Download a copy of the guide here: Practical Horseman's 2012 Tack & Apparel Guide

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Buyer's Guide: Protective Horse Boots
Top-Notch Dressage Turnout
Measure Yourself for Riding Gloves

The battery-powered Illuminated Hoof Pick from MJ Equine Tools

Lighted Hoof Pick

Make it easy to clean your horse’s feet even during the dark days and early nights of winter: The battery-powered Illuminated Hoof Pick from MJ Equine Tools features an LED light not only lets you see what you’re doing, but also helps you better inspect your horse’s feet for cracks or punctures. The water-resistant hoof pick features a stainless-steel pick, a stiff nylon brush, and an easy-grip handle. Cost: $24.99.

Joint Supplement

Support your horse’s healthy joints with Reach Joint Supplement from Farnam. The palatable alfalfa-flavored pellets contain 5,000 milligrams of glucosamine along with 14.5 milligrams of chondroitin sulfate and 1,750 milligrams of MSM – three of the most popular joint care ingredients on the market. Vitamin C, an antioxidant, helps to remove damaging free radicals and maintain cartilage, connective tissue, and joint mobility. Comes in a 2.815-pound container, about a 45-day supply. Cost: 39.79.

Stall Mats

In the stall, EquineLite Mats help ease pressure on your horse’s joints and encourage circulation. In the trailer, the mats help decrease road stress and reduce the chance of slipping. Their light weight allows you to move and clean them easily. The durable, 1³/₈-inch-thick mats are made from multilayer, heavy-duty polymers, which resist staining and odors. Mats range in size from 4-by-4-feet to 4-by-12 feet; custom sizes also available. They come in black, blue, green, red, and brown. Cost: $3.50/square foot.

The Free Ride Western Safety Stirrup from Western Safety Stirrups

Safety Stirrup

Stay safe on the trail without sacrificing a Western look: The Free Ride Western Safety Stirrup from Western Safety Stirrups is designed to reduce your chances of catching a foot in the stirrup and being dragged if you unexpectedly part ways with your horse. A leather keeper hides the safety device — a “peacock” with latigo release designed to break open if your boot gets caught. Made from an aluminum alloy heat-treated for strength and sandblasted for a uniform finish, the stirrup also features a wraparound, nonslip rubber foot cushion. Cost: $155.

Panic-Release Ring

A horse that panics while tied can cause grave injury to himself or others, particularly if he can’t get free. The Equi-Ping from Nunn Finer panic-release ring is designed to spring open if your horse pulls back sharply with force; the reusable ring attaches to any tying ring, whether on the trailer or around the barn. Available in pink, purple, blue, orange, green, and black. Cost: $10.95.

Lucas Metal Works, Inc. has generously agreed to provide the premiere arena grooming tool, “The Ground Hog.”

The Ground Hog Arena Tool was designed in 1996 by an avid arena owner, Raymond Lucas, who wasn’t satisfied with the arena grooming tools that were making their way through arenas throughout the nation. Raymond desired to have one tool, that could groom the arena ground in one pass, and produce the same consistent result every pass of the unit, safe and flawlessly conditioned ground. Having been the grandfather and father of national renowned barrel racers he was able to observe the downfalls of other tools throughout the nation. In 1996 Raymond developed the first model of The Ground Hog Arena Tool that enabled arena owners to not only rework the surface with the unit’s hydraulically operated ripper shanks but also fill in the holes that are dug by the horse when going around a barrel. This was accomplished with the unit’s double grader blades, which allow for dirt to be carried by the unit and in turn evenly distributed throughout the arena. Allowing for the unit’s pegged finishing roller to lastly compact and finish the ground safely for the horse and rider.

NIRA Commissioner, Roger Walters said, “We are very happy to have the support and assistance of Lucas Metal Works with their generous contribution to the 2012 CNFR.” He added, “The success and safety of our contestants is paramount, and with the use of The Ground Hog, we feel we can better our production and provide added safety for the participants.”

Lucas Metal Works Director of Marketing, Anthony Tucker, said, “On behalf of The Ground Hog Arena Tool brand and the parent company, Lucas Metal Works, we couldn’t be more excited about our recent agreement with commissioner Roger Walters and the College National Finals Rodeo to become the official ground tool of the 2012 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. We strongly support and advocate for opportunities for young adults to further their education through the opportunities provided by collegiate sports. In addition our company has a long history in the rodeo industry having had several nationally renowned barrel racers within the Lucas family we strongly support rodeo as a sport in universities and colleges across our great country. We look forward to providing safe and flawlessly conditioned ground for all participants in the 2012 College National Finals Rodeo. We hope that the relationship with the CNFR and The Ground Hog Arena Tool will continue to grow to allow for future opportunities for The Ground Hog Arena Tool with the CNFR. We look forward to seeing all participants and spectators in Casper, Wyoming.”

