Posts Tagged ‘horses’

What is it like to have a Grooming Job? Super excited to share this guest blog post by the people who know this more than anybody else – Professional Equine Grooms. If career as a pro equine groom is something you wish to pursue, joining their community is the best first step you can take.

This is a great question, with so many levels! Mainly, it’s a whole lot of responsibility, with not a whole lot of time in the spotlight. Grooming, by it’s very nature, is a behind the scenes job. You are there before dawn sometimes, and after sunset on many occasions. The barn and horses magically get cleaned several times a day. Multiple feedings are taken care of, and hay seems to stack itself. A perfect stranger, new to horses, might get the idea that it’s very little work! Ultimately, a Groom is responsible for many other things besides just stacking hay and sweeping the barn. The health and well being of the horse is top priority.

You are responsible for knowing each horse inside and out, top to bottom, front to back. And having that knowledge, you are responsible for noticing any and all changes in your horses. How they act, how they eat, how they poop. Upon noticing any change, you are responsible for carrying out the directions of your Employer, the Veterinarian, or the Farrier. You are also responsible for carrying out the “plan” of the day. What’s the riding plan? The turnout plan? The hand walking plan? Is the Veterinarian or Farrier coming? Hay or shavings delivery? (And don’t get me started on what to do if someone is early or late – kick in those multi-tasking tools!)

There are, of course, many other dimensions to the job description that don’t involve the horses directly. Taking care of the barn, tack, feed room, tack room, arenas, and turn outs also falls under your umbrella. It’s a long day with lots to do! Yes, having a Grooming job is tough and busy, it’s also very rewarding. There is nothing like watching your horse enter the gate, go down centerline, or have a clear round. There’s a bit of pride knowing that your horse is turned out beautifully because of you!

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green horse care products &  horse grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

What’s Sandra Anderson’s – professional equine groom for Diana Burnett  Eventing – take on EcoLicious grooming products?

“The Ecolicious grooming products are amazing! My personal favorites are the Leave Me Be  All Natural  Fly Spray which works better then any chemical based fly spray I have tried, the Glossy Gloss Coat Shine, De-Stress Intensive Mane & Tail Detangler which can get out the toughest of knots, and the Squeaky Green & Clean Deep Cleansing and Conditioning Shampoo which gets the horses’ coats super clean and shiny”

“These products smell great and work even better! I love that they are all natural and chemical free! By using these products, I can be sure that my top competition horses are being groomed with safe, environmentally friendly products that meet their every need. I know that Diana’s horses look their best going into the show ring thanks to the Ecolicious grooming products!”

Manny looking great thanks to EcoLicious products

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green horse care products &  horse grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

You know that in EcoLicious Equestrian we’re all about grooming. And it’s not just about products. Did you know that grooming time is a great way to establish a tone for things to come? I am very excited to share with you the below guest  post by Horse Listening. I’ve been enjoying this insightful blog for a while now and highly recommend it, so make sure to stop by and check it out.

Here we go:

Are You Training Your Horse While Grooming or Is He Training You?

Well, of course you are! The real question to pose might be: do you KNOW that you are training your horse while grooming?

We all look forward to grooming our horses; there is no better feeling than having a thousand-pound muscle package wriggle and writhe under your ministrations, roll his eyes, sigh in contentment and offer his mutual-grooming nose in return. It is a time of pleasure for both you and your horse, a time to connect and a chance to put your worries of the day on the back burner and simply “be” with your horse.

However, underneath that feel-good moment, there is a constantly pervasive conversation going on between you and your horse that you may not even be aware of. Horses are physical animals and most of their interactions happen in the physical realm. As humans, we are used to verbal communication and are not as “tuned in” to the physical language of horses as we can be.

Do you know what your horse is saying to you while you whisk away the grime and dirt to reveal the glossy sheen of healthy coat underneath?

HorseSpeak 101 (while grooming)

1. Stepping side-to-side/backwards-forwards: Hurry up and get over with it! He has many more important things to do other than stand around and wait for you to do you “thing”.

2. Pushing you lovingly with his nose: Well, maybe it’s not as loving as you think! He wants to get you to step out of his personal space.

3. Perky-eared cute face presented in anticipation of a treat: He is the herd leader and is demanding that you surrender your feed stuff to him.

4. Pawing on the ground: Similar to #1. He really has no time for you!

5. Tail swish/pinned ears/”the look”: Stop whatever you are doing as it is making him uncomfortable. Beware! There may be a kick or bite coming next. (Note: Horses “think” about biting or kicking many, many times before they actually go through with it; be aware and pick up on the hints before it gets to the point where someone has to get hurt.)

6. Forward pinned ears looking at an object of interest/fear: Watch out! He may jump any second, either on your lap or in the opposite direction. The only thing he is NOT thinking about is you!

