No, this isn't your basic Jack and The Beanstalk story although it could easily become a new Grimm's Fairy Tale. Several years ago, I attempted to extract “the bean” from my horse’s sheath. I was familiar with using various products to soften and loosen smegma but had never attempted to find the elusive bean. I wasn’t even quite sure where or what it was!

It's like a Chai Tea latte...for my horse! Creamy, smooth, smells delicious and plus it leaves your horse super shiny.

Can you identify the three regions of the hoof below?

Much like a human athlete, sport horses need a well-rounded support team. Owner, rider or driver, veterinarian, barn manager, massage therapist, magnawave provider, dentist, saddle fitter, bridle fitter, bit fitter…short breath…nutritionist and FARRIER!!!

Erin Gaul is The Home and Stable's grooming expert and a 2021 Elite Groomer for Wahl. She is the owner/operator of Equine Detailing offering full body clips, trace clips, legs and face plus mane pulling or cuts throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. You will find her introduction in our Your Stories section. Our blogs seek to dig deeper and understand how the experts achieve the very best in their field. We call it the Secret Sauce! Follow along with our questions this week with Erin. What is your #1 go to grooming tool? Everyone needs a variety of curry combs depending on the time of year and your horse’s level of sensitivity. Your horse should be curried well daily including his legs. This will loosen dirt at the base of the hair as well as stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. This is the best natural way to get a shiny coat along with a nutritious diet. For general body work, one of the plain black curries is fine. Wahl has a softer rubbery teeth curry for faces and legs. You also need a metal curry for itchy surfaces. Skip this product on bony surfaces or if your horse doesn’t like it. Lastly, a pimpled glove during a shampooing is a natural massage and does a good job cleaning around the root of the hair. [HS TIP: the waxy residue that clumps on the hind legs of your horse may be a combination of over active sebum glands and leg hair or a build-up of keratin. Often called stud crud, it is actually cannon keratosis. If you pick at it, you may pull off clumps of hair and create bald spots! If there is no heat or swelling in the leg or signs of an infection, this is actually a mostly cosmetic issue and shouldn’t spread. Erin highly recommends Equiderma Skin Lotion. We'd recommend it to gently remove the waxy clumps. [Remember to always dry your horse’s legs well and use clean wraps and sport boots.]

If only I had know this 18 months ago, I might not have this story to tell...

What is an Equine Digital Pulse? An equine digital pulse is a very useful tool for horse owners in determining if there is pain or inflammation in the hoof (or hooves) of your horse. The digital pulse is the blood flow through the main artery going into the hooves. A digital pulse is typically hard to find/feel, this is due to the fact that there is no restriction of the blood flow into the hoof of the horse. The more restriction (inflammation) there is going into the hoof, the easier it will be to find. If you are not familiar with taking a digital pulse, you might think you are taking it incorrectly because you are feeling nothing, but in reality it is just a sign of a healthy hoof. Sometimes you will feel a faint digital pulse, and that is typically OK. We recommend taking your horse’s digital pulse regularly so you can learn what is normal for them. This will help you pinpoint red flags or warning signs of hoof discomfort in the future. If you can easily feel the digital pulse, this may also be referred to as a bounding digital pulse. This is a sign of a potential problem in the hoof (or hooves). It will feel like a throbbing headache or as if you banged your finger and it is throbbing. Not a faster pace, just a stronger one. If you feel a bounding digital pulse, be sure to check the hoof multiple times to be sure. Also check the other hooves to see if the problem is localized to that one hoof or if it is affecting the other hooves. If it is localized to one hoof, it could just be from a bruise or an abscess. It is the hoof reacting to an acute injury to that one foot. But if you ever have any concerns, be sure to reach out to your vet for advice. However if it is in multiple feet, this could spell out much more significant problems, such as laminitis (founder). Don’t immediately have a panic attack if this is the case, take in all of the other factors surrounding the situation. Did your horse just work or run? If so, the pulse might be stronger because of that. Is the horse acting normally or has their personality changed? Do they seem happy and comfortable, or are they trying to take weight off the feet? With any doubts here, always call your vet. Trust your horse and your gut.

Clean, Crisp... Just Waiting to Be Written in by YOU!

How to transition from rider to trainer by developing your brand...

In dressage, there are some things that we just won’t change like wear white breeches to show in. We tuck our shirt in to ride and leather belts are a must. Or so I thought...

Burn Baby Burn! Trapp Candles!!!

Cook Books, New Spices, Awesome Oil & Vinegars - We are ready!

Athlete, Trainer, Mom and Our Friend

Much like a human athlete, sport horses need a well-rounded support team. Owner, rider or driver, veterinarian, barn manager, massage therapist, magnawave provider, dentist, saddle fitter, bridle fitter, bit fitter…short breath…nutritionist and FARRIER!!!