Conference noted::equitation

You can buy a "bib" from most tack shops which snaps onto the
halter and prevents horses from biting their bandages/blankets.  It
does allow them to eat/drink.   Some draw backs are: 1) horses sometimes
figure out how to rip their blankets anyways. 2) it forces you to leave their
halters on when you might not ordinarily and 3) I've noticed horses looking
pretty depressed wearing them.  I suppose they get used to them though.

    Believe it or not Chew Stop; yes the stuff you paint on fences,
    can be used on blankets and banadges to stop biting.  It won't stain,
    but if it eventually hurts the blanket - that I don't know.  You
    might also try a product called Bitter Apple, or Bitter Orange.
    Both of these products are used by veterinarians to prevent the
    animals from tearing at their banadages or from licking sores (it
    works great on hot spots for you dog lovers!)  We used it at the
    hospitals were I worked with great success.
    
    I will take a few moments to spout my feelings about blankets. You and I
    do not wear our coats in the house so why should they?  Nature gave
    the horse the means necessary to protect himself and the less we
    mess with that the better our horses will be.  Of course there are
    exceptions and blankets are sometimes necessary.  But if you can,
    please let them be horses!!!
    
    stephanie

    Although I personnally do not have the same problem...I prefer not
    to blanket, let nature takes its course. I have heard from others
    that a little Ben-Gay rubbed on the blanket lightly works wonders.
    I know a few people who do this and swear by it, and I have never
    heard of any horse which gets to the point where they like it. 
    It also has no harmful effect on the blanket itself.
    
    Good Luck......Karen

    I have known people who have tried all of those things, minus
    the BenGay...however, my cat certainly doesn't like it so maybe
    the horses won't either.
    
    As far as the blanket go...we only blanket when cooling out as we
    have found we had more sickness when we generally blanketed in the
    cold weather.  The one expection is when the two boys are body clipped
    for showing which we will probably do in about a month.  At that
    time they are usually covered head to toe and since they are being
    worked they rarely get out on their own without one of us being
    there.
    
    GOOD LUCK...blankets are expensive things.
    

    
    i have a question regarding clipping... if you clip say, at the
    end of feb, first part of march.
    and just clip the whole body and leave the ears. is there any danger
    if there is a bad cold snap???
    i want o leave the ears cause i have seen foals born in feb and
    their ears got frost bite, i guess and the tips are missing.
    anyway, i was thinking of clipping the body and leaving whatever
    exposed to the cold. (face and ears).
    does anyone have any suggestions?
    
    	thanks, 
    
    		wendy.
    

    Thank you all for your suggestions. I will try them out to see what
    one works the best.
    
    I do not blanket if I do not have to. They are mostly used for cooling
    (but I am right there), after bath and in very cold weather. Below
    0 with a gusting wind. 
    
    I have also found that when horses are blanketed at night they tend
    to be ill more often then the ones that are left unblanketed. The
    blankes I buy are light weight so my horse is always exposed to
    the cold but not the wind chill factor.
    
    RE.5 - Yes leave the ears unclipped until the weather is warmer.
    	   I do not show but I do clip if need be. I generally clip
           in the middle of Spring. Middle March to April. I live in
           New England and I do not trust our weather. The horses need
           their hair for protection so if you remove the hair to early
           most Task Shop carry ear bonnets. They are made to keep the
           insects away but will also help a little to protect the ears.
    
    -D-
    

    Body clipping depends on the horse and its coat.  Grey horses can
    be clipped a week before the show or later if you don't mind using
    lots of shine.  Bay horses need lots of time and elbow grease. 
    Bay's and chestnuts don't respond well to phased clipping.  You
    can get by with waiting on ears but I'd definately not wait on a
    neck unless you plan to do the whole job over before the show.
    
    bob
    
    

    
    at my trainers place we had lights going on longer to trick the
    horses winter coat, (they think its spring so they shed quicker)
    i also body clipped her, the new place doesnt have heat lamps,
    and i was wondering if i should clip the neck casue she never had
    a hood on. will she be ok without a hood in a cold barn?
    		wendy.
    

    You can wait on clipping the neck (thats what I would do if I didn't
    plan to use a hood) but you should be thinking about body clipping
    again before you show to blend the neck in.
    
    Bob
    

    
    thanks bob , i was afraid of that.
    thats what i wanted to avoid.
    oh well maybe i will just wait, cause i cant see my self body
    clipping twice[what a pain]
    
    oh .....
    
    
    btw: i suggest the following.
    
      when i body clip i have a pair of light weight, anti static
    jumpsuit. it really helps on those clipping jobbies.
    it sheds the hair and you didnt have to take it home with you, and
    i cover my head with a bandana, also.
    makes clean up alot easier.
    		                 
                wendy.
    
    
    		
    		wendy.