Saddle pack and Saddle bag

LIMPET SADDLE PAD – I have found a saddle pad that really does not slip and conforms to my horses back! It really works! It is a very lightweight pad that is made of open cell foam which virtually eliminates the forward and lateral movement in a pad. Once it has heated up to the horses back, it forms a mold and just doesn’t move ! It can be hosed off easily. Keeps the back cool by letting sweat roll out from underneath the pad. It comes in 4 colors and so far, it is the best pad I have used. This pad used under the El Companero bareback pad makes a combination that is unbeatable!

SADDLE BAG – In trying all kinds of different types and styles of saddle bags, I really like the idea of a pommel bag, that keeps all your items in front of you. But since I ride quite a long time, it seems that the items I need to take has increased so I needed to reevaluate my saddle bag system! Now, I use the saddle bags (fit in the back) made by El Companero, all leather, Velcro closure and both sides are deep enough to carry the things I need, like a saw, clippers, first aid kit, thermos, etc. This allows me to have a smaller pommel bag in the front, for carrots and the important stuff, like FOOD! They fit perfectly on the back of my pad (they fit well on a saddle as well) and do not move around or fly up. They come in 4 colors and will last a lifetime and are gorgeous to boot!

Sunblock and Bucket holder

Groomers Stone  Most everyone has used the Slick Block, but the Groomers Stone is quite a bit better in taking off hair, dirt and sweat. It doesn’t have that smell that the Slick block does and fits your hand better. It is in most pet stores, but you can also get it on line . it is only about 3.00 and will last a long time.

Sunblock. Finally, after the summer is over with, I have found a great sunblock for horses (you can also use it on dogs!). It comes in a tub, you apply with a dry or wet sponge and it stays on all day and really protects from sunburn. It is called My Pony Sunblock. It is chemical free and has no toxins, preservatives or fragrance.

Bucket Buddy. Next, for horses that will not leave their water buckets alone, there is the Bucket Buddy! This prevents them from taking it off the holder and is not very prominent so lessens the opportunity for them to get hurt. They are inexpensive, only 1.89 each. It is molded plastic and has a clip to prevent the bucket from coming off the hook.

Riding Breeches and Saddle Pad

I normally don’t write about breeches as I wear yoga pants riding! The easier to take care of the better! But I tried on a pair of the Ariat breeches on a friend’s recommendation and absolutely loved them. They are so comfortable, they stretch 4 ways to fit, wick away moisture, the waist fits like a glove (side zipper), the calves alleviate pressure and the elastic at the ankle fits, not tight at all. The best part is, they are washable! I never thought I would like breeches, but they changed my mind. The ones I tried are the Pro Circuit style. Another thing, is that these don’t seem to stain. We swim in the pond with the horses and even pond scum didn’t stain them!

I have found another saddle pad that seems to work well with treeless saddles. I use it with my bareback pad and it seems to distribute the weight very well. It is a Jacobsen Therapeutic pad. It is made from a top quality visco-elastic foam that has open pores that allow it to breathe. It is temperature sensitive so body heat makes the foam super elastic enabling it to mold itself to the contours of the horses back. The weight is then well distributed and reduces the risk of well know pressure issues with most saddles. It is washable which makes cleaning so easy!

Since this is fly season, I assume everyone has the same problem. I use the fly nematodes to keep flies away from the barn and they work miracles, but don’t help at all in the pasture, so I tried the leg protectors. The Kensington leg protectors work the best, they stay up longer and seem to keep the horses from stomping to get flies off their legs. Keeps shoes on longer and saves leg problems. They close with Velcro and are one of the few boots that have plastic stays on them to keep them from falling down. The less expensive ones don’t have the plastic stays and they do fall down, lessening the protected area and sometimes falling off.

Last, is the coolest pommel bag I have found yet. It has plenty of room, 2 large side pockets, each with a separate outside zipper pocket, a huge middle zippered pocket and 2 water bottle holders. It has room enough for everything I carry on an all day ride. My saw, first aid kit, clippers, food, carrots and even extra halter/rope fits in it. It is the new Stowaway pommel bag. There is also a cantle bag for those who like rear storage. These can be purchased online at www.sportack.com.