Lucas Metal Works recently added an optional watering system to the unit to allow for the user to maintain the moisture of the surface in their respective arena. This in essence also helps keep the horse and rider sound again by not allowing dust to enter both horse and riders’ lungs. In addition to allowing the unit’s rippers to work the surface easier with moisture now present in the surface’s terrain.

Consistent, that is the word The Ground Hog’s manufacturer, Lucas Metal Works, hears the most when talking with their customers who own the unit. That is exactly what Raymond set out to accomplish when designing The Ground Hog for his family of barrel racers, a unit that was consistent ever time you used it. Now arena owners, barrel racers, rodeo associations, expo centers, and the granddaddy of all rodeos, the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), trust The Ground Hog Arena Tool to provide them with the consistent safe surface they seek.
For more information about The Ground Hog Arena Tool and The Ground Hog Watering System:
Call a Ground Hog Expert 866-689-8904 or visit www.TheArenaTool.com

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The national headquarters of the NIRA are located in Walla Walla, Washington. More information on the association and results from recent events available on www.collegerodeo.com.

Press Releases for the NIRA are sponsored by our friends and national sponsors: Ram Rodeo, Copper Spring Ranch, Cactus Ropes, Cactus Saddles, Heel-O-Matic, ProEquine Products, Maynard Buckles, Wrangler Jeans, and Powder River Livestock Handling Equipment

Socks That Rock
Kick out the winter blues with Sneaker Socks from Ariat. With a faux-sneaker foot, these knee-high socks are as charming when you’re walking around in stocking feet as they are functional inside your riding or work boots. Navy or gray; one size; $9.95; www.ariat.com.

Dynamic Duo
Replace your old, boring lead with a ­Color Duo Ribbon Lead from Perri’s Leather. Available in four color/print combinations, these 6-foot nylon snap leads are as ­endearing as they are durable. Frog (hot pink/lime green), earth (brown/baby blue), Aztec (baby blue/brown—shown) or peace (lime green/purple); $12.95. (Matching ­nylon halter with safety tab available for $34.95); www.perrisleather.com.

Safer Scarf
Stay safe and warm with a Snickey, a lightweight fleece scarf-alternative that eliminates the bulk of traditional scarves, whose loose ends can get caught on tack or tree branches while riding. The Velcro® closure in back makes it easily removable without taking off your helmet. Black, navy, light blue, red, light pink, hot pink, brown, purple, yellow, caramel, camouflage, houndstooth and animal print; S–L; $17 ($22 with embroidery/monogram); www.mysnickey.com.

See the Light
The water resistant Illuminated Hoof Pick makes hoof cleaning easier and more thorough with the ability to see deep into your horse’s hoof to inspect for foreign objects, injuries or infection. Features a bright LED light powered by two replaceable AAA batteries, a strong nylon brush, stainless steel pick and a one-click power button. Black; $24.99; www.mjequinetoolsinc.com.

$26–$50

Winter Essential
Look cute and make your mom happy (“It’s cold. Put a hat on!”) while doing barn chores in this fleece-lined Scalloped-Edge Knit Hat from Carhartt. Feminine floral embroidery adds a chic detail to this durable 100 percent acrylic knit. Bright purple, glacier (beige) or Persian blue; one size; $26; www.carhartt.com.

Wear Your Winnings
Proudly display your successes on a custom belt made from your old horseshow ribbons. Send four to six vintage or new ribbons of your own, or you can order a belt made from the designer’s ribbons. ­D-ring buckle; 32–40 inches; $30; www.bespokeequestrian.com.

Play and Display
Pony kids and kids at heart alike will love the Frame Jump from Model Horse Jumps. The miniature jump panel holds a 4- by 6-inch photo, perfect for putting on your own model horse shows or showing off your favorite steed. Each set comes with two standards (choose from several styles, including smiley (shown), love, jumper, fence, stone, brick and peace), two working jump cups and one frame panel; $39.50 (accessories available separately); www.modelhorsejumps.com.

