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  Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
   
Location: CTX | Runaway - 2017-12-21 2:42 PM OhMax - 2017-12-21 3:36 PM I try not to be over the top, but we also walk a fine line of .001 being the difference between money and no money. I have an original PHT sheet. I bought it about 5 years ago when I had a saddle sore a back up badly. He wore it all winter under his turnout and I saw a very noticeable difference when I would take it off for a day or 2 in how well he moved. I don’t know if I see quite as drastic results now, but I also like how it doubles as a fly sheet. I don’t know if I can justify upgrading though, but I’m not going to sell it. I just invested in BOT quick wraps. My good gelding now tends to hold some fluid on his legs and the quick wraps take it right away. I’ll have a better review once I’ve used them for a season. I use Air Power when it’s humid to help open him up, I’ve tried a few pastes but haven’t been impressed with any in particular. Other than that we feed good hay, good feed and Platinum. Make sure our tack fits and our horses are in top condition. If I was going to make an investment in something I’d be looking at a nebulizer. As an asthmatic myself I feel especially in humid weather that it could be beneficial.
I agree, the air power is good stuff, that's the one prerace I use.
How do you use the air power? Do you give it in the mouth before a race? I've started top dressing it on his renew gold on race days... Makes it a bit easier.... if I try the syringe I end up wearing some of it, and it is sticky.......
Other then the air power, I use BOT quick wraps and have a BOT blanket for him, and multiple BOT items for me... and I have a magnet blanket which I use when it gets hot instead of the BOT one. I also use flair strips when we run... and I use stressline products (yup, also on myself when needed).
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | OhMax - 2017-12-21 8:38 PM
Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 3:37 PM
wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:32 PM
Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 2:20 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:04 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 1:39 PM I am young, but I am old fashion and I have grown up with "old" time cowboys(those who don't believe in special needs for a horse). And if you ask me less is more. My horses are grass fed (hay in the winter) they have salt blocks and water that's it! They don't get all these special blends that go in their feed, or any calming medicine, if your horse needs calming medicine to me he isn't broke (that's just my thought though). The less you do to them and the less crap you put down their throat the less you have to worry about. Yes some horses need special feed I have had many like that, and if you are hauling hard some stuff is a MUST. But if the horse doesn't need something DONT put them on anything. If you horse is running 1D times, and you feed him oats and nothing else then dang he is happy and is doing his job. If your horse is running 4D times and you want to run 1D times, putting him on supplements, changing your saddle,your bit and going out and buying thousand of dollars worth of stuff you don't need wont make your horse a 1D horse. Horses have been living and thriving for MANY of years without all this BS out there.. Now with that being said when I haul my horses do get BOT boots, and BOT blankets I am a HUGE believer in BOT!!!! I agree to a point. We ranch so my horses are rarely shod, they live outside 24/7 and most just on pasture grass and loose salt/mineral. They get to be horses. When I start to haul they get some special treatment and then my go to after a long weekend is to turn them out for a couple of days to be a horse again. Even my show horse spends as much time in pasture as he does in a stall.
My question is, do you think Louie would be competing at the level he is now, if Lisa rode and took care of him like they did 40 yrs ago? Scamper won big year and year and Charmaybe still did a few special things for him, but she admitted in interviews that it was nothing like how she kept the other horses running and winning in todays competition. Records are getting broken in every event, every year. We are more knowledgeable now than we were just 10 yrs ago. I never treated a horse for ulcers until my gelding was 18ish. He ran one of his fastest times on a pattern that yr, than he ever did when he was younger. The diff was he had the ulcers cleared up, I started to baby his old joints more-liniments and such. No I don't think he could. I agree hauling to that many rodeos and having a horse stand in a trailer for long hauls will take a toll on them, and they do need special care. But I was mainly talking about people who only go 1 or 2 times ever 2 weeks to a barrel race or roping or whatever and they think their horse needs something special because the person who just won the barrel race, or roping has their horse on 20 different supplements. So then they go out and buy those 20 different supplements for no reason for their horses . But then again Lisa can afford all the things she does for Louie. If my horses were winning millions, believe me they would be on everything! But my horses don't win me millions they win me hundreds and sometimes not even that. So to each their own, if you can afford it and it makes you happy, and it makes your horse happy that's all that matters right? Is your partner and team mate is happy!
YES YES YES, you hit the nail on the head!!! They last the longest, you don't have to worry about lameness, or colic!!!
But, the lifestyle of the ranch horse is much different the up and down the road rodeo barrel horse.
I think a lot of products are created out of a need to keep horses sound on a rodeo road that keeps getting longer and harder. Does the average local barrel racer really need everything the pros do? Probably not, but I’m also a capaitalist so good for them - good for the small, independent sole proprietors like Julie (PHT ) who’s created a quality product we can count on.