Benficial insects, chair and cooler

That summer weather is right upon us and I know that I am dreading the bugs. There is one way I have found that eliminates almost all of the biting flies at my barn…beneficial insects… They are little teeny weeny fly parasites that are gnat sized nocturnal burrowing insects that do not bite sting or harm humans in any way. They kill flies in the developing pupal stage and eliminate the adult fly! You just put them out at dusk in a little pile of manure and you will be surprised. They travel up to 50 feet in search of fly larvae and use them as a food soured. I have used these for about 10 years and have virtually no flies at my barn. These can be purchased from ARBICO,  They also have nematodes that will take care of fleas and ticks, for those of us that have dogs as well. I have used these for years and I swear by them. I have 8 dogs now and ticks are few and far between and we are in the country, woods and all!

Next is something I never really thought about, but love it now that I have it. It is a combination seat/cooler for rides, shows, just sitting at the barn or taking on hikes. It is a small folding seat, very lightweight and has a built in backpack cooler that is underneath. It all folds up and doubles as a backpack. It is so convenient I am surprised no one ever thought about it before. I got mine at M&M Tack in Raleigh

Last is a case for the Easy Boot we all carry on long rides. This is great as it has room for a few other things as well. It attaches easily to any saddle and can just stay there, doesn’t get in the way and is always there when you need it. They aren’t very expensive and they are called the Easy Boot Stowaway  They repel water and are really easy to get into. I use them as my summertime saddle bag.

Shedding tools and Fly Spray

Well, springtime is around the corner as well as shedding time! This is the time of year when your horse’s coat is a bit shaggy, no shine and is ready to come out in handfuls.

I have used quite a few things to try to decrease the amount of time spent shedding each spring. There are 2 products I especially like.

One is the Grooma, which is a soft rubber long grooming tool. It has soft rubber teeth that grab the hair and it just seems to pull it all out to the top and can just be whisked away. It fits your hand perfectly. Grooma makes other shapes and sizes, but this one seems to work great for me. It is sold in most tack shops.

The other product is the Slick N’ Easy Block that I am sure you have seen and may not have tried because it looks just too easy! Well, it is and it is wonderful. It takes up all the dead hair and scrapes it away in no time. It also shines the coat. It is a fiberglass block and will definitely do the job. Usually, there is no brushing needed afterwards.

I am not sure which of these 2 products I like the best, but both are excellent and neither are expensive, so get them both!

Last, there is a fly spray made of cedar oil that I have found to work wonders. Next to my homemade spry, this is great.  It is Sierra Cedar Horse Wipe. There are no pesticides in it at all …all natural.

Reflective wear mittens and stir-ups

I hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday.

Now that we are back to reality, I have been testing more things for my horses. Since I tend to stay out longer than originally intended, I have been looking for reflective things to take with me in the off chance I am out past dark.

I have found one product that is easy to take in a saddle bag and will just velcro right on your bridle or saddle, your arm or your horses tail. It is very bright, one of the brightest and well worth it. The website address is www.estellesreflectivewear.com/

I tested this product at dusk as well as pitch black night and I was easily seen in both instances.

One other great winter product is riding mittens. If your hands get cold and wearing gloves isn’t warm enough, you can still wear mittens and ride. Mittens seem to keep hands warmer that gloves in wind and cold weather, but hard to ride in…now there is a solution! They are polartec riding mittens with the thumb and pinky separate so you can hold on to reins and most anything else. They are warm comfortable…one website is: www.4trailsend.com/pages/rider8.htm They are great for long trail rides.

One last thing that I have found I cannot do with out now that I have started using them are EZ RIDE stirrups. I have used English stirrups for 40 years and just couldn’t ever change to those Western style stirrup, but once I tried these lightweight comfortable stirrups, I won’t ever go back to those narrow English stirrups. The EZ Riders keep your foot supported and your feet don’t get tired or lose circulation as narrow stirrups can cause. There is a padded rubber part that seems to make your feet feel like they are floating on air. Well worth it and these nylon stirrups are invincible! One website is www.4trailsend.com/pages/stirrups5.htm

Happy winter riding! Lorraine

Helpful Grooming Items

I am always looking for new things to groom my horses with. Poor guys get brushed twice a day and I have one horse that cannot stand to be brushed (mare of course!). I have tried every soft brush available to no avail! Finally, I have found a tool that even she will put up with.