What should you do?

In all of the above cases, your goal should be to assert your leadership to your horse. For the sake of your safety and those around you (the horse is, after all, at least 8 times heavier than the average human), you need to firmly explain the boundaries to your horse.

Any pushiness should be met with your insistence that he steps away from you. You may need to push back on his shoulder or hip, or hold him by the halter and swing his hind end away. If he steps in your direction, gently push him away. If he nuzzles up to you (expecting a treat?), tell him your space belongs to you. In all cases, your space is your space and he may not infringe into that area for any reason (not even to snuggle). As a herd leader, you should be the one stepping into his space, not the other way around!

For the horse that paws, move him in such a way that his weight shifts to the pawing foot. If he has to put the foot down, he won’t be able to paw!

For the horse that is giving you a warning: first, identify the source of the problem. If the horse is truly being hurt or irritated by what you are doing, then back off and desensitize him first. Be lighter, quicker, or gentler. Work up to the strength level that you want to use. On the other hand, if the horse is being truly aggressive, then he needs a quick reprimand. Push him away, again asserting your rights to your personal space.

Correctly interpreting your horse’s communications will allow you to have a much deeper and meaningful connection with your horse. If you can act as a calm but assertive leader, your horse will know he is safe with you and will happily hand over the responsibilities that come with being herd boss. He will be less likely to test (although some horses continue to test regularly) and he will be more content overall.

P.S. If you follow the above guidelines, you can set the tone for your upcoming ride while you groom, but that will be a topic for another day!

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green horse care products &  horse grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com.

Horse Junkies Unite!

If you’ve ever wondered just how “horse crazy” you really are, now’s your chance to find out. EcoLicious Equestrian, a natural grooming products company, is inviting horse lovers to share their bragging rights to see who wins the title of Ultimate Horse Junkie.

We’re teaming up with the  Horse Junkies United to short list the top 5 Ultimate Horse Junkie Contenders and will be putting the decision in the hands of readers and customers. The prize? EcoLicious swag. You guessed right.

As a horse lover I admit to being more than a little crazy for my equine family. We’ll go to great lengths for our horses and we’re interested in hearing just how far others have gone for theirs. If your horse ever ate your paycheque, then you’re a contender!  With a website tagline that states “Horses are expensive, addictive and will impair you ability to use common sense” it was clear that www.horsejunkiesunited.com was the perfect place to issue the challenge. For contest click:  “Are You the Ultimate Horse Junkie”?

To ensure that only the best of the best get to the hands of the winning horse junkie, our grooming products have been “Horse Junkies United Tested & Approved”. Check out what the Horse Junkies United  Pro Groom blogger  Sandra Anderson got to say : Grooming Tips from a REAL Groom: Putting Natural Grooming Products to the Test

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

Check out our full line of EcoLicious natural horse grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

GIFT IT UP GREEN!
FREE Shipping throughout the month of December.

Summer Memories and the Lovin’ is Easy!

Summer holidays are over and fall is knocking on the door. We will all miss the warm, long days that gave us plenty of time to enjoy our equine companions. September is here, but summer isn’t over yet! We want you to enjoy these last summer days, celebrate it and capture the memories to last all year, so this month, we’re doing something a little different.

We’re inviting you to share your best pictures of you and your horse in the “Summer  Memories: Feel
the Connection” Photo Contest.

Take Your Best Shot!

Winners will receive a special Feel the Connection Grooming Kit containing some of the most popular EcoLicious products for the horse: SQUEAKY GREEN & CLEAN Deep Cleansing & Conditioning Shampoo, the all-natural coconut derived horse shampoo (check out before & after pics); DE-STRESS Intensive Restructuring & Detangling Treatment for mane and tail; and for the rider, HANDS ON Therapeutic Barn Hand Repair Lotion. These products are the key ingredients for your horse’s spa day, and a treat for your hands after you’re done.

Let’s face it, our horses offer us so much and ask for so little in return. Grooming time can become a ritual you both enjoy to the fullest to not only get your horse looking his or her best, but to also strengthen the bond between you. In horse language, grooming is a sign of affection and caring between horses who like each other, so the more you can replicate this in the horse-human relationship, the happier your horse will be. And that’s something that’s a win-win for both of you.

Summer Fun

Contest Rules:
Enter as often as you want by sharing your photos on our Facebook page and email a copy of  the contest entry photo to letusknow@ecoliciousequestrian.com. The deadline for entries is September 20th, 2011 at noon. The winner will be announced on the EcoLicious blog and Facebook page on September 21st, 2011 at noon. Enter now and tell your friends.

The EcoLicious Equestrian
Your Horse. Your Earth. Your Choice.