 360 bottle simply adds to the ease and use of the product making it a must have for any amateur or professionals tack box.


Second up was the Dreamcoat which initially I was sceptical about using. Having used endless products out there on the equine market to get a high gloss finish to Ceaser's coat for the show ring I can honestly say nothing had ever made me go 'wow' and he always ended up looking streaky. That was until I used the Dreamcoat range from Carr Day and Martin. Having clipped all three ponies I was wondering whether I would still get a shine from their freshly-clipped coat, however Dreamcoat does exactly what it says on the bottle and gave me the coat I've always dreamed of and the three ponies ended with a coat that gleamed.

The brand new Equimist 360 bottle adds to the experience by preventing the spray from coming out in clumps, leaving you with patches of wet bits everywhere. Together the unique non-slip formula and innovative bottle help to highlight muscle definititon and can be used anywhere to leave an ultimate high gloss finish on any horse or ponies coat. Even better, after use their is no grease nor residue left and it can be used on manes and tails prior to plaiting for a high shine finish.

Ultimately I cannot give these products any less than a 5/5. They are two must haves both in our everyday tack box and showing kit for both amateurs and professionals. I would be interested now in trying the stain remover as up to now every other stain remover I have used on Ceaser has failed to work.

If you're after a professional, unique and yet affordable and trusty product then I wouldn't look any further than the prolific Carr Day & Martin range for all your needs.


So from us, it's six ears forward from the ultimate testers and a big smile from me!

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Mud fever - just what exactly are you dealing with?

I have noticed a huge increase in my blog statistics again over the past few days and people seem to be researching mud fever.

Whether you are preparing for winter or your horse is struggling with mud fever now, then no doubt it will be a stressful time for you.

 

What is it?

 

Mud fever is a group of diseases that causes irritation and dermatitis in the lower limbs of horses. Often it is caused by a mixture of bacteria called "Dernatophilus congolensis and Staphylococcus spp". Although mud fever is normally associated with mud, it can also be caused by mites; this is less common but owners should be vigilant.

 

Before Ceaser was got mud fever last winter I thought it was something that was associated with winter, wet weather and mud. However, this myth is wrong and a horse can suffer an attack at any time of the year - autumn, winter, spring and summer.

 

How will I know if my horse has mud fever?

Any of the following can be signs:

 - Matted area of hair containing crusty scabs

  - Thick, creamy, white, yellow or greenish discharge between the skin and overlying scab

  - Raw looking skin

  - Inflamed, sore looking legs

  - Lameness

  - In bad cases: lethargy, depression, loss of appetite.

 

In Ceaser's case, sometimes his legs looked clean and I struggled to find the scabs. However, I was told once that even the smallest of scabs can cause swelling and lameness. You have to be very vigilant when checking the legs and almost go through with a fine tooth comb to ensure you get every scab off.

Last year Ceaser suffered with mud fever continuously for a year. Whilst it was both a stressful and worrying time for me, it gave me the opportunity to research what exactly caused mud fever for hours upon end whilst trying to find a cure.

If your horse is suffering with this awful problem then take a look at my previous two blogs about mud fever.

 

1) How I dealt with Ceaser's mud fever

 2) What is it? Is it a myth? How do I get rid of it? - All you need to know!

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The 12 days of Christmas. 12 equine products I couldn't live without.... Number 6!

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...6 equine products I (Ceaser) couldn't live without!

Golly Galoshes Gaiters


After mentioning on Twitter that Ceaser suffered with mud fever and I had yet to find any boot that protected his legs I was contacted by Golly Galoshes and asked whether I would try their equine gaiters out and write what I thought after using them for a few weeks. 


Golly Galoshes Gaiters are designed to help keep your horse or pony’s boots or bandages clean and dry
whatever the weather.Golly Galoshes can be used to help keep boots and bandages clean and in great condition or your horses legs free from sand, dust, dirt, mud, debris and water. 

They are both breathable and waterproof and feature a sturdy full zip, with a fleece lapel, secure hook and loop fastenings and an additional 2" reflective strip as standard.

I have tried various boots and chaps that are highly recommended for mud fever but honestly I had yet to find anything that suites Ceaser. 


All the boots I have tried still allowed the wet mud to get underneath the boot and onto Ceasers affected area. Everyday when I took his boots off I was still finding big pieces of mud down his legs. With the bad weather we have experienced lately and Ceasers ongoing problem with suffering from mud fever I knew I needed to find something that worked - and quick! I compete quite seriously in both showing and dressage so am very fussy about what type of boot I use on Ceasers legs and keeping them clean. I am forever having to wash his legs in the winter because he comes in covered in mud. Again, if I put his turnout chaps on they are only able to be used once and then they need a wash. Their material does not make them good for washing at night and then needing to be used the next day as I have found they do not dry in time. I not  needed something that could either protect his legs and stop the mud from getting to them or I needed something that protected his boots.
Washing his legs every night is not good for his skin but I wasn't prepared to let him stand all night with mud ridden legs. 
I knew what type of boot I needed to prevent this but it wasn't until Golly Galoshes contacted me that I realised there was in fact something out there in market already!

