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This section provides information on horse care and grooming products that the National Horse and Pony Network have tried, tested and rate. You will only find positive feedback on products listed in this section. So no time wasted reading about products that don’t work, or are not up to the job. For products to make it onto this part of the website they will be top products.
Silverfeet. Keeping your horse’s hooves healthy and beautifully shiny is now simple with Silverfeet hoof balm. The unique blend of natural ingredients and silver protects against bacterial and fungal growth. It is available in four colours, natural, black, blue and pink. We tested the natural and found it is easy to apply, leaving a lovely shine brining out the natural colours in the hoof. During the period we used Silverfeet hoof balm our horse’s hooves improved, looking more moisturised plus one hoof had a minor thrush like infection which soon disappeared. Silverfeet contains a silver ion technology which eliminates the growth of bacteria and prevents the growth of common microbes. (Many modern hospital dressings use silver technology.) A 400ml jar of Silverfeet lasts a long time and at a RRP of £7.50 it is very good value for money.
GG Equine Ultimate Wash. Wow this is a great shampoo. We washed an extremely dirty tail with this shampoo and it cut through the dirt and grease with ease. It was easy to rinse and left the tail soft, silky and with a glossy shine. We also used Ultimate Wash diluted on the horse’s legs as he had some minor skin irritation. The wash is very gentle, soothing and antiseptic. A great shampoo that will be a must have to not only wash your horse to achieve a deep clean but it soothes hot fly bitten skin, mud fever, and you can use it to prevent minor skin infections. A little goes a long way.
Healing Tree Private Reserve Conditioning Tea Tree Oil Shampoo. Nice smelling product that left a pleasant clean smell on the horses, only a small quantity needed when used with a sponge and cold water. Good suds and came off with 2 rinses to make the horses squeaky clean. Coats looks visible shiny and in good condition when dry and felt very soft and silky to touch. My hands were soft and silky also. I also noticed less flies around the horses the next day. It does everything it says on the label.
Healing Tree Go Away Fly Repellent Roll On. A handy roll on fly Repellent that is easy to use around the horse’s head. It is a blend of natural essential oils, smells good to me but the flies really don’t like it. Flies around a horse’s head can cause problems from annoyance to causing eye infections. Having a handy roll on fly repellent that you can use on the head is a great product to have to hand.
Bite Size Nuggets from Manna Pro. If you love to reward your horse as part of his training the Manna Pro bite size treats are excellent. They are just the right size and our horse said tasty too. They are available in Apple, Peppermint, and Carrot & Spice. The horse we tested the Carrot and Spice treats with is clicker trained and these treats made an excellent reward. If you just like to have a handy bag of treats to hand then try these and your horse will love them.
Magloc. Wow…we tested the Magloc and what an innovative and beautifully designed product. The Magloc helps you to connect two parts together fast and simply. Ideal for attaching to lead ropes as horses can get spooked and this enables a safe fast way of release. Plus when you catch a horse the Magloc by magnetic action joins together fast and smoothly, it eliminates fumbling with catches and clips. This safe fast release can be done one handed so ideal for many practical equine uses, we used it to hang haynets, as an additional safety catch on a stable door and on a paddock gate and on breech straps in a trailer.
Masterclip Clippers and Trimmers
Masterclip Rambo Heavy Duty Clippers The test for these clippers was to do a full clip on a very hairy cob with a very thick winter coat. A great test for any clippers, as previous clipping sessions on this horse has been hard on the clippers (even considerably more expensive clippers have struggled). We used the tried and tested clipping session to teach someone to clip who has never clipped before. So a double test. So I can report on how they perform as a clipper from the perspective from both an experienced and novice point of view. The Rambo clippers made quick work of the heavy thick coat, gliding through the hair with ease. The clippers are easy to hold and even though they are heavy duty clippers that pack out a cutting speed of 2500rpm they have little vibration while clipping. This helps when getting even pressure in the clip, and this in turn helps to get an even finish. The horse we clipped is well behaved and we clipped out a half face with these clippers. Because these clippers are nicely balanced and easy to hold achieving good lines was easy. The Rambo clippers out performed other clippers on this horse as the blades didn’t over heat and gave a quality finished clip. The person learning to clip also found the clippers easy to use, and she was delighted to discover clipping isn’t difficult. So if you are looking for a great bargain clipper then these will be hard to find a better deal on. For £149.99 you get the Rambo heavy duty 200w clipper, two sets of medium cut blades, clipper oil and a cleaning brush all in a strong study carry case. This great price includes VAT and delivery. Consider if you pay someone to clip your horse these clippers would pay for themselves in no time at all. Plus they are very useful for year round trimming of feathers, beards, hogging etc…. Masterclip offer a one year warranty on all their clippers and provide service and maintenance of their clippers.
