Short ride today...and other events

Today is the first day this week I've hopped on Max. My childhood friend is visiting so I've been showing her the sights and we finally made it up to the barn this morning for a ride. She took a lesson - her first time ever being on a horse! And I hopped on Maxy Max for a quick ride. I missed him terribly!

Munching on some grass after our quick ride around

Today is also the first time I've ever given an IM shot to him. The barn manager supervised me and it all went smoothly (Max didn't even flinch)...but boy was I shaky after....probably with relief! That is one big needle!

I also learned that the farrier has now put him on bar shoes because he has very little heel and is putting too much pressure on it. The front part of his hoof has also rotted out a bit so he had to shave it off. Poor baby. And my poor pocketbook. I'm hoping that Farrier's Formula and Vapco Bearcat will start showing results and that he'll start having healthier hooves soon. *Fingers crossed*

While my friend took her lesson, I hopped on and did some warm-up free walk and some trot and canter in a light seat. He was super sensitive and forward today and all I had to do was think "canter" and he was off!!! It was fabulous! We didn't have much time so I focused on walk/canter transitions and then let him get some gallops out. We ended our session with trots on a long reign. What a good boy he is!!

Handsome boy <3 

A quick cool-down bath, some grass and apples and he was tucked away happy and content. More adventures coming this Sunday!!

Equestrian At Hart Blog Hop: Keep It Clean

In Equestrian at Hart's blog hop she posted this query:

"In this weeks blog hop let's talk about what cleaning products you use on your tack and why?"

I am new to owning a horse, and fairly new to riding, so please forgive me if I list some products that you just never want to see again. If you do see a product here that you have had a negative experience with I'd love to hear about it so I can perhaps take precautions or avoid it in the future!

So far though they have all worked great and my leather products are still holding up pretty decently. I clean and oil my leather tack and boots about once every two weeks. Saddle pads I wash every two weeks as well, and I clean grime off his bit and bridle after every ride.

*note: all these photos were taken off the internet as all my stuff is at the barn, and probably too grimy to be photographed..*

Horseman's One Step Spray

This was the very first leather care product I bought. It was recommended to me by the lady at the store. She said she used it personally and it was a quick clean-up and conditioner. I used it on my boots about once a week for a year and it worked well for me. At the time I was using a saddle from the barn and they preferred to use their own products so I never tried it on anything else but my riding boots. 

Leather Therapy Wash

This leather wash spray was recommended to me by a horsey-friend who uses it on her gazillions of leather products. I tried it out on my boots, saddle and bridle and find it to be a decent leather wash. It does leave a bit of a sticky feel after so I always follow up with some leather oil. 

Neatsfoot Oil

I love this product. It soaks into the leather and makes it nice and soft and shiny! All my leather things are dark/black so I'm not sure how it would work on a lighter color leather. It might darken it - proceed with caution!

And the final thing I use is.....old socks as rags. The great thing about having a hubby who constantly has hole-y socks is I get a lot of rags! ^.^