Article #7
Body Clipping Your Horse
It seems like the shorter the days get, the longer a horse’s hair gets. And as all horse owners know, this poses some unique challenges. We still want to ride and keep our horses exercised, but a thick, winter coat makes caring for them more difficult. After exercise, they need to be thoroughly cleaned, but if we bathe them, it takes an eternity for them to dry, and they run the risk of getting chilled.
One solution to this problem is to partially or fully body clip your horse. Which you choose depends on your horse’s living environment and whether or not you are willing to blanket him. If your horse lives outdoors and/or you don’t want to keep him blanketed, you can just clip the areas where he sweats the most, such as along his neck, between his front legs, under his belly, and around the girth area and flank. This is also called a trace clip. Unless you live in an area where the temperatures are extreme during the winter months, you will not need to blanket your horse if he is partially clipped.
By removing the thick hair in these areas, your horse will dry more quickly after a good sponging off. Clipping these areas also serves as a cooling mechanism because you are exposing the vascular areas. When you clip the neck, you are exposing the major arteries in the neck to cooler temperatures because they aren’t covered by a blanket of winter hair. This, in turn, cools the blood circulating through your horse, which helps to regulate his body temperature so he sweats less.
You can also clip the hair on his lower legs, which will make removing caked mud and dirt much easier. Clipping the long, thick hair under your horse’s elbows will also help reduce the chance of developing girth sores.
If you decide to give your horse a full body clip, you must be able to provide with a few things after he is clipped. The most important item is a blanket. By removing his winter coat, you have taken away his only protection from the elements. Blanketing a body-clipped horse in the winter time is a must. If you live in a region where the winter temperatures regularly dip below freezing, you should keep your horse indoors at night and on very cold days, and also consider providing a hood, as well, to keep his neck warm.
The first step in body clipping, either fully or partially, is to start with a clean horse. Thoroughly bathe your horse to remove and dirt and dander that has built up on the coat. If you clip a dirty horse, not only will your clipping job not look as good, but your clipping blades will quickly become dull. Use COWBOY MAGIC® ROSEWATER SHAMPOO to remove sweat and dirt without stripping your horse’s coat of its natural oils. Follow this with COWBOY MAGIC® DEMINERALIZERTM CONDITIONER to loosen and dissolve any mineral and chemical buildup, as well as sweat residue. Both products contain panthenol and silk conditioners that nourish and moisturize the hair and coat, which will make your job much easier. Allow your horse to dry completely, then, before you start clipping, spray your horse lightly with COWBOY MAGIC® SUPER BODYSHINETM. This will reduce static electricity while you clip and help you get a clean, even cut.
The higher the blade number, the closer the clip. Use a #10 or all-purpose blade on your horse’s body. You want to clip against the direction the hair grows in long, even strokes. Clean your blades with a brush regularly and check them frequently to make sure they the blades are not getting too hot.
When clipping around delicate skin, such as the flank, follow the path that the hair grows, and hold your horse’s skin tight as you clip. When clipping around the elbows and girth area, you can move the skin to help make clipping easier. Just be careful, as horses are sometimes sensitive in these areas.
You can blend clipped areas with unclipped areas, such as around the face and legs, by clipping the hair in the same direction that it grows to “comb” the unclipped area into the clipped area. It may take several passes to blend the hair. If you want to leave the saddle area unclipped, you can trace an outline of your saddle pad onto your horse before you clip.
If your horse will tolerate you clipping his ears, you can trim the edges to make them look neater, but don’t remove the hair on the back of the ear or inside it. You don’t want his ears to get frostbite!
When you have finished clipping, rinse or sponge off the clipped hair and then give your horse an all-over skin and hair conditioning treatment. Dilute a small amount of COWBOY MAGIC® DEMINERALIZERTM CONDITIONER in a bucket of warm water and massage it into your horse’s coat with a sponge, then give your horse a good rubdown with a clean, dry towel.
Whether your horse is fully or partially clipped, rinse him or sponge him off following exercise with as little water as possible, and use warm water if you can. Rub him dry with a towel and then cover your horse with a cooler to help wick away the remaining moisture. Keep him in the sun and/or out of drafts until he is completely dry.
For more information about the complete line of COWBOY MAGIC® products, log onto www.cowboymagic.com, or call (800) 755-6844 to find a retailer near you that carries COWBOY MAGIC® quality concentrated grooming products.
Article #6
Win or lose, showing is about creating memories. Every young boy or girl to step into the show ring has experienced that one special moment. It might have been their first show, or their first win, or perhaps it was the day they finally perfected their showmanship pattern. For Bailey Anderson of Milsap, Texas, that magic moment happened at the 2006 American Paint Horse Association World Show.