Masterclip Showmate Cordless Trimmer This small trimmer is great for fiddly tidying up jobs. We used it on the face, between the front legs and to tidy up delicate areas e.g. around the sheath after using the Rambo clippers for the bulk of the clipping. It is a great trimmer, easy to use and leaves a great finish. It is very quiet so is excellent not only for trimming but for use in training sessions for horses that are nervous about clipping. As it is small, compact and cordless you can use it in all the hard to reach areas without the worry of an electric cable. You can also select the length of the cut by selecting depth required. The trimmer comes with a selection of comb guards so you can blend hair. We found that having the two rechargeable batteries with the charger great as while using the one battery we plugged in the other on charge. This trimmer also comes in a sturdy carry case. Competitively priced at £49.99 this includes VAT and delivery
Groomers Products
Groomers Equine Groom and Detangle Spray. Wow, this detangle stray really works. The test we did on this spray was we used it on a tail that hadn’t been brushed for a while. The tail was very knotted and tangled. The spray is easy to use and applies evenly. Once applied it made grooming the tail easy, knots and tangles just slipped away leaving the tail with a shine and pleasant fragrance. We also used it on the mane with the same results, both mane and tail silky smooth and tangle free. The results lasted for 5 days after application too. Great value as a little goes a long way.
Groomers Equine Plait 'n' Go If you love competing and plait then Plait 'n' Go is a must have. It is easy to use and a little goes a long way. Last winter, half of my horse’s mane was completely rubbed away due to rugs, so when it came to plaiting for competitions this year, I had obvious trouble keeping her mane looking neat when in plaits. This product made it so much easier. After it has been on the mane for a minute or so, it provides grip and makes the mane easier to hold. Once plaited it holds the plaits in place for longer so you don’t end up with Scarecrow plaits. It was also fabulous for laying the mane and kept it flat as her hair was growing back.
Groomers Blue Pearl Enhancer Equine Shampoo We tested this shampoo on a grey horse who loves the dirt. This shampoo smells lovely and a little goes a long way. Overall, this product is great at getting rid of stains but some marks still appear until the horse is completely dry. Top tip wait until your horse is dry as when dry she was white and clean. The results were very pleasing as the coat was clean, felt conditioned and soft. It contains 1% pure cold pressed Evening Primrose Oil and is suitable for sensitive skin. You could also use this shampoo on coloured horses and white socks.
Groomers Quick Wash Equine Shampoo What a test we gave this, the horse we used this on is grey and loves dirt. We picked some really tough ground in stains, including the molasses from her stable lick. This spray on, no rinse stain removing shampoo is easy and quick to use and smells lovely. With very little effort it quickly removed the stains. A really useful grooming product, a must have for anyone who competes. This is one of the best products that I have ever used. I will definitely be keeping a stock in my cupboard!
Keratex Products
Keratex Mud Shield Powder It really works! I have used it for years. I find it is best to use it as a preventative measure against mud fever. It allows the skin to breath while repelling water and mud particles. It has a disinfectant to maintain the skin in a healthy condition. It is easy to use as the powder is supplied in a handy shaker.
Keratex Hoof Gel The tester of the hoof gel has a Shire cross and her paddocks are prone to becoming very wet and muddy. This hoof gel forms a protective, waterproof layer over the hoof, our tester reported how easier it was to remove the mud from her horse’s hooves as the hoof gel acts as a shield against the mud.
Keratex Hoof Disinfectant This is a great hoof disinfectant which is packages in an easy to use nozzle-tipped bottle, so easy to apply in all the tricky parts of the hoof. I use this once a week to keep my horses feet in good condition.
Keratex Frog Disinfectant The horse we tested this product on has very smelly frogs and is prone to infections in his frogs. Wow we were impressed with this powerful product, this disinfectant along with regular trimming from the farrier has made a big difference to this horse's frogs.
Keratex Hoof Shield This is ideal for shows and special days out and about. It leaves a high gloss finish and protects too.
Keratex Cosmetic Hoof Filler If you are going some where special and want to fill in small cracks in your horse’s hooves to create that perfect look then these wax crayons are exactly what you are looking for.
