Products That Work and...... Products That Don't

[dcm]

Good stuff:

Ditto Tri Tec 14. Also Bronco, the cheap stuff, works real well for a quick spray at shows, best short-term spray - lasts couple of hours.

Vetrolin Lintiment. Awesome stuff for getting rid of saddle and girth marks. Great for a sponge off at shows, too.

Working on the sunscreen stuff, too. Rio fades to a brindle/mousie color by July. The book is still out on those. Can’t remember what brand I just bought, but it has a large sunflower on the bottle.

Cowboy Magic Detangler. Best stuff around, no exceptions.

Micro-Tek anti-fungal shampoo.

Biotin-Plus Hoof supplement. You could not pay me to try something else. Excellent stuff.

Won’t list the bad stuff because there are too many and ya’ll have listed most.

JB - what is your internet addy for Dynamite? I used to have it, but lost it somewhere.

^-^
Don’t ask me, I’m just the mom!

If Dressage is Symphony, and Eventing is Rock 'n Roll, then Hunters must be R & B

[Pixie_Dust]

I just got some Keratex, hoof hardener about a week ago. It’s a pain to apply and the oder smelled strangely familiar…then I remembered. Smells just like formaldehyde!! Like those frogs in biology class.

Thumbs up-
Keratex (after one week already results)
MSM
Strategy
Inexpensive leather girth of good quality- Pauls Harness Shop
Quick Braid
Skin So Soft- no it’s not perfect, but it smells nice and his face looks nice when I use it
Rubber pimpled groom mits

What’s wrong with Excalibur…works fine for me

Thumbs down-
Professional Choice SMB’s They slip and they are hot
Fly spray in general
Fly sprayers in general

Superheroes of the universe, unite! http://www.allmightysenators.com/super.html

http://hometown.aol.com/bgoosewood/index.html

[Ms_Anthrope]

I haven’t been hands-on with horses in a while, but I’ll try to remember my favorites.
Cowboy Magic stuff, especially the leave-in conditioner.
I love Horseman’s one-step for everday tack cleaning, once a week I use glycerin (sp?) soap and a conditioner that comes in an orange tub, I’ll try to remember what it’s called.
Ivory dishwashing soap for the body. I like color-enhancing ones for tails.
Oxiclean for white stuff.
Those bathing gloves you find at drugstores next to the poufy sponges. I like them better because I can scrub better and feel a horse’s coat and skin.
Infusiom23 mixed with Johnson no more tangles.
Aphogee gloss therapy for highlighting muzzles, eyes, ears, etc. 3 drops do the job well and don’t collect dirt and don’t look ridiculously obvious.
Farrier’s formula as a hoof supplement. I also like dapplez and mirra-coat, but that’s probably because those were the only supplements Mocha would eat. They did make her coat extra shiny, though.
Healthy hair moisturizer. The sample bottle lasts at least three months and really helps tails.
Plain old toothpast for cleaning bits. Rinse well or your horse will look like he has rabies.
Dipirone, but I think it’s not availbale in the US.
I never found a hoof polish that worked well and didn’t become a dirt magnet or dry hooves, so I was nuts enough to make my own by purchasing tubs of clear, brown, and black mascara from a cosmetic manufacturer and mixing them myself. I brush the mixture on while the horse is standing on a hard clean surface, let it dry, then rub with a towel spritzed with showsheen.
Dep gel helps braid manes. Buy the extra firm hold, mix a dollop with water. Cheap and effective. Citre shine hairspray holds braids in place.
Micro-tek is great, but baby oild works in hours to remove fungus. The downside is that the horse will lose his hair along with the fungus.
Generally speaking, I hate showsheen. I bought a bottle and rarely touched it, except for making hooves shiny and removing very stubborn knots from tails.

[eventer_mi]

I’ll chime in here…

to:
Rambo and Bucas sheets/blankets. Destructo-pony wasn’t able to do any permanent damage to these.

