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10/07/2022 “Paladin Equestrian Review”  Author: Annalise Wagner 

The equestrian market is oversaturated with saddle pad small businesses trying to make a name for themselves. Whilst it’s lovely to support small businesses, a decent amount of the saddle pads produced by these businesses seem to be from the same manufacturers overseas ultimately causing many repeat designs of the same cheaply made pad. 

This is why when something unique like the brand Paladin Equestrian appears on the market, these saddle pads turn heads. 

But who is Paladin Equestrian and are their saddle pads really that great? 

Who is Paladin Equestrian? 

Based out of Singapore and the UK, Paladin Equestrian is run by the beautiful Ginny Braynsmith. Paladin, named after Ginny’s childhood horse began as a ‘Kickstarter’ at the height of the pandemic in 2020. After taking off, Paladin now offers AP and Dressage pads and matching accessories in unique, yet elegant prints such as the peacock and flamingo. 

Eco Friendly: 

Paladin Equestrian eco sources the materials used for their products. The outer material of the saddle pad is crafted with a recycled polyester material- meaning each saddle pad = 15 1 litre recycled plastic bottles. The filling of the saddle pad is bamboo fibre, a naturally vast growing source that has little to no harm to the environment. Finally the lining is a soft cotton, a safe material to be resting on your horses back. This approach to crafting equestrian gear offers a solution to the issues of pollution and global warming on earth, and allows us to do our part whilst still looking great. 

Review: 

Upon arrival of my Paladin Equestrian saddle pads and matching accessories there was no question in my mind that these products are made to a good quality. 

The saddle pad itself feels sturdy but not stiff and the stitching and material does not feel flimsy like some cheaper pads do. Sometimes printed saddle pads can clearly look grainy on the image but you wouldn’t be able to tell that these designs were printed on at all, they’re incredibly clear. 

The pads cost just over $100 AUD. This is a little more than your average Weatherbeeta, Horze or HKM pad, but still significantly under the cost of more luxury brands like PS of Sweden, Animo, Equestrian Stockholm and Cavallaria Toscana. For a small business, it would be harder to price pads at a competitive price point like the larger companies are able to do. Additionally, the materials sourced for the Paladin pads I can imagine would be more expensive than your average polyester / satin pad that you can buy at the shops. For these reasons i’d say the cost of the pad is fairly reasonable given the quality, materials and brand. 

The quality of the Paladin gear is far more noticeable once being used. After using both my Peacock and Flamingo pads on numerous occasions I’ve noticed that there is very little evidence of use, and little to no wear and tear. These pads are easy to wash, the dye doesn't leak / stain during the washing process and they dry easily due to the bamboo fibre. 

I could easily see myself using more Paladin Equestrian pads in the future. I’d love to see them make more pads with different base colours like a light corn/steel blue and a bright pink. 

I could easily recommend these pads to any equestrian who wants to support a smaller business and ideally would like something that will stand out and turn heads. 

You can pick these pads up from: 

Paladin Equestrian directly: 

https://www.paladin-equestrian.com/en-au

Or in Australia at Oakbank Chaff and Fodder:

https://www.facebook.com/oakbankchaffandfodder

[thesaltlick]

08/07/2022 “Online Marketplace: How to spot red flags” Author: Annalise Wagner 

Online marketplaces have evolved from the times of simple Ebay / gumtree (Or Craigslist for our American friends). Now you can hop onto any of your favourite social media platforms and find a marketplace filled with all the horsey items you need at a pretty affordable price.

Theres plenty to love with these buy / sell platforms. You can essentially get all your ‘horsey shopping’ done in the comfort of your own home, and save a bit of money on new, lightly used and second hand items. The best part is that these items will just be shipped to your door. No need to drive anywhere at all! 

When selling online, you are given the opportunity to find new homes for your old / discarded horse gear, and you can make a bit of money on the side! The money goes straight into your account (No annoying cash) and you can just post it out rather than having to spend half a day waiting for someone to come and collect. 

There is however a dark side to the wonderful online ‘horsey marketplace’ that comes in the rare form of a terrible human being. Scamming. People with nothing but dollar signs (Or GBP / Euros signs for our UK and European friends) on their mind, and no intentions of earning that money honestly. 

So how do you protect yourself? This article will highlight red flags and common scams done within the ‘horsey marketplace’. Although scammers are continually getting more clever with their scams, these red flags will ideally arm you with the knowledge to identify potential scams in the future. 

1. The PayPal Scam: 

You’re selling something online. Someone messages you, they normally have a very ‘plain’ profile. They offer to buy your item for the ‘asking price’, offer to pay an astronomical amount extra for ‘shipping’ and ‘kindly ask’ for your PayPal email. 

You send them your PayPal email right away, excited to be finally selling your item. They claim you ‘may have gotten an email’ and to ‘please kindly check your email inbox’. 

You get an alleged email from PayPal claiming the funds are held. At this point the email will either ask you to pay money to an ‘account’ to unlock your funds, or they will ask you to post the item for you to receive the money. 

This is a scam. PayPal will never send you an email, you will get a notification directly into your PayPal account. If you are unsure, using your PayPal account go to the ‘contact us’ option and clarify with PayPal themselves whether or not this was a genuine transaction. 