I also think (no, I know ) Barrel racers are a different breed. If you look at the NFR team ropers you see they do use a lot of the same products the pro barrel racers are using - they have horses to keep sound on the long road too. But if you go to a local jackpot roping you don’t see a 10th of the products that you see at a local jackpot barrel race. But I’ve also pointed out to my husband when he tries to judge me that if his horse feels off his game he can throw 2 coils at the steer and be done with it - if my horse doesn’t fire I’m likely SOL.
I have to disagree here. I take the same care of our ranch horses that I do our barrel horses. Truthfully, we only have one horse that is solely a ranch horse, the rest are my barrel horses too!! However, the one that is just a ranch horse gets fed, supplemented and treated just like my barrel horses. No, he doesn’t spend hours on a trailer on a daily basis, but all of our ranch geldings get saddled before sunrise and most days don’t get unsaddled until after dark. The miles he does spend on a trailer are on a wooden floor stock trailer, no air ride, no rubber floors. It’s nothing for them to have several big cows roped on them in a day! They cross boggy creeks, sort cattle, ride pastures all day... ALL DAY! My husband has three main horses that he rotates between, one of which is my good horse that set an arena record this summer. But all three of them are taken care of the same, because much like the pro rodeo horses- they pay our bills!! Don’t put it past me to throw a back on track blanket on one of them if they’ve had a rough day and seem sore!!! Everything that I have that we have broke and used in the pasture before I ran barrels on stayed more sound than the futurity horses I’ve bought that went straight to the pattern. They know how to use their bodies, and they know how to take care of their bodies. You won’t ever convince me that life on the road is harder than what a cowboy can put on one during the day!! This is why we get lots of problem barrel horses in to ride- because people want them to have a job. I’m in no way trying to be argumentative, but did want to shine some light on what REAL cow horses go through on a daily basis. | |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | OhMax - 2017-12-21 7:38 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 3:37 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:32 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 2:20 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:04 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 1:39 PM I am young, but I am old fashion and I have grown up with "old" time cowboys(those who don't believe in special needs for a horse). And if you ask me less is more. My horses are grass fed (hay in the winter) they have salt blocks and water that's it! They don't get all these special blends that go in their feed, or any calming medicine, if your horse needs calming medicine to me he isn't broke (that's just my thought though). The less you do to them and the less crap you put down their throat the less you have to worry about. Yes some horses need special feed I have had many like that, and if you are hauling hard some stuff is a MUST. But if the horse doesn't need something DONT put them on anything. If you horse is running 1D times, and you feed him oats and nothing else then dang he is happy and is doing his job. If your horse is running 4D times and you want to run 1D times, putting him on supplements, changing your saddle,your bit and going out and buying thousand of dollars worth of stuff you don't need wont make your horse a 1D horse. Horses have been living and thriving for MANY of years without all this BS out there.. Now with that being said when I haul my horses do get BOT boots, and BOT blankets I am a HUGE believer in BOT!!!! I agree to a point. We ranch so my horses are rarely shod, they live outside 24/7 and most just on pasture grass and loose salt/mineral. They get to be horses. When I start to haul they get some special treatment and then my go to after a long weekend is to turn them out for a couple of days to be a horse again. Even my show horse spends as much time in pasture as he does in a stall.
My question is, do you think Louie would be competing at the level he is now, if Lisa rode and took care of him like they did 40 yrs ago? Scamper won big year and year and Charmaybe still did a few special things for him, but she admitted in interviews that it was nothing like how she kept the other horses running and winning in todays competition. Records are getting broken in every event, every year. We are more knowledgeable now than we were just 10 yrs ago. I never treated a horse for ulcers until my gelding was 18ish. He ran one of his fastest times on a pattern that yr, than he ever did when he was younger. The diff was he had the ulcers cleared up, I started to baby his old joints more-liniments and such. No I don't think he could. I agree hauling to that many rodeos and having a horse stand in a trailer for long hauls will take a toll on them, and they do need special care. But I was mainly talking about people who only go 1 or 2 times ever 2 weeks to a barrel race or roping or whatever and they think their horse needs something special because the person who just won the barrel race, or roping has their horse on 20 different supplements. So then they go out and buy those 20 different supplements for no reason for their horses . But then again Lisa can afford all the things she does for Louie. If my horses were winning millions, believe me they would be on everything! But my horses don't win me millions they win me hundreds and sometimes not even that. So to each their own, if you can afford it and it makes you happy, and it makes your horse happy that's all that matters right? Is your partner and team mate is happy! YES YES YES, you hit the nail on the head!!! They last the longest, you don't have to worry about lameness, or colic!!! I think a lot of products are created out of a need to keep horses sound on a rodeo road that keeps getting longer and harder. Does the average local barrel racer really need everything the pros do? Probably not, but I’m also a capaitalist so good for them - good for the small, independent sole proprietors like Julie (PHT ) who’s created a quality product we can count on. I also think (no, I know ) Barrel racers are a different breed. If you look at the NFR team ropers you see they do use a lot of the same products the pro barrel racers are using - they have horses to keep sound on the long road too. But if you go to a local jackpot roping you don’t see a 10th of the products that you see at a local jackpot barrel race. But I’ve also pointed out to my husband when he tries to judge me that if his horse feels off his game he can throw 2 coils at the steer and be done with it - if my horse doesn’t fire I’m likely SOL.
