I have had 2 Schnieder's blankets now and I absolutely love them. They are tough, well constructed, warm, and sharp looking. They come with a 2 year warranty, but I haven't had to use it yet. Not even a tear! They are incredibly waterproof. These things are tough!
They have different lines for different breeds, including warmblood!
The Vtek V Free Horse Blankets designed to fit the warmblood and TB. Especially those with high withers (which these breeds tend to have). They have great buckles, well constructed, not one has broken. Leg straps, belly straps, and double snap chest closure.
They have a pressure free wither design including a wither padding. They also have a strap to adjust the shoulder pressure. Both of these features have completely eliminated my horse's wither soreness which he suffers from wearing traditional blankets.
The Stormshield model is my favorite.
They come in multiple weights, all under $200. The Medium weight is $129 for 220g, the Light weight is $119 for 100g of fill, and the sheet (no insulation) is $109!
I have the Stormshield model in lightweight (100g) and medium weight (220g). I cannot stress how much I love them! I will only buy their blankets moving forward. The quality is way up there for the low price, I almost feel like I am robbing them. The Stormshield Light Weight is not incredibly light weight, it is still rather thick. I tend to have him wear it when it's in the 30s or in the 40s at night. He is half clipped and lives in a shed/run outside.
Tip: When measuring your horse stay true to the size or round up. I had a size 78 which fits well on my horse for awhile, but then I had it cleaned and it did shrink a little...his gut was hanging out of the bottom. :) So I graduated it to my smaller rescue horse and bought him a new one, size 80....it fits perfectly and a little room for shrink.
The Stormshield, perfect for TBs and Warmbloods. Buy at SStack.com
My next big purchase, the VTek Marathon Modelwhich comes with a belly band and a heavy weight of 380grams! We have cold winter days of -15 here in Colorado with a clipped horse the leaves in a shed and run this is necessary.
Don't have a TB or WB? The V-free model is for Arabians, Quarterhorses, and similar confirmations. They also have the Cutback model for Morgans and other horses with upright necks.
They also have a great fly sheet model, which is probably worth a try this summer!
I fractured my coccyx bone...ugh. Of course, I am bored out of my mind! I am not able to do much. I cannot even put on my own shoes! And guess what?! This injury is not related to horses in any shape or form. That's right, I did this all on my own by falling down the stairs. Awesome.
The good news it is miserable outside, only 20 degrees and constant snow so there is not much fun things to do anyways.
To cheer my self up I decided to see how some of the big Hunter/Jumper shows are doing right now. It would also be important to note the temperate in these places...all which are better then Colorado right now.
Temperature comparison... Lyons, Colorado: 20 degrees with snow
Wellington, Florida: 74 degrees partially sunny
Gulf-port, Mississippi: 68 degrees and sunny
Tuscan, Arizona: 57 degrees with some rain (I still would take it!)
First show, Winter Festival and Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida. I have always wanted to go to this show. Perfect time to get away from Colorado snow and watch pretty horses in warm weather. Maybe next year. The show features your standard hunter jumper classes and some high dollar Grand Prix too! The $150,000 CWD Prix and a $200,000 World Cup both which happen tomorrow, Sunday March 2nd.
Then there is the Gulfport, Mississippi show, where my current barn is residing for the next several weeks. Over $1 million in prize money is being offered. There is at least 2 Prix per week with the biggest one being the $77,000 Week 5 Prix. The show also has some turf based classes.
We couldn't forget HITS Arizona. Everyone knows HITS; the six week show starting in January and ending next week, March 9th which includes several Grand Prix including the Strongid $50,000 Prix also a qualifier for a World Cup in France this April. The winner of the Strongid Prix was Saer Coulter and Springtime.
You probably don't need a horse brand jacket to wear around the barn, any brand of jacket will do and there are many high quality, warm jackets outside of the tack store. The thing about a horse brand jacket though is they tend to have that equestrian charm.
Again, don't forget to shop at Smartpak...free returns on all sized items!