I trawled through the Golly Galoshes website and their team on Twitter were a huge help in answering all of my questions.

If I use my normal turnout chaps on Ceasers legs and then put the Golly Galoshes over the top my problem is solved. The material they are made by enables me to hose them off at night and not worry if they will dry in time for use the next day. They are dry within the hour and I can even towel dry them if I need to use them again quick.They are also waterproof so the mud and wet do not get anywhere near my turnout chaps and together they make a fantastic combination of protecting legs from mud fever but also keeping boots clean and dry!

Whilst the weather was bad I also found Ceasers exercise bandages were getting covered in sand from our arena and also wet. With the use of my Golly Galoshes on top of the bandages it stopped the sand from sticking to them and the rain wetting them through.

These are just two uses of the Golly Galoshes but with the reflective stripe down the middle they are also brilliant for hacking out in, enabling drivers to see you much sooner than they would without them on.

My set of Golly Galoshes have made life much easier and without them I am very sure Ceaser would have to be on limited turn out in bad weather. With this not being ideal I am so glad I have now found a product I can rely on to help protect his legs and stop mud from covering his legs when out in a wet field. 

Also recommending this product are Natasha Baker, a Para Olympic star and Eventer, Victoria Bax. Both use Golly Galoshes either for everyday use or to warm up in at a competition. 
  
 For more information on Golly Galoshes see their website :http://gollygaloshes.com/ or tweet them at @GollyGaloshes

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The 12 days of Christmas. 12 equine products I couldn't live without. Number 10.....

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave me to me... 10 equine products I (Ceaser) couldn't live without!

Hypocare:

Who created it?

Hypocare was created by Horseware in Ireland and is described as "a revolution in infection control" and since arriving on the market is proving to be very popular.

How does it work?

It is a topical application that mirrors the body's own immune system; by working naturally alongside the body it kills all bacterial, viral and fungal infections on contact.


Hypocare is widely known already to work on fungal infections such as Ringworm, Mud Fever and Thrush.
Whilst Hypochlorous acid is amazing and between 80-300 times more effective at killing pathogens than hypochlorite or bleach, it is kind to healthy tissues which ensures that it will not slow down the healing process. Despite being used to kill potential infections in places such as operating theatres on surgical appliances it is completely safe to use and very effective.
Any mammals can use this product, not just equines. Horsware strive in knowing that this product is 100% safe to use. It was created to help maintain healthy and itch-free skin and is completely safe if ingested, meaning that it is a great creation for dog or cat lovers who may lick the affected area!


Hypochlorous acid is the active ingredient in Hypocare and is naturally produced by the body's own immune system. This is where mirroring the body's own immune system comes in to force.

When a wound or infection occurs in the body, neutrophils, which is a type of white blood cells are deployed to the site of infection. The neutrophils then engulf the pathogen and produce Hypochlorous acid which immediately kills the bacteria on contact.

But can it harm my horse if its so strong?


To ensure Hypocare doesn't sting or cause your horse any discomfort it has been formulated to emulate skin pH, which makes it work in perfect harmony with the body. Thus meaning it will not sting when applied nor harm any healthy tissue or slow down the healing process.

One of the great things about Hypochlorous acid is that pathogens do not become resistant to it. Like antibiotics which has resulted in the explosion of superbugs and antibiotic resistance, we are not at risk of this with Hypocare. In stead, this product kills pathogens on contact, rather than having to penetrate the cell wall to attack the nucleus, giving neighbouring cells the opportunity to develop resistance.

If I can use Hypocare anywhere on my horse or domestic pet, surely I have to be careful if it digests any?


Why is it only out now?

Although Hypochlorous acid has been around for years, scientists have not up until now been able to product it over 150ppm and with a shelf life of more than a few hours.

The creators of Hypocare believe it is ground breaking technology that will change horsemanship and animal care forever.

To make life easier for each individual, Hypocare offer their product in a variety of bottle sizes.
**

Results

Ceaser has a cracked heel from some previous mud fever so I have been using Hypocare to try and hurry along the heeling process 

Already the area looks a lot drier and less sore. There is now no discharge coming from it and once I have sprayed the Hypocare on, the area looks clean. I have been conscious about having to wash his heel in hibiscrub constantly as it can cause discomfort to horses skin, so finding a product like Hypocare that will clean the area for me and help speed the healing process is brilliant.