I would say it depends. We have some of the crappies county roads in the entire state. My husband used to haul 4-5 days a week in a 1/2 top old trailer 45 miles one way on some of the nastiest washboard roads. We live 17 miles in and the fastest you can make it in or out is 30 minutes. So I think any horse would love those fancy air ride trailers on the interstate vs what ours bounce around on. They are also rode for 6-10 hrs at a time regardless of if it was 100 or 10 below. When they got home, they get dumped back out to pasture to spend the rest of the evening grazing and were gathered back up to head out again by 6 am. We aren't talking a 300 acre ranch, but 40,000 acres to gather and move cattle from one pasture to another. Our area is ugly and rough too. We used to rope when we had more time, but back then and even now, my barrel horses think a day in the arena is a vacation.
But on another note because my husband is a born and raised rancher, he feels most anything extra is uneccessary and a waste of money. There are been a few things that have proved him wrong, some things I have used have saved us from spending more money at the vet. The products I do use and believe in, I take good care of-PHT etc. They are a kind of investment and something too expensive to replace. | |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Ashley Lynn - 2017-12-21 8:09 PM OhMax - 2017-12-21 8:38 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 3:37 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:32 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 2:20 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:04 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 1:39 PM I am young, but I am old fashion and I have grown up with "old" time cowboys(those who don't believe in special needs for a horse). And if you ask me less is more. My horses are grass fed (hay in the winter) they have salt blocks and water that's it! They don't get all these special blends that go in their feed, or any calming medicine, if your horse needs calming medicine to me he isn't broke (that's just my thought though). The less you do to them and the less crap you put down their throat the less you have to worry about. Yes some horses need special feed I have had many like that, and if you are hauling hard some stuff is a MUST. But if the horse doesn't need something DONT put them on anything. If you horse is running 1D times, and you feed him oats and nothing else then dang he is happy and is doing his job. If your horse is running 4D times and you want to run 1D times, putting him on supplements, changing your saddle,your bit and going out and buying thousand of dollars worth of stuff you don't need wont make your horse a 1D horse. Horses have been living and thriving for MANY of years without all this BS out there.. Now with that being said when I haul my horses do get BOT boots, and BOT blankets I am a HUGE believer in BOT!!!! I agree to a point. We ranch so my horses are rarely shod, they live outside 24/7 and most just on pasture grass and loose salt/mineral. They get to be horses. When I start to haul they get some special treatment and then my go to after a long weekend is to turn them out for a couple of days to be a horse again. Even my show horse spends as much time in pasture as he does in a stall.