Rubber reins - the English kind. I love the secure way they feel.

Mountain Horse anything, especially their breeches/boots. Great fit for those of us built like a boy - practically indestructible.

Hay ball. I’m hay-net impaired - can’t stuff one of those things to save my life. The hay ball is so easy to stuff, and if a horse gets a foot caught (hasn’t happened yet), they’re not dangerous.

My trailer hitch mirror. Can’t remember what it’s called, but it’s a mirror that hangs over your truck bed to help you align your hitch and ball. Saved me countless hours of frustration trying to hitch up.

Dover canvas half-chaps. Love them. Can’t wear them out, and at that price, it wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg if they do wear out.

Keratex. Pricey, but for my TBs thin, shelly feet, worked wonders if you were religious about using it.

David med boot. Great for soaking abscesses, etc.

Those coiled hose thingies that wrap around your horse’s legs so you can soak without having to hold on to a hose. Great invention! You’d have to pry mine from my cold, dead fingers.

to:
Absorbine Green fly spray. Smells like soap, feels like soap, flys don’t even notice it’s on.

Sports Med boots - I’ll add to that one! Ick. Collects so much sand, burrs, etc…

Ariat half-chaps. Elastic broke the second week I had them. Too cheap for the money you pay.

Easy-boots. As my former farrier said, Easy-boots are for horses with perfectly shaped feet - and horses with those kind of feet don’t need 'em! Can’t put them on, can’t keep them on. Ugh.

Neumann’s Tackified gloves. Hate them - hate that sticky feeling that just won’t go away after you take the gloves off. Ick.

“Obstacles are those frightening things we see when we take our eyes off our goals.” - Anon

[kd_welden]

lots of great ones, here’s my favorites

the pulling comb with wooden handle, its a Godsend!

cornucrescine for feet - nothing better

quiksilver shampoo

lexol spray conditioner

kirk’s castile soap

continuex - want a reason to use this stuff? Come see my horse!

zinc oxide for babies - best sunscreen for white noses and feet

and finally, I could not do it without my Smart Pak!!! They make life so much easier!

[JuniorJumper01]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Aclamado:
JuniorJumper01

Where’d you find that Dublin girth?? I just ordered one last week from Mary’s Tack but they neglected to tell me it was on order from Europe and will take 4-6 weeks to get here

It was a beautiful one (orginally ordered the wrong color). Does Dublin have a website?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I actually got it at a tent sale near me. (If any of you come to Wellington-It’s the big white tent on South Shore.)

They are saddlery liquidators. I believe I have their website:
Saddlery Liquidators

My girth is not listed on their site, but then again, most of what I bought from them while they were here is not listed on their site. They are based in VA but come down to Wellington for the season.

If you e-mail them, I’m sure that they will help you out. The customer service is truly excellent and I highly recommend them. GREAT people.

I’ll scan a picture of my girth if I can find one. (The girth has brown double elastic on both ends and has that center strip down the middle that some find unattractive. I guess that would make it a chefeless girth and not an overlay-sorry about that bit of false information! The center strip is a darker contrasting color than the “body” of the girth which is a nice conservative “all-around” brown to match many saddles. The leather is also exceptionally nice for the price paid. The two colors in the girth match my other tack perfectly, so I went for it. It was cheap enough…)

I hope you like what you find! If I can help you anymore, please let me know!

Now that I’ve figured out my girth ISN’T and overlay, you may not be interested, but still give the liquidators a try. Or you could try Great Tack Store!
This place also has exceptional customer service. Will special order ANYTHING for you and sells at a very competitive price. Bought all horsey Christmas gifts from these people and literally saved hundreds. They wil negotiate to prices that are a real steal! A family owned and operated business. Great people X10! You can mention my name if you buy from them (hint hint.) Actually mention my mom’s name (Mary Mahar) since she’s the one with the credit cards.