These scams are ordinarily done by people in different ‘non english’ speaking countries. Look out for ‘please kindly’, ‘Ma’am’ ‘Sir’. They ordinarily are using a translate app so if the text looks funny, or it’s misspelt or they have used the wrong words. They will always say “you have gotten an email from PayPal”. These are your red flags. 

2. The ‘Friends and Family’ Scam: 

This is easily one of the oldest scams on the ‘horsey marketplace’. 

You want to buy an item. This seller offers you an exceptional deal on something. You decide to buy it and ask for their payment information. They offer PayPal. You know PayPal has buyer protection and is safe. They ask you to pay ‘Friends and Family’. They usually have an elaborate story or excuse as to why. “Your money will be held for 15 days”, “I wont get as much money if you don’t”, “I have to pay expensive fees if you don’t”. Stop right in your tracks at that point. Don’t pay anything yet as you may be getting scammed. 

Paying ‘Goods and Services’ on PayPal will protect you. ‘Friends and Family’ will not. There will not be a ‘money on hold waiting time’ for either. Offer to pay extra to cover the fees. Normally a genuine seller will accept this, as long as they’re not out of pocket for the fees they’re normally happy. A disingenuous or dodgy seller however will not accept this. They will insist for bank transfer or ‘friends and family’ payment. Don’t walk away from those sales, run. You’re being scammed. 

Red flags to look out for will be the persuasive language they use to try and convince you to pay via ‘friends or family’. They will sometimes also offer that you can pay via FB payment (Not safe) or other payment options that are equally unsafe. They’ll never accept safe payment because the item they’re selling does not exist. 

3. The ‘Bank Transfer’ Scam: 

Bank transfer is one of the most unsafe ways you can pay for items on the ‘horsey marketplace’. 

Bank transfer is however one of the most common ways people pay on facebook marketplace, and most sellers and buyers prefer it. 

So how can you arm yourself to make a wise choice when purchasing items on ‘horsey marketplace’ through bank transfer? 

Here are some common red flags: 

- They will rush you into payment. “Please, it’s an emergency I need the payment now’. They just want to rush you to prevent yourself from doing any research or thinking thoroughly about what is going on. 

- Their profile looks sketchy. It has minimal friends, you have no mutual friends with them. They have no photos of horses, or very minimal and the photos they do have are not using the items you’re wanting to purchase from them. 

-You do a ‘reverse image search’ and the items come up on google images or through being sold by other sellers. (A reverse image search is available on google images. It allows you to search a specific image directly to see if there are any matches of the image elsewhere). 

- You search the brand, shape, size of the item and theres another seller selling the exact same item using the exact same photo. 

- They overcompensate. They offer their license, address, phone number- anything to make you feel at ease. All this information is usually fake. 

-They have a bad rating on Marketplace / Gumtree / Ebay. You can always check ratings of a seller. If they have no ratings, buyer beware. 

- Something feels wrong. Trust your gut, if it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. 

-They wont let you or a family member pick it up. Or they offer you a fake address. 

If you’re still unsure but really want to make the purchase, there are heaps of ‘dodgy horse sellers’ ‘name and shame horse sellers’ ‘horse scammers’ groups on social media that you can screen the name through. Always ask if unsure. 

4. The ‘Paid’ scam. 

You’re selling an item. Someone wants to buy your item. They pay immediately and send you a screenshot of the transfer and their postage information. 

This could be a safe purchase, but NEVER post an item to the buyer until the money has cleared into your account. 

If they have sent you a bank transfer receipt, and there is a ‘due date’ or ‘Scheduled transfer date’ on the payment receipt, you are being scammed.

They scheduled payment intentionally as it means the money will not leave their account until that scheduled date. They then take a screenshot of the transfer, and cancel the payment immediately. There is no money coming to you but it looks like there is. This is their scam. 

 The best way to avoid being scammed in this instance is to never, ever post an item until the money has cleared into your account. If it takes a few days, wait. 

Sometimes these scammers will be crafty and claim that ‘the banks are closed for the weekend but the money is coming’. Sometimes they will crop the transfer receipt to hide the transfer date. There is never a need to crop a transfer receipt, it never has private information on it. These are red flags. 

At the end of the day, 

It is important that you keep your wits about you when making payments and receiving payments online. If something doesn’t feel right, follow your gut. 

Generally, try to only pay via PayPal ‘goods and services’. Check social media groups and accounts that share online ‘horsey marketplace’ scammers. Ask local groups if they know of the individual. Check the sellers / buyers marketplace ratings. Being smart will protect you from being scammed. 

Pick up doesn’t mean safe either. Always meet at a local public area with cameras and people. Bring a friend or family member with you. Make sure the cash is legit and not fake. There is always a risk when meeting strangers from the internet in real life. 

[thesaltlick]

06/12/2019

“This famous historical stable is for sale and we are ready to go into debt”

Author: Annalise Wagner

Founded in 1855, Savills is a worldwide leading real estate service, with over 600 offices around the globe. If you take a moment to browse their website, with a decent budget you can find yourself a beautiful chateau in France, or a mansion in California or perhaps a new holiday chalet in the alps.

So why is this relevant?

Recently, Savills released a listing for a historical stable in Surrey, England that has us wanting to go into debt to purchase, and you will too once you see it.