My question is, do you think Louie would be competing at the level he is now, if Lisa rode and took care of him like they did 40 yrs ago? Scamper won big year and year and Charmaybe still did a few special things for him, but she admitted in interviews that it was nothing like how she kept the other horses running and winning in todays competition. Records are getting broken in every event, every year. We are more knowledgeable now than we were just 10 yrs ago. I never treated a horse for ulcers until my gelding was 18ish. He ran one of his fastest times on a pattern that yr, than he ever did when he was younger. The diff was he had the ulcers cleared up, I started to baby his old joints more-liniments and such. No I don't think he could. I agree hauling to that many rodeos and having a horse stand in a trailer for long hauls will take a toll on them, and they do need special care. But I was mainly talking about people who only go 1 or 2 times ever 2 weeks to a barrel race or roping or whatever and they think their horse needs something special because the person who just won the barrel race, or roping has their horse on 20 different supplements. So then they go out and buy those 20 different supplements for no reason for their horses . But then again Lisa can afford all the things she does for Louie. If my horses were winning millions, believe me they would be on everything! But my horses don't win me millions they win me hundreds and sometimes not even that. So to each their own, if you can afford it and it makes you happy, and it makes your horse happy that's all that matters right? Is your partner and team mate is happy! YES YES YES, you hit the nail on the head!!! They last the longest, you don't have to worry about lameness, or colic!!! But, the lifestyle of the ranch horse is much different the up and down the road rodeo barrel horse. I think a lot of products are created out of a need to keep horses sound on a rodeo road that keeps getting longer and harder. Does the average local barrel racer really need everything the pros do? Probably not, but I’m also a capaitalist so good for them - good for the small, independent sole proprietors like Julie (PHT ) who’s created a quality product we can count on. I also think (no, I know ) Barrel racers are a different breed. If you look at the NFR team ropers you see they do use a lot of the same products the pro barrel racers are using - they have horses to keep sound on the long road too. But if you go to a local jackpot roping you don’t see a 10th of the products that you see at a local jackpot barrel race. But I’ve also pointed out to my husband when he tries to judge me that if his horse feels off his game he can throw 2 coils at the steer and be done with it - if my horse doesn’t fire I’m likely SOL. I have to disagree here. I take the same care of our ranch horses that I do our barrel horses. Truthfully, we only have one horse that is solely a ranch horse, the rest are my barrel horses too!! However, the one that is just a ranch horse gets fed, supplemented and treated just like my barrel horses. No, he doesn’t spend hours on a trailer on a daily basis, but all of our ranch geldings get saddled before sunrise and most days don’t get unsaddled until after dark. The miles he does spend on a trailer are on a wooden floor stock trailer, no air ride, no rubber floors. It’s nothing for them to have several big cows roped on them in a day! They cross boggy creeks, sort cattle, ride pastures all day... ALL DAY! My husband has three main horses that he rotates between, one of which is my good horse that set an arena record this summer. But all three of them are taken care of the same, because much like the pro rodeo horses- they pay our bills!! Don’t put it past me to throw a back on track blanket on one of them if they’ve had a rough day and seem sore!!! Everything that I have that we have broke and used in the pasture before I ran barrels on stayed more sound than the futurity horses I’ve bought that went straight to the pattern. They know how to use their bodies, and they know how to take care of their bodies. You won’t ever convince me that life on the road is harder than what a cowboy can put on one during the day!! This is why we get lots of problem barrel horses in to ride- because people want them to have a job. I’m in no way trying to be argumentative, but did want to shine some light on what REAL cow horses go through on a daily basis.
This!!! They have a hard knock life, but by gosh they are broke and have a work ethic like none other!!! It's too bad so many have gone to 4 wheelers. In our country it is too rough for 4 wheelers so most have gone to motorcyles. The day of the working ranch horse is just about over. We have more people play "cowboy" at the ranch horse competitions than they do at home on their own place. | |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 4:14 PM
Do you think people would buy all this stuff if the PRO barrel racers weren't endorsing it? I mean really if someone came up to me and said hey buy this strip that opens your horses airway up and its 100% safe no one has ever heard of it....I would be like ummmmmm NO. But you see famous people endorsing everything! And you have to think this stuff is only selling because someone famous is using it. As humans we want what others have. So to add to this question would you as a barrel racer use flair strips, calming paste, cookies or whatever else is out there if Brittany Pozzi, Michele McLeod, Sherry Cervi, and Lisa Lockhart weren't behind the products??
I have to disagree a little bit here. I feed the BioStar whole food supplements and Cur Ost and Standard Process supplements when needed. I know of no NFR girls who feed these. When I started using BOT the pro girls weren’t talking about it. But I do like to see what they use to keep their horses going. | |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | For the most part I haven't gotten really gimmicky. I try things and continue them if I think my horses and myself are benefitting, not because someone swears by them. I do use a mask on one of my horses and that has helped with the holding pen wiggles. I put BOT blankets on before and after a run or hard workout. As far as supplements, Simply Equine after a horse hair analysis during the peak of the season but right now, in the winter, not being ran as much, they are just on hay and grain. I will also patch them if I think they need it.
I use one of the BOT wraps in my seat when I'm commuting and long days at work and I think that has helped with my back. I also use the acu-life patches when I can't get rid of a headache. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 9:35 PM
Ashley Lynn - 2017-12-21 8:09 PM OhMax - 2017-12-21 8:38 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 3:37 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:32 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 2:20 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:04 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 1:39 PM I am young, but I am old fashion and I have grown up with "old" time cowboys(those who don't believe in special needs for a horse). And if you ask me less is more. My horses are grass fed (hay in the winter) they have salt blocks and water that's it! They don't get all these special blends that go in their feed, or any calming medicine, if your horse needs calming medicine to me he isn't broke (that's just my thought though). The less you do to them and the less crap you put down their throat the less you have to worry about. Yes some horses need special feed I have had many like that, and if you are hauling hard some stuff is a MUST. But if the horse doesn't need something DONT put them on anything. If you horse is running 1D times, and you feed him oats and nothing else then dang he is happy and is doing his job. If your horse is running 4D times and you want to run 1D times, putting him on supplements, changing your saddle,your bit and going out and buying thousand of dollars worth of stuff you don't need wont make your horse a 1D horse. Horses have been living and thriving for MANY of years without all this BS out there.. Now with that being said when I haul my horses do get BOT boots, and BOT blankets I am a HUGE believer in BOT!!!! I agree to a point. We ranch so my horses are rarely shod, they live outside 24/7 and most just on pasture grass and loose salt/mineral. They get to be horses. When I start to haul they get some special treatment and then my go to after a long weekend is to turn them out for a couple of days to be a horse again. Even my show horse spends as much time in pasture as he does in a stall.