Bailey, who recently turned 10, has been showing since she was 7. Every summer, Bailey would go to Fort Worth to watch the other kids show at the APHA World Show. She hoped that someday she could show there, too.
The opportunity to do so came when Ryan Read of Aubrey, Texas, called Bailey’s mother, Tina, to ask if Bailey would be interested in showing her horse. Read’s horse, Too Sexy ForMySpot, or “Babs,” is a double-registered Paint and Quarter Horse mare that holds the record for the most world championships won at the APHA World Show, with 19.
“Ryan felt like she had already accomplished so much with Babs, and so she wasn’t planning on taking her back to the World Show,” Tina explains. “But she wanted a kid to show her horse, so she called us.”
Bailey didn’t have much time to get to know Babs “We took Babs to one practice show at the Texas Classic Quarter Horse Show, so Bailey would have a chance to work with her at a show,” says Tina, “and she won the high-point walk-trot award.”
Because Bailey was 9 at the time, she would show Babs in the walk-trot division for youth ages 5 to 9 at the APHA World Show. The experience was pure magic. Bailey and Babs won the world championship in walk-trot trail, placing first under all five judges. The pair also won two reserve world championships, in walk-trot showmanship and walk-trot horsemanship, and Bailey was named reserve high-point exhibitor in the walk-trot division.
“I was really proud of myself,” says Bailey, who admits that she was very nervous. “It was so cool to be there as an exhibitor, rather than just watching. And it was great to have all my family there and have everybody helping me.”
“It was just incredible,” says Tina, who also showed when she was a youth. “I never had the opportunity to show at this level that Bailey has been given.”
Getting to show Babs to a world championship was a wonderful experience for Bailey. What Tina values most is the bond that she and her daughter share because of horses. “Horses have created a bond between Bailey and I that is beyond comparison,” says Tina. As a parent, she believes that horses teach kids a tremendous amount of responsibility. “Bailey has developed a good work ethic and she knows that hard work pays off. She’s also learned how to win and how to lose.”
Winning the world championship was great, but what Bailey enjoys most is spending time with her own horses. Her first show horse, a Quarter Horse she calls Mickey, is now retired at age 24. She recently got a new horse named Kramer, and so far has won three high-point belt buckles with him at local shows.
Bailey understands the importance of taking proper care of her horses, and she knows that she is responsible for their well-being. “I wash out their water buckets and feed them every day. I also clean their stalls and groom them every day,” Bailey says. “It’s important to keep Kramer clean so he looks like a show horse, and he likes it when I use the curry comb on his flank.”
When asked about her APHA World Show experience Bailey smiles and says, “That 19th world championship that Babs has is the one I won with her.”
We all want to look and do our best when we step into the show ring, so don’t let your horse’s dull coat dull your performance. To get that dazzling shine, use COWBOY MAGIC® BODYSHINE™ spray on your horse’s body, mane and tail. BODYSHINE™ spray is formulated to reflect a spectrum of light under natural or show ring lights, and its ingredients, which include aloe vera and chamomile extract, condition the hair and skin, as well as repel dust.
To get that sparkling shine, spray BODYSHINE™ on your horse’s clean coat. Using your hands, slick the hair with quick, light strokes. Let the hair dry for a few seconds and then use a clean, dry towel or soft brush to polish the hair. (If you are showing under saddle, do not spray BODYSHINE™ on the saddle pad area.)
For a shiny mane and tail, spray BODYSHINE™ spray onto clean hair, let it dry and then use a soft brush to smooth the hair and bring out the shine.
For a quick touch-up and to remove any dust, spray a small amount of BODYSHINE™ onto a clean towel and wipe down your horse.
Article #5
Before & After
As funny as it might sound, I will never forget the defining moment that forever changed the way I care for my horse’s tail. The incident happened years ago, when I boarded at a public stable. I had my horse tied outside his stall and I was just about to brush his tail when the resident dressage trainer walked by. She stopped abruptly, gasped, grabbed the hairbrush out of my hand and shook it in my face.
“Never, ever, use one of these on your horse’s tail!” she exclaimed.” Then she threw the brush in a nearby trash can and marched off.
I was so shocked that I just stood there with my jaw gaping, my horse’s tail still in one hand and other frozen in place, palm open and now devoid of the hairbrush. After a moment, I regained my composure and looked toward the garbage can, contemplating whether or not to retrieve the brush. As if she could read my mind, the trainer, now far down the barn aisle, looked back over her shoulder and shook her finger at me.
I did retrieve the brush from the trash can, but I didn’t use it. I was too afraid the trainer would catch me. Instead, I sought her out while she was grooming her own horse. I looked at her horse’s tail. It was gorgeous. It was long and thick, right down to its neatly banged end. I peeked into her grooming box and didn’t see any tool that resembled a hairbrush.