It is an “Ulta Mitt” by Epona that is wonderful. It is made of a fiber that it great for getting mud and dirt from hard to get to places, like the legs and face area. It is a glove made of a rough type fiber that stays on your hand, won’t slip and is great either wet or dry. My horse doesn’t seem to mind that I rub her with my hand, so this works great. When you come back from a ride and it is too cool to hose your horse down, but there is mud and dirt caked on, this mitt takes off dirt easily and gets rid of the dirty saddle or girth line and just cleans right off with a few shakes! Almost too easy! It also makes the coat shine, so it is worth it just for that.

One other thing I tried and have found to beat another product I have used for years……….. this is something called Canter Silk and it is a conditioning spray that you spray on wet or dry manes/tails. I have always used Cowboy Magic and thought it was the best UNTIL I used this…..incredible how it lasts. It makes any tail soft and silky and lasts for days, even if is rainy and your horse rolls in the mud…. I would not have believed it if I had not witnessed it my self. I have a mare with a very think and long tail…..I spray this once a week, and every time I brush her, the comb goes right through her tail. If you try it you will not be disappointed!

I purchased these 2 items at M&M Tack Shop in Raleigh and if you don’t live in Raleigh, I believe they have a website. If you have trouble finding these items, let me know. I have not seen them anywhere else, but they are made by well known manufacturers.

Last, have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year…Ride and be safe!

Great, Easy to Use Products

I have found a time saving combination scraper and washer. I got it a few months ago and have found it to be a great tool for cleaning the dirt from way down deep in the coat. It is the WASH WAND, which looks like a scraper, but made of metal/neoprene and screws on to the hose. It has holes down the middle and cleans with a perpendicular spray of water while removing the dirty water all in one motion and eliminates the need for a scraper.! It has an easy to hold handle and a water flow control on it so you have one hand control. It has made washing so much easier! The dirt literally flows off the horses back and dirty water goes along with it!

Next, an incredible invention! I have found a great mane/tail conditioner detangler. For years I have combed and brushed my horses tail daily to keep it in good shape and free of tangles. Now, I use COWBOY MAGIC DETANGLER and taking care of their tail and mane has never been so easy. This is a gel that you rub on the tail or mane and within seconds, a comb just falls through it… seriously…it works! The effect last for at least 4-5 days and it also makes the tail and mane shiny! A tube costs about 9.00 and will last a long time as you only use a bit. You can put it on wet or dry hair and it makes it look like it has been just washed. It feels like silk.

Another trick I found is the SLICK ‘N EASY block, normally used for groming and removing hair...But I have found that it also removes bot eggs! Those nasty yellow eggs just come right off with this block and it will last for years and costs only 2.00-3.00 . I have tried all the combs, razors and gels that are out there and this works the best, especially on the mane. Just rub and they are gone, you can take off hundreds at a time.

 

Trailer Fixin' and Saddle Fixin'

I have found a wonderful trailer hitching aid that has helped me immensely. It is called the Magnetic Hitchin’ rods and they are great. One (bright orange) attaches to the trailer hitch magnetically and the other rod attaches to your truck hitch and you can match them up and hook your trailer in no time. It only took me 2 tries to get it right and now I know exactly where to look to get a perfect match! You use your rear view mirror and watch the balls move, then you are hooked up! They are inexpensive, only 19.95 a set. Website.

I couldn’t find any dealers locally for these, but you can buy them online or call them.

Next is an almost unmatchable item for saddle fitting. It is called the Equimeasure Kit. If you are having trouble fitting a saddle, cannot find the right one, or yours is giving your horse saddle sores, this is the thing for you. This kit can asses your present saddle to see if it fits, help in buying a new saddle or help you evaluate the shape of your horses back…a necessary tool in finding a saddle.

It works with heat. You place the heated “sheet” on your horses back, let it set to a semi hard state and it gives you a 3 dimensional model of your horses back.