My question is, do you think Louie would be competing at the level he is now, if Lisa rode and took care of him like they did 40 yrs ago? Scamper won big year and year and Charmaybe still did a few special things for him, but she admitted in interviews that it was nothing like how she kept the other horses running and winning in todays competition. Records are getting broken in every event, every year. We are more knowledgeable now than we were just 10 yrs ago. I never treated a horse for ulcers until my gelding was 18ish. He ran one of his fastest times on a pattern that yr, than he ever did when he was younger. The diff was he had the ulcers cleared up, I started to baby his old joints more-liniments and such. No I don't think he could. I agree hauling to that many rodeos and having a horse stand in a trailer for long hauls will take a toll on them, and they do need special care. But I was mainly talking about people who only go 1 or 2 times ever 2 weeks to a barrel race or roping or whatever and they think their horse needs something special because the person who just won the barrel race, or roping has their horse on 20 different supplements. So then they go out and buy those 20 different supplements for no reason for their horses . But then again Lisa can afford all the things she does for Louie. If my horses were winning millions, believe me they would be on everything! But my horses don't win me millions they win me hundreds and sometimes not even that. So to each their own, if you can afford it and it makes you happy, and it makes your horse happy that's all that matters right? Is your partner and team mate is happy! YES YES YES, you hit the nail on the head!!! They last the longest, you don't have to worry about lameness, or colic!!! But, the lifestyle of the ranch horse is much different the up and down the road rodeo barrel horse. I think a lot of products are created out of a need to keep horses sound on a rodeo road that keeps getting longer and harder. Does the average local barrel racer really need everything the pros do? Probably not, but I’m also a capaitalist so good for them - good for the small, independent sole proprietors like Julie (PHT ) who’s created a quality product we can count on. I also think (no, I know ) Barrel racers are a different breed. If you look at the NFR team ropers you see they do use a lot of the same products the pro barrel racers are using - they have horses to keep sound on the long road too. But if you go to a local jackpot roping you don’t see a 10th of the products that you see at a local jackpot barrel race. But I’ve also pointed out to my husband when he tries to judge me that if his horse feels off his game he can throw 2 coils at the steer and be done with it - if my horse doesn’t fire I’m likely SOL. I have to disagree here. I take the same care of our ranch horses that I do our barrel horses. Truthfully, we only have one horse that is solely a ranch horse, the rest are my barrel horses too!! However, the one that is just a ranch horse gets fed, supplemented and treated just like my barrel horses. No, he doesn’t spend hours on a trailer on a daily basis, but all of our ranch geldings get saddled before sunrise and most days don’t get unsaddled until after dark. The miles he does spend on a trailer are on a wooden floor stock trailer, no air ride, no rubber floors. It’s nothing for them to have several big cows roped on them in a day! They cross boggy creeks, sort cattle, ride pastures all day... ALL DAY! My husband has three main horses that he rotates between, one of which is my good horse that set an arena record this summer. But all three of them are taken care of the same, because much like the pro rodeo horses- they pay our bills!! Don’t put it past me to throw a back on track blanket on one of them if they’ve had a rough day and seem sore!!! Everything that I have that we have broke and used in the pasture before I ran barrels on stayed more sound than the futurity horses I’ve bought that went straight to the pattern. They know how to use their bodies, and they know how to take care of their bodies. You won’t ever convince me that life on the road is harder than what a cowboy can put on one during the day!! This is why we get lots of problem barrel horses in to ride- because people want them to have a job. I’m in no way trying to be argumentative, but did want to shine some light on what REAL cow horses go through on a daily basis.
