One of the most common things that we are asked to help new horse owners with is choosing and assembling a bridle. For our western bridles, there are typically 4 pieces to a complete bridle - the headstall, reins, bit, and a curb. The bit is the most important part, and it will usually determine what choices you should make for the other pieces. Ring or snaffle bits are great for young horses or specific training exercises. These bits work best on a browband headstall to keep the bit balanced in a horse's mouth. Some other bits are a little…

A curb strap is typically used to apply pressure under a horse's jaw when the reins are pulled. When using a snaffle bit, there is no leverage to create that pressure. Yet people still use curb straps with the ring bits. You can see one in this Classic Equine photo attached behind the reins. While the curb doesn't function in the traditional 'curb' manner on a snaffle, this is a good safety feature. When you use a curb strap, you ensure that the rings of the snaffle bit will stay perpendicular, and on the horse's cheek, even if you have…

Sherry Cervi teams up with Martin Saddlery to build a one of a kind barrel saddle! The Crown C Barrel Saddle has a specific design that helps barrel racers maintain proper body position and stability. A few of the features that the Crown C have to offer are: 1. Shortened seat jockey gives the rider increased stability without hindering her freedom to stand up and sit down. 2. Forward angled stirrups help keep the rider's feet in front of her center of balance for better body position in turns. 3. Though the stirrups are angled forward, they are designed to…

With much recent emphasis given to Vitamin D deficiency in humans, this article caught my attention. Turns out our four-legged friends have as much need for adequate vitamin D levels as we humans do. Did you know that horses with less than two hours of turnout time per day could be at risk for low vitamin D levels? I also learned that Vitamin D deficiency is the cause of Rickets disease in young horses. I had heard of that, but never knew what caused it. To learn more about equine vitamin D function, read this great article . Lakin Milling,…

Kentucky Equine Research Staff https://www.ker.com/ Selenium, an essential nutrient as well as an environmental toxicant, is best known as a component of the selenium-dependent enzyme glutathione peroxidase. As part of the cellular defense system, selenium, like vitamin E, functions much as a biological antioxidant, and indeed there are a number of deficiency symptoms of selenium that may be partially corrected by vitamin E and vice versa. The antioxidant defense system allows for the trapping of free radicals and superoxides, which cause oxidative damage to lipid membranes. Simply put, glutathione peroxidase converts reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione and destroys peroxides by…

Cellie is the ultimate "Mom" at our place. We got Cellie about 2 years ago. She's proud, strong-willed Longhorn cow. She has one job on our place... to look pretty. I'm not sure why Matt and I thought we needed her. In fact, we've debated about whether or not to keep her, she's never served any real purpose out there that I could think of, until a few days ago. Here in the Texas Panhandle Fall rain is much needed but seldom received. However, the Lord blessed us las week with several days of constant, cool, steady rain. It was…

You'll have to have a little patience with me on this one, but its worth it. My sister-in-law is Swedish, and she sent me this link that is in, of course Swedish. What the article said was: "This is how a horse is made -see the fantastic pictures." They are photos of embryonic horses at days 10, 30, 65, and 85. I love the day 85 picture. I have pictures of one of my '08 foals lying almost exactly like that when she was bout 6 hours old.

https://youtu.be/GqdfNljGtPQ He says he wants to enter the calf riding at the next junior rodeo...you knew it would come to this! But this is his dream and how do you say no? Actually, you probably won't say "no" but you will make sure you keep him safe. Junior roughstock riding has come a long way. Today, in most associations across the country, protective gear such as vests and mouthpieces are required. While helmets aren't required in all associations, they are becoming more popular, as well. Don't let him get on that calf's back without having that pretty smile protected!

GRANBURY, TX - Joining the elite Fast Back team is Steer and Tie Down roper, Marty Jones, of Hobbs, New Mexico. With over three-quarters of a million dollars in career earnings Jones has qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping thirteen times and qualified for the Wrangler National Finals twice. Jones was instrumental in bringing the National Finals Steer Roping to his hometown of Hobbs where he owns and operates Bootsie's Western Store. Introduced to the Fast Back poly, the Iron Silk, this year at the Spicer Gripp Memorial roping in Hereford, Texas, Marty has been hooked ever since. "The…