Monogrammed Message
Send out your message with a hint of equestrian flair with personalized Bitsy flat note cards from Muffy Writes a Note. These 4.25-by-5.5-inch heavy-stock cards are printed with a ribbon-and-snaffle-bit design and can be personalized with a name or monogram. Preppy (navy, white or yellow), Firenze (black, white or brown) or Fontainbleu (blue, pink or white); set of 25 cards includes plain envelopes; $43; www.muffywritesanote.com.

Jump Into Style
Show how passionate you are about show jumping with the bright, eco-friendly JUMP T-shirt from Horseworship. The vibrant oranges and blues in this shirt will brighten any day. The fitted silhouette is made from 100 percent organic cotton. ­Ladies’ S–XL, youth 12; $48; www.horseworship.com.

No-Slip Grip
Give the gift of grip (even for wet hands) with the MacWet Climatec Glove. Perspiration actually ­increases the grip of this glove! Despite three layers for warmth and water-resistance, these ­machine-washable gloves are breathable and close-fitting, allowing for tack adjustments without having to take them off. Black or brown; sizes 7–9, whole and half sizes; hook-and-loop closure back with long or short cuff; $49.95; www.shiresequestrian.com.

Get a Cue
A new take on a traditional dressage essential, the Easy Cue Dressage Whip from D-Cue Products features a curved, lightweight aluminum upper shaft that allows the whip to remain closer to the rider’s leg for easier use. The lower tapered fiberglass shaft provides flexibility and the feel of a traditional whip. The angled design of the oval, soft-grip handle positions the curve correctly across the rider’s leg when held in either hand. Meets USEF and USDF specifications for use in recognized dressage competition. Black; 39-inch shaft with 5-inch trimmable lash; $49.99; www.dcueproducts.com.

$51–$100

Classic Comfort
The Pessoa Men’s Santos Tech Polo Shirt from Horseware has long sleeves for cool weather yet will keep riders comfortable during heavy schooling with the fabric’s moisture-transportation properties. With masculine elements such as button cuffs, this 60 percent polyester/40 percent cotton polo looks as good as it feels. Brown; men’s S–XXL; $58; www.pessoabyhorseware.com.

For Horse and Rider
Horses and riders alike will love the products in Fiske’s Coaches’ Gift Box. The 100 percent natural, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic formulas include Hoof & Hide Balm, Skin & Wound Salve, Eucalyptus Lip Balm and Apple Cider and Cardamom soap. Comes in a wood gift box decorated with ribbons and a gift tag. $65; www.fiskes.ca.

Canter Circles
We all strive for that feeling—that bounding sensation of the canter when the circle of aids is working and the horse and rider are in complete harmony. Artist Susan Burnette captures it perfectly in her Canter Circle Earrings ­design from Trotting Park Workshop. Polished bronze ($75) or bronze with rhodium finish ($79); three-eighths-inch diameter with wire hook; www.trottingparkhorseart.com.

$101 and Over

Handheld Spa
Hold your horse’s massage therapy in the palm of your hand with the Equilibrium Therapy Massage Mitt from World Equestrian Brands. This lightweight mitt slides on your hand like a glove and has a concealed zipper pocket for the rechargeable battery. With three levels of intensity and three variations of massages, you can work on all your horse’s hard-to-reach areas that often get sore. It feels great on your own back and shoulders, too! $150; www.worldequestrianbrands.com.

Custom Cabinet
Fitting all of your horse essentials into a small tack trunk can be a challenge. To keep your saddle and other tack protected, bottles standing upright and supplies well-organized, Stable ­Valet has designed an unfinished wood portable tack locker. Choose a base model, then customize it for your needs using the wire rack system. The flat-packed unit ­arrives ready to assemble in just half an hour. Use as-is or personalize with your own choice of finishes. $699 (hardware upgrades, decorative elements and ­custom finishing additional); www.stablevalet.com.

This article originally appeared in the November 2011 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.

Fast Back Ropes are known for having body and action—sometimes to the degree that lower-numbered ropers aren’t comfortable with them. In response to that, chief rope maker at Fast Back, Al Benson, created the Natural. The Natural touted a slightly deader feel and accentuated tip feel—and it became very popular.

However, Fast Back sensed that consumers were interested in a rope somewhere in between and that’s how the Redline is different. It combines the feel of the Natural in a smaller and lighter rope.

“We anticipate the Redline will appeal to both headers and heelers,” explains Al Benson. “This rope is made with a unique poly fiber developed specifically for the Redline.”