A picture of a similar girth but mine doesn’t look so “suede-y.” It’s actually a very nice and smooth grained-type leather.
Girth

[This message was edited by JuniorJumper01 on May. 31, 2002 at 09:32 PM.]

[Tannenwald_Trakehner]

Likes:

My Bentley Dressage Saddle (loves…)
Courbette stirrup leathers
Keratex Hoof Hardener
Nolvasan Ointment (or my own mix–Nolvasan teat dip mixed with KY Jelly)
Quic Color
Quic Braid (loves)
Uckele Animal Health products including Hoof Biotin, Yucca Saponin, Equi-VM
Cortaflx
B-L Solution
Hamilton halters–best hardware
Double ended brass snaps–million uses
Duct tape–million & two
Economy size dewormers, including Safeguard & ivermectin
Custom mixed grain–oat & corn & soy base, light on the molasses, vitamins & natural oils preserved
PLastic mounting block
Bacon grease for hooves
Solid plastic fence posts–look like wood, NO chewing, no rotting (loves!)

Dislikes:

Wahl Black as something shampoo–majorly thick purple boogery stuff
Commercial fly sprays
Any “cheater” stirrup irons
Cocosoya - whatever they say, way more expensive than soybean oil at Sams or Gordon Foods, plus shipping; refined oils add calories, natural grains and seeds (sunflower & flax hear hear!) add EFAs; don’t know what the heck the coconut oil supposedly brings to the party
Pelleted feeds–dried puffballs of unknown origin & age, when horses prefer grain

Breeders & Friends of the Trakehner horse:
American Trakehners - European Engineering, Made in America!

[NRB]

Arait WORK boots,

The Cascades have lasted 2 plus years so far of riding, mucking, and washing horses (on a somewhay daily basis, 5 to 6 days a week). Interesting to hear that the paddock boots don’t have a good rep.

Cowboy Magic detangler
for tails has been awsome.

The Versallies Breeches from Devon Aire have held up fine for me.

[vineyridge]

Love:
All Select products that I’ve tried–
NuHoof and Powerflex both worked for Duncan.

Keratex for hooves (it does have formaldehyde)

A cheap sponge from the auto department at WallyWorld with a built in scrubber on one side–great for scrubbing away crud on legs and backs and much cheaper than any horse product

SUNFLOWER SEEDS–thanks, Fairweather

Grooma soft rubber curries

Equine America’s Sheath Cleaner

Actually I’m fond of pretty much all Equine America products

The safety halters in nylon with a leather crown piece.

Bag Balm for scrapes, etc.

Hates:

Can’t think of any off the bat.

[creseida]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RubysMom:
Excalibur…has anyone figured out how to keep the stuff IN the sheath? I even have a problem cleaning my mare’s “tetas” with it…<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, you don’t just take a gob of it and stuff it in there. You rub it on your hand a little bit, then work your now-coated hand up there and…

Same for mares. I have a mare who gets the black cruddies almost daily. A lot of this is due to an old injury that does not allow her to completely lift her tail, so she gets “klingons” and drippies that accumulate. She gets a butt bath almost daily to keep her clean.

Now you know how I have so much experience with sheath cleaner.

~<>~ Daedalus built the Labyrinthe, so winding and complicated a structure that no man or beast, once shut inside, could ever find the exit~<>~

[Lord_Helpus]

Let’s all give Kudos to our favorite products. Ones that really do what they say they will, and (hopefully) for a reasonable price.

But, if there is a product out there that just plain is a waste of money, let’s save each other some frustration…

And I’ll go first:

Fly Sprays:

Repel-X does NOT repel an darn thing. I could use a 1/2 a bottle if the extra strong mixtue and those flies flip me their middle finger (hypothetically speaking, of course) as they land on the drenched-with-Repel-X horse.

The fly spray that comes in the silver spray bottle… is good. AAARRRGGGGHHH. Something TEC? Will edit this post tomorrow when I get the name off the bottle…

Sun Screens/Anti-Fading Sprays:

I need help here. I have used several, but it is too early in the season to have come to any definitive conclusion. Anyone have pros/cons about different brands?