That enables a saddle fitter or saddle maker to perfectly match your horses back to a saddle, which prevents soreness and many other problems related to saddles, like bucking, not riding in a smooth gait, stumbling and various other issues.

The cost is 79.95, includes the sheets, an insulation kit, heating tray and complete instructions. It is very easy to use and essential to saddle fitting. Website

If you have any questions, they have a number to call.

August 2002 - Tips For Summer

Well, summer is still here and so are the biting flies. I don’t know about your horses, but mine have started to look for big trees to scratch their rear ends on. They make a complete mess of their tails and tail hairs!

Short of bundling them up in a winter blanket to keep them from rubbing (as if that would work) I decided to try a natural way to keep them comfortable. After many different remedies, I found that putting vinegar in a spray bottle and spraying it on the tail, rubbing it in and leaving it, makes a world of difference. I am not sure what it does, but the next morning, the tail is clean, no “scarf” on the tail bone and no more scratching! I have heard that vinegar is a miracle mixture, and I guess now it is!

Another great invention is fly leg wraps to keep the flies off their legs and keeps them from stomping and injuring their legs/feet. They are about 34.00 for a set of 4….actually 4 would be enough for 2 horses since the tails usually keep the flies off the back legs.

One website to get these is: tackshop There are probably others, but these seem to stay up longer and last for longer washings. I kept these for 2 years before they wasted away to nothing!

If you don’t want to buy fly wraps and still need to keep the nasty flies away from your horses legs, you can always put a tea tree ointment (or Vaseline works but it is messier) on their legs and the flies stay away all day. It is by Animal Legends, called Tea Tree Ade Salve and really works well.

Countdown….. only 2 more months until we put away the fly masks!

BIOTHANE TACK

This month I want to let everyone know about tack that a lot of people are not aware of. It is biothane. Leather seems to be the material of choice by most horse owners only because that is what has been available for the last 300 years!  I am surprised by the number of people that have not heard of biothane.

Now, or rather, in the last 20 years, there has been a new material that endurance/competitive riders are very familiar with, called biothane. It is wonderful for many reasons, but mainly because of how easy it is to take care of it. Nylon used to be a second choice next to leather because it was easy to take care of and it is, except that when it gets dirty and wet, you have to scrub it to look good, if it even does then. With biothane, all you do is dunk it in a bucket of water and take it out. CLEAN! Mud does not stick to it, it does not get dull and dirt can’t hide in the crevices because there aren’t any.

I have one set of reins and a bridle that I have had for about 8 years, that looks fairly new. It has been used extensively, but you just can’t hurt this stuff!

Biothane is basically nylon straps of many different widths covered in urethane. It does not absorb sweat , it is easy to clean and stays flexible even in the coldest of weather. It comes in an array of colors, both shiny and a matte (called beta) and makes for excellent headstalls, bridles, reins, etc.

There are many distributors and sellers of biothane and I believe I have bought from every one of them.

One thing that I absolutely love, other than my tack, is a sponge with a biothane strap to attach to my saddle for dunking in ponds on hot days to cool off my horse. It clips to my saddle with an alligator clip and the biothane strap is about 3 feet long, for dunking ! My horse loves to be cooled off from any pond we run across and actually waits for me to dunk the sponge and squeeze it over her.

If you have any questions about biothane or even want to see what it looks like, I will be glad to mail you a piece of my tack to check it out. I’ll bet you have some of your own once you use it. I am waiting for saddles to be made out of biothane!

SADDLE BAGS/POMMEL AND CANTLE

For people that like to ride for any length of time, especially on hot days, there are many new saddle bags that are quite handy and carry more than you could ever need.

There is the Snugpax, that has 2 water bottle holders, 2 big zippered pockets, Velcro pockets oon the outside and a middle pocket that hold small incidentals, like chapstick, money ,etc. This is a pommel style bag that is easy to get to and is a no bounce bag! It attaches to the front d-rings and the billet straps and is extremely secure. I have put a whole days food/drink in it as well as carrots, a GPS and clippers and a first aid kit. You can find the Snugpax items at Trails End.