Once again, she read my mind. “If you use a hairbrush on your horse’s tail, you will only pull the hair out faster than it can grow back,” she said. “I never brush my horse’s tail,” she declared. “I pick out the shavings and I use my fingers to detangle any knots. If you would stop brushing your horse’s tail, it wouldn’t be to thin.”
My horse’s tail was thin. I never used a hairbrush on it again.
Grooming your horse serves many purposes. It is an ideal time to get to know your horse and to bond with him. Horses, in general, enjoy being brushed. Thorough grooming promotes good health and a shiny coat by removing dirt and dander that can cause dry, itchy skin. If you take the time to groom your horse thoroughly every day, you will notice any small cuts, abrasions or irregularities that you otherwise might not find. A grooming session is also a good time to teach a young horse good ground manners, such as standing quietly and picking up his feet when asked.
Most horse owners want to do everything possible to promote a long, healthy, thick tail. Like your horse’s coat, his tail requires some elbow grease, but of a different kind. Here are some tips to help your horse grow a healthy tail and to help you keep it long and thick.
1. Healthy hair comes from the inside out. No amount of potions and conditioners will improve your horse’s coat, mane and tail if he is not receiving proper nutrition. Healthy hair comes from protein, amino acids and vitamins in quality forage and feed.
2. Use grooming tools designed for manes and tails. Human hairbrushes will break the hair and pull it out. Use only wide-toothed combs and dandy brushes on the tail.
3. Don’t brush your horse’s tail every day. In fact, don’t brush it at all. Although it looks nice when it is brushed out, if you brush it every day, it will gradually get thinner and thinner. It takes years to re-grow each long strand of hair that is pulled out.
4. To stimulate growth, brush the dock of your horse’s tail daily with a dandy brush. This will loosen and remove dirt and dander, which can make your horse itchy. Brushing the dock and upper part of the tail bone also increases blood flow, which stimulates growth.
5. If your horse is rubbing his tail, determine why. Horses rub their tails for several reasons. Parasites will cause itching, so make sure your horse is on a regular de-worming program. Insects will also cause itching and some horses are more prone skin reactions caused by insects. Protect your horse from insects by using insect repellants. Horses will also rub their tails in response to irritations around the sheath and anus area. Consult your veterinarian if you suspect this might be the problem.
6. If your horse has developed sores or “hot spots” on the dock of his tail from rubbing, treat them promptly. An effective way to do this is to pre-soak the sores with COWBOY MAGIC® KRUDBUSTER®, a micro skin cleansing wash. Spray the irritated area, let it soak for five minutes, and then gently scrub and rinse. Repeat these steps, if needed. If the wound has scabbed over, KRUDBUSTER® can also be used to soften and remove a scab in order to treat the underlying tissue. Once the wound or irritation is thoroughly cleaned, it can then be treated with a topical ointment to promote healing. Any sores or hot spots should be cleansed and treated daily until completely healed.
7. The best way to keep your horse from rubbing his tail is to keep it clean and moisturized. If your horse’s tail is dirty or his skin is dry, he will rub his tail to relieve the itching that is caused by both. Use COWBOY MAGIC® ROSEWATER SHAMPOO to thoroughly clean your horse’s tail and restore moisture to the hair and skin at the same time. After shampooing and rinsing, apply a small amount of COWBOY MAGIC® DEMINERALIZER™ CONDITIONER to the dock of the tail and massage it into the hair and skin. To condition the long strands of hair, rub a small amount of conditioner on your hands and then work it into the hair using long strokes with your hands. Leave it on for several minutes and then rinse. DEMINERALIZER™ CONDITIONER will remove the buildup of residue caused by minerals and chemicals in your water. The conditioners penetrate below the surface to moisturize the hair and skin.
8. Give your horse’s tail a bubble bath. A handy trick for washing your horse’s tail is to put a small amount of shampoo into a small bucket and then add water to make it sudsy. Hold the bucket in one hand and dunk your horse’s tail in it with the other. Swish it around thoroughly, then rinse.
9. Get lasting results with COWBOY MAGIC® DETANGLERTM & SHINE. Once you have washed and conditioned your horse’s tail, apply a small amount of COWBOY MAGIC® DETANGLERTM & SHINE to the hair, working it in from the top of the tail to the bottom DETANGLERTM & SHINE will help loosen any tangles and prevent new ones from forming. If you want to comb out your horse’s tail, use a large-toothed comb, start at the bottom and comb out small sections at a time while you work your way up the tail. Hold the hair firmly in your other hand while you comb so that if you hit a tangle you won’t pull the hair out.