Ariat Bristol Jacket: A very pretty jacket in red and black. It has a a 2-way zipper which helps when sitting in the saddle. The red jacket has a vintage horse print liner and the black jacket has a polka dot liner. $109.00
Mountain Horse Windsor Jacket: This jacket comes in a maroon and navy color and features a cute equestrian-like logo on the arm. It has a fleece liner and a hood. $197.95
Dubarry Bracken Utility Jacket: This jacket is adorable, vintage, and very equestrian...so is the price at $549. The jacket is tweeted wool and made in Scotland so you know it's warm. It comes in Connemara smoke grey (love the name) and Galway River brown striped.
Horseware: $79.99 (on sale because this model is a few years old). I have this jacket and it is so warm and not too thick. It's easy to move around in.
We started off with some good winter boots, but those boots are not going to do much good without socks!
Some sock tips:
Try not to double up your socks to stay warm. Too many layers of socks restricts your toes and decreases blood circulating. You need that circulation to stay warm. If you need to add more layers, try silk liners or willies.
Do shop outside of your tack store for socks. Some of the warmest socks are found in outdoor hiking and skiing stores like REI.
Buy a taller sock, at least mid calf, that will help keep snow and water from getting down to your toes.
SmartWool Socks: Run about $18-$25 and so worth it. Smartwool has the warmest socks I have ever worn! The ski socks have cute patters too.
Darn Tough Socks: These socks are made in Vermont...where it gets really cold! They are guaranteed for life. They run about the same price as Smart Wool, $24, and are made out of Merino Wool. These would be my second choice, I still am a SmartWool fan.
Horseware Softie Socks: Only $5.99 at Dover. These look super cuddly and knee height. Maybe not great for super cold days, but I bet they are great for the chilly days. Who says you can't have a little luxury sock under your paddock boots?
Joules Willie Socks: Willie socks are designed to be placed inside your boot in addition to wearing socks. This is where one size up in winter riding boot is necessary. Wearing these and regular socks will keep you nice and toasty. $28.99.
Silk Liners: These are available to purchase at any outdoor type store. They are very thin and do not interfere with the ability to move your toes. They add an extra layer that really does make a huge difference in warmth. About $7-$10.
With the holidays and winter weather right around the corner (if not here right now) its time to bust out the winter riding clothing...the boots, the gloves, the jackets, the list goes on and on.
What is so nice about being an equestrian is you can ride all year long, we just need to be better prepared for the winter. Warm boots are a priority for me. I have Mountain Horse paddock boots, which I love! Three tips for buying winter riding boots:
One thing to keep in mind is it's hard to find half chaps that fit around your thick winter paddock boots so I suggest tall boots.
Buy from SmartPak they have free shipping on returns for all sized items.
Look for thick soles, that's what will keep cold air from creeping into your boot.
If you plan on riding in temperatures 20 degrees or lower, consider purchasing a size bigger then your normal would so that you have room to move your toes with thick socks.
Tuff Rider Tundra Fleece Tall Boots: Thinking about trying these, they are such a good price! Only $89.95. For reviews there was 50/50 split between liking them and not liking them. Most everyone said they were very warm and looked nice. The con was the zippers were stiff and unzipping themselves.
Mountain Horse Tall Ice Boots: Did not receive very good reviews. Most riders complained about them being too stiff and for those super cold days (think single digits) most toes were cold in these boots. Price is okay at $134.95. Still leaning towards Tuff Rider Boots above.
Solstice Waterproof Leather Boots: They are so pretty, you could wear them around town if you wanted! $199.00. They received great reviews, especially for comfort. The boots are advertised as fall boots/winter boots so I am not 100% sure they are great for those super cold days, but probably are fine for fall riding and chilly days.
Dubarry Longford Boots: $520, rather expensive, but they get good reviews and most people say they are worth the money. Not a single person complained about these boots and all said don't hesitate on the price. I personally think you pay for what you get, however, $500+ is extreme. But if you can afford it, then go ahead and make the purchase.
Dover offers $50 toward a new Rambo blanket if you send in your old Rambo or Horseware blanket in to Dover. Your old blanket will be donated to local charities and rescues. The offer does not apply to blankets on closeout.
More details may be found here on the Dover site. A list of eligible blankets to purchase using this program may also be found here.
Living in Colorado there is some hard ground around here and that hard ground may lead to horse injury. My barn does not have an arena, so riding in the fields is mainly what I do. Here are some tips to keep your horse's legs going strong.
Check if your riding surface is really as hard as you think. Can you hear hoof beats? Maybe sometimes you are able to hear them and then other days you hear nothing. That should be a good indication on the ground surface condition at the time of your ride.