Griffins also makes a really nice pommel bag, not as sturdy as the Snugpax, but just as large and is the only other bag I have found that is bounce proof. It is made of heavy duty nylon and has sturdy zippers on it. These can be found at Griffinstack

There is also a cantle bag made by Snugpax that has 2 water bottles as well on either side. It fits over the cantle and attaches to the billets as well. It hold quite a bit and has a “banana” style bag with the bottle holders built in on each side.

For anyone that rides long, these are a definite must.

For shorter rides, there is the bottle holder only, that attaches to the d-rings and the billets and will hold a big bottle of water, but not much else. Snugpax makes an easy boot holder that a lot of riders use for a small saddle bag. It attaches anywhere, with a snap but is not bounce proof as their other bags are. Available at Trails End.

One other thing that I (and my horse ) enjoy is a “sponge on a string”. It is a sponge with a hole and a metal rivet to hold it together, that is attached to a biothane strap that attaches to your saddle. Then when you cross a creek or come to water, you can dunk the sponge (with no fear of losing it) and sponge your horse off in the heat. It is great and I have enjoyed getting wet as well! It comes in handy on those really hot days.

SUMMER FLY REPELLANTS

As spring brings in the nasty flying insect, we have to start thinking about how to keep them off of us as well as our horses. I believe the only sure fire way to do that is a big flyswatter, but that is a bit of a nuisance.

I am a bit of a naturalist, so I do not like the chemical repellants, like the Spot on that keeps flies away for two weeks, etc. I am sure they work, I just don’t want them on my horse. There are quite a few of these on the market and I know many people that have told me they work fairly well, in the best of conditions ( no rain, no rolling in dirt, clean horses, no sweating etc).

I have opted to go the natural way since nothing is going to work 100% anyway, why use all those chemicals.

My recipe for easy to mix, good smelling homemade spray is:

4 oz Skin So Soft

1 oz citronella oil

12 oz vinegar

12 oz water

Mix all together and it lasts as long as any of the expensive ones do and smells a ton better! It is also good for their coat.

There is another commercial spray that I have used. It is called Larry’s Horse Spray . It is all natural and has time released ingredients that really seem to work. It is a concentrate and makes about 5 quarts making the approximate cost per quart of 3.99. Other than my homemade spray, it is the most effective and cheapest of all I have used.

You can buy it on line just about anywhere, but one website is: http://www.netmarc.com/larrystack/

One other website has some great tick/fly repellents. It is www.bugrepel.com. It is a bit more expensive, but since it is an oil base, it lasts quite a bit longer. I really like the smell and the flies hate it!

Another thing I have used that works well if you have a horse that stomps flies from his legs….and who doesn’t! They are the leg wraps that are sold in most tack shops, but anything you can wrap around the legs ..SAFELY… will work. These you can buy are Velcro wraps and keep the flies from biting the legs very effectively.

Good luck and if you have questions about where to buy anything, just let me know. Only 5 ½ months until we don’t shed the fly masks!

SADDLE PADS

This month I believe saddle pads would be a good thing to review, as last months review was on saddles.

Once you have a saddle that is a good fit, then ...as the professionals say...” You should not even need a saddle pad, except to keep the dirt off of your saddle.”

That is probably true, but I have heard that only 1 out of every 10 riders have saddles that actually fit. Here are a few things I have found out about saddle pads…

1) If your saddle really is not a good fit, there is no pad that will completely fix the problem.

2) You can sometimes fit a saddle that is too wide by using a thicker pad although if a saddle is too narrow, a thick pad will tend to make the problem worse.

3) A poorly fitting pad causes as much discomfort as a poor-fitting saddle.

4) Multiple layers of pads can cause instability which irritates and causes as much pain as a poor fitting saddle

5) A thick pad will tend to raise the front of the saddle up, sometimes creating an out of balance condition in the seat.

6) The pad needs to be cut generously, so the saddle does not hang out over the edge of the pad.