10. Protect your horse’s tail while it dries with a slip knot. If you want to keep your horse’s tail up off the ground while it dries, put it in a loose slip knot. This way, he won’t be able to step on it and the hair will still dry quickly.
11. Never wrap the top of your horse’s tail. It is nearly impossible to keep a wrap on a horse’s tailbone unless it is so tight that you run the risk of cutting off the circulation. Furthermore, if the wrap irritates your horse, it may actually encourage him to rub his tail.
12. If your horse’s tail touches the ground, you can “put it up” to keep him from stepping on it. Three popular methods for protecting a long, show tail are wrapping, bagging and ragging. Wrapping involved braiding the longest section of the tail, looping it up several times and then wrapping it with a self-sticking bandage. The wrap is hidden inside the center of the tail and the horse is still able to swish flies. Bagging is similar to wrapping, but instead of wrapping the tail, the braid is put down inside a special bag made just for tails, or you can use a large sock. Ragging entails braiding three strips of sheet and braiding the entire tail by wrapping each section in a strip of sheet. The ends are then tied up and the excess sheet gives the horse something to swish.
13. If you have your horse’s tail wrapped, bagged or ragged, be cautious about turning him out in a paddock or pasture where he might get his tail snagged on a fence or tree. As horses swish their tails at flies they often snag hairs on fence posts and lose a few strands in the process. If your horse catches a wrap or piece of ragging on a fence post and panics, the resulting damage could be severe.
14. Even if your horse’s tail is wrapped, bagged or ragged, you still need to care for it regularly. When you remove the braid, straighten the hair using your fingers, rather than a brush or comb. The hair will be kinked from the braid, and combing it will only make it frizzy. The best way to remove the kinks is to wash and moisturize the hair. Hair left bagged, wrapped or ragged for long periods of time is prone to breaking at the point where the bag, rags or wrap is attached.
15. An alternative to bagging or wrapping a horse’s tail is to knot it. Knotting involves putting several figure-eight knots in long sections of hair below the end of the tailbone. The knots stay in place, resist tangling and keep the longest part of your horse’s tail up off the ground.
16. If you are showing and want use gel or hairspray to smooth down the short hairs at the top of the tail, wash the tail thoroughly when you are finished. These products are drying and may cause your horse to rub his tail to relieve the itching.
17. To tidy up the appearance of the top of your horse’s tail for the show ring, trim the sides rather than plucking the hairs.
18. Bang your horse’s tail to give it a neater, thicker appearance. “Banging” is the traditional term used to refer to trimming the bottom of your horse’s tail. Banging gives the tail a thick, boxy appearance. For best results, trim it when the hair is wet and combed out. Cut only the longest hairs straight across the bottom.
19. As a safety precaution, stand beside your horse when you groom his tail, not directly behind him. Even if your horse has never kicked at you in his life, you never know when something might startle him. Also, if you are at a public stable, keep in mind that other, less experienced equestrians might be watching you, and so you want to set a good example by demonstrating proper horse-handling skills at all times.
20. Take your time. This is your opportunity to spend quality time with your horse. With your busy life, you many not have time to hand pick shavings out of your horse’s tail one chip at a time, but you should still make every moment with your horse a quality one.
Article #4
Save your Horse from Summer Skin Irritations
With the summer season comes longer days, warmer weather and—unfortunately—a host of insects that wreak havoc on our horses. Not only do insects torment our horses, they also spread disease and parasites, cause skin irritations and infect wounds.
The types of insects that prey on horses are numerous, ranging from the monstrous horse fly to the nearly invisible gnat. Some bite, others don’t, but they all cause problems. The common housefly isn’t a biting fly, but it is responsible for depositing the larvae of stomach worms into a horse’s existing open sores, eyes and even the mouth, which causes what we commonly refer to as summer sores. Stable flies, black flies, deer flies and horse flies are all biters, and can pass along diseases as they move from horse to horse. Tiny midges, also called gnats or no-see-ums, often cause allergic reactions in horses, resulting in summer itch, which is also called sweet itch. Combating these pests is difficult enough without having to also deal with the additional problems they cause.
According to equine veterinarian Nancy Loving, D.V.M, of Boulder, Colorado, most summer skin irritations are either caused by or made worse by insects. Fly bites can cause nodular lesions on the skin, explains Loving. If these lesions occur on the horse’s body where you would put a saddle or girth, they can become further irritated, resulting in possible secondary infection.
Horses can also suffer from bite hypersensitivity. “In severe cases, the horse is very itchy, rubs out its hair, mane and tail, and creates open sores,” says Loving.
These open sores can then attract a host of other insects, thus increasing the chance of infection.