Ain’t that the truth?! I’ve sworn for years that’s why my horses make such nice barrel horses- it’s fun compared to their day job!! No, I haven’t made the NFR and have no hopes and dreams to, but my little cow ponies have held their own and won a good bit locally. I wouldn’t trade my BROKE little cow horses for the world!! | |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | There are a lot of gimicks out there and I agree that some people fall for what the pros are using BUT I think anytime someone cares for their animal enough to try them is a good thing. Things can be over used but for the most part the "placebo effect" is harmless. I watched the video of the horse shoer putting tape on the horses nose to calm it down so it would behave and always think of that when I see horses in masks. Whatever it takes to distract them enough to get good performance from them.  | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I am definitely a less is more type of person. I do things that make logical sense to me. Good hay and a basic mix from the mill is what they are fed. I blanket my one as he tends to get really crampy if cold. Partly I cant afford a lot of the gimmicks but I also don't like them to be dependent on them. I am the same way for myself. I take a multi-vitamin and try and eat a well balanced diet and stay active. I apply the same to my horses. I don't take ibuprofen unless needed and I am the same way with bute. I don't give it unless they seem very uncomfortable. I have tack that is older than I am. I am a believer in wraps/boots. My gelding has weird front leg conformation and so polos fit him best on front and then classic equine splints on hinds which I only started doing after I noticed my geldings fetlock hair was shorter from sliding.
I am a big if it aint broke done fix it. I do want to get my older gelding on a joint supplement or plan to do adequan. | |
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 Saint Stacey
| I swear by Muscle Mass. We’ve experimented enough with it to know how much it works. Especially on Vegas. I’ve been using PHT back before they were PHT. Again, I’ve done enough experimenting that I know the products work. I do need to try the Zesterra. Too many people I respect have used it and swear by it. | |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | Things I use that work for my horses that I absolutely love and worth every penny:
Platinum CJ
Simply Hemp
Zesterra
BOT
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I used to oversupplement and feel like I needed to buy every therapy contraption. But I've found that just making sure my horse is in really good shape (muscle and cardio wise) and regular body work (massage) keeps away pretty much all of the soreness. Cold hosing or liniments does the trick for joints.
Maybe twice a year do I haul further than an hour away. Until that happens I realized the best I can do is just take care of my horse.
She gets a multivitamin and Tight Joints Plus with her beet pulp and alfalfa pellets and that's it. I did do a loading dose of Adequan recently but I don't consider that a "gimmick". She's 18 years old so I'm trying to keep her going a little bit longer. She's not showing signs of wanting to retire. | |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| I have reached a point in my barrel racing career where I would like to see some proof...
Show me a 3rd party white paper on the effectiveness of your product.
Provide some sort of measurable evidence that benefits exist.
If you can't do that. Refuse to do that. Or have no interest in reaching that point.
I don't have a lot of faith in your voodoo magic. 
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
| We have also used the Vibe plate on a few hundred different racehorses. On body sore - there was no difference. On stiff jointed horses - no difference. On foot issue horses - about the same as having been warmed up a short time. On horses that were colicing - HUGE improvement. That was the only time I really saw the vibe plate work. We thought we were going to have to put this horse down, he was colicing so bad...we ended up getting him up and on the vibe plate...within minutes he was licking his lips, not shaking, sweating was stopped...incredible. He was entered that afternoon, he ended up running third. (Not my call to run him, btw) So for the most part, I don't believe in those vibe plates =] | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 2:39 PM
I am young, but I am old fashion and I have grown up with "old" time cowboys(those who don't believe in special needs for a horse). And if you ask me less is more. My horses are grass fed (hay in the winter) they have salt blocks and water that's it! They don't get all these special blends that go in their feed, or any calming medicine, if your horse needs calming medicine to me he isn't broke (that's just my thought though). The less you do to them and the less crap you put down their throat the less you have to worry about. Yes some horses need special feed I have had many like that, and if you are hauling hard some stuff is a MUST. But if the horse doesn't need something DONT put them on anything. If you horse is running 1D times, and you feed him oats and nothing else then dang he is happy and is doing his job. If your horse is running 4D times and you want to run 1D times, putting him on supplements, changing your saddle,your bit and going out and buying thousand of dollars worth of stuff you don't need wont make your horse a 1D horse. Horses have been living and thriving for MANY of years without all this BS out there.. Now with that being said when I haul my horses do get BOT boots, and BOT blankets I am a HUGE believer in BOT!!!!