I now do not have to worry how much I am washing his feel and causing the skin to become soft and easier to break, in stead I spray Hypocare on and it dries instantly rather than leaving Ceaser with wet legs.

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With Autumn approaching, beware of common winter problems - one being mud fever

I have noticed a huge increase in my blog statistics again over the past few days and funnily enough, although we are still in the middle of summer (well....), people seem to be researching mud fever.

Whether you are preparing for winter or your horse is struggling with mud fever now, then no doubt it will be a stressful time for you.

What is it?

Mud fever is a group of diseases that causes irritation and dermatitis in the lower limbs of horses. Often it is caused by a mixture of bacteria called "Dernatophilus congolensis and Staphylococcus spp". Although mud fever is normally associated with mud, it can also be caused by mites; this is less common but owners should be vigilant.

Before Ceaser was got mud fever last winter I thought it was something that was associated with winter, wet weather and mud. However, this myth is wrong and a horse can suffer an attack at any time of the year - autumn, winter, spring and summer.

How will I know if my horse has mud fever?

Any of the following can be signs:

 - Matted area of hair containing crusty scabs

  - Thick, creamy, white, yellow or greenish discharge between the skin and overlying scab
  - Raw looking skin
  - Inflamed, sore looking legs

  - Lameness

  - In bad cases: lethargy, depression, loss of appetite.

In Ceaser's case, sometimes his legs looked clean and I struggled to find the scabs. However, I was told once that even the smallest of scabs can cause swelling and lameness. You have to be very vigilant when checking the legs and almost go through with a fine tooth comb to ensure you get every scab off.

Last year Ceaser suffered with mud fever continuously for a year. Whilst it was both a stressful and worrying time for me, it gave me the opportunity to research what exactly caused mud fever for hours upon end whilst trying to find a cure.

If your horse is suffering with this awful problem then take a look at my previous two blogs about mud fever.

1) How I dealt with Ceaser's mud fever

 2) What is it? Is it a myth? How do I get rid of it? - All you need to know!

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Mud fever - How to deal with it and how to cope!

The best thing you can do if you suspect your horse has mud fever is not panic. Occasionally mud fever  has an awful tendency to look a lot worse than it actually is and can cause the leg to ballon up in a matter of hours.

Before we start looking in to possible cures and how to treat, we need to establish what exactly mud fever is and why some horses get it and others don't!

What is it?

Mud fever is a group of diseases that causes irritation and dermatitis in the lower limbs of horses. Often it is caused by a mixture of bacteria called "Dernatophilus congolensis and Staphylococcus spp". Although mud fever is normally associated with mud, it can also be caused by mites; this is less common but owners should be vigilant.

Before Ceaser was got mud fever last winter I thought it was something that was associated with winter, wet weather and mud. However, this myth is wrong and a horse can suffer an attack at any time of the year - autumn, winter, spring and summer.

How will I know if my horse has mud fever?

Any of the following can be signs:
- Matted area of hair containing crusty scabs
- Thick, creamy, white, yellow or greenish discharge between the skin and overlying scab
- Raw looking skin
- Inflamed, sore looking legs
- Lameness
- In bad cases: lethargy, depression, loss of appetite.

In Ceaser's case, sometimes his legs looked clean and I struggled to find the scabs. However, I was told once that even the smallest of scabs can cause swelling and lameness. You have to be very vigilant when checking the legs and almost go through with a fine tooth comb to ensure you get every scab off.

How can I help if my horse has mud fever?

Keeping your horses skin clean and dry is the basic necessity to treating mud fever. There is no point in washing the legs if you are then going to leave them wet, put your horse back in the stable and go. If you intend to do that then you may as well leave the mud on. One of the most important things to do is dry the legs.

If your horse has any scabs on his lower legs that you suspect may be mud fever then the best thing you can do is soak his legs in a warm water with some salt in and gently remove the scabs. It may seem cruel and sore to pick the scabs off, but it is important that you get them off in order to be able to clean the infected area. It is important to not clean the area with a normal shampoo - this won't work! Once the scabs are removed then wash the area in a mild disinfectant such as an iodine wash or hibi-scrub.

In particularly bad cases I have found with Ceaser that washing in a warm mix of salt and water is fantastic. Then after drying the legs I spray on an iodine spray which helps get rid of any infection by thoroughly cleaning the area. For a while I spent a fortune on creams from the vets and antibacterial jelly, however good old salt is just as good and what was used way before any specialist products were introduced.

If you do want to add some cream onto the wounds after spraying on iodine then Betnovate cream is your best friend. This cream is traditionally used for treating Eczema in humans and has a steroid in that  is fantastic for treating skin conditions in horses, like mud fever.

