Tips & Tricks
Reposted by @Kate S. ❤️
My method: 🧼 Spray n wash or similar pretreatment for marks 🧽 Oxyclean in machine 🫧 Small amount of regular detergent 💧 Warm water & medium spin with extra rinse, inside out, one pad at a time or 2 max 👚 Line dry
This seems to work pretty well for me!! I have a little stubborn stain near the girth on my sand pad but otherwise it's good. Note that my saddles are both brand new and mark up pads pretty badly! A couple before and after images here.
Share your best methods!
I just want to recommend a tool to any of you who care for a horse: FeedXL. It now is available for free for 3 horse profiles. You can add just about any feed or supplement and it will calculate macro and micro nutrients, ratios, calories, and cost per day, and provide recommendations/alert you to any imbalances. If you have a horse that isn't keeping weight but "should" or a chunk monkey who you want to lose weight but keep up the right nutrition, this is super helpful! And again, free!! https://feedxl.com/
I can totally reccomand Incrediwear Equine Circulation Hoof Socks 🧦
Fit horse's legs comfortably and are created to accelerate recovery time and improve performance. Not based on compression. Based on technology that utilizes infrared waves to induce cellular vibration through energy transfer to intracellular water.
Used for:
-Post-workout recovery; -Injury recovery (anti-inflammatory);❤️🩹 -Trailering and night rest (only when secured with Standing Wraps on top);💤 -Instant icing (when wet).💦
I bought it because of recovery after injury , but now I'm using it whenever I need it
You can find it in one size in grey or black version - both the same.
One of the more interesting products for summer is the Cooling Bath Liquid for horses after training❄️ The Ice Shower Cooling Concentrate from is an excellent way to refresh, cool, and accelerate the recovery of tired muscles and tendons of a horse after physical exertion🏇It is indispensable during the summer season, especially on hot days🌞 The product effectively refreshes the entire body, helps regulate its temperature, providing relief and shortening recovery time🤒 It does not leave a sticky feeling, additionally cares for and firms the skin, and has a pleasant refreshing scent that not only lasts long but also helps repel insects🦟
Usage: -🧪Dilute 25 ml of the product in 4-5 liters of cool, clean 💦 -Apply evenly over the horse's entire body or on selected parts🐴 -It can be applied directly or with a sponge🧽 *Avoid contact with eyes, ears, and mucous membranes 👀 *The product does not require rinsing and can be safely left to dry completely☀️
Repost from fantasic @Kate S. ❤️
Black background equine photography
See multiple images for before and afters
What you need: 🌟 Tripod 🤳 Phone, clicker, remote, or other way to take photos from distance with camera (self timer!) 📷 Manual camera - ability to set f-stop, ISO, and shutter speed 📷 Zoom lens - I used my "kit" 55-300mm zoom lens. This helps bring your subject into focus compared to background 🦄 Pretty horse 🏠 Barn or other dark area 🌞🌥️ Midday sun - I had a cloudy day which helped 💻 computer with some editing software. I used Photoshop - GIMP is open access and works fine as well! I also think I could have done most of this on my phone, in reality, once the photos were downloaded from my camera.
Set up
- Set up your scene. Removing buckets, bridles, etc from the foreground helps! I didn't go a great job of this and I had to do clean up later in editing.
- Groom your horse/braid/etc
- Set your camera up 30 ft (10m) or so away. Put a bucket or something where your horse will be to test out settings.
- Midday works well - no sun shining into the barn but also want some shine on the horse. It will depend on which direction your barn faces.
Settings
- Set your f-stop to f-4 or f-5.6. Narrower brings more into focus (higher the number is narrower)
- Set your shutter speed to slightly underexpose the image. I used 1/800th.
- Set your ISO to something 500-1000. I went with 1000. Higher ISO will allow for less light, so just test a couple shots to decide.
Taking the shot
- I set my phone up to remotely take the photo on my camera.
- Bring horse into view. Front on can be nice, or 3/4 with some body showing.
- Bring cookies or something to get your horses' attention. Keep taking photos and try different things!
Post processing Photoshop, GIMP, Lightroom all work great!
- Increase shadows, alter highlights to look the way you want. Also play with blacks and whites to make sure you get some highlights but also shadow in the background.
- Contrast, saturation, vibrance all help here as well. Just don't ramp them up too much or it looks fake.
- Remove any stray objects in the background. You can use the heal, remove, or clone tools to do this. I also had to remove some stuck bedding!
- Crop to the right size for what you want.
Ta-da you have gorgeous images! 🌟🔥💙🌶️
**Repost from fantastic @Niamh ❤️
To do the traditional braid you have to plait under. You can see the difference in the two pictures (second and third slide) of going under and going over (2 is over, 3 is under). Going over, in my opinion, is easier, but it never looks as nice because the plait is hiding!
What do I mean by this? In the normal plait, you start with the first strand going over, then the third strand going over. With this method, they must go under. Let's go into detail:
- Start at the top with three strands. Let's call them 1 (left), 2 (middle), and 3 (right).
- Put strand 1 under strand 2, then put strand 3 under strand 1. They now should be in order 2, 3, 1. Add hair to strand 1.
- Repeat step two. Put strand 2 under strand 3, then strand 1 under strand 2. Add hair to strand 2.
- Repeat this method until there is no more hair to add to the plait, then finish the plait without adding hair.
TIPS AND TRICKS 🌟
- The most important thing is to keep the plait tight, otherwise, it will keep lowering, won't look as good, and can fall out when riding. There must be constant tension while you are doing it.
- The pieces of hair you add should be similar in size, if not, the size of the plait will change.
- Practice, practice, practice!! The best way to improve is to keep trying!
- It's easier to do with a shorter mane!
- If it seems difficult at first, try it over instead of under; once you get the hang of it, then try under.
Let me know if you have any questions. 🐎🌟🎉
Leather Care Instructions:
Cleaning with Leather Soap: 🧼 Apply a small amount of leather soap to a damp sponge or cloth. 💦 Work the soap into a lather by rubbing it onto the surface of the bridle. 🧽 Wipe the bridle with the damp cloth or sponge to remove dirt and sweat. ☀️ Allow the bridle to air dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
Treatment with Leather Balm: 🌿 Apply a generous amount of leather balm to a clean cloth or sponge. 💆♂️ Work the balm into the leather of the bridle by massaging it evenly over the surface. 🔍 Ensure to cover all parts of the bridle, including seams and buckles. ⏳ Let the bridle absorb the balm for a few minutes to enhance softness and protection.
Alternative Treatment with Leather Oil: 🛢️ If the bridle is extra dry or needs additional moisture, you can choose to use leather oil instead of balm. 🌊 Apply the leather oil evenly over the surface of the bridle with a clean cloth or sponge. 💆♀️ Gently massage the oil into the leather and make sure to cover all areas thoroughly. ⌛ Allow the oil to absorb into the leather for several hours or overnight for best results.
Finishing Steps: 🧽 After treating the bridle with either balm or oil, wipe off any excess with a clean cloth to avoid stickiness. ☁️ Let the bridle air dry completely before using it again. 🔄 Repeat this care process regularly to keep your leather bridle in top condition and extend its lifespan.
By using our PREMIUM LEATHER CARE KIT, which is specially formulated for vegetable-tanned leather and is organic and locally produced outside Nyköping, you can be confident that you are giving your leather product the best possible care to maintain its beauty and functionality for years to come.