Boasting 58 acres, The Durdans Stables is a historically landmarked and heritage listed equestrian property, producing Epsom Derby winners, and is now a successful equestrian livery yard.

This property hosts stable space for more than 50 HORSES, has 55 acres of free draining pasture and woodland. You can enjoy a “multitude of fantastic hacking”, in close proximity to Epsom Downs (600 acres of unspoilt downland, where on a clear day you can enjoy a panoramic view of london), the local pony club and even the showgrounds.

The facilities at The Durdans Stables includes but isn’t limited to an impressive 2* 1881 heritage listed 35x15m indoor arena with a viewing area and european wax fibre surface, a 60x25 sand outdoor arena complete with a “full set of showjumps”, a monarch 5 horse walker, extensive CCTV security and footage, fully lockable tack storage, plenty of parking and so much more. Plus, It’s already established as a business.

So why move to the UK?  Obviously there is no need to convince you any more that you need to take an exuberant loan out and purchase this property, allow us instead to help you with convincing your husband/family/significant other. 

For one, explain how brilliant the BBC soap dramas, and saturday night telly is in the UK. From golden globe winning “Bodyguard”, to the ever so classic “X Factor”, that you may remember from making band “One Direction” famous, there simply isn’t anything like sitting in front of the English telly with fresh fish & chippies and a Harvey’s Blue Label beer. 

If still not convinced, negotiate with a gorgeous corgi puppy, they can have the honour of naming. 

You can view the Savills listing for The Durdans Stables by CLICKING HERE

You can view The Durdans Stables website by CLICKING HERE

[thesaltlick]

We are back this week guys!! What do you want to see on The Salt Lick?

[thesaltlick]

19/03/2019

“5 Tips For An Easier Experience At A Boarding Stable”

Author: Annalise Wagner 

There’s nothing quite as fun as keeping your horse at a public/community stable! There’s so many people to learn from, so many friends to make and experience to be had! 

However, as you are not at your own private stable, there will always be a few issues arising! From missing gear, to lack of space to store it- we have 5 hacks you can use to make your stay, a more pleasant one! 

1. Labelling (Tags) 

One of the biggest issues in a boarding stable is items going missing, getting confused as another item and taken by accident or stolen. For a long while I had given up on the idea of successfully labelling my gear, as permanent writing washes off, key tags get wet and then bleed into nothing and sewing labels would rip off! I needed something that would withstand the horses. It was whilst helping out at my mates farm that I realised the solution to my problem was sheep ear tags. You can get these made quite cheaply (.30c AUD) and completely customised with your horses name or phone number. They clip on, don't fade in the sunlight and don’t break or fall off. The holy grail of horse gear labelling. You can fit them onto halters, rugs, breastplates, browbands... Whatever you want! 

1. Labelling (Cont.) Engraving 

Engraving pens can be quite cheap now a days- and purchasing one will allow you to easily and correctly label metal items like spurs, and bits that normally you can’t do with tags! 

2. Supplement pre-mixing

To avoid all the drama of what feeds, what supplements and when, premix your supps at home in reusable baggies and bring a weeks worth to the stables at a time. This guarantees the owner/groom will feed your horse with the right amount of supplement at the right time! 

3. Storage 

Try to utilize all the space you have! invest in some cheap coat hangers and hang your saddle pads on your rug bar or wall hangers or anything else you can get your hands on. Not only will it save space, make your saddle more accessible and look pretty; it will also air out your pads of any bacteria ready for their next ride! 

4. Horsey Journal 

So this one is quite simple but really does help in emergencies. A little book near the tackroom or feed room with your horses diet, emergency contacts, dates, vitals and anything else note worthy for the month! Really useful to keeping your horse safe! 

5. Keep a backpack! 

This is so vital, 

Keep a stable backpack with your helmet, spurs, gloves, spare change, wallet, medical ID, sanitary items for girls, a bailing twine cutter or knife, first aid and emergency contacts! 

If you fall off and need the ambulance, this will be your grab bag to ensure all your vital information is with you when you go to hospital! 

What are your stable hacks? 

[thesaltlick]

09/03/2019

“Points For Presentation” 

Author: Annalise Wagner

If only one could take their horse out of turnout; looking beautiful, clean, shiny, brushed and clipped every day of the year... 

However that isn’t a reality, so equestrians need to find ways to make their majestic 4 legged steeds presentable for shows and special moments! 

Unfortunately I was one of those extra crazy, self loathing riders who decided against all judgment, to purchase a grey horse. This essentially means more work on top of the normal grooming routine to get the same results. 

So how do I do it? 

Firstly, I always keep the inside of his ears, feathers and the fur around his hooves clipped to keep him neat. I also wash Beetle twice a week and every single ride, thoroughly curry and brush him for maintenance, but my real trick is makeup. 

“Beetle looking striking in a KB Copper Collar photoshoot”

Cat is out of the bag. 

When it comes to showing and photoshoots; I always put horse makeup on Beetle. It’s not that he isn’t already the most gorgeous horse out there (Okay I’m slightly biased), I just find it gives him a polished professional look! 

But what makeup products will get your horse looking show ring ready? 

With so many brands of products on the market, it can be really hard to make a decision on makeup for your horse. Every store, rider and forum recommends something different, leaving you completely confused on what items to actually buy. 