To clip or not to clip. To wash or not to wash?

Often horse owners put mud fever down to a horse being stood in a muddy field for too long or washing his legs too much. They are both wrong. I have been told by my vet this is another myth and incorrect. If a horse is prone to mud fever he will get it whether or not you wash the legs once a day or once a week. It is all about working out what works for your horse. If you find you have been washing his legs every night and he still gets mud fever then try leaving the mud on to dry and brushing it off instead. If this doesn't work then try a different approach. Individual approaches will work for individual horses - no two cases of mud fever are similar, it really does depend on the horse.

Clipping is another big question. I have spoken to many owners that ponder whether or not to clip. Again, it is about working out what works for your horse. Some need their feathers to protect their legs, whereas others need their feathers removing so you can get right to the core of the scabs and get rid of them. I have found that Ceaser needs his legs clipping regularly. When I clip I try to get as much hair off as possible.

What else?

If you know your horse is prone to mud fever then it is important to check his legs daily, or even twice a day.

In bad cases, your horse may need antibiotics if the mud fever has turned in to an infection.

A few top tips to dealing with mud fever and preventing it:

- Remove scabs that you find. Don't pick them off without soaking in hot water first.
- If you are using gloves or paper towel to remove scabs then remember to use a new glove or bit of towel before moving on to a different scab. Mud fever is a bacterial problem and can be transferred.
- Carefully dry the area to prevent skin remaining wet and water logged. Again, always use new clean towels.
- A variety of creams, ointments and other lotions are available to use. Seek advice from your vet and work out what is best for you horse.
- If the affected area is particularly bad and open sores are evident then they should be dressed with something. I use a cream for Ceaser if he is bad that I get from my vet. It has a antibiotic in and is fabulous for horses like him that cannot have antibiotics intravenously.
- Sever swelling, lameness and open sores can mean your horse has a secondary infection to the mud fever. At this point you will need to get your vet out as your horse could need a shot of antibiotics intravenously to get it into his blood stream quicker.
- Mud fever isn't confined to the field. If your horse has a horrible, wet and dirty bed whilst he has an open sore, then it could turn into mud fever. Keep your bedding clean!
- Aloe vera cream is fantastic for soothing mud fever sores. I have used this ever since Ceaser first got mud fever and it is fantastic!

Myth:

Mud fever doesn't just occur on horses with pink skin. Any horse, any colour can get it, but it is just less likely. Even if your horse is bay, be vigilant.

If you suspect your horse has mud fever then seek advice from your vet. It may not always mean he/she needs to come out, but they can offer advice over the phone. It is not the end of the world if your horse has mud fever and although it is a pain to treat it is treatable.

Here is a link to the diary I kept of Ceaser's mud fever. Whilst we had a very bad 11 months with it last year, I am glad to have finally got it under control and he has been mud fever free for 5 months now!

Salt, warm water, Betnovate, heel dressing, aloe vera and iodine has been my best friend!

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The increase in horse-slaughter - Sian on the Peter Levy show.

On Tuesday of this week I was contacted by Peter Levy's producer from BBC Humberside to see if I would appear on his radio show to discuss the increase in horse-slaughter.

Sadly, since 2009 there has been a 84% increase in horses being slaughtered in abattoirs. Unfortunately this large figure hit home after the recent announcement that horse meat was found in burgers sold in Tesco.

Peter asked me simple questions like the cost of keeping a horse and why people seem to be sending them to be slaughtered nowadays rather than selling.

A spokesperson for Bransby Home of Rest in Lincoln, was also on the show and mentioned that many rescue centres are inundated with rescued horses that they simply are struggling to accommodate more.

To listen to the discussion click on the following link and go to 22 minutes 30 seconds in.

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On the eighteenth day of Christmas my horse gave to me...

On the eighteenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

This product is probably something you will all turn your nose up at. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if you clicked the X before reading on once I tell you which product I am going to recommend today.

The eighteenth product I want to recommend is.....Fairy liquid.

I will of course review the other shampoo that I use to get Ceaser's dirty bits white, but today I thought it would be worthwhile telling you why I think fairy liquid shouldn't be a write off!

I remember using fairy liquid to bath my horses when I first got them, about 14 years ago. Back then I didn't give it a second thought, but last year when someone recommended using plain, old, simple fairy liquid to get the toughest of stains out of Ceasers coat I turned my nose up at them. I wanted the best for him and if this meant spending £6 on a bottle of shampoo for him, then why not?


However, when I failed to find a relatively cheap equine shampoo that actually worked to remove dirt, urine stains, poo stains and grass stains I decided to give fairy liquid a go. 

