Christmas Gift ideas for Horses!

There’s a lot more to Christmas day than the presents, but it’s a good place to start! At Tic Tac Equestrian, we have plenty of gift solutions for friends, family and horses alike, and fun little twists to make the careful art of stocking filling less of a burden and more of festive highlight!

First up, our Junior Grooming Kit Box (£18.99) is the perfect gift for your happy little stable hands. This sizable grooming kit comes in a nice big plastic carry case and contains a Junior sweat Scraper, Glitter Rubber Curry Comb, Plastic Curry Comb, Horse's head Hoof Pick, Body Brush, Dandy Brush, mane comb and a sponge. Perfect for a new pony owner!

Junior Grooming Kit Box - £18.99

The smaller, great value Pony Care Kit (£8.99) is a great little addition the pile under the Christmas Tree, with a small selection of accessories (including a mane comb, hoof oil and soaps) to help you keep your favourite pony looking pretty. 

Pony Care Kit - £8.99

Our fantastic ChristmasGift Pack (£5.99) is one just for the horses, with lots of lovely treats and horsey toiletries to keep them satisfied and smelling sweet! There’s apple treats, mane and tail lotion and tea tree shampoo – if horses could shop at Boots, this would be top of the list! 

Christmas gift pack - £5.99

Another fun little extra is our very own Christmas Stocking for Horses and Ponies (£5.99), bursting at the seams with healthy treats sure to earn you plenty of extra kisses over the festive period; just don’t get too tempted to try them yourself! 

And for friends and loved ones we’ve got a great range of accessories form our good pals at Maccessori including wallets, bags and bears all made from genuine Harris Tweed. Price start at £16.99, with some truly great quality items available, so if you fancy spoiling a fellow horse-crazy secret santa, you won’t be stuck for choice! 

We also have a great range of Silly Moo cosmetics including Hand Cream (£4.99) and Lip Balm (£4.59) or if you can’t decide we also have a nifty little Gift Basket with a choice selection of top quality products from this fun and friendly company to help you keep yourself looking radiant when you’re out riding!

Silly Moo Gift Basket - £8.99

So there you go, just a few of the many wonderful gift ideas available from Tic Tac Equestrian this Christmas. If you’ like more info, please feel free to give our full product range a proper look over at tictacequestrian.com.

We look forward to hearing from and hope you have a truly wonderful Christmas this year!

Feeding tips for Horses

Who doesn't like filling their belly?! Especially at Christmas time! Well, one of the key aspects involved in keeping horses, especially over the winter period is how to properly feed your horse, in order to maintain a healthy weight and stay properly nourished, glowing and full of beans!

At Tic Tac Equestrian, we've compiled a few handy hints and tips, perfect for first-time buyers and horse enthusiasts of all ages. Some of these tips are generally just common sense, but better same than sorry when it comes to proper Horse care! 

First off, one thing to remember is that the horse, by its very nature is a grazing animal and is more or less built to eat almost constantly throughout each day, around 18 out of 24 hours. With that basic fact in mind, there are a few little rules to remember when feeding your horse. 


Feeding tips and rules to remember

Feed little and often - by ensuring a constant passage of food through the digestive system, the horse's natural feeding patterns will be replicated, ensuring proper digestion. 

Remember your roughage - adding hay, grass and haylage ensures, also helps to maintain steady, natural digestion.

Always feed depending on size of horse and workload - Horses that are heavily worked will require much more energy in their diet, not to mention more food. Feeding these kinds of horses too much or too little food will result in unwanted fluctuations in weight. 

Don't make any sudden dietary changes - The Bacteria in a horse's large intestine are vital in the break down of food and they need time to adapt to any changes in diet. Doing this too suddenly can cause some bacteria to die, producing poisons and sometimes even lead to metabolic disorders.

Feed at the same times every day - Horses, like many of their owners, are creatures of habit and thrive on regularity, so be sure to bear this in mind when compiling a feeding schedule.

Wait a while after feeding before undertaking fast work - Working a horse too hard on a full stomach can potentially put pressure on the lungs and affect breathing. It can also impair digestion. 