“Continued irritation can lead to scar tissue deposition around the injury, with possible mechanical or cosmetic consequences,” she says. “For example, a fly bite nodule at a girth or under the saddle can become an open sore with delayed healing. Then it is difficult to ride the horse, and, once healed, could leave a large knot that is further irritated by the girth or saddle.”
Loving adds that even minor irritations can become serious. “A minor wound could dissect more extensively inward, potentially invading into structures like a tendon sheath, joint or bone. It then becomes a serious wound rather than a minor irritation.”
If an irritation develops into a sore or gets infected, first-aid treatment is a must.
“Any wound requires thorough scrubbing, removal of necrotic tissue, topical anti-bacterial wound products and systemic antibiotics, if necessary,” recommends Loving. “Also, if the wound is beneath tack and equipment, refrain from saddling until the wound has healed.”
When treating an irritation or wound, many horse owners fail to clean the area thoroughly. Instead they wash it quickly or simply hose it off and then apply an ointment. This can actually trap the bacteria in the wound and make it worse. An important first step is to clean the wound thoroughly to remove all debris, puss and infected serum.
An effective way to do this is to pre-soak the wound or infected area with COWBOY MAGIC® KRUDBUSTER®, a micro skin cleansing wash for use before and after first-aid treatment. Use KRUDBUSTER® mirco skin cleanser to clean insect irritations and wounds, as well as rain rot, scratches, show crud, ring worm and girth itch. (KRUDBUSTER® is not intended for use on deep, open wounds or puncture wounds. Horse owners should contact their veterinarian immediately if their horse has suffered a serious injury.)
KRUDBUSTER® works in three steps: Spray the irritation or wound and the skin surrounding it. Let it soak for five minutes, and then gently scrub and rinse. Repeat these steps, if needed. If the wound has scabbed over, KRUDBUSTER® can also be used to soften and remove a scab in order to treat the underlying tissue. Once the wound or irritation is thoroughly cleaned, it can then be treated with a topical ointment to promote healing.
Horses living in hot, humid climates are susceptible to getting rain rot and scratches. Rain rot, also called rain scald, is a common skin infection caused by the Dermatophilus congolensis organism. This organism is an actinomycetes, which means it neither a bacteria nor a fungus, but acts like both. Rain rot appears as crusty scabs under the hair. The hair often clumps and sloughs off easily. Although rain rot is not life-threatening to horses, it does need to be treated to avoid the development of secondary infection.
Scratches is a dermatitis of the skin that is caused by the fungus Sporothrix schenki. It usually affects unpigmented skin on the back of the pastern, which is more sensitive. Extemely painful to horses, it causes swelling, bumps and oozing sores. If left untreated, scratches can become infected, causing the horse considerable pain and even lameness.
An effective treatment for rain rot and scratches is to use COWBOY MAGIC® RAINROTTM SHAMPOO. Independent clinical tests have proven that RAINROTTM SHAMPOO is 99% effective in killing the organism that causes rain rot and the fungus that causes scratches when applied as directed and left on the area for five minutes. To apply, wet the hair thoroughly, and massage shampoo into the area until it lathers. Leave the lather on for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly. For best results, repeat the process a second time, and then several times a week until the area is healed.
COWBOY MAGIC® KRUDBUSTER® and RAINROTTM SHAMPOO can be used together by alternating cleansing treatments. Both products are safe for use on dogs, as well. KRUDBUSTER® and RAINROTTM SHAMPOO are both classified as over-the-counter-drugs and are manufactured and labeled according to FDA OTC guidelines. “Quality standards for these two products are high,” says COWBOY MAGIC® founder and president, Jim Cummings. “Years of active-ingredient testing are required to validate product effectiveness. Label statements are regulated to ensure that no misleading statements are made, all ingredients are listed on the label and active ingredients are listed separately, declaring both the percentage of active ingredient used and what effect it has.”
When treating any wound, it is important to protect the area from flies that can cause recurrent infection. Use fly sprays (do not apply directly to the affected area), fly masks, fly sheets and bandages, as necessary. On days when the heat and humidity is high and the insects are particularly bad, consider bringing your horse indoors. The cool, dry environment of a barn will give your horse some much-needed reprieve.
The best thing you can do to protect your horse from insects is to keep his environment clean. Remove manure and soiled bedding promptly. Do what you can to minimize areas of standing water and to promote good drainage. Install fly misters in your barn and make sure your barn is well ventilated to reduce moisture levels.
Article #3
We’ve
all experienced the difference between taking a shower or bath in soft water as
opposed to hard water. Soft water leaves our skin and hair feeling soft and
silky. Hard water, on the other hand, makes our hair feel coarse and our skin
dry. Soft water doesn’t necessarily get you cleaner, but it feels that way
because the minerals in the water have been removed. That’s why it’s called
“soft” water. Hard water, on the other hand, is full of minerals, particularly
if the water is coming from a well.