It's worth noting, I think...you said horses have been running a long time without all the "stuff"...true enough...but used to be, 13.99 was OUTSTANDING in the Thomas n Mack...world record is now almost 1 second faster now. Genetics? Sure...but I bet superior feed, supplements, and quite a few "gimmicks" play into this...just a thought.'... | |
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
| CrossCreek - 2017-12-22 5:25 PM
Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 2:39 PM
I am young, but I am old fashion and I have grown up with "old" time cowboys(those who don't believe in special needs for a horse). And if you ask me less is more. My horses are grass fed (hay in the winter) they have salt blocks and water that's it! They don't get all these special blends that go in their feed, or any calming medicine, if your horse needs calming medicine to me he isn't broke (that's just my thought though). The less you do to them and the less crap you put down their throat the less you have to worry about. Yes some horses need special feed I have had many like that, and if you are hauling hard some stuff is a MUST. But if the horse doesn't need something DONT put them on anything. If you horse is running 1D times, and you feed him oats and nothing else then dang he is happy and is doing his job. If your horse is running 4D times and you want to run 1D times, putting him on supplements, changing your saddle,your bit and going out and buying thousand of dollars worth of stuff you don't need wont make your horse a 1D horse. Horses have been living and thriving for MANY of years without all this BS out there.. Now with that being said when I haul my horses do get BOT boots, and BOT blankets I am a HUGE believer in BOT!!!!
It's worth noting, I think...you said horses have been running a long time without all the "stuff"...true enough...but used to be, 13.99 was OUTSTANDING in the Thomas n Mack...world record is now almost 1 second faster now. Genetics? Sure...but I bet superior feed, supplements, and quite a few "gimmicks" play into this...just a thought.'...
 I don't think a qualified horse to the nfr has gone from a 13.9 arena record to now a qualified pro rodeo nfr horse to a 13.1. That is like almost 3d. Do you honestly think pro rodeo horses a few years ago were like 3d horses today? NNNNOOOO. This is ridiculous. It's been busted. The Thomas and mack is not a consistent pattern. Over the years it has changed a few feet on and off per year. It's ignorant to think a few years ago pro rodeo nfr qualifying horses were comparable to 3d in today horses. I think the wpra standard pattern is a much better comparison. When an arena is staked out to the standard pattern and has a record broken on it then it is measured and verified... I may be the odd man out but I think the arena record at the nfr is not that impressive. To me it's more about what a horse has done that year at the nfr when all the conditions are the same for everyone. Like I find it so amazing and impressive Hailey beating everyone buy 2 or 3 tenths but I could care less about the arena record part. Arena records should just stick to a pattern that has lasers staking out the barrels perfectly from year after year or the pattern measurement is verified. Ground conditions also have a big influence! | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 359
Location: MS | I keep it pretty simple with my horses. I’ve tried lots of diff products some i loved and some i feel like i just blew money into the wind lol. The products i love and really seem to work is DAC supplements, sore no more, and Benefab Smart Scrim sheet. | |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| I've been back in barrels for 12 or so years now. It's a much different world than it was in the 70's when I was a youngster in shows and rodeos. When I started back in I thought I'd have to do all the supplements and toys to be competitive. I was also told that no 1D horse could live outside a stall and stay competitive.
I tried most supplements and toys. Spent thousands on all those extras and special feeds.
In the past two or three years I've moved back to a much simpler feed/care and supplement or toy horse life. I replaced all bagged feed with alfalfa. Only my very hard keeper older brood gets food from a bag on a regular basis. I do feed a little beet pulp with fat supplements for coat and energy to the competition horses. The difference in body, mind and energy is very noticible on the new simple diet. Horses are designed to digest roughage. They waste almost -0- of their new all-hay diet, and they look better than ever.
I also gave up on all farriers and learned, by experience, how much better the hoof is with no nails. I've had one, and only one, abscess in the past three years. It did take a long year for the shod horses to adjust to being barefoot. But after that year they can walk across the gravel without more than a tiny wince on a large sharp rock.
I will be getting my first PHT this year and look forward to seeing if it offers any benefit to my middle aged stallion. He's been running barrels for 10 seasons now. He always starts the season in the bottom of the 2D and then ends up in the middle of the 3D by season end. I'm hoping the PHT and Adequan (or Legends and Adeqan) help him stay at the top of the 3D all this season.
I use Air Power, rice bran, flax, veggie oil, beet pulp, Legends Performance, 5 Star pads, very high quality alfalfa and timothy hays, plus the incoming PHT, and going to try Legends and/or Adequan this year. These are the supplements, feeds and toys are it for now. I am willing to explore options on a horse that doesn't respond to these. Some might need a different saddle/pad combination, some might need extra calories for a time, some might need chiro work or massage therapy for a time. But I do believe keeping it simple works best in the long run. | |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | If you look in my trailer, it looks like I buy every new therapy item out there, but in reality, I will sell anything that doesn't show me results. I also have 4 horses and they each have different needs so I have an extensive collection of feel-good voodoo stuff LOL.