Anti fungal Shampoos:

The one in the black bottle with the purple label (said label has long ago fallen off my gallon bottle). Pro-Tek or something like that? Will have to find out name at tack shop… Anyway, it does seem to keep fungus at bay.

Any other products to buy or avoid?

[Finzean]

This stuff is great and smells good. Offers protection from all the wonders of summer - sun, etc. and marigolds send bugs running from gardens and in the 3 weeks we’ve been using this stuff on the “herd” it seems to work.

But I’m with Flash44 - “they [flysprays] all suck.” We buy whatever bottle most tickles our fancy. Maybe the vinegar thing is worth a shot…

Favorite things:
Venice Turpentine
Cornucresine
Carr & Day & Martin Belvior Glycerine Soap
Dan’s feed tubs and buckets - I’ve got quite a few that are antiques by now!!
Orvus
super 14

---

What’re you doin’ on the ground? I thought you said you could ride?!

Well, I was ridin’ when I fell off!!!

[jr]

The “Hug” closure on blankets sheets etc.

I have a horse with a HUGE shoulder – everything rubs – Rambos, Wilsons etc. etc. The Hug doesn’t. No more rub spots!!

[Britney]

I guess I’m a little late getting to this thread… But, I’ll post a few of my items anyway Oh and, Lord Helpus, you are my angel! after reading that you started using the apple cider vinegar to feed( which I hadn’t heard of ) with such great results, I have started using it and already see results! Can it ccause any side effects?

LOVE…

-Absorbine Gel Liniment for shoulders, back, neck, etc… easy to apply, works well, and smells like spearmint!
-Vetrolin lininment. Hands down the best, in my opinion. I can’t get enough of it on my horse’s legs.
-All Leather Therapy products as well.
-Horsemen’s One-Step, GREAT at restoring old leather and softening new leather.
-Those little one side wool, the other side cactus cloth mitts… great for applying fly spray to wimps
-Davis Bell boots have probably held up the longest in turnout even though I’ve gone through two pairs of them
-Thornhill bridles. Mine has held up great. even with only about once a month cleaning. It is butter soft.
-Excalibur works fine for me, I also use warm water.
-Rounders horse treats!! My horse is obsessed with them.
-Absorbine Flex+. I like that it has all the same ingredients as Cosequin, but costs about half as much and works just as well.

HATE…

My list is getting overboard… but the only thing I can think of off the top of my head that just did not work out for me was the Big D fly sheet that I bought. My horse runs around a little bit in turnout, but, The mesh is so thick that he would come in soaked in sweat. I’d rather he found a way to keep the flys off himself, naked.

I do agree with alot of the things people have on their hate lists as well.

---

Britney L. Pelletier
~Rush Hour~

still thinking…

[Flash44]

I buy whatever fly spray is on sale. They all suck.

Suave shampoo and conditioner in one for tails. I don’t soap my horse very often, just quicksilver on his legs.

Reducine/turp on hooves, maybe whatever oil is around and a little any brand thrush stuff if it’s been wet out.

Uptite for poultice, mud for feet

Hydrogen peroxide and a little furacin and some pretty colored spray for first aid.

I’ll tell you once more before I get off the floor don’t bring me down…

[Foxhunt4me]

Thumbs up-

Dehner Boots

ACE - better riding through chemicals

Calm and Cool Paste - if you dont like chemicals ( use a bit more than they say , and a few hours in advance )

Hooflex for hooves

Venice Turpentine for hardning hooves

Corona for hooves or chafing

DMSO

Glucosamine ( Grand Flex )

Vitamins with Probiotics ( Grand - Vitae )

Beet Pulp for weight gain

Corn Oil for weight gain

Purina brand horse treats - available in 50 lb bags.

Electro Dex electrolytes

Absorbine

Shampoo - they all work but why bathe an animal that rolls in the dirt after you wash it?