There is nothing wrong with having minerals in your water—in fact, it’s
beneficial. But over time, these minerals collect in your hair and on your skin.
The same is true for your horse. If your horse’s coat looks dull and feels
coarse, even when it’s freshly washed, it’s because the minerals have gradually
built up on the hair follicles.
The minerals most often found in hard water are magnesium and calcium. They become dissolved in the water because water sits in underground aquifers in calcium and magnesium-bearing rock, as well as limestone, chalk, dolomite and even marble. Carbon dioxide in the water actually facilitates the dissolving process of the minerals, forming a weak carbonic acid. This mineral-rich, acidic water then comes right out of your hose and into contact with your horse.
As alarming as this might sound, you don’t have to run out and purchase a water softener for your wash rack. There is a less expensive way to remove the minerals from your horse’s coat. COWBOY MAGIC® DEMINERALIZER™ CONDITIONER is formulated specifically for removing hard water mineral deposits an buildup from your horse’s main, tail and coat.
COWBOY MAGIC® founder and CEO Jim Cummings developed the product after noticing the dullness in his own horses’ coats.
“When I had younger horses, I liked to turn them out in high-desert winter pasture to let them run free to experience the tougher side of a horse’s life,” says Cummings. “During those months, when the weather was nice, I’d bathe them. I noticed that their hair didn’t feel as soft and looked dull after washing them with well water. I conferred with our chemist, and we decided to develop a demineralizing conditioner to help remove hard water deposits from hair. In the process, we discovered that our new formula also removed chemical deposits from city water, further improving after-shampooing results.”
COWBOY MAGIC® DEMINERALIZER™ CONDITIONER can be used straight out of the bottle or diluted at a ratio of 20 parts water to one part conditioner for an all-over body rinse. As it is massaged into the hair, it loosens and dissolves the mineral and chemical buildup on the hair. Rinse, and the buildup rinses away. DEMINERALIZER™ CONDITIONER also contains silk proteins and panthenol, which penetrate the hair and skin, adding moisture and body. Once the hair is demineralized, the affects can last for more than a week. Static electricity is also neutralized, and remains tangle-free longer.
Leading horse trainer and clinician Ken McNabb has been using COWBOY MAGIC® products off and on for more than eight years. “By off and on I mean that I’ve also used other products,” says McNabb. “What I like about the COWBOY MAGIC® products is that if I use them on a Monday, I have a residual effect. If I use another product on Monday, I will probably need to use that product again on Tuesday. I also use COWBOY MAGIC® on myself.”
Human hair-care salons have been offering this special service for years. Try
using COWBOY
MAGIC®
DEMINERALIZER™ CONDITIONER on your own hair as a conditioner and body builder
after shampooing. Your hair will look and feel soft and clean, and it will have
more body and be more manageable.
Every minute we spend with our horse is an opportunity to bond with him. Horses love to be groomed, and they will show their appreciation with the relaxed look in their eye or a twitch of their nose as you scratch that itchy spot. Some horses don’t like to be bathed, while others love it. Those horses that tense up at the sight of the hose can be persuaded to change their mind about what they think of a bath just by doing a few things to ease their minds. Here are some tips to make the bathing experience a pleasant one:
Begin by bathing your horse thoroughly with COWBOY MAGIC® ROSEWATER SHAMPOO, then rinse thoroughly. Using just a small amount of DEMINERALIZER™ CONDITIONER, massage it into his mane, tail and coat. On his body, work your hands in a circular motion to massage the conditioner into the hair until it begins to lather. This will loosen and dissolve the minerals and chemicals in the hair. You can also dilute it at a ratio of 20 parts water to one part conditioner and sponge it over your horse’s body. Then rinse and scrape away the excess water. As your horse dries, you will see the results. His coat will be soft and shiny, and his mane and tail will be easy to comb through.
Article #2
COWBOY MAGIC®
Releases Second Article in Bonding by Grooming Series for Publication
Quick Stain Clean-Up
Need to remove a tough stain quickly? Here’s your secret weapon.
Tracy heard the first call for her halter class crackle over the loudspeaker and she panicked. The class wasn’t scheduled to start until after lunch, or so she thought. With a quick glance at her watch, she broke into a run back to the barn. The announcement meant she had less than 15 minutes to get ready and be at the in-gate. Why is it, she thought, that time can drag slowly for hours at a show and then suddenly fly by when you most need a few extra moments? Tracy reached her aisle and grabbed her show halter from her tack trunk. Her horse was standing quietly in her stall, ready to go, and the mare nickered at her in recognition. The consummate showgirl, Tracy thought, patting the mare.