We all know its supposed to remove grease and if its good enough to use on our pots and pans that we eat off, then why shouldn't it be good enough for our horses coats?

Fairy liquid is honestly only one of two products that I have since found that actually works. It removes most yellow stains and mud, but at only roughly £1, I don't mind slapping it on and rewashing several times. 

Most of the competitions we have been out to this year I have used fairy liquid to bath Ceaser the night before. It may be cheap looking and some of you probably prefer spending £6 on a pot of equine shampoo that doesn't really work, but, if you own a coloured that you're struggling to get clean then give fairy liquid a go...you may be surprised!

Please let me know your results, or if you have any other whitener tips! I am always open to ideas to get my scruff pot clean! 

Tweet your tips to @FurryMane or comment below. 

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On the fifteenth day of Christmas my horse gave to me...

On the fifteenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me....

This is another product I used to help combat Ceaser's mud fever back in the spring when he was suffering from it quite badly. 

The fifteenth product I want to recommend is the brand new Hypocare from Horseware. 

Hypocare is a topical application that mirrors the body's own immune system. By working naturally alongside the body it kills all bacterial, viral and fungal infections on contact. 

Hypocare is widely known already to work on fungal infections, such as Ringworm, Mud fever and thrush. Whilst some are under the impression it can be harmful to horses, it is completely safe. 

Hypochlorous is the main active ingredient and is naturally already produced by the body's own immune system. This is where the mirroring of the body's own immune system comes in to force. 

Whilst Hypochlorous is amazing and between 80-300 times more effective at killing pathogens than hypochlorite or bleach, it IS kind to healthy tissues and ensures that it will not slow down the healing process. Despite being used to kill potential infections in places such as operating theatres on surgical appliances, it is completely safe to use and very effective. 

For those who read my blog on a regular basis you will know I reviewed this product earlier on in the year for Horseware. After only a week of using Hypocare, Ceaser's cracked heal due to the mud fever was a lot drier and looked less sore. In stead of washing his legs I sprayed Hypocare on which did the job for me!

For more information on Hypocare, visit the Horseware website. 

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On the Twelfth day of Christmas my horse gave to me....

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me....

I first started using this product back in April when I noticed Ceaser was eating his straw a lot, causing him to cough. After spending a considerable amount of time looking at various bedding I purchased some rubber matting and moved him on to these shavings.

The twelfth product I wish to recommend is Bedmax Shavings. 

When choosing what shavings I was going to use I needed something that wouldn't affect Ceaser's allergy to rape seed and dust. Bedmax shavings are made from pine timber so I am confident that Ceaser is stabled on one of the healthiest and hygienic bedding around, putting my mind at ease. They are dust free, supportive, protective and comfortable - making them a perfect choice for a horse with allergies. 

The creators of Bedmax first looked at using pine because of a tradition that goes back quite some years. It was originally used in India and China as a protection against infection, a disinfection and as a treatment for injuries and ailments. 

As you know, Ceaser also suffers with mud fever - one thing my vet said to me when he first got it was to keep my bedding clean and bacteria free. Since moving onto Bedmax I am confident that it has helped tremendously and we haven't had half as many mud fever episodes - in fact none for 3 months now!

The large Bedmax flakes help to support hooves and protect joints as well as making a deep and comfortable bed. They also do not stick to coats, tails or bandages meaning less is wasted. Bigger flakes makes them more durable and resilient meaning less break down and compaction. 

Since moving on to Bedmax Ceaser has not had a cough and is definitely a lot easier to muck out. His bed is cleaner than when on Straw and I have noticed he now lays down more than before. 

Priced at roughly £7, depending on where you buy your Bedmax from, they are well worth the money. I never feel like I have been ripped off when I open a bag of Bedmax either as they are always compact and I have broken numerous plastic shavings forks in trying to break the bale up!

If your looking at changing your horse to a bedding that is worth its money, hygienic, looks nice and you know will offer the best support to limbs then the Bedmax website is where you need to be looking.

Ceaser's bed never looks dirty and although I used 4/5 bales to set up his stable initially, I am now only having to top it up with 1 bale a week. I take the wet out everyday but that is personal preference; some like to deep litter.

You wont be disappointed if you choose Bedmax - as you can see from the photo above, its a hit with us!

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On the 5th day of christmas my horse gave to me...

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....

If you have been reading my blog for the past year you will have become very familiar with these products and just how much I will sing their praises. They have worked fantastic on Ceaser's mud fever and have allowed me to use alternative therapies rather than buying expensive products from my vets or tack shops. The fifth products I want to recommend on my Christmas feature is the Aloe Vera products.