There are so many products available too, and they cost so much. I found it really difficult to choose on my own as I didn’t want to buy something and regret it afterwards! 

However then, during my search I came across MP Gloss. 

“MP Gloss bringing out a glorious shine on Beetle, paired with his Somersby Custom Browband, Stubben show saddle and Mattes GMBH Numnah”

After approaching a forum on facebook called “Show Horses” about makeup I was recommended MP Gloss by numerous successful hackies and figured I would give it a go!

I begin my routine with the “Diamond Gloss Body Wash”, which I use after conditioning Beetle’s mane and tail- and I coat his entire body in it and rinse out for a shiny glossy coat. Then, I follow up with “Diamond Gloss Detangler”. This is probably the most delicious smell you will ever experience, but also keeps Beetle’s rump, neck, mane and tail dirt and dust free! 

Now the foundations are set, I get onto presentation. 

First, I gloss Beetle up using a sheepskin mitt and “Diamond Dazzler Coat Shine”. I only use this again on the neck and rump and face to avoid saddle slip! I will also grab a chux cloth or similar and oil his face a bit more thoroughly with the coat shine too! After this, I use a “mini-stixx” on his eyes and muzzle, and follow through with “Top Gloss” in black to blend and add a bit of definition. Finally I finish up with “Liquid Legz” (Which is by far the absolute finishing product I have ever used) and add dapples and exaggerate his random stripe with “Xtreeme White Cover Cream”.  Whilst it seems excessive to go to so much effort for presentation, for shows and photoshoots I find the effort really makes Beetle stand out, and it really doesn’t take much time at all. 

What I really love is that MP Gloss includes instructions on how to get the best results out of the products on their website! It has been a wealth of knowledge and I wouldn’t have such a well presented horse without it! 

I have used other brands before, but I found MP Gloss stood out the most to me in terms of quality, and wow factor. The price is not too bad for “Equine makeup” but not cheap either, however I find I am willing to invest in presentation products as they bring the best out of your horse and can sometimes be the difference between second and first place! 

Now you know my secrets! 

You can purchase MP Gloss here, or at your local Horseland! 

[thesaltlick]

30/01/2019

“Bridleware that doesn’t break the bank”

Author: Annalise Wagner 

Back in 2014 I was complaining that there wasn’t enough options regarding nice bridles without taking out a mortgage and ordering a custom, or European big branded one; Now however, it’s the direct polar opposite.  With online shopping becoming larger year by year, and social media exploding into prime real estate for tack stores to market new products; The equestrian tack industry is blooming like a field of flowers in spring with boutique bridle & leather online companies everywhere!  Now, there is a new dilemma. With so many options out there, and the Afterpay/Zippay magic wand ready to cast a shopaholic spell over you, which brand does one choose? We are saturated with choice! 

When setting out to buy a new bridle for Beetle (My ‘Oh so sensitive’ 19yo OTTB gelding) I created a list of criteria I wanted the bridle to have, anything extra was an added bonus:

- European or Australian leather. (No Indian/Chinese stuff) (No PVC/synthetic)

- Soft padding (For ‘Woe is me’, Mr. Sensitive OTTB)

- Anatomical Poll (...and potentially noseband too)

- Soft padded leather reins included (Okay I am a bit of a princess too!)

- Australian business (We need all the help we can get against EU monopoly)

- Pretty elegant browband (For a pretty gelding... duh!) 

- Glossy noseband for dressage (...and matte for jumping) 

- No flashband (or a removable flashband that doesn’t leave an ugly tab in the bridle)

- Somewhat affordable.

Alas the hunt began... Sound the horns, gather the dogs, I needed to find (and catch) the perfect new bridle for my favourite little thoroughbred! 

As I sailed on my quest, there was a few reoccuring icebergs that set me back, one being companies that claim to have “european leather bridles”, but once investigating- they are indian leather with a small feature of the bridle being leather that had originated in europe. 

Another iceberg was affordability. Everything that ticked my boxes, were above $300 and unfortunately I was not in the financial position to afford a whole new kit of bridles each individually priced at what I most likely could get for selling a kidney stone. 

... And then I discovered Lumiere. 

Lumiere is essentially a boutique Australian owned & designed bridleware brand, minus the excessive markups in price! The best of both worlds. This holy grail brand ticked all my boxes, and as an added bonus their leatherware is all italian leather and handcrafted! 

From patent nosebands, to buttery soft reins, to soft comfortable sheepskin breastplates; Just as quickly as I had discovered Lumiere, my entire tack room had been filled up with their products. All bridles and breastplates are around the $150AUD mark, and I was able to pick up a new pair of buttery yet hardy stirrup leathers for $80AUD. To me, these prices were affordable and achievable! 

Once my Lumiere package arrived, I was overjoyed with the quality of the products (and the exciting pretty browbands) that lay before me. I would easily be able to compare Lumiere to leading european brands of bridleware that cost 4x the price of my Lumiere gear, which makes me question how much of a markup larger european brands actually have. 

However I had one final test for my Lumiere leather. Many brands I find hide faults and low quality leather in their bridles by waxing them. This creates an illusion that these shiny leather bridles are perfect and high quality when they may be far from it! 