Thankfully, Tracy had had the foresight to get her horse ready before trying to sneak away for a quick bite to eat. She needed only to give her a last-minute touch-up and polish, change her own clothes, and they would both be ready to go. Tracy buckled the show halter and led the mare from the stall. Then she stopped in her tracks and let out a gasp. Her once beautifully groomed horse was now sporting an unsightly manure stain on her otherwise snow-white hip. And this was no minor stain. If her horse’s hindquarters were a map of the world, the bright green stain would represent the continent of Asia. Tracy groaned, regretting that she had decided not to tie the mare, not wanting to leave her that way unattended and thinking for certain that the mare would not lie down and roll. She certainly proved Tracy wrong! She regarded the mare, frowning, and then patted her again. She couldn’t blame her for being a horse.
Now, every second counted. Tracy led her horse into the aisle and snapped her into the cross-ties. She grabbed a stiff brush and whisked it briskly over the stain to remove any loose debris. Then she dove into her tack stall and emerged with a few towels and the one product she knew would work in an instant—her bottle of COWBOY MAGIC® GREENSPOT® REMOVER.
Tracy looked at her watch. She had about 12 minutes. She sprayed a small amount of GREENSPOT® REMOVER on a section the stain and began massaging it with a damp towel. Next, she wiped it briskly with the dry towel. She sprayed another section of the stain and massaged it with the damp towel first, then wiped it with the dry one, all the while thinking about how nice it would be to have a bay horse right now instead of a white one. Tracy continued spraying, massaging and wiping. The continent-sized stain was now the size of a small island.
Over the loudspeaker came the second call for her class. That meant she had 10 minutes. Tracy repeated the process a few more times and then stepped back to take a look at her handiwork. The hair was damp, but the stain was gone! It would take only a few minutes to dry—just long enough for her to change into her show clothes. She leaped back into the tack stall and closed the door behind her.
Tracy emerged wearing her show clothes just as the final call for her class came over the loudspeaker. Armed with a finishing brush, comb and clean towel, she gave her horse a quick all-over polish. The unsightly manure stain had vanished, leaving a shiny, sparkling white coat. Tracy unsnapped the cross-ties, gave her horse an affectionate pat on the neck and headed for the show ring.
Anyone who has ever shown a horse has undoubtedly found themselves in a situation such as this at one time or another. Horses have a way of botching our best intentions the second we turn our backs, even if only for a second. Even the most fastidious of horses—those who would never think to lie down and roll in a tiny 10’ by 10’ horse show stall—manage to decorate themselves with all sorts of stains when we have the least amount of time to clean them up. That’s one of the many chagrins of showing horses.
The second Tracy saw the manure stain on her horse, she knew exactly what to do. She has learned from experience that even the most stubborn stain, whether it is from manure, grass, urine, sweat or even hoof polish, can be removed in minutes with COWBOY MAGIC® GREENSPOT® REMOVER. It works because it contains natural, non-sudsing cleaners derived from plants in a concentrated formula that break down and dissolve foreign molecules. The ingredients are activated by massaging them with a damp towel. And on more than one occasion, she has used it on herself, as well, for a quick clean-up when she hasn’t had time for a shower between classes. She knows that COWBOY MAGIC® GREENSPOT® REMOVER has been allergy tested and dermatologist reviewed to be nonirritating to the skin. Besides, she would never put something on her horse without trying it on herself, first.
In addition to containing deionized water blended with extracts of wild raspberry leaves, comfrey, fennel, burdock root, horsetail grass, lemongrass, sage, yarrow, honey and rosemary, GREENSPOT® REMOVER also contains shea butter, which adds shine to the hair as it dries. Additional ingredients, including panthenol, silk protein and silk amino acids, strengthen the hair and condition the skin.
COWBOY MAGIC® GREENSPOT® REMOVER isn’t just for use on show horses. It works on any horse in need of a quick clean-up, and it works just as well on longer, thicker coats as it does on short or body-clipped coats. It’s perfect for those times when you want to have a well turned-out horse but it’s too cold out for a full bath.
For best results, don’t get overzealous. How many times have you launched a full-scale assault on a stain with soap and water, or some other product you think might work, only to make the stain worse? The key is to work on a small section of the stain at a time, and use only a small amount of GREENSPOT® REMOVER. Massage it with a damp towel to activate the cleaning ingredients and then wipe it with a clean, dry towel. In a matter of minutes, the stain will vanish.
Like other COWBOY MAGIC® products, GREENSPOT® REMOVER can also used on humans. Both athletes and campers use it to clean up when they don’t have the luxury of a hot shower. Just spray a small amount on a damp towel for a shower in a bottle.