And finally, provide a constant supply of fresh water

Winter Rugs from Tic Tac Equestrian

Mark Todd Combo Under Rug

The Mark Todd under rug combo (£65.99) is ideal for extra warmth in the winter and is suitable for use under Mark Todd or any other brand of Rug. The under rug combo has been designed with a cotton outer to stop other rugs slipping over it. This Mark Todd rug has a non-slip channel quilted cotton outer, a cotton lined 250g filling inner, a single breast strap, double hook and loop neck fastening and low cross surcingle’s (fillet string not supplied). The Combo neck design of this under rug can be worn as a neck cover or folded back according to your horse’s needs.

Mark Todd Deluxe Heavyweight Turnout Rug

The Mark Todd Deluxe Heavyweight Combo turnout rug (£139.99) is the warmest and toughest rug of the Mark Todd Range, designed to ensure your horse is kept warm and dry in the middle of the winter. The Mark Todd Deluxe Heavyweight Combo is extra tough, waterproof and breathable.  It packs a punch with its extra tough 1680 denier outer and super warm 420g filling. This rug is ideal for winter use, particularly on clipped horses and will keep your horse warm and dry but allowing freedom of movement. The built-in gusset between the neck cover and main body of the Mark Todd deluxe heavyweight combo turnout rug allows the horse total freedom of movement. This is a very tough and durable heavyweight combo turnout rug for total weather protection.

Fal Pro Viking 200g Turnout Rug

The Fal Pro Viking 200g Turnout Rug (£231.99) is tough and durable and is one of Fal Pro's most popular turnout rugs. This rug has a superbly comfortable fit and offers a layered construction with 1000 denier ballistic waterproof and breathable nylon outer, silver interactive lining, separate duvet liner, absorbent blotting layer, no side seams, matrix belt fittings, easy clean fillet string and detachable neck cover. Unique to the Viking rugs is a layering system. The dual purpose of this construction is to make the rug completely waterproof whilst as the same time virtually eliminating condensation. 

These are a just a few of the fantastic Winter rugs we have on offer, so for more information, head over to the Tic Tac Equestrian Store. 

New Year's Resolutions (for Horses!!)

So, 2012 is about to draw to a close, so it's time to start thinking about all those New Year's Resolutions for 2013! 

(c) Lucie Provencher

But it's not just about what diets you're going to take up or what wonderful places you want to visit over the next 12 months - what about your horses?!

That's right, horses are in need of a bit of change and positive motivation, so what kinds of things will YOUR horses and ponies be looking to change in the next big year ahead?

Well, we've scoured the web for a few ideas of fun little things horses can do to make their lives - and yours - a little sweeter over the next 365 days!

HORSE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2012

• I will practice patience and good manners at feeding time. 

• I will try to keep you laughing even when I know I am being naughty.

• I promise not to try and kick the dog.

• I will not stomp on the salt block, breaking it into unlickable pieces.

• I will not trot away when I see you come towards me with a halter. I want to play, really I do.

• I will let someone else be the leader, for a day – one day only - that day will be of my choosing with no advanced notice.

• I will swallow wormer without objection and without getting any of it on myself or you.

• I will get under you when you lose your seat, instead of seizing the opportunity to dump you in the dirt. 

What are some of your Horse's New Year's Resolutions? Get in touch via the Tic Tac Equestrian Facebook or Twitter, and we'll stick them up here!

Christmas Day Treats for Horses!

Here's hoping for horsey white christmas!

We're getting ready for the holidays here at Tic Tac Equestrian! Now,  Christmas day is what you make it, but for us it’s a time to get fat and enjoy yourself - but don’t forget about your horses! They deserve a treat too and we’ve searched far and wide among horse lovers to get some great ideas for special ways to treat your four-legged friends at this wonderful time of the year.

Christmas Cake for Horses

Who doesn’t love Christmas cake? Exactly – no one! And that goes for our equine neighbours too. There are lots of different ways to spruce up their Christmas feed, so let’s start off with a simple but irresistible festive and wonderfully horsey Christmas cake.

