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Show Wednesday, June S, 1974 CITY! !! Page 14 EQUIPMENT NEEDED, HEAD TO TAIL Taking care of a horse is pretty easy if you know what equipment is best suited to help you. Lets discuss some things you should have for your horse. They are listed in the order in which they should be used: 1. Shednblade - made of metal with serrated edges and has a handle at each end. Purpose is to remove caked-o- n dirt and sweat. 2. Stiff brush - made of short or long very stiff bristles. Purpose is to reach to horses hide and bring dirt to the surface. It is important you keep each brush separate for its intended use or else you will end up with two brushes for general cleaning and none for finishing and shining. 3. Soft brush - made of fine, soft bristles; often called the finish brush because it is used last. The purpose is to bring out the shine and lustre in the horses coat. 4. Mane and tail comb - made of metal or plastic with a design that fits easily into your hand. Purpose is to keep mane and tail tangle-fre5. Hoof pick - shaped like a miniature sickle. Purpose is to clean out horses hooves, to remove foreign objects and to expose possible wounds in thehoof. 6. Sponges - it is a good idea to have one or two sponges for cleaning around the horses head and eyes . 7. Hoof dressing - there are several kinds you can buy, and they all are pretty good. Made of soft, penetrating grease which acts on horses hooves as a preventative measure in keeping hoof, sole and frog soft and pliable. This not only helps your horse and you, but also your horse-shoe- r. e. dressing - for treatment of most wounds that dont require the services of a veterinarian. Example - nicks, scrapes and cuts from fences and other horses, etc. It is important that your horse have a tetanus shot every year because it is usually these small wounds (the ones you dont worry about) that cause tetanus . 8. Fly repellent - very important this time of year. Flies drive horses nuts just as they do us. The only means a horse has to get at flies is with his tail or by flipping his head and hoping his mane will get them. It will make your ride more enjoyable, too, if you use a fly repellent for yourself and the kind made for horses for your horse. It is important to use it when your horse is in a pasture, too, not just when it is being ridden. 9. Halter - the halter you have for your horse should be unbreakable and come with a guarantee to that effect. Many a horse has learned bad habits from halters that break under a little stress. 10. Lead rope - your lead rope and halter go together; therefore, it should be of the same strength as the halter. It should also be soft and easy to hang onto so it does not slide through your hands and give you rope burn. 7. Wound LINDA POWELL two basic types: Chain - a chain is under your horses chin, connected onto the bit by two leather pieces. You-caadjust the severity of the chain by twisting it, which would cause it to gauge and hurt more; or you can let it lay flat. 2. Leather - made of soft or stiff leather, this is the most popular and seems to work best for most horses. Naturally, because its made of 1. n leather, its the least severe. Whether you use a leather or chain chin strap, it should fit the horse snugly when the reins are pulled tight. When the reins are loose, it should allow for a finger or two to be between the chin strap and the horses chin. A couple of things to remember are : If you take good care of your horse, brush it regularly and thoroughly, you should be careful that you lend your brushes, etc., to people who do the same. Horses are susceptible to skin and hair disor1. ders, too. Leather is only as good as the care it receives. It should be saddle soaped and oiled periodically to insure long life and to protect against the possibility of breakage when in use. Next week we will discuss how to fit a saddle and a bit to a horse what to look for in selecting equipment for your horse. 2. TACK If you were lucky enough to get equipment when you bought your horse, this will not be as important to you as it will be to those who are still looking. You will need a saddle blanket for your horse. It should be made of a thick, yet soft, material and not be too tightly woven. Air should be able to get in and out of the blanket as it sits under the saddle. If you dont particularly like the design or color of it, you can always cover it with a pretty single Navajo blanket or another type which is just a cover, not to be used alone on the horses back as a saddle pad. Just like die price of beef, so has the price of leather gone higher. We need to be sure of the quality and durability of the material we buy and our need for it. You will need a bridle or headstall to hold the bit on your horse. There are several types : 1. One ear headstall - one ear fits through a slit or opening in the bridle and holds it on. 2. Two ear - both ears come through with a browband to hold it forward and a throatlatch to go under the throat and hold it back. There are several types of reins, too : 1. Split - the reins come from the bit and are separate. They are not joined in the middle and are long. 2. Roping - the reins come from the bit, and are made of one piece of leather. They are fairly short, made for quick maneuverability, as is needed with a roping horse. I like the split reins because of the convenience of having two pieces of leather. A lot of people like them joined. You can join your reins by using a thin piece of leather or latigo and a leather punch. Just punch two holes (measure the distance first), and then thread the latigo through and tie it. Its easy to undo and looks much better than reins with a big knot in them. A The chin strap is important in the effectiveness of the bit. 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