Lorraine at Pet Food for thoughts kindly donated a whole pack of Aloe Vera products to me earlier in the year when I appealed for help and advice on what to do about the bad mud fever Ceaser was getting. 

I was given a wash scrub, two creams and a gel that I was put into his feed when I thought his immune system was low to boost it. 

The Aloe products in my opinion were absolutely second to none and truly did work a treat. In stead of having to spend an absolute fortune on creams and other bits from my vets or local tack shop, I could in stead use these and they did just as good a job! 

The creams helped to soothe the area with mud fever and made it less sore for Ceaser when it was particularly bad. Plus, just after two days of being on the gel he had his spark back and didn't feel so lethargic. 

I urge anyone looking at using alternative products to treat problems on their horses to look at the Aloe Vera products!


For a full write up on how they helped Ceaser please visit my blog post from earlier in the year. Mud fever blog

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On the 1st day of Christmas my horse gave to me....

For the next 24 days leading up to Christmas I am going to recommend a product a day that either I absolutely love using on my horses or would like to own. It's just a fun feature that I am sure you will all find helpful and informative.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave me to....

To coincide with the awful wet weather we are having at the moment, the first product I want to recommend is Golly Galoshes.

These are fantastic and I don't know where I would be without mine. Here's what I wrote about them earlier in the year when Ceaser was struggling with mud fever.

Ceaser sporting his lovely pink and orange pair - which he loves!

"If I use my normal turnout chaps on Ceasers legs and then put the Golly Galoshes over the top my problem is solved. The material they are made by enables me to hose them off at night and not worry if they will dry in time for use the next day. They are dry within the hour and I can even towel dry them if I need to use them again quick.
They are also waterproof so the mud and wet do not get anywhere near my turnout chaps and together they make a fantastic combination of protecting legs from mud fever but also keeping boots clean and dry!

Whilst the weather was bad I also found Ceasers exercise bandages were getting covered in sand from our arena and also wet. With the use of my Golly Galoshes on top of the bandages it stopped the sand from sticking to them and the rain wetting them through.

These are just two uses of the Golly Galoshes but with the reflective stripe down the middle they are also brilliant for hacking out in, enabling drivers to see you much sooner than they would without them on.

My set of Golly Galoshes have made life much easier and without them I am very sure Ceaser would have to be on limited turn out in bad weather. With this not being ideal I am so glad I have now found a product I can rely on to help protect his legs and stop mud from covering his legs when out in a wet field.

Also recommending this product are Natasha Baker, THE paralympic star and Eventer, Victoria Bax."
Golly Galoshes are fantastic to use in any weather. They are so versatile they can be used for hacking, protecting boots, helping to prevent mud fever and so much more. Not only this but the owner of the company is both down to earth and lovely to talk to. When I first spoke to them I had a million and one questions about the product and IF they would actually help. Not once did they tire of my endless tweets and messages, but answered every question the best they could. Add these to your Christmas list, not only will you love them but your horse will too!


For more information on Golly Galoshes see their website: http://gollygaloshes.com/ or tweet them at @GollyGaloshes"

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Hectic few weeks...

Sorry I haven't updated much about Ceaser lately - apart from there not being much to tell, I have been busy with university, riding and blogging about lots of other things that I just haven't had the time.

We've got our first dressage competition of the new season coming up soon which I am really looking forward to. He's had some time off from competing for about 4 weeks now as after the hectic summer spending most weekends out showing I like to give him some 'him' time and I've just been riding as usual, but not competing. However, we are back in the full swing of things now and ready to hit the dressage circuit once more.

These last few weeks have been spent on trying to get him to work from behind a bit more as last year, in the higher level tests such as Elementary level he was beginning to get a bit deep and hollow whereas he needed to use his back-end more, carry his head higher and push from behind. He's working really nicely now and I am finding the canter a lot more collected than before. I can now feel him sitting back on his hocks and using himself correctly, whereas before the canter tended to go a little flat and were at risk of loosing marks.

We are starting off with an unaffiliated Prelim and Novice test to ease us both back into the swing of dressage nicely and then will go straight back to working with the big boys in an affiliated competition before the end of October at Elementary level. Well, that is my plan anyway!

I am absolutely loving being able to come home from university and be able to still ride. As I said in my previous posts about university, I found it very difficult to leave him every weekend during my undergraduate degree. Whilst it was the right thing to do for both me and him I still found it hard, so you can imagine now I am loving going to uni, coming back and being able to ride!

Unfortunately I chose not to apply for this universities equestrian team as I decided that I had made it to the top of De Montfort universities team by being A team captain and chairperson, so there was no further I could go. Whilst it would have been fun I am now throwing myself into competing, running our livery yard and riding school, our local riding club and my masters - yes I like to keep busy!