Ingredients

Dark brown sugar - 500 g

1 Mug of bran

2 Mugs of chaff

1 apple

1 big carrot grated

1 small tin of black treacle

(You can add a mug of mix if you feed it)

Instructions

Heat up the sugar and treacle until melted, then stir in the rest of the ingredients -you may need to add little more chaff or bran so it is very thick.

Put into a medium-sized container and leave to set.

This recipe is very rich and sugary so be sure to feed with care to horses with sugar intolerance or if you like, you can reduce the amount of sugar you put in and replace with fruit - but it’s safe to say most healthy horses love this!

Other treats

You can also use many of the same ingredients to make different variations of fun, delicious horses treats, including these similar, candy-style treats.

To make, simply mix 1 can of black treacle, 500g of dark brown sugar, melt in a pan and pour into little lickit containers to make fun tongue twisters – lots of brown sticky noses but they adore them.

Big Horse Treats

For bigger horses looking for a heartier wee feed, slices of apple and long strips of carrot dipped into slices of toffee are also a great Christmas day treat. You can also mix in chaff and leave to set in balls - very messy to make but worth it.

Ingredients for the Toffee

200g sugar

55ml of water

15 g of butter

1 tablespoon of Golden Syrup

TO MAKE

Heat the sugar and water together until fully melted, add butter and syrup and boil until 290 on jam thermometer or till it reaches the soft crack stage.

Dip your carrot and apple or other fruit/veg of choice into this and put on baking parchment until hard – and yes, the apple treats can be nice for humans too, so don’t be afraid to give them a taste test!

Christmas Pudding

For an alternative Christmas Pudding recipe, here’s a quick and easy way to keep your horses happy this winter:

Ingredients

Round bread roll

Golden syrup or molasses (optional)

Carrots

Apples

Pears (optional)

Polos

To Make

1. First cut a hole in your roll as if you are cutting the stem out of the strawberry.

2. Keep the top part of the bread safe! You will need it later!

3. Cut your carrots, apples and pears into thin sticks.

4. Arrange your sticks in the roll with at least three pointing up, out of the bowl.

5. Place a polo on each stick pointing up.

6. Pour golden syrup in to help it stay together. (optional)

7. Place the "lid" of bread on top.

8. Put a splodge of golden syrup on top. (optional)

9. In the splodge put some pear and polos in the shape of mistletoe on top. (optional)

10. Either put in feed or feed by hand!

REMEMBER: Only feed these treats a little at a time as they are very rich and full of sugar. But even a tiny taste will be a nice touch to help your horses and ponies enjoy this holiday season! Also, if you’re feeling extra merry, a nice big splash of Guinness in their Christmas dinner always goes down a treat too!

You can make fun variations of these recipes, or if you like, please feel free to send us any of your own ideas and recipes, we’d love to hear from you!

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Horsey New Year!!

Clipping your horse for the Winter

It's that time of the year again where it's wise to think about clipping your horse. In their natural state, horses have all the protection they need against the harsh winter weather. However, in order to be able to handle different types of exercise and activity over the winter months, they need some, or in some cases, all of their winter coat removed to enable them to work efficiently and of course, to help us keep them clean! 

Reasons for clipping: 

• For quick drying after exercise
• To allow a horse to carry out fast work without too much stress
• To avoiding adverse effects caused by heavy sweating
• It makes grooming easier
• And it keeps you horse looking sharp!

What sort of clip should I consider for my horse? 
Your choice of clip depends on the type of work your horse will be doing over the winter period, taking into account how much he usually sweats. 

• Trace clip: A Trace Clip allows horses and ponies to be exercised without getting too hot. This also allows them to continue being turned-out in the winter. The coat is removed from the belly and up the underside of the neck. Hair is meanwhile left on the head, the topside of the neck, body and legs for warmth and protection. For a low trace, only a small section of hair is removed from the belly and neck whereas a high trace takes more hair from these areas going further up the horse's flank.

• Blanket clip: With a Blanket Clip, the coat is removed completely from the head, neck and flanks, leaving only an area of hair that looks like an exercise sheet over the back and hind-quarters and on the legs. This type of clip would suit a horse that has regular exercise, is turned-out in the field and does various events at the weekends. 
  