Just like a scientist, I put my safety goggles and gloves on, grabbed the bunsen burner and test tubes to conduct the anti-waxing test on my Lumiere bridles...

Just kidding, I literally just cleaned the bridles with glycerine soap removing the traces of wax, and conditioned them with a leather balm; however to my utmost pleasure, the bridleware had withheld their structural integrity and overall gleaming flawless leather finish! 

What I really love is the fact that Lumiere will allow you to customise your bridle to tailor “difficult to fit” horses like Beetle! Want a full bridle with a cob noseband? No problem!, Need a pony noseband with a cob poll piece and pony browband? Easy as! This sort of flexibility really makes Lumiere as a brand glow above the others. 

Finally, and most importantly Lumiere has A+ customer service, and goes above and beyond for everyone, which in our day and age seems to be quite rare! There was nothing more delightful than ordering with Lumiere and I can say wholeheartedly, they now have a loyal customer for life. 

Want your own Lumiereware? 

Check out their website here! Lumiere does free shipping on orders over $200, and ships worldwide! 

https://www.lumiereequestrian.com/

[thesaltlick]

20/11/2018

“Muck Boots Review”

Author: Annalise Wagner

When it comes to the sport of Equestrianism; I believe it is safe to say that for the average rider, only 15% of the work and time with horses is actually spent in the saddle. 

Behind every great horse and rider team, there are the countless hours mucking out stables, grooming, washing, tacking up, cleaning tack, bathing horses, mixing feed, feeding and so forth. 

Generally speaking; nice, and usually quite expensive leather riding boots isn’t a great choice for the daily errands as leather needs to be looked after and water, mud and other grime can add to the wear and tear of the boots. 

I know personally for myself, I put a concentrated effort into maintaining my Petrie tall boots, and would not put them at risk by wearing them throughout all my stable jobs! 

For these reasons, it is absolutely paramount to have appropriate footwear for the Equestrian to use throughout the day that is comfortable, waterproof and hard wearing with a grippy tread and good foot support. 

But with the expectations so high, is it possible to find such a boot? 

Allow me to introduce you to Muck Boot Company! 

You have most likely heard of Muck Boot Company through Meghan Markle when she rocked the Reign Tall Boot during the Royal Tour this year, but don’t be fooled, Muck Boots are not just for royals! 

When first opening the box encasing my ‘Reign Supreme’ boots, I instantly noticed the quality of the overall boot. They were hard wearing solid boots, yet beautiful and stylish, everything I want in a piece of footwear I would be wearing around the place!.  I absolutely adore the knit design too, which I must admit I questioned “How could that be waterproof” and “It must stain easily” when ordering, however was greatly surprised to see that it is in fact waterproof and they dont stain either.

Muck Boots are super easy to clean! All you need to do is grab any old hose, attach to your tap and hose them down, leaving them looking brand new every single time, regardless how filthy they were to start with. 

I “ran a muck” in the boots for the next few weeks, testing them throughout all my equestrian jobs and chores, even taking them to a show with fantastic results! They are so comfortable, grippy and get compliments everywhere I go. 

The coolest part about my ‘Reign Supreme’ Muck Boots is that you CAN ride in them! They even have a little stopper to hold your spur up if you need to attach spurs to them! Muck Boot Company really has thought of everything. 

Whilst the price tag is a bit hefty, I can honestly say they are worth every dollar! 

So finally, can I recommend Muck Boot Company as the ultimate equestrian boot? 

Answer is a massive YES! These boots are perfect for every job around the stable, and easy to maintain and clean, all whilst being a gumboot you can actually ride in. I will never use any other brand of Gum Boots again! 

You can purchase your Muck Boots here! 

https://www.muckbootcompany.com/

[thesaltlick]

13/09/2018 

‘Lemieux Integrated Lambskin girth’

Author: Annalise Wagner

My horse; Beetle, has a strong distaste towards girths.

Initially, as he is a Off The Track Thoroughbred I thought it may be ulcers as the breed can be prone to them, however when investigated by a vet we discovered this wasn’t the case! Never the less we put him on preventative supplements just to maintain however Beetle’s girthiness still wasn’t fixed alas I was stuck with a cranky old dragon come time to do the girth up each ride.  

It didn’t matter what type of girth it was, leather or synthetic, Anatomical or plain, long jump or short dressage; Beetle really hated his girth! Stuck, I decided to try sheepskin! 

After discussing my girth issues with Southern Sport Horses, I was recommended their Lemieux Integrated Lambskin Girth, and gosh what a difference it made! 

“Integrated Contoured Sheepskin Dressage girth, with supersoft 100% Merino lambskin lining. Providing a soft, light and breathable surface against your horse. Great for sensitive horses or horses prone to rubbing and girth galls. The lambskin lining is rolled over the edges to distribute pressure and stop chaffing. The roller buckles are made of stainless steel.” -Lemieux 

The lambskin on this girth is remarkable. It’s soft and luscious and just from feeling; you can tell it’s high quality instantly! 

I think Beetle really appreciated the softness of the Lambskin too, because for the first time in my life of doing up a girth up on him, he wasn’t bothered in the slightest. It felt almost unusual to not receive his regular ears back, hind leg kick, head up in the air and dirty stink eye expression from the girth being done up. I don’t think he even noticed! 

