5 summer must haves for the equestrian

 
I’m 6 ½ months pregnant and have only been limited on riding for 1 day and I’m already going stir crazy. I even got rider envy watching Dynaerus Targaryen climb down off of her dragon on the season finale of Game of Thrones. Added to bucket list…check. In the meantime, while avoiding my 10 page term paper due on Sunday, setting up the new nursery, or you know, showering etc. I did find time to put together this short list of must haves if you’re going to take on being a full time equestrian.  If you’re a horse(wo)man, here are 5 items that I TRY to have on me anytime I’m at the ranch.

1. Equestrian Hoof Pick Knife – It is without a doubt, no surprise that that farriers are quite possibly the pickiest when it comes to evaluating a horse. Reason being? Horse feet are hella important.  Imagine if your entire purpose in life is to move around on your feet, probably a good idea if your owner keeps OCD care of them. For goodness sake, horses even sleep standing up on those hooves. If you plan to make horses a big enough part of your life, invest in a quality hoof pick to keep them clean…DAILY and before/after every ride. ESPECIALLY with all this rain. The knife part just comes in handy anytime you need it, and you will. Trust me. 

 
        TEQ Recommends: They have a ton on Amazon in all price ranges.

1. Catch Rope – This is literally as simple as a piece of rope with a loop on the end. We have 4-5 hanging around in our tack room. Anytime we head out into the pasture, we always have one on us just in case we need to catch a horse and didn’t expect to. It loops right on your belt buckle and stays out of the way. Who wants to realize they want to catch a horse and then walk the 400 meters back to the barn to get a halter? Not me. 

         TEQ Recommends: Literally, take any rope and tie a knot at the end. Or feel free to spend $10-$15 on something branded "catch rope". Your call.

1. Fly Spray – Anyone else tired of the flies from how wet its been this summer? Its never fun to get on one and they’re constantly kicking at flies.  I’m certainly not complaining as the grass has been growing beautifully, but the flies are awful. We try not to use chemicals if we can help it, but I’ve definitely used the standard popular ones in the past. However, If you’re thinking about going the organic route and do not have a single bit of motivation in making your own essential oils blend with apple cider vinegar and dawn dish soup (:::hand raised:::), this one seems to work pretty well for us if applied daily.  Not to mention, this one has sunscreen and skin protectants in it to keep their coat silky and healthy.

         TEQ Recommends: Aloe Herbal Horse Spray - Espree

1. Insulated Cup – It’s hot y’all. I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand warm water on a hot day to drink. I now fill up my Yeti cup in the morning and evening on 100+ degree days, its still cool as can be by the afternoon. Plus the pretty mint green version isn’t too bad on the eyes. 

 
      TEQ Recommends: Yeti Cup or Walmart sells a version of it that I’ve heard works pretty well.

1. Endurance Riding Boots – Anyone who owns horses in their own backyard knows that majority of the work is not the riding part. It’s the stalls, clean up, fence fixing, feeding, arena dragging, labor intensive stuff you have to do to keep everything ready so that you CAN ride. Pregnant + Cowboy Boots = Feet Hurt at the end of the day. There is a solution! I got these boots recently and so far they’ve been easier on my feet than my usual riding boots.  They’re a combination between trail boots and cowboy boots. Easy on your feet but still have the heel in case you need to ride.

 
         TEQ Recommends: Ariat Terrain Endurance Camo Women's Riding Boots
 
Enjoy the rest of the summer and get out there and ride for all those of us that can’t! T-Minus 4 months and counting.
 
Xo,
 
S