The four-strand is, obviously, red in color, and the head rope is 31 feet long and comes in XXS, XS, S, MS lays. The heel version is 35 feet long and comes in S, MS, M, HM

Spring has sprung, and new tack and apparel lines have hit the tack stores. It’s time to get a handle on what’s out there and go use it! To help, we’ve collected the latest and greatest for riders—helmets, breeches, tall boots and safety vests—and horses—saddles, therapeutic saddle pads and clippers and trimmers. Our descriptions will help you decide the ­options that work best for your needs, style and budget. Most of these products are new or not widely known, and a few are old favorites with a significant upgrade in design or materials. Happy reading, happy shopping and, most of all, happy riding!

Read on for more articles on buying, fitting and care:

Tall Boots

How Do I Care for Tall Boots?
Prolong the life of your tall English riding boots with tips from an expert saddler.

Field Boot Lacing 101
Learn how to thread the laces in your field boots.

Breeches

Care for Your Show Breeches
Keep your expensive show breeches looking good with these laundering tips.

How Do I Get Yellow Stains Out of My White Breeches?
A textile expert answers a question on how to remove yellowing from white show breeches.

Helmets

Find a Safety Helmet That Fits!
There are dozens of safety helmets on the market to choose from. We'll help you wade through the different shapes, sizes and special features to find the best one for you.

Freshen a Stinky Safety Helmet
Does your riding helmet smell like sweat socks? Here are several anti-stink remedies.

Safety Vests

Fit a Cross-Country Safety Vest
Properly adjusting your body protector will help ensure your safety during schooling and on course.

Saddles

How Saddle Design Affects Your Riding Form
Eventing Olympian and top coach Jim Wofford explains how saddle design can help—or hinder—your riding form, whatever the discipline.

Make Sure Your Jumping Saddle Fits You, Too
Use this simple test to find out whether your jumping saddle is working with you—or against you.

Check for Back Pain and Saddle Fit
Tips on checking your horse's back and saddle fit with holistic veterinarian and saddle-fitting expert Dr. Joyce Harman.

A Two-Step System for Everyday Tack Care
Protect your investment—and your and your horse’s safety—with this award-winning saddler’s no-nonsense system for cleaning your tack.

Clippers & Trimmers

Stress-Free Horse Clipping Tips
Follow these tips, and you will be on your way to clipping your horse safely, successfully and line-free.

Tips On Clipping Parts of the Horse
Grooming expert Gretchen Canova Gabor offers advice on how to clip various areas of your horse.

Trimming Your Horse's Bridlepath
Make your horse look like a million with this clipper touchup to his bridlepath and 10 safe clipping tips.

Each January the Western and English equine manufacturers meet in Denver, CO for the industry's largest trade show for apparel, tack, leather goods, animal health products, gifts and accessories. New products and tried-and-true lines are all presented for the coming year. The Equine Network was extended a special opportunity to visit with and film some of the new and innovative products at this show and are featuring 2 product demonstrations from our industry's leading leather and horse apparel companies for your preview of what is coming to your tack store this spring! 2011 is going to be a wonderful year to look at your tack and tack room for some updating.

The best way to stay steady in the tack is with correct equitation, but sometimes we can use some extra help: over drop jumps cross-country, spinning turns on a reining horse, sitting the extended trot on a big warmblood, holding the lines steady while driving a carriage through water obstacles.

No-slip products come in an array of materials and containers. There’s a wide range of stickiness that corresponds directly to a reverse range of convenience: The stickier the product, the messier it is to use, and the harder it is to clean up.

The two moderately sticky products, Effax and Sekur-Grip, come in convenient push-up tubes that resemble a deodorant tube. They have a soft, waxy consistency and can be applied before mounting or go into a pocket to be reapplied while on horseback.

Sporty Haft-Spray, is exactly that, an aerosol spray that is most easily applied before mounting. Two ointments, Guter Sitz and Friction Wax, come in small cans and are the stickiest products in this trial. They should be applied before riding, using a cloth, because they’re difficult to wash off of your fingers.

Our Trial. We started with a hand check and found a range of stickiness that remained when the stuff went onto our breeches, from lightest to tightest: Effax, Sekur-Grip, Sporty Haft-Spray, Guter Sitz and Friction Wax.

We then test-rode these products while wearing full-seat breeches in both real and synthetic leather, plus fabric-seat breeches and jeans. We smeared them on saddle seats and flaps and on the inside of boots and chaps. The range of products corresponded in effectiveness to the material in the pants. In general, they all worked best on leather, but synthetic leather was a close second.

