Turnout sheets/blankets

Top 5 turnout sheets

When blanketing your horse for those chilly nights leading up to winter months, picking the right turnout sheet that isn’t too heavy but is comfortable for your horse and does the job at hand. Since I live in Ontario, Canada the weather can be unpredictable and this past August we had a massive head wave of 40+ Celcuis (100 F) as soon as September hit the nights got a bit cooler and also we had a week of rain which made it more chilly and muddy. Depending on where u live you may want to have a rain sheet or a waterproof turnout sheet. A turnout sheet is a sheet with no fill or light fill up to 120 grams, you don’t want to put a sheet that is a turnout blanket because on those warmer days where it is 15 C (59 F) your horse will overheat unless you can get out to the barn to remove it or put a light one on.

My top pick is:

1)  no picture available. 

Riders international turn out sheet

This sheet comes in 4 color options, and pony sizes (48”-64”)- 66”87”Horse size , 640 Denier rip stop, poly cotton mesh lining, tail flap, fleece at the withers to prevent rubbing, it also comes with legs straps which are excellent incase your horse roles the sheet will stay in place.

Prices:

Pony (48”-64”) -$119.95-79.90

Horse (80”-87”)-$134.90-84.80

Horse (66”-78”)-$129.95-89.90

Places to buy: Doversaddlery.com

2) 

Amigo Mio turnout sheet (pix above)

This sheet is a 600 Denier polyester shell that is waterproof and breathable, coat smoothing and nylon lining, Also has a Rambo original cut design and front leg arch for freedom of movement? Distinctive two toned color, in 3” increments, sizing : 66”-84” The only thing i suggest with this sheet as the front buckles are not adjustable, is to go down in sizing for your horse so it isn’t too big because it comes in 3” increments rather than the normal 2”.

Price: $64.00-$59.90

Places to buy:

Smartpakequine.com

Netequestrian.com

Doversaddlery.com

Victorycanter.com

Adamshorsesupply.com

3) 

Weatherbeeta Landa turnout sheet (picture above)

600 Denier polyester shell with nylon lining, freedom dart gusset design, taped seams, tail flap, two buckle front closure and removable nylon leg straps. Fully waterproof and breathable, sizing: 69”-87

Prices: $121.95-$99.90

Places to buy:

Smartpakequine.com

Netequestrian.com

Doversaddlery.com

Victorycanter.com

Adamshorsesupply.com

4)

Tuff rider stretch manager turnout sheet (picture above) 

This is the first waterproof/breathable stretch fabric in the world .The tuff rider stretch manager stretches as the shoulders move, providing un paraleeled freedom. Stretch webbing in chest closure for easy grazing and bending. 100% polyester, 3 color options, (70”-84”)

Pricing

$89.90-99.95

Places to buy

Smartpakequine.com

Netequestrian.com

Doversaddlery.com

Victorycanter.com

Adamshorsesupply.com

5)

Curvon baker turnout sheet

-long wearing ,famous baker plaid shell

-1200 denier ripstop nylon shell

-nylon lining

-no fill

-treated to repel dirt and stains.

-waterproof/breathable lining

-bias surcingles, elasticized leg straps

-shoulder gusset, double front closure

-sizes: 66”-84”

Price:

$129.90-$139.95

Equestrian college experience

Lake Erie college-Equine

Equestrian college/university degrees

Ever dreamed of a life with Horses after college, there are many degree/diploma/certificate programs around the world that ate horse related. Even some of the ivy league schools have Equestrian teams,many have hands on courses to teach students different aspects of the equine industry. Some programs are longer in years than others but may suit a student that is interested in more than one area of the industry such as Equine stable management and the Thoroughbred racing industry. Students can study around the world and also in the USA there is an intercollegiate competition series throughout the year where colleges compete against other colleges.Some of the colleges only have riding teams and others have both a degree inEquine studies and also a competition team that requires students to try out for to be able to compete on. Riding on a team with a university is a privileged it requires a top GPA and alot of riding talent also there are extra costs not included in tuition fees that go along with showing with the universities team. Attending an Equestrian college for a degree program requires previous knowledge about horses, as the course loads are intense.

Tuition fees:

Tuition fees for various programs range from $5000/semester-$17500/semester, there are 4 years to a degree program and 2 years to a diploma program, and 2 semesters per year. The costs to go to university alone can quickly add up and these fees don't included other materials, horse boarding, lessons, clinics, tack, books... etc

Example:

4 year degree

Approximate: Lake Erie college program

$12,154x2 semesters in 1 year=$24,308/year in tuition fees only

$24,308x4 years=$97,232 for a 4 year degree.

Books: Most Universities recommend having at least about $1000-1500 per semester for books and other misc. supplies.

Room and Board(Student):

Most colleges go on a per semester basis: Lake Erie college room and board- Double Occupancy room is $2027/semester

Horse boarding(student brings horse to college):

There are different types of car for horses at the college's equestrian center, Full care and half care. Full care board is your horse is fully taken care of, the horse is watered, feed, turned out and stall cleaned, for students that don't want to pay the extra fees there is a "half care board" where you may have to buy your horses grain and hay and clean the stall a few days a week, but the rest is done for you. Most students don't have the time because of class schedule and course loads they choose the full care option, although it is more expensive it may be the better choose for those with less time.

