Cleaning Up
For cleaning and management of skin problems in horses and dogs comes Dermacloth. Dermacloth is designed to aid in treating fungal and bacterial skin conditions as well as safely cleaning wounds, abrasions and hot spots. The wipes can also be used for grooming and general cleaning.
The ingredients of Dermacloth include de-ionized and filtered water, non-ionic surfactants for cleaning, vitamin E, Dexpanthenol, biguanide and Microban, an antimicrobial preservative. The cloths are soap and alcohol free. Each package contains 8 cloths and costs $11.99.
For more information, contact Kinetic Technologies at 1-877-786-9882 or check out their website at www.kinetictech.net.
A Clean Solution
Fresh from a Best in Show win at the Global Pet Expo, Miller Manufacturing brings the Washwand to the equestrian market. The wand is available in two sizes and is a combination spray bar and sweat scraper. The Washwand attaches to a standard garden hose and features a foam handle with a water shut-off valve. The unit is designed with a curved scraper edge that removes water and soap in one pass, which also reduces water consumption by as much as 30 percent, claim manufacturers.
To find dealers or distributors in your area, call Miller's customer service center at 1-800-260-0888.
New Life for Leather
Farnam Horse Products has teamed up with Wonder Marketing, Inc., maker of Leather CPR Leather Care Products, to market and expand the line. Until now, Leather CPR's availability in the equine market has been limited to a small group of dealers and select catalogs. Under Farnam, the product will be distributed nationwide.
The product itself is an all-in-one leather rejuvenating cream which comes in an 8-ounce and a 16-ounce size. According to the makers, natural cleansers dissolve and lift away dirt, even from tooled leather, and natural conditioners soften and restore suppleness. There is also a polish for boots called Leather CPR Boot Polish.
For more information, check with local dealers or contact Farnam Horse Products at www.farnamhorse.com.
FINDING OUT
8/30/2010
Re: What are you doing to diversify and add $$$ revenue? Diversifying into areas to attract nonriders is my goal. I have been running a horsemanship program for kids for the last year, and it's been great most of the time. Unmounted, horse management topics change each week, one or two school horses in cross ties for the kids to "work on" the topic. First Aid, grooming, parts of the horse, parts of tack, show grooming, clipping, mane trimming, tacking up safely and fitting bridles, etc. I've been charging $10-15/child for 90 minutes. Getting 4-12 of them coming at once makes it a very profitable activity. I've worked with our local pony club to have their members come and teach on the topics, as they need practice teaching younger, less knowledgeable kids. And it's fun! Most folks can squeeze out $10/week for their kids, and they get a lot of hands on horse time. Divide into different age groups, offer it for home schooled children to fill morning hours that may be empty at the barn, etc.
Find out if there are home schools in your area that reimburse families for their riding lesson expenses. In Washington state there are a few that do; it's an exciting thing for a home schooled family to get their lessons paid for!
8/26/2010
Re: Mildew on leather tack The tack cleaning products made by Leather Therapy are FDA approved to remove and inhibit mold and mildew. Cleaning and conditioning with those products keeps the mold/mildew away for a long time.
8/25/2010
Re: When is a boader's selfishness too much? This is why I could never be a dog trainer or pet sitter - in my opinion, no one can take as good of care as their dog as I could and it would drive me crazy.
As a barn manager, you don't have a say in alot of how an owner manages her horse, e.g. riding after a long layoff. However, you do have control over the mechanics of your barn. You have a perfect right to say "no" to the lights for both the expense and the mesquito issue with not only her horse, but others as well.
Not all horses need blankets on in the winter. It is always better to underblanket. Horses can always keep warm by walking around their stall. Also, the process of eating hay is also another way they keep warm. So winter may not be so much of a worry.
I understand about fading, but that should only be relevant if the horse is turnoud out. If he's in his stall, he doesn't need a blanket of any kind. If she is expecting you to put blankets on, tell her you don't offer blanketing services in the summer.
Finally, tell her that blanketing a horse to keep from growing a coat is a myth. It does nothing to keep their hair from growing or not - it has to do with the amount of daylight and the horse's own internal clock. Horses who are blanketed all the time LOOK like they don't have a coat, but they really do - it's just flattened down by the weight of the blanket. If they were to be left unblanketed, the fur would pop up to provide insulation.
Finally, I agree that as barn manager, you have the right to ask her to leave. I would say it by saying, "Boarder, it sounds like you aren't happy with the way I run things around here and I cannot provide the special services you require. As per our boarding agreement, I would like to ask that you leave at the end of the 30 days. I'm sure there is another barn that can better meet your needs."
8/25/2010
Re: When is a boader's selfishness too much? Hmm.. llights on in the summer when the sun doesn't go down until almost 10 pm.. odd. My barn (I own it) we do have 'some' that blanket in the summer. They use a light weight so the horse doesn't hair up or get dirty. In the winter we do have a few that have llights on above their stall (my show reiners included) HOWEVER, they are on a timer and go off and on at certain times of the night. Calling the animal warden I don't think will work. Though if the horse is heavily blanketed, one.. I would take it off. If the woman contiues to put it on, I would call the warden for sure so he/she can see the horse sweating to death. Then I would tell the woman "My Barn. My Rules.' I have needed to say that a few times to folks. Here at Green Ridge the full care boarders trust my judgement as far as blankets are concerned. I blanket and unblanket as I see fit. Full care boarders must also provide fly spray so I can use it on their horse. This woman doesn't sound like the quailty of person I personally would want in my barn. I would hand her a 30 notice and mail a registered letter of evection. If she didn't leave at the end of her 30 notice for some thing like, " I can't find a place for my horse," tell her it's not your problem and you'll help her load her stuff up cause she is going. I have done that with non-payment boarders. Get tough. One unpleasant boarder ruins the fun for the rest. Sounds like she needs educated on equine care. The same blanket 365 days of the year isn't going to provide warmth in the winter. I have one boarder that lunges her horse in the arena when I am working my reiners. I just ride around the lunging. She complained about it the other day and I told her not to worry about it, I won't run in to her or her horse. She isn't happy but hell the arena is for riding not lunging. Do it in the grass like the other folks here. Do I care if she leaves? Nope. It's impolite to lunge in the middle of a persons ride. I'm sort of looking forward to the day she decides to lunge in the arena again when I am working my horses. Especiall whn I've kicked a cow out and I'm taking it down the fence.
GROOMING, TACK & APPAREL