If you have field options, choose a field that has irrigation. The ground may be more soft and easier on the horse's legs. I have 5 pastures and I only ride in the 2 pastures that were at one point used for haying.
Tall grass isn't always a bad thing. May be hard to see hazards, so check it out first on foot. Once you go around a few times, the grass lays down, adding a little extra cushion.
Change pace and terrain as much as you can. On the hard ground it's important to shift weight to avoid overworking muscles, ligaments, tendons, or bones. This may be achieved by changing pace frequently or changing terrain. For example, two trot circles followed by a trot up a hill and then a trot down the hill.
Try Magic Cushion, it's a hoof pack that is easy to apply. Acts as an anti-inflammatory to help prevent hoof pain and heat.
If the ground is frozen consider just walking with short bursts of trot or consider riding down a quiet dirt road. The traffic of cars keeps the road somewhat warm and the ground will likely be less frozen.
Condition your horse to hard ground by slowly introducing the horse to the terrain, adding a little more time or a little more intensity each ride.
Shoe the front feet to get the soles off the ground and add more comfort. If you already have shoes, consider asking your farrier to review the shoeing.
Consider pads or rim pads if you horse appears foot sore after a ride.
Warm up properly, with lots of walking on a free rein, collected, extended walk, before going right into trotting. In the arena we do a lot of trot warmup, but on hard ground you should do more walk warmup.
Listen to your horse. If they move lame or sore after your ride try something different. If you have tried everything, it is likely that the horse just is not built for hard ground riding or needs a few down days.
Turn your horse out on that pasture. This naturally conditions horses to the ground at their own pace, which is typically the best way.
Add water. Perhaps there is a small 20 meter circle flat area in your field you ride often, hose this area before your ride.
Stick to small jumps and ground poles. Instead of raising the jumps, consider making the exercise more complicated. Save your horses legs by not overdoing it, once he performs the jump as desired tell him good job and move on to something different.
Consider wearing sport medicine boots. Honestly, I think these boots are more important for arena riding because they provide tendon and soft tissue support which may be needed when the horse sinks into soft ground. However, I see how these boots could benefit field riding because of this support, especially if the horse trips. Professional Choice boots claim is that it absorbs 26% of the impact from the hoof and as much as 45%. The testing was performed at Oklahoma University. I have successfully used sport medicine boots after my horse's torn suspensory (an injury result from sinking in deep sand footing when landing from a jump), it seemed to help with recovery.
Consider cold hosing or wrapping after a really hard workout. This may help in recovery. Just like people who train for triathlons or running whom religiously do hot/cold treatments and compression socks. There is actually compression socks for horses!
Another human athlete practice is stretching and application of pain relief ointments for example using icy hot on humans (don't use on horses). A similar practice may be performed before/after on your equine athlete. Vetrolin is similar to the human version of icy hot. Post workout stretching is the key to any athlete and I am surprised not more horse owners stretch their equine friends. Here is an extensive list of stretching techniques.
Ask your horse to move round. Don't let him invert and load his front legs with shock. Again, just like human runners, you want to practice good form to prevent injury.
Horses are different, my older gelding likes the stability of the hard ground. He has arthritis, a coffin bone chip, and an old deep flexor tear all that happened in his earlier life of being an arena horse. Since he has been out on hard ground he has not had one lameness issue and goes great. He doesn't have any major structural abnormalities though, where my other horse does. The younger horse has a club foot and sometimes working him on the hard ground intensifies the short stride of the club foot. The intensity of riding on the hard ground really depends on the horse's body and it's condition overall. Young horses should be especially careful as their bone structures are still developing.
I think arenas are great, but I do think they may be overrated at times. The best asset of an arena is not having rocks or uneven terrain. Many people create an arena that is too deep, which may cause lameness due to stress on ligaments and tendons. The horses that need to be most careful on hard terrain would be those that are use to living and being worked on soft ground. Horses that are conditioned for the hard ground usually do okay. I believe to some level horse's were built for riding in a grassy field, it is their natural environment. We have conditioned them to ride in arenas, but we are also doing more then what they are built to do, like jumping. Bottom line is listen to your horse, support him the best you can, and be reasonable about the workload on hard ground.
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