  
• Hunter clip: This is used mainly for horses in heavy work, such as hunters. The Hunter Clip is similar to the blanket clip, except that the hair over the hind-quarters is removed leaving only a patch in the saddle area. The leg hair remains for warmth and protection.
  
  
• Full clip: This is usually given to competition horses that compete in the winter months. The whole of the coat is removed, including body, legs and head. The full clip looks very smart but does require careful stable management. Horses with a full clip need to be rugged up at all times and may need to wear stable bandages in very cold weather.

Where do I start? 

• First of all you need to purchase a good quality pair of clippers. However, there are many different types available depending on the job you need them for so you wont be stuck for choice. Your choice of clippers depends on the type of clip as well as personal preference. 
  
  
• It's often wise to give your horse a bath first if they are particularly dirty. However, usually, you just need to make sure they are well-kept and thoroughly groomed, making sure you remove any and all dirt and sweat that could potentially clog up the clippers. 
  
  
• Have a rug ready to put on your horse after you finish clipping - we guarantee they'll notice the difference in temperature after their nice new haircut!
  
  
• If possible, try to have someone on hand to hold your horse and comfort them if they become agitated. 
  
  
• Use chalk to outline the area you are going to clip, particularly if you have not clipped a horse before. 
  
  
• While clipping the body, the clippers must run flat over the coat - don’t use too much pressure otherwise you will create lines known as ‘tram-lines’.  On the other hand, when clipping the legs and face you will need to clip against the hair as it is shorter than the rest of the hair on the horse’s body. 
  
  
• Start from the top of the neck and head and then work your way along the rest of the body. With experience you can develop your own clipping methods to suit both you and your horse, creating the least amount of stress possible. 
  
  
• Be firm, but gentle when working around the head. It is probably best to use a pair of finishing trimmers as they make less noise and are less likely to startle or cause stress. 
  
  
• After you have finished clipping, make sure that your horse is nice and rugged up and apply stable bandages if necessary - oh, and be sure to give them a well deserved treat! 
  
  
• If all else fails, get an expert to do it for you. It won’t cost you very much and it could cut out a lot of stress for both you and your horse.
  
  

For more info on our great range of clippers and other horse grooming items, be sure to check out the Tic Tac Equestrian store.

Weight gain in Horses

Many horse owners struggle to keep weight on their horses, whether they are being used heavily or they are simply trying to maintain a “hard keeper”.  Weight gain in horses is a function of Calorie intake, just as it is in humans.  If a horse needs to gain weight, you have to increase the Calorie intake per day above the current level that the horse is being fed. 

Beet pulp is a great way to try and help your horse get back to a healthy weight. Beet pulp is what we sometimes refer to as a “super fibre”.  Because it has a high percentage of highly digestible fibre, and contains more digestible energy per pound than hay and is actually about the same as oats. 

Unless there is a lot of molasses added, it is also fairly low in starch and sugar. That is why it is considered a fairly “safe” energy source. Because beet pulp is highly digestible, the horse has less gut fill and can actually consume a bit more per day as well, so the feed intake and Calorie intake can be increased even further, which supports the weight gain theory that many horse owners follow.

That said, beet pulp is not a well-balanced feed.  It has low mineral content, is a very poor amino acid source, and only contains about 9% protein.  Beet pulp fits into a feeding program very well as an energy ingredient, but it needs to be balanced for the other nutrients.

In conclusion, it is important to bear in mind that rarely is a single ingredient the answer to an equine nutrition situation.  Ingredients on their own are simply not balanced solutions.  

While beet pulp is a very viable ingredient for use in a horse’s overall diet, and it can definitely be used to increase the caloric intake, it needs to be evaluated in the scope of the entire diet to determine if the horse is receiving a balanced ration.  

For most horse owners, the simplest route if beet pulp is a desired ingredient is to purchase a commercially available feed that incorporates it as a major ingredient and adds the needed protein, vitamins and minerals to balance the diet for overall health and well being of the animal.