When riding and working him, I have noticed he extends his front shoulders loosely more as well since the girth upgrade. 

The girth is well built, with good quality lambskin, outer shell neoprene, stainless steel buckles and elastic to ensure a girth that lasts! 

One thing I find extremely impressive is the fact this girth is machine washable! One of my greatest concerns for a lambskin/sheepskin girth was the fact it will get all gross, smelly and sweaty but the fact you can machine wash and sanitise the Lemieux Integrated Lambskin Girth really sold me! 

The girth has been incredibly hard wearing with low maintenance so far, and doesn’t get slippery on a sweaty Beetle! It’s not too over the top and chunky and holds a nice subtle look under the saddle too! 

Honestly this girth has worked miracles for me and my boy, Beetle! I never thought he would actually like a girth ever, and it’s made tacking him up a far more easier experience! The quality and detail that has gone into this girth is remarkable, as per all Lemieux products I own, and at Southern Sport Horses it retails for only $119.00 which is quite affordable for a durable lambskin girth, let alone under the Lemieux name! 

I can highly recommend this girth to all riders who require a short girth- Your horse doesn’t even need to be sensitive to make this girth worth the purchase! 

As always, our partner Southern Sport Horses is the best place to purchase Lemieux products! 

Have you tried the Lemieux Integrated Lambskin Girth? What did you think? 

[thesaltlick]

13/09/2018

“Spend The Night On Foal Watch” 

Author: Natika Gough 

A ‘Foal Watcher’ is a midwife for horses; assisting mares in bringing their fur kids into the world, which is just so rewarding; I love my job. 

Breeding season is now upon us and this means there are lots of people who walk around like zombies for the next 3 to 4 months. Yup, this is me currently! 

I am having a quiet night in; There are an abundance of those. It’s 3am on a Tuesday morning as I write this. The season starts from the first mare due, which is generally around the first of August for all Thoroughbred studs. This requires someone on farm 24/7 waiting and watching for foals to arrive. 

Depending on the stud; Your involvement in foaling down can vary. Some studs pull out every foal, using leg-ropes/chains however, some allow the mare do the work, just keeping an eye on them. 

There are many things that can go wrong; and when things go wrong everything happens very quickly. I am by no means an expert but knowing the signs to look for is essential to prevent tragedy early!  Signs of first stage labour can vary with each mare. Some walk the paddock, others wax up (crystallized milk on the end of their teats), however some mares can wax up for a week before.

Other mares will graze and seem to stop as contractions hit or they will flem (curl the top lip); some rub their rump sign of pain, and some don’t show many signs at all! 

I have learnt to trust my gut if I think a mare is going to foal because it is rarely wrong! Watching mares on the boring nights, give you an insight to when they actually do go into labour. 

Most mares will lay down when their waters rupture however, some can have their waters rupture standing up. When waters rupture standing up; the mares look like they are straining to wee. The waters rupturing is like a gush of fluid. At this point we separate from the other mares to foal. Once the mare goes down and you can see the bag, I glove up and check for presentation of the foal. 

You should see 2 front legs and a nose coming out. If you have just a nose, you need to feel for where the front legs are. The legs can be maneuvered inside the birth canal but...leave this to the experts; as so much can go wrong. The foal can present upside down and will need to be turned into normal presentation, otherwise the foals foot can end up going through the wall of the birth canal and into the rectum. Yup... OUCH!! 

Once you know the foal is in the correct presentation; we allow the mare to deliver herself, unless we can see she needs assistance. 

Whilst the mare is still pushing we get a sample of the colostrum to test the quality. The high quality mares we try to milk the colostrum and freeze it, in case we need it for another foal. Once the foal is out; we clear the nose of amniotic fluid. The foal should be left to sit with the umbilical cord still attached as this is still pumping blood into the foal.   

Once the umbilical cord breaks the site should be drowned in antiseptic solution. The foal should be left to stand up and should be looking at the first drink 2-2.5 hours after foaling. 

IgG tests are done from 12- 24 hours after birth and consists of a blood test to check the foal received enough colostrum. Your vet will let you know the next step if the foal has a low IgG test. 

It is the most rewarding job if you like doing night shift. I love it and especially love that I can fit riding my horses in during the day. 

Who doesn’t love a newborn foal!

[thesaltlick]

22/08/2018

‘EMBRACE COUNTRY WINTER WITH TWEED’ 

Author: Annalise Wagner

Tweed is in this season, and there is no way better to rock it than the Lemieux Heritage Range. Accessorise with sheepskin, and simple matching colours to have an outstanding ageless country outfit! 

Saddle Pad: Lemieux ‘Heritage’ in Beige- Available at Southern Sport Horses 

Ear Bonnet: Lemieux ‘Heritage’ in Beige- Available at Southern Sport Horses

Bandages: Free Rein ‘Harvest Gold’ - Available at HLB Equestrian

Bell boots: HKM Padded ‘Imitation Leather’ Available at HorseBarn 

Saddle: Henri De Rivel ‘Paris’ Dressage Model

Girth: Lemieux Integrated Lambskin Girth- Available at Southern Sport Horses 

Bridle: Lumiere ‘Adeline’ - Available at Lumiere Equestrian

Stirrups: Prestige Italia ‘Australian Flag’ A31 Model

Have you gotten onto the Lemieux Heritage Tweed yet? Send us your photos! 