My masters is such good fun, albeit a little hard! We are covering much more broadcast parts of journalism and I am learning interview techniques and so much more! In fact tomorrow, I am interviewing Oliver Townsend for my blog so am very excited.

The whole yard had a fantastic day away at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) on Friday, which was lovely. The majority of us went and it was nice to spend some time together away from the yard but still surrounded by equines! We all spent a lot of money, screamed just a little too much for John Whitaker and spent most of the day in fits of laughter.

A little while ago I was recommended to buy some stable boots for Ceaser that wicker water away to help the prevention of mud fever. Whether they work or not is a different matter, but I decided to spend the money and see if they do! So, now if he comes in from the field with wet legs because I have washed the mud off, or because of the rain, I can now just put these boots on and they dry his legs rather quickly. I am also using them as a stable boot in general though, which they are also very good for. They are manufactured and sold by Premier Equine which is a fantastic company for anything equine - I have a few of their products now and really rate all of them. I'll let you know how I get on using them, as if they work then I am sure other owners which have horses with mud fever would love to know about them!

I also want to mention the most pointless but fantastic little product I purchased. Tub Trugs have bought out some mini water buckets that  are quite cute. I can actually think of plenty of uses for them, such as a money pot for my car, dog treat pot, hair bobble pot, plaiting band pot, and so much more! My mum has also taken one of the ones off me that I got from HOYS. They may be tiny, but they do have so many uses!

As well as this, Love Likits very kindly sent me a Snak-a-Ball for Ceaser and some treats. He isn't the easiest pony to deal with when the weather is wet and he has to stay in as he gets very bored. The Snak-a-Ball is fantastic for keeping him quiet in the stable when I need to and he spends absolutely hours playing with it!

With the wet weather making more appearances lately I am also finding my Golly Galoshes to be very useful. The lady who owns the company very kindly sent me a set of four back in March because I had been dealing with Ceasers mud fever and trying to find boots to prevent it. The Golly Galoshes stop his boots that he wears in the field from getting covered in mud and are also great for putting over his exercise boots to keep them clean when its a particularly wet day! As well as this they are also fantastic for using when hacking out on wet or dark days as they are fluorescent. I would recommend the Golly Galoshes to anyone as they have so many uses and are well worth their money!

I also don't know if you have noticed me posting on twitter about how many views by blog is getting lately. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be on 12,000 views in only 9 months of setting the blog up! So, because of that I will be making some HUGE changes in the next few weeks. I promise they will be exciting for those that follow my blog and enjoy reading it.

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Lots to come next week

Well, what a busy week it has been this week. I have been preparing Ceaser for our championship show this weekend which we have been working towards all season. I am sorry for the delay in blogging but in between working and riding I havent had much time to myself. I did have a lovely day out at the Paralympic Dressage on Tuesday and must admit was a bit emotional seeing Sophie Christansen take GOLD.


Blogs coming next week are:
- Champs weekend - Stylish browbands for your equines - Update on Hypocare - Paralympics review. Plus much more and some exciting news! Keep viewing to see your favourite blogs.

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Horse log app - BRAND NEW

(A month ago I was asked by the creators of this app to test it for them and then create a blog on how I found it. Below you will see my honest opinions of the app and my rating.)


The clever horse management application

Have you wondered how much you spend on competitions each month? Or maybe how much feed for your horse costs? Has someone asked how you did at a particular show and you cannot remember?

Well, don't worry. There is now an app on the market that can keep a record of all of this for you at just the touch of a button.

Horselog will easily answer any query you have about your horse (providing you have previously entered the information) which will in turn make your life much easier.

It will enable you to keep a track of health, competitions and budget, plus much more!

You can:
* Manage as many horses as you wish -  Which makes this app great for livery yard owners or those who own more than one horse!
* Horse ID card -  This includes a picture of your horse, breed, colour, birth date, sex, activities, plus more.
* Competitions -  This section allows you to keep up to date with current, past and future events, results and earnings.
* Reminders - Set reminders for things like booster injections, dates the farrier is due and lots more.
* Budget - This section includes categories that will enable you to record all your expenses.
* Checklist - Be on top of everything with a helpful checklist that allows you to remember what to pack for your next event.
* Reports - View budget reports that let you know exactly what you're spending per year, month and per horse.

That's right, this app does all that; including more!

How do I rate this app?

When I initially created an account on this app for Ceaser I was struck to find that there wasn't an option to choose his colour as being skewbald, in stead I was offered a Tobiano or Splash coloured pony. I soon noticed there wasn't many English colours offered so hopefully as this app becomes more popular the creators will add these colours on to cater more for the English owner as well.