SMB’s work if you know how to put them on

Fly Spray > Get Repel XP, buy Permethrin CONCENTRATE oil from the farm store, make a batch with both diluted to the appropriate full strength. Repels / kills everything but the cattle flies - will repel them for a while. If you want it really strong add some oil based cattle spray too - but watch out it can burn their skin.

Zinc Oxide Ointment

Bell Boots ( Bar - F )

Davis boot for soaking abcesses

Thousand Mile Horse brand Open Wound Salve yeah its new age kinda / herbal but this one actually works.

Thumbs down-

Cheap leather tack
Myler bits
MSM
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Homeopathic remedies
Magnets
Lasers
4 point trim on feet
Kentucky Breeches
Cider Vinegar fly spray
Skin so soft

Thanx

[Clive_s_Mom]

Oxyclean works! - use the hottest water you can stand.

WonderDust for proud flesh - as already stated, it DOES work.

Micro-Tek - I love it, it works.

X-Terra Cream - took off the sarcoid on the first go-around. My vet rocks!

What doesn’t work worth a lick…(in my experience):

EasyBoots - arrrrghhhhhhhhhhh! How many rolls of duct tape could I have bought for what I paid for that stupid device?

Miller’s Everest Blankets - can you say utterly destroyed within 2 days of wearing? I’ll stick with the WeatherBeetas thankyouverymuch.

Bronco Fly Spray - I swear the flies were laughing at me…

Homemade Flyspray with Citronella Oil - ok, now the flies are on their backs, holding their bellies as they giggle uncontrollably

• C

• Oh, you hate your job? Why didn’t you say so? There’s a support group for that. It’s called EVERYBODY, and they meet at a bar. -

[DMK]

I clean forgot about the “doesn’t work” category.

I’m right there with you on the Ariats. I’ve heard good reports from a lot of people who LOVE them, but I never experienced it (I will caveat that I am very tough on shoes - all of them).

Magnetic boots (bell, hock and ankle) - I’m lukewarm on this one. I bought 'em because I figured if they did nothing more than increase blood flow (all that they have been proven to do) than it would be enough. Well I saw virtually no improvement over a variety of horses/conditions. But on the other hand, it’s not like magnets expire, so at $40-$200 bucks for a lifetime of product use… well I have had worse deals on things that didn’t work.

Just about any “horse” shampoo. Big bucks for nothing that I couldn’t get in my bottle of Dove!

Eqyss Avocado Mist - smells great, wasn’t so great for detangling.

Cowboy Magic detangler stuff. It might work great but it’s hideously expensive AND it takes three years to apply it. Like I wanted to expire of old age on the washrack?

More product recommendations:

I have to plug the Alu Spray again - great for hulking idiot young horses that have scrape du jour.

MSM!!! Isn’t it nice when one of the cheapest supplements is one of the best?

Dover’s Italian knock off gum bell boots - cheap and good, plus they are one of the easier pulls ons to deal with (but extra thick at the bottom).

Vetrolin - a good over all body wash

[I]"You can pretend to be serious; you can’t pretend to be witty. "

• Sacha Guitry (1885-1957) *[/I]

[JB]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KH0920:
I have yet to find a fly spray that works. They’re water-based so as soon as your horse sweats it’s pretty much gone. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That’s why I like the Dynamite spray - it’s all natural, and is mineral oil based so it doesn’t magically evaporate. It also doesn’t leave a heavy residue that some other oil bases sprays I tried did.

[JRG]

CM, they are wool sheerling saddle pads. I throw them in the wash and dry and they always come out fabulous. I guy in europe makes them for Eisers. I was wining that all the pads he used to make were huge so if you had a smaller saddle they looked hidious. Then he sent me a smaller one. I have been in love ever since. I have had my original for 2 years, and just bought another one for schooling. But you need the third for showing. The only down side is they are pricey, but I haven’t spent a dime on any other saddle pad so I think I have broken even.LOL