Emvelo's Breathe + If your horse suffers from breathing difficulties then this product is a must have. Breathe + is a concentrated solution that you can use diluted in a spray onto your horse, or as a fine mist on your horse’s environment, bedding and the walls of your stable. You can also use a few drops neat to rugs, head collars and bedding materials. This water soluble blend of essential oils, eucalyptus, peppermint, camphor and tea tree help to open your horse’s airways and help clear your horse’s lungs by liquefying mucus. Plus if used in a misting spray to your horse’s environment it also helps to suppress dust another big irritant to horse’s airways. Another advantage to using Breathe + as a misting spray your whole stable smells great too.
Stable Environment's Products
2 in 1 Fly Repellent & Skin Tonic. We tested this product on a day when the flies were very bad, and to ensure an ultimate test we turned out the test horse with no repellent to wait for the flies to become a problem. Then we sprayed the horse with Stable Environment’s 2 in 1 Fly Repellent and Skin Tonic and we can report the flies made a very swift exit from the horse. The repellent carried on working all day as in the evening the horse was still fly free. We also used this product on stable walls to deter flies from entering the stable. 2 in 1 Fly Repellent and Skin Tonic smells great as it contains natural essential oils these include:- Neem an excellent, natural, alternative insect repellent for equines sensitive to harsh chemicals found in many fly repellents. Lemon Eucalyptus Pure Essential Oil which has a fresh uplifting aroma and is an excellent natural insect repellent. Stable Environment has also trialled this product for Sweet Itch and reported very positive results. At £7.99 for a big 750ml bottle it is good value for money.
2 in 1 Equine Intimate Body Wash. This has been developed to be used for the delicate external genitalia areas and it is so an excellent all over body wash for horses with sensitive skin. It is very gentle on the skin. The Equine Intimate Body Wash is blended with Lavender and Tea Tree pure essential oils. These oils are well known for the properties to help combat viral, fungal and bacterial invasion. The wash is packaged in a large 500ml pump action bottle, making it very easy to dispense the wash even with wet hands, no fiddly tops to unscrew. The horse we used for the test is a cob that suffers from very sensitive skin on his legs. We washed his legs with this wash and found it is gentle low foam action easy to rinse and it left no residue. We were pleased with the results, the horses legs came up clean and the skin was left calm with no irritation. It is so gentle and has a great smell it makes a great hand wash too. So if you are looking for a wash you can safely use all over your horse and use to wash your own hands check this one out. At £7.99 it is great value for money too.
4 in 1 Anti-Bronchial Decongestant If you are looking for a product to help a horse's breathing problems then this is a must have product. New to the market in 2010 this innovative Anti-Bronchial decongestant helps to alleviate breathing problems and minimises dust in the horse’s coat and stable bedding. The spray is very easy to use both in your horse’s environment and directly onto your horse. When used on your horse it conditions the coat leaving a healthy shine. The product is made from pure essential oils Tree and Eucalyptus so you will notice after using this product in your stable the environment smells fresh too. At a RRP of only £7.99 for a 750ml bottle it is excellent value for money.
3 in 1 Tangle Free Mane, Tail & Coat Shine New to the market in 2010 is this fantastic mane, tail and coat shine. When used on my horse’s mane and tail it helped to quickly detangle the hairs as well as condition the hair leaving it soft, silky and easy to brush through. I also used it all over my horse and it left a fantastic healthy shine on his coat that lasts for days. A little goes a long way too. Because this product has natural conditioners and no silicon this product reduces saddle slip. This product smells fresh and natural as it contains the pure essential oil lemongrass which acts as a skin tonic, plus it has antibacterial qualities and insects don’t like the aroma. At a RRP of £7.99 for 750ml it is also excellent value for money.
About Tack’s Tail Bucket If you find washing your horse’s tail a messy business then the About Tack’s Tail Bucket is a must have for you. The innovative design of the tail bucket helps to keep you and your yard clean while washing your horse’s tail. It is very easy to use the neoprene band secures the detachable, disposable washing bags to the tail. The tail bucket also allows you to spoil your horse to conditioning and colour treatments for his tail as the tail bucket holds the treatment in place. A clever and innovative product that is also reusable.
Equimins MSM Cream A real must have for any horse owner. It has so many uses; you can use it for minor skin infections / irritations, for softening mud fever scabs, use it as a barrier cream in muddy conditions and it also aids the re-growth of hair. It smells lovely as it contains essential oils of Tea tree and Lavender. The cream has all