We found that stability in the saddle with these products can also be affected by the fit of your pants. If your pants are loose, well, they’re going to stick to the saddle while your seat can still pop up. And, if the pants stick to the saddle, you could get some moderate rubs on your skin with loose-fitting leather full-seats because the leather inside your beeches is going one way and you’re going another—be pre-emptive with Vasoline or baby powder on your skin.

We also found that the solid products go on more easily when they’re warmed up. Carry them in a pocket while you’re grooming and tacking up so that they cover smoothly rather than just leaving spotty globs.

Effax was no help at all with a cloth seat. It provided moderate tackiness on synthetic leather and real leather, lasting about 15 minutes. We carried it in a pocket and reapplied as needed while riding.

Sekur-Grip has been renamed from the familiar "Sadltite" name since it’s now promoted for a wide variety of sports and other uses that require enhanced friction. Along with the name, the formula was altered slightly to make it smoother to apply. Sekur-Grip provided a little bit of increased friction with cloth seats, better with synthetic leather and real leather. The pocket-friendly tube makes it easy to re-apply while you’re on horseback.

We tried a variety of different saddle-stick products.

You may be tempted to put on Effax or Sekur-Grip extra thick at the start so that they last longer, but they seem to work better—and you use less—if you re-apply them.

You won’t want to carry a can of Sporty Haft-Spray when you ride, but you won’t need to. The stickiness lasts through an hour of riding, holding full-seat breeches (both synthetic and real leather) down while we post during warm up and then easing up a bit but still effective. We didn’t use Sporty Haft-Spray on cloth seats or jeans because it stained them. We loved how the spray provided a consistent feel of contact over the entire surface of the saddle.

Guter Sitz went onto tack and boots in blotches and made an ‘interesting’ sound at first while we posted. As body heat caused it to spread, it provided a firm, steady connection with the saddle for over an hour of riding. We didn’t use it with light-colored breeches because of staining.

Friction Wax also blotches onto the tack or your boots and you hear a distinct squeak at first while posting. It spreads out over the tack as you ride and clearly enhances security. You probably won’t want to use Guter Sitz or Friction Wax on leather gloves because they’re just too messy.

Clean-Up. The lighter wax in Effax and Sekur-Grip appears to rub clean from the tack while riding and indeed seems to have a conditioning effect. We also learned with beeswax products like Effax and Sekur-Grip that some riders who do a lot of jumping like to let it build up on their saddle flaps, rather than cleaning it off, to provide a more reliable grip there.

Sporty Spray, Guter Sitz and Friction Wax should all be cleaned after use from wherever you apply them or they can become tacky and the leather roughened. The manufacturer of Friction Wax recommends using the heat from a hair dryer if it remains on your saddle or breeches, following up with soap if needed.

We washed our breeches in cold water, hanging them to dry, and our jeans in warm water/dryer. Effax and Sekur-Grip left no marks on the clothes. Sporty Spray and Guter Sitz left stains on the fabric seat of light-colored breeches. Friction Wax didn’t stain the fabric on our breeches and jeans but did leave a waxy residue when washed in cold water. (We didn’t even want to consider the possibility of using a dryer in that case, when a coating of this stuff could be left inside it.)

Therefore, if you’re going to wear dark fabric breeches or jeans, Sporty Spray or Guter Sitz may be okay. Don’t use Friction Wax on a fabric seat if you’re going to sit on anything other than a saddle. If your ride is a short one, you may also want to be careful what you sit on afterward if the stuff hasn’t completely melted off.

All of these products will tend to darken both real leather and synthetic leather.

Convenience. Effax and Sekur-Grip are easy to use and to clean, but you may need a pocket handy, and of course we don’t always have pockets available when we ride, especially in warmer weather when coats and vests are discarded. Sporty Spray is the easiest product here to get complete and lasting coverage, plus it’s also simple to clean from tack and from breeches.

Guter Sitz and Friction Wax really need to be warmed before using and should be applied with a cloth, making sure you don’t get any of it on your hands or your horse. You may need warm water and maybe even a hair dryer to clean your tack. You also need to check your breeches to make sure the stuff gets out of them during washing.

Bottom Line. These are all useful products that do exactly what they claim. Pick the product that provides the degree of friction you need. Our top choice is Sporty Haft-Spray because the spray covers the entire seat of the saddle quickly and easily, and it lasts through an hour of riding. It’s also easy to clean up.

The Best Buy goes to Friction Wax, with maximum stickiness at the minimum price per amount of product.

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