I also downloaded the app on my iPad so the screen was only small. This really didn't affect the use of the app though and I still managed to navigate my way around clearly enough.

I liked the idea that I could add a photo of my horse to put on its 'ID card'. I can imagine this will be very useful for those that have a number of horses to input on to the app and especially helpful for livery yard owners who may not input the horses full name.

The ID card allows you to input the horses name, age, date of birth and colour. Below this you also have the option to input what activities you participate in with your horse and then any notes you may wish to add.

With a pony that is allergic to a form of antibiotics; Oxytetracycline, I have to make all vets aware that deal with my pony aware that he is. This app enables me to keep this information on Ceaser's notes section so I always have the name of the antibiotics to hand in case I need to let vets know should he need antibiotics intravenously.

What does the app offer?

Once you have created your ID card for your horse you are then given the option to choose from three categories to input information to.
This is the Health, Competitions and Budget sections that you then click into and it splits all your information up.

The Health section gives you options to put in when the farrier is due, as well as vaccinations, the dentist, osteopath and worming. At the bottom you can also in put data about other varied vet costs. I can presume this will mean something like your horse being treated for an abscess or minor injury. On the individual sections you again can also put in extra notes to yourself that you may need to remember next time the farrier is there for example.

So, I have put into my notes section for the farrier that I need to remember next time he comes to shoe Ceaser I don't want quarter clips on his front feet for showing purposes. If you remove the quarter clips for showing it makes the horses feet look a lot neater and my farrier is a huge believer in this.

For people that have a lot of horses (like myself) and also lead busy lives, this is fantastic for them to write notes and ideas down that they may need to discuss with their farrier next time he is around. In stead of pulling out a notebook or trying to remember what you wanted to say, simply pull your iPhone out next time the farrier is around, click on the Horselog app and have a look what you needed to remember. It seems to make life much simpler and again is a fantastic idea for busy horse owners.

The competitions part of the app soon reminded me this app wasn't exactly completely developed for the English rider yet when I wanted to choose what type of competition I was participating in. There wasn't an option to choose "Showing" so I had to go with Dressage. Again, this wasn't a problem for myself as I knew what I meant. I did think it was good that you can in put all the shows you have coming up and the app automatically puts what is booked into categories. For example you will have all your dressage events in one categories, then show jumping and so on.

When creating an event that you are attending you can also in put when the show is, where, the time it starts and how much you have to pay or have paid to enter. If you have paid then you click the option that you have and it will add that amount of money to your overall expenditure. This is a great way to see what you are spending on competitions either monthly or weekly in order for you to keep a record.

Once you click out of the upcoming category and are in the overall competitions tab you are shown what competition is coming next, what it is and the date. Below that you are then given registration deadlines that you have coming up. So, for example if you're a member of British Dressage and the British Show Jumping Association and maybe the Side Saddle Association and your membership is coming to an end then it will appear below the 'next registration deadline' and let you know the deadline for renewing membership.


Next is the budget section of the app. Here you are able to see a break down of exactly what you are spending on your horse throughout the month and year. If you also wish to you can see what you spent last year and compare it to this year. At the bottom of the screen you can see whether you are losing money owning your horse or earning money. I am sure for most riders you're losing money, but for the serious competitors they will be able to use this to see what prize money they are bringing in per month and then what they are spending. For the less serious competitors and owners they will more than likely use this bit of the app to see simply what money they are spending on their horse per calendar month.

So?

Overall I really do like this app. Yes, there's a few more finishing touches they could do to make it more user friendly for the English horse owners but at the end of the day it does what we require. It saves people like myself saving receipts for feed, competitions and the farrier etc. In stead you can simply get your iPhone out, in put the data you require it to remember and at the touch of a button you can review expenditure, competition dates and so much more.

As I said earlier I feel this app would be perfect for owners that have more than one horse, especially livery yard owners that need to remember all the individual needs of several various horses. No longer do you have to worry about remembering any information, so long as you remember to input it in to your Horselog app then you can view it at any time.

This app is even more brilliant because you don't need WiFi to use it. Once you have downloaded it, you can use it wherever you are or wherever you go.

"For only £1.99 on the iTunes store, this app in my opinion is well worth it. Save yourself time, money and storage space by having all the information you need, simply, in your pocket. A simple MUST have for all equine owners."

This app is compatible with the following: iPhone 3GS, iPhone4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later. 

The size of the app is 1.1MB so it really doesn't use a lot of storage.

I rate: 7/10 - Would be 9/10 if I could have the option to select 'Showing' and 'Skewbald' but I am sure this will come soon as the app becomes more popular. Also, it would be nice for those who don't have an iPhone to be able to use it. It would be good for the developers to make it also available on Android and other platforms.

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