7). A too thin pad can increase the pain of a poor-fitting saddle

I have tried quite a few pads with many different styles of saddles. The most inexpensive pad will work well with a well fitting saddle as all you want to do is keep the bottom of the saddle from getting sweaty and dirty (depending on the type of riding you do). But, if your saddle is not a perfect fit, which very few are, then a pad to compensate may help your horse. One thing to keep in mind is that your horse more than likely will change from season to season and even if your saddle is a “perfect” fit now, it may not be next winter or even in the spring. Exercising a lot can change a horses back as well as being sedentary. This is where the pad comes in. The pad “can” compensate for these changes, on a temporary basis.

I like the SaddleRight pad. It is made of a material that does not compress, even after years of riding. It does not slide around and it keeps its shape even after years of use.

The good thing about this pad is that if there are any unconformities in your horses back and saddle, this pad will make up the difference and fill in the spots. If you have a good fitting saddle, it will just be an extra cushion. It is only ½” thick and it extremely lightweight. They come in various sizes and shapes to fit just about any saddle. They are a bit pricey, but you will never have to buy another pad and you can use it for all your horses if you clean it between uses. I had one that was about 11 years old and sold it with the saddle I sold. It was in excellent shape, a bit worn on the sides, but otherwise still had many years left in it.

There is another similar pad made by Supracor and it is along the same lines as the Saddle Right pad. Either one will be secure, help your saddle become a better fit and is easy to take care of.

There is NO pad that will make an ill fitting saddle fit your horse, but either of these pads will help more than any other type. I have always heard one rule to go by….if you can put your pointer finger on the top and your thumb on the bottom, you should not be able to feel your fingers when you squeeze them together. The pad should be resilient enough to keep them apart, which will keep the saddle from putting pressure on any part of your horse.

I hope this helps. Email me if you have any questions or want a review on anything I may have tried.

SADDLES

This month I think writing about saddles would be a good idea…. the season is coming up where everyone will be out getting their horses in shape for the spring. A good saddle is an absolute necessity for anyone that cares about his/her horse. A surprisingly large number of people do not have a well- fitting saddle and the only reason they don’t is that they do not know how to fit one. It is an art.

I have a fairly hard to fit horse, she is barrel backed and has quite a bit of muscle around her shoulder area. I have tried every saddle imaginable that could be purchased…. dressage saddles, all purpose saddles, treeless saddles, wide saddles, medium saddles and everything in between. I went through at least 20 saddles, none of which worked on my horse…. some of which caused sores or worse, a sore back which reduced my riding.

I decided that the Western saddles were a bit too heavy for me and to cumbersome, putting too much leather between me and my horse and not allowing me to feel what she was going to do. So I started doing some research on the endurance saddles and found a person that was willing to make a saddle for her, and not at a ridiculously outrageous price!

Her website is here. She talks to you about what you use your horse for, how long you ride, etc. Then she gets pictures of your horse from all angles. She gets your measurements as well, or not exactly measurements, but your height and weight. She has a knack for matching people with saddles. There is also something she uses that takes almost an instant measurement of your horses back and is very close to exact. It is a 3-D model and helps immensely in making a custom saddle. The website for that is here. She works closely with them to insure a perfect fit.

These saddles weigh only about 15 lbs and can be custom made with any number of D-rings or personal touches you may want, like longer/shorter fenders, wider seat, shorter seat, taller/shorter pommel or cantle.

Her saddles have been used for many endurance rides and multi-day and the horses fare very well, no sore backs, no fatigue and quite a few winners! The riders love them as well. One rider sent her a testimonial that after a 275 mile ride, both horse and rider fared well, the horse scored an “A” on back and withers, which in itself is a feat!

Here is one testimonial from a distance and multi day rider………

"Last year I started riding the Advantage saddle on my two main Endurance horses. I was amazed to see how this saddle, being so light in weight, fits so perfectly on my horses.  I have completed several Multiday rides of up to 275 miles on this saddle without having any back problems or pressure points whatsoever. In fact. after the last Outlaw trail, my horse BW Triple Divide received an "A" on 'Back and Withers', and BC after 5 days and 275 tough miles. The saddle fits not only the horses well, but is also very comfortable for the rider. And because every saddle is custom made, this saddle can be modified to individual needs for horse and rider. The Advantage saddle is truly amazing and opens a whole new chapter in the saddle world."