My gray is extremely pampered. He has a full set of Soft Ride boots, BOT quick wraps, hock wraps and knee wraps, a sheet & neck cover, and a full set of Hidez ice compression socks. He shares a Hidez compression suit and a Draper therapy sheet with my other big rodeo horse,and I'm going to get them another Hidez suit before the rodeo season starts back up.....I can see results in just a few races with each horse. The big rodeo horse has Hidez masks and a set of Soft Rides, plus a BOT sheet & neck cover, hock wraps and quick wraps that he shares with my really BIG horse, and they also have a magnetic sheet to share. The really BIG horse has front Soft Rides.
My little rodeo horse has his own Soft Rides, a Draper sheet, sometimes steals some of the BOT quick wraps, and he has a full set of Hidez ice socks. I'm planning to get him a compression suit because he's a tiny powerhouse and gets muscle sore easily. He also runs a lot on hard, shallow ground so he deserves a little extra pampering.
Each of these products has shown me results or I wouldn't still have them. We ask our horses to do things that aren't natural and I am willing to spend some money to keep them feeling great. They also get regular massages, chiro work when needed, and we go to the vet when they tell me they need to. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| OhMax - 2017-12-21 8:38 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 3:37 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:32 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 2:20 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2017-12-21 3:04 PM Gennap1010 - 2017-12-21 1:39 PM I am young, but I am old fashion and I have grown up with "old" time cowboys(those who don't believe in special needs for a horse). And if you ask me less is more. My horses are grass fed (hay in the winter) they have salt blocks and water that's it! They don't get all these special blends that go in their feed, or any calming medicine, if your horse needs calming medicine to me he isn't broke (that's just my thought though). The less you do to them and the less crap you put down their throat the less you have to worry about. Yes some horses need special feed I have had many like that, and if you are hauling hard some stuff is a MUST. But if the horse doesn't need something DONT put them on anything. If you horse is running 1D times, and you feed him oats and nothing else then dang he is happy and is doing his job. If your horse is running 4D times and you want to run 1D times, putting him on supplements, changing your saddle,your bit and going out and buying thousand of dollars worth of stuff you don't need wont make your horse a 1D horse. Horses have been living and thriving for MANY of years without all this BS out there.. Now with that being said when I haul my horses do get BOT boots, and BOT blankets I am a HUGE believer in BOT!!!! I agree to a point. We ranch so my horses are rarely shod, they live outside 24/7 and most just on pasture grass and loose salt/mineral. They get to be horses. When I start to haul they get some special treatment and then my go to after a long weekend is to turn them out for a couple of days to be a horse again. Even my show horse spends as much time in pasture as he does in a stall.
My question is, do you think Louie would be competing at the level he is now, if Lisa rode and took care of him like they did 40 yrs ago? Scamper won big year and year and Charmaybe still did a few special things for him, but she admitted in interviews that it was nothing like how she kept the other horses running and winning in todays competition. Records are getting broken in every event, every year. We are more knowledgeable now than we were just 10 yrs ago. I never treated a horse for ulcers until my gelding was 18ish. He ran one of his fastest times on a pattern that yr, than he ever did when he was younger. The diff was he had the ulcers cleared up, I started to baby his old joints more-liniments and such. No I don't think he could. I agree hauling to that many rodeos and having a horse stand in a trailer for long hauls will take a toll on them, and they do need special care. But I was mainly talking about people who only go 1 or 2 times ever 2 weeks to a barrel race or roping or whatever and they think their horse needs something special because the person who just won the barrel race, or roping has their horse on 20 different supplements. So then they go out and buy those 20 different supplements for no reason for their horses . But then again Lisa can afford all the things she does for Louie. If my horses were winning millions, believe me they would be on everything! But my horses don't win me millions they win me hundreds and sometimes not even that. So to each their own, if you can afford it and it makes you happy, and it makes your horse happy that's all that matters right? Is your partner and team mate is happy! YES YES YES, you hit the nail on the head!!! They last the longest, you don't have to worry about lameness, or colic!!! But, the lifestyle of the ranch horse is much different the up and down the road rodeo barrel horse. I think a lot of products are created out of a need to keep horses sound on a rodeo road that keeps getting longer and harder. Does the average local barrel racer really need everything the pros do? Probably not, but I’m also a capaitalist so good for them - good for the small, independent sole proprietors like Julie (PHT ) who’s created a quality product we can count on. I also think (no, I know ) Barrel racers are a different breed. If you look at the NFR team ropers you see they do use a lot of the same products the pro barrel racers are using - they have horses to keep sound on the long road too. But if you go to a local jackpot roping you don’t see a 10th of the products that you see at a local jackpot barrel race. But I’ve also pointed out to my husband when he tries to judge me that if his horse feels off his game he can throw 2 coils at the steer and be done with it - if my horse doesn’t fire I’m likely SOL.
Girl, YESSS!!!! A talented roper can compensate a little for short comings with a mount..barrel racers not so much.
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