SIDEBAR: Make the Show Your Horse’s Home Away from Home
Have you ever wondered, as you wait nervously for your class to be called, that your horse might suffer from horse show jitters, too? Many horses, especially those that are new to showing, get nervous about being away from home. Here are some tips for making your horse comfortable in a strange environment:
For more information about the complete line of COWBOY MAGIC® products, log onto www.cowboymagic.com, or call (800) 755-6844 to find a retailer near you that carries COWBOY MAGIC® quality concentrated grooming products.
Article #1
COWBOY MAGIC®
It all starts innocently enough. A small burr or tiny twig lodges itself in your horse’s mane. Then the hair begins to twist and tangle around it. A knot begins to develop and become matted as dirt and even more debris gets trapped in it. In no time at all, your horse’s long, beautiful mane is now an unsightly mass of dreadlocks.
There are many benefits to being able to give your horse the freedom of living outdoors. The downside is that, even if you groom your pasture-living horse daily, he is still going to pick up all sorts of flora in his mane and tail, particularly if the hair is long and thick or prone to curling.
It is not recommended that you braid your horse’s mane or tail if he is going to be out on pasture for even a short time. He needs that hair to swish flies and protect himself from biting insects. More importantly, just imagine the disaster that could result if your horse were to catch a braided or wrapped tail on a fence post or tree branch. Your horse could lose much more than a few strands of hair.
If you find yourself faced with a mane or tail full of dreadlocks, don’t reach for your scissors or pocket knife. There is a better way to remove even the worst tangle without sacrificing the hair. Follow these simple steps, and you can transform that matted mess into silky, shiny hair.
If the mat is caked with mud or infused with dirt, you will want to wash the hair first. Use COWBOY MAGIC® ROSEWATER SHAMPOO to gently dissolve away the dirt. The shampoo is concentrated, so it only takes a small amount to thoroughly clean the hair. The silk conditioners in the formula act as a pretreatment to help soften the hair and loosen the knot. But don’t worry about trying to detangle the hair just yet. You need to thoroughly clean and condition the hair first.
The next step is to condition the knot with COWBOY MAGIC® DEMINERALIZER CONDITIONER. Massage the conditioner into the knot to dissolve mineral buildup and moisturize the hair. For best results, allow the conditioner to sit for a minute or two, and then rinse.
The knot is still there, of course, but now it is clean and conditioned, so you can begin to detangle it. Apply a small amount of COWBOY MAGIC® DETANGLERTM & SHINE to the knot. Massage it into the hair with your fingers. The DETANGLERTM & SHINE will feel silky on your hands. That’s because the alcohol-free formula contains silk proteins and panthenol. Using just your fingers, begin loosening the tangled hair from the very bottom of the knot. Continue to add small amounts of DETANGLERTM & SHINE as you separate the hair. Do not use a comb to try to untangle the hair, and don’t start at the top of the knot, as this will only tighten it and break the hairs.
Continue to work from the bottom up until you have separated the hairs. Once you can run your fingers through the hair, you can use a large-toothed comb to smooth it. Again, start from the bottom and comb out small sections at a time. Work your way up until you can run the comb through the hair from the roots to the ends without catching a snag.
If the hair is knotted but otherwise clean, you do not need to wash and condition the hair before applying DETANGLERTM & SHINE. The product can be used on either wet or dry hair with the same results. If the hair is still kinked after the tangle is completely removed, apply a small amount of DETANGLERTM & SHINE to the palms of your hands and pull the hair between your palms to straighten it.
Even if you are faced with the most stubborn of dreadlocks, don’t be tempted to cut, comb or brush the knot. This will only break or fray the hair and tighten the knot. It takes a little patience and nimble fingers to remove a tough mat, but the end result will be worth it. If you give up and cut the knot out, you will only regret it.
COWBOY MAGIC® DETANGLERTM & SHINE will restore the moisture to your horse’s mane and tail while strengthening the hair and reducing breakage at the same time. Its unique conditioning formula repels dirt and dust, reduces static electricity and leaves a long-lasting shine. As an added bonus, your horse’s mane and tail will be less likely to get tangled again, especially if it is combed regularly.
All COWBOY MAGIC® products are made with the highest quality ingredients available. The salon-grade formulas are ideal for your own hair, as well. Try DETANGLERTM & SHINE on your hair to neutralize static electricity and smooth out the frizzies. You’ll love how your hair feels!
For more information about the complete line of COWBOY MAGIC® products, log onto www.cowboymagic.com, or call (800) 755-6844 to find a retailer near you that carries COWBOY MAGIC® quality concentrated grooming products.