Special THANK YOU to Southern Sport Horses for assisting us with this outfit!

Use the code BEETLE07 for discount at Horse Barn

[thesaltlick]

20/08/2018

‘PS OF SWEDEN HACKAMORE SPORT BRIDLE REVIEW’

Author: Atlanta Whittingham (IG: @Bluemerleequestrian)

We live in a beautiful modern society, where many equestrians are trying their hardest to provide the best anatomical items for their loyal steeds. One of these anatomical items being bridles! Now, for the regular bitted rider the option is endless! You have Dy’ons, Horseware Ireland Micklems and Schockemöhles, however for the percentage of us that ride bitless the options are a tad more limited.

I mean sure, you can buy an anatomical head piece and just add a hackamore noseband but it’s just not the same as having a full complete bridle. There’s also the issue some of us have where when we pick up a contact, the cheek pieces lift into the horses eyes. Not nice for our steeds to have to deal with! Again, yes you can just buy cheek pieces specifically for hackamores that prevent this, but it’s just not the same.

I thought I was destined for a life of a made up hackamore bridle with different shades of brown and different qualities of leather, until I found PS of Sweden. Ps of Sweden are a high end brand who have a large range of quality anatomical bridles. From doubles, drops, combination nosebands and hackamores. Yes, you read that right, hackamores. A complete anatomical hackamore bridle.

I bit the bullet and decided to purchase one, a little disheartened by the price tag (£245) but the reviews spoke for itself. It definitely lives up to what everyone says. The quality is second to none, the leather is butter soft and it is completely customisable. The headpiece is wide and it doesn’t feature a throat lash as there’s a throat lash type piece lower down (similar to a Micklem). This design prevents the cheek pieces from raising into your horses eyes and in my opinion looks neater. 

Sonic was a different horse automatically in it, he softened down and seemed to enjoy his work more. It’s a work of art in bridle form. I seriously recommend buying it, if your horse is an awkward shape you can customise it to come with cob sized cheek pieces but a headpiece. Or a full size browband and cheekpieces but cob (or pony) headpiece. They have sizes ranging from pony right up to extra full. I am definitely a PS of Sweden convert and will be changing all of Sonic’s bridles to this brand! For those of you who may not be able to purchase this bridle I will be doing another article on a “DIY” anatomical bridle, featuring a range of brands to suit a range of budgets.

What do you think about the PS Of Sweden Hackamore Sport? 

You can look into purchasing your own here:

https://www.psofsweden.com/en/bridle_retailers/hackamore-sport

[thesaltlick]

16/08/2018

‘Beautiful Black’

Author: Annalise Wagner

Black has a name for itself for being quite boring, basic and gothic; however I genuinely believe this is not the case. 

Black is a blank canvas, giving you the opportunity to dress it up, or dress it down to create a stunning, elegant, classical outfit. 

Black is friendly, and flattering to all coat colours! 

Saddle Pad: ANKY ‘Paisley’ From Dapple EQ

Boots: ‘Reptile Print’ Tendon Boots from Hufglocken

Bridle: ‘Adeline’ Cavesson Bridle from Lumiere

Girth: A40 Elastic Dressage Girth from Prestige 

Saddle: Paris Dressage Saddle from Henri De Rivel Sellier 

Stirrups: Flag A31 Stirrups from Prestige

Stirrup Leathers: Schockemöhle Sports ‘Chantilly’ from Chaballo

What do you want to see next? 

Send us a message with your suggestions or requests! 

[thesaltlick]

15/08/2018

‘Clipping Creatively For Winter’

Author: Natika Gough

A huge number of people clip their horses for winter and the reasons for this make sense once you know why.

I personally clip because it is easier to temperature control my high maintenance horse & they dry quicker after work, preventing them from getting sick. When horses are wet under rugs, especially at night they can get a chill making them prone to colds. Some owners clip for look, others clip for coat condition and some clip to control weight on a pony prone to founder.

Most clip once the coat starts getting some length and when the horse starts to sweat lots after work. In Victoria Australia my horses get clipped Easter weekend then again in late May. Show horses get clipped mid to late August depending on their first outing.

In my 10 plus years of clipping I always get asked when is the ideal time to clip so I only have to clip once. My answer to this is mid to late May for us Aussie residents.

Helpful hint: When washing your horse for clipping make sure you scrub the rump and under belly really well. I find this is where most of the dirt sits.

There are many styles however, these few I have had lots of fun designing myself. A clip has to be practical but no one says it can’t look good too.

Blanket clip (just a little bit different) This clip is best suited to a horse in light to moderate work. 2-4 days a week and is kept out in a paddock. Great to keep the loins warm preventing the use of a quarter sheet but, also takes off the hair around the hind legs where the horse sweats.

“This was designed and drawn on by the owner. It took 3.5 hours to clip and about 3 hours to design”

Chaser clip (curvy lines): This clip is perfect for paddock kept horses and first timers, as the clipper can avoid the back legs if the horse is less than happy about you being there. Perfect clip for the older horse or one who feels the cold as they still have the warmth over the back.

Handy hint: If your horse is not clean, you risk getting a bad clip as the dirt makes the blades blunt and compromises the clip. This can make your clip liney and patchy. Please note dirt is never good for clippers as they have moving parts and this dirt can make it’s way into them.

