The nights are getting colder, leaves are starting to change, and Pumpkin Spice lattes are available at Starbucks. That can only mean one thing….fall is officially here! As a New Englander that means it’s time to pull out chunky sweaters and scarves, eat some apple cider donuts and root for the Patriots. As a horse girl it means fall prep. Below are my top tips for getting you and your horse ready for the best fall yet!
- Bye bye bath time As the temperatures dip too low to comfortably give my horse a bath I turn to topical products (and elbow grease) to keep my guy looking and feeling fresh. One of my favorite products is the Canter Silk Mane & Tail Conditioner. Spray right into the mane and tail, let it sit a few minutes and comb through. You will be amazed at how silky and smooth the hair is. Seriously, it’s like a salon trip in a bottle, I can’t say enough good things! This pairs very nicely with the Canter Coat Shine for an all-over glossy horse.
- Blanket time At the end of each winter season I send my blankets out to be cleaned and repaired, so come fall they are ready to go. For the start of the season I use a lightweight turnout (no fill) and a stable sheet for when my horse is in. To keep my blankets clean and my stall front organized, I use the Stall Front Blanket Bag. After clearing out the summer products I store there such as fly spray, fly sheet, etc… and throwing away the hundreds of peppermint wrappers that have accumulated, there is plenty of room to store a turnout and sheet. I also have this monogrammed which adds a stylish element!
- Speaking of which… My top pick is the SmartPak Ultimate Turnout Blanket. This blanket has a ton of great features like a 1,000 denier outer shell that is super tough (my horse is in group turnout and this blanket has held up beautifully!), quick-clip front closures for easy adjustability, shoulder gussets for movement and more that make this my go-to choice. Did I also mention the 10 YEAR INDESTRUCTIBLE GUARANTEE!?! This means that if anything happens to the blanket within 10 years of the purchase date SmartPak will replace it-how awesome is that!
- Boot season! While horse girls are pros at rocking boots all year long, I look forward to fall when I can pull off the day to barn look without having to change out of flip flops. My favorite boot is hands down the Dubarry Galway Boot. It truly combines fashion and function, allowing me to look polished at work and keep my feet dry at the barn. I wear the Dubarry ExtraFit which has a little more room in the calf, but these boots are also available in a regular calf and a SlimFit.
- Tack cleaning I’ll admit it, I’m not consistent about cleaning my tack, so I use seasonal changes as reminder to do a deep cleaning and give my leather goods the tender love and care that they deserve. I prefer a one-step product and my go-to is the SmartWorks Leather Cleaner & Conditioner. The ingredients are all natural and it has an amazing smell which makes tack cleaning that much more enjoyable! I use a damp sponge, rub it in, and my tack is left soft and supple.
I hope these tips help you and your horse have a fabulous fall! Share your favorite ways to get ready for the new season below.
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