Example:

Limited care plus horse board: $2385/semester

Limited care horse board:$1961/semester



Other various fees:

There are many other fees most colleges just add to your bills, here are a few examples:

-application fees

-Transcript fees

-Technical fee

-Parking fee

-Activity fee

-Health Service fee

-Graduation fee

-Lab fee

-Admin fee

-Orientation fee

-Riding appareal

-School uniforms

-Riding lessons

-Travelling to horse shows

ETC.

Riding fees:

The riding fee covers the lessons per week for students in the Equine majors and minor programs, some students can choose to take more lessons will come at an extra cost but are competitive riders.

Lake Erie college-Ohio

$1039/course.

Majors/Minor Equine science programs:

Majors:

-Equine Entrepreneur

-Equine business and facility management

-Equestrian teacher/trainer

Minors:

-Professional grooms

-Horse breeding

-Event management

Equine First aid kit:

Every horse owner needs a first aid kit for equine animals handy in the barn, just in case something goes terribly wrong and you need to bandage a wound give the horse something to tied it over until the vet arrives.. having a first aid kit handy could save the horses life and provide valuable time until the vet arrives. It is also a valuable tool to take to horse shows.. horses are unpredictable and anything can happen at anytime.

Here is a list of things to have in a kit:

-corona antiseptic ointment

Treats injuries,abrasions, and irritations,also moisturizes and protects hooves

-Flexible cohesive wrap

Provides support for tendons and ligaments also can be used as a hoof wrap

-saline solution

-tourniquet

-iodine prep pads

-3 ply towels

-surgical scrub brush

-vinyl gloves

-pocket knife

-scissors

-syringe

-hydrogen peroxide

-gauze pads

-ice packs

-alcohol prep pads

-digital thermometer

-betadine solution

-rubbing alcohol

-Epsom salts

-duct tape

-masking tape

-vet rap

-Twitch

-clean towels

-Bute for pain relief

Tack shops to get kits:

-doversaddlery

-Sstack

Equestrian Politics

Equestrian Politics
The Equine industry is over a billion dollar industry in Canada alone, with thoroughbred, standard bred racing, big horse shows... Etc. To be a part of this industry and a good feeling, there is lots of history with in the industry and within certain horse breeds related to Canadian history. There are many different things that contribute to the politics of the sport, such as "Horse people" assume the sport is only for those with "money" and not the "middle/low" class people which are completely not true. For example I had my appaloosa mare at a top barn in Ontario, Canada and because the care for the horses was excellent I didn’t mind paying top board price, I have a part time job to pay for it as it is too expensive monthly for my parents to afford.

So therefore I have to pay for everything myself, and as I had a few other bills and couldn’t afford the top coach there for lessons I was “pushed" out I'll say... They did things to just annoy me and eventually I got the point that they wanted more money for lessons on top of board and so I moved to a quieter smaller local casual barn with 10 riders at it, where my horse is happier just being a horse, and being ridden daily. The top trainers and coaches who train the "juniors" in the sport that can import a horse and then go and show on a huge circuit and spend thousands doesn't understand the value of money. Kids that have that horse handed to them without having to lift a finger to pay for it, won't get too far in life if everything is handed to them. Most judges will glance over at the in gate and see who is the trainer standing at the in gate to see if that rider and her $50,000 horse is "worthy" of the first place ribbon. I’ve have seen this happy many times, when a rider on a 5000 horse has a much better round then the more expensive horse and because the horse is a "Warmblood" and imported they automatically deserve to win. Does it make sense to buy a $50,000 horse for a 5 cent ribbon... an possibly some prize money, but nothing compared to what was put out to get to the show and pay for the stall, groom, trailering, entry fees, horse tack, show clothing... the list goes on. I personally being from a middle class family and I had to pay for everything I wanted because it is an expensive sport is much more appreciative of everything I have.

Trust me any equestrian discipline is easier if you have an unlimited bank account, but as a few TV shows on the sport of riding horses has shown that only those with money will succeed which is entirely not true. People who have to work for the things they have in the horse industry are better off because they understand that they can't just go and buy a new bridle or saddle because it is a little bit dirty. On one of the TV shows a rider didn't want to discipline her import horse because she just didn't want to break her crop, meanwhile her horse was stopping at a water jump and just didn't go over and she didn't use her crop right at the time she stopped, so her horse got away with that a few times and at a show her horse stopped and she was eliminated so all the money her parents spent on training and show fees and getting her and her horse there was all gone down the drain. 

In the hunter ring and equitation ring the judging is largely subjective, the equitation classes are based on your form and how well you show the judges you can control and handle your horse around a jumping course. Rarely do you see quarter horses, paints, appaloosas.. etc partake in this discipline in fear of losing to the $50,000 warmblood horse. Any breed should be able to participate in any class or division at a show, if the horse is capable of jumping around the course and fits the criteria for the class there should be no discrimination by the judges.

In the hunter ring it is a little bit the same but also different than the equitation ring, most horses can't go around a 3'6"-4" hunter course and do the course with a loose slacked rein, so the riders, trainers, and grooms drug their horses and hope they won't get caught and hope to win. Some judges will see that the horse had been drugged and will either chose to ignore it and or say something to the rider and have the rider disqualified.

The Equestrian industry isn't all about money; riders and trainers should focus on the sportsmanship side of it and have fun with it. After all the horses do a lot for us and provide a good friendship and have a partnership with us, so don't be bothered by those riders who can't ride and have an expensive horse that just does everything for them, appreciate what you have and have fun with your horse.