High lines (Trace clip): This clip is great for horses in light work 1-3 days a week or for trail horses who get hot easily. Most suited to paddock kept horses and requires minimal rugging.

Helpful hint: Polar fleece is a magnet for horse hair so unless you enjoy being covered in hair like your handy clipper it is recommended to avoid when getting your horse clipped. I can tell you the hair gets into places it should not be!

Leg lines:

There are many ways to do leg lines. High ones that follow the muscle line or deep ones that go from behind the knee to the top of the forearm of the leg. Some clippers do a line just above the knee. I don’t tend to do this as, I don’t like it but as a clipper the owner decides what they want.

I had fun playing with some designs on my horse. I can do flames or checkers. My poor horse is so patient with me experimenting on him and I do put him through a lot. But after 10 years he is totally used to the twice a year clip.

Leg Line in Flames

Handy hint: Some horses react to the new sensation by the girth and saddle. I always advise my clients to lunge their horse before getting on for the first time. I have known of riders hitting the deck from a bucking bronc horse from the new sensation.

[thesaltlick]

14/08/2018

‘Naturally Navy’ 

Author: Annalise Wagner 

One of the most frequent questions we receive in our inbox here at The Salt Lick is, “What colour will suit my Bay/Grey/Chestnut/Buckskin/Palomino/Black/ETC?”. 

Whilst I can agree, there are colours that suit each coat type individually; one colour that suits every coat is classical navy! 

Consider pairing your navy outfit with silver/beige detailing for a classic, subtle yet elegant look which would be perfect for competitions/clinics/lessons and even day to day wear! 

Our model, Beetle is wearing: 

Saddle Pad: Animo ‘WHAT’ Style - Available at Dapple EQ 

Ear Bonnet: Schockemöhle Spots - Available at Chaballo

Bandages: Loesdau ‘Protect’ Style- Available at The City Barn 

Share this with a friend who needs a navy outfit in their life! 

[thesaltlick]

22/07/2018

‘15 Accessories Every Alcohol Loving Equestrian Needs’

Author: Annalise Wagner

Let’s face it, there is nothing quite like a glass of wine to finish a stressful day at the barn! Why not do it in style? 

Don’t let your horsey fun end at the stables. When you cant take booze to the barn; take the barn to booze with these equestrian themed drinking accessories! 

1. Horse Shoe Wine Rack

Because you obviously need somewhere to store your bottles! 

This wine rack can be found HERE

2. Hoof Pick Wine Bottle Opener 

God what a genius invention! I need 6! 

You can find these HERE 

3. Horse Wine Bucket 

Keep your whites and bubbly cool with this gorgeous horse bucket! 

You can find this HERE 

4. Horse Wine Glasses

You need something to pour the ‘pity party’ drinks into when you fall off in front of a new riding instructor you were trying to impress! 

You can find these glasses HERE

5. Horse Glass Charms 

So you decide to be social...

How are you supposed to tell the difference between your glass and your stable managers glass? Not something you want to mix up!! 

These are so cute, imagine little mini horses running around the glass as you aerate your Red! 

You can find these HERE

6. Horse Bottle Stopper

Okay, so on the rare (very rare) chance you don’t finish the bottle, how are you supposed to keep it fresh? 

You could get a normal Bottle Stopper; OR you could get this super gorgeous horse one! I think the obvious choice is pretty clear!

You’ll be able to purchase one of these HERE 

7. Horse Champagne Flute 

Let’s get into bubbly! Clearly every equestrian needs one of these, look how gorgeous the little horse is! 

You can find these HERE

8. Horse Cheese Board

You’ll need a small snack to go with your alcohol driven adventures, and let’s face it; nothing accompanies wine better than cheese! Plus, this will make you look really civilised and fancy! (Bonus!!)

These cheese boards can be found HERE

9. Horse Cheese Knife 

Obviously you can’t have a cheese board without a cheese knife! Don’t let your horse theme end there! 

You can find these HERE 

10. Horse Decanter 

Let’s get into the harder stuff! Impress your guests with a fancy horse decanter for each of your liquors; and hide the fact that you bought the cheapest whiskey you could find as you spent all your money on horse feed this week! 

You can find these HERE 

11. Horse Liquor Tags 

Those fancy decanters you just bought wont label themselves!! 

You can find these HERE 

12. Horse Head Shot Glasses 

In the wise words of LMFAO and Lil Jon, “SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS EVERYYYYBODDDYY”. 

You can find these HERE 

13. Horse Whiskey Glasses 

These are just divine, and perfect to drink your feelings away with! 

You can find the glasses HERE 

14. Horse Ice Tub

You simply can’t have it “On the rocks” without a place to store your precious stones! This gorgeous horse head ice tub will do! 

This can be found HERE

15. Horse Ice Tongs 

How are you supposed to grab your ice without ice tongs? Luckily you bought this vintage Gucci (Yes, Gucci) ice tongs! Properly prepared, as always! 

These can be found HERE

Which accessory was your favourite? 

Remember, if you are going to drink; be responsible and know when to stop! Stay safe for your ponies sake! 

Cover photo credit: TIMEOUT

[thesaltlick]

Which type are you?