At any rate, if you want to try a saddle that will be custom made by a woman that really cares about craftsmanship, your horse and its fit, then at least contact her. Katee Owens will talk to you and at the very least, give you an idea of what your horse may need, even if you don’t purchase a saddle, your horse will appreciate the effort when there are no more sore backs!

If you have any question, you can email her at owensall@sierratel.com and she will reply quickly.

If you want to see one of her saddles, I work in Raleigh and will be glad to bring my saddle to show anyone interested.

If you have any questions about a saddle that you may want to try and need another opinion, email me, I probably have tried it and can tell you what I found out about it from trying it. Gather as much info about the saddle you buy before you buy it….it will make all the difference in how your horse acts.

Horse Blankets

This months review is on horse blankets…first let me tell you that I have gone through no less than 200 to find one that I really liked and fit at least 50% of what I was looking for in a blanket.

In our area, it really doesn’t get to be sub zero weather, so I really don’t need a heavy- duty 45 lb blanket that I can’t even lift up. I was just looking for something to keep my horses body heat in, a bit of wind protector, something easily washable AT HOME and predominantly, a blanket that would not rub her shoulders or dig into her neck when she put her head down to eat.

It is the Slinky II Elite. It is made of lycra, very stretchy and covers the body, neck and face. It has a full zipper from under the chin all the way down to the chest and comes completely open. There is a belly wrap that really holds it closed well. The end comes over the tail but is light enough so that when the tail is lifted, there isn’t a problem. There are polartec reinforcements at the shoulder and nose which are stretchy as well. Leg straps are on the blanket, but I have never used them as the blanket is so secure without them. If fits very snuggly but stretches with each move so there is virtually no rubbing at all.

I have had mine for about 4 years and washed it at least monthly in the winter months, plus my horse rolls constantly in it. There are nicks and small tears from where she has rolled over sticks or rubbed against a tree or just wear, but they have not gotten any bigger over the years and washing has not hurt it at all.

If by some chance you need a heavier blanket, they do make polartec blankets, but they are a bit more expensive. I have not owned one, just tried it and they are nice, but too heavy for my needs.

The lycra ones are around $100 and they only weigh about 1-2 lbs.

The website is www.horse-blankets.com and the phone # is 800 348 5673. They have most sizes in stock and the colors are varied.

If there is a blanket you have questions about before you buy it, let me know because I have probably tried it and can tell you what I liked/disliked about it before you spend the money. There are so many out there, it is hard to make a decision.

EL Compañero

The first thing I would like to share with you is a type of “saddle” I have tried. It is a bareback pad of sorts, but not like anything I have ever used. Once I tried it, I sold most of my saddles since I knew I would never use them again.

First, let me explain, that I have had one heck of a time fitting my horses with good fitting saddles. I did find a woman that made one to fit wonderfully, but that is another column! This bareback pad is a full sized skin (comes in many different colors) that extends down on both sides of your horse. There is a sewn suede pocket on the underside with a Velcro strip that makes insertion for the 1” foam easy to remove It enables you to feel every movement of your horse and the suede is like glue with most fabrics that you would wear. It is a non slip feel. The girth system consists of a nylon billet and cinch strap. Additional "D" rings are attached for application of stirrups (stirrups and leathers not included.) It has two saddle strings on the top rear to use to attach a cantle bag or just for decoration and a finished look. The sides come down far enough to keep the sweat and dirt off of your breeches or jeans or whatever you may be wearing…I have even ridden in shorts and never had a blister.

I use mine with stirrups for one of my horses and use it to mount as I would any saddle. I have not had it slip yet. It is very lightweight and easy to travel with.

The BEST thing is, this pad is washable! Just take out the foam and undo the concho and strings and throw it in the machine, take it out hang it up and let it dry ready to use again and again.

You can also use pommel packs or cantle bags with it. Some cantle bags work better than others and there are some for long rides that work great.

The website is Elcompanero.com ….. I will bet if you try it, you will never go back to using a saddle.

Let us know how you like it or if you have a question about something I may have tried. I will be glad to tell you what I found that I like and what I don’t like about a product. This is strictly non-biased information as I am not “given” anything to try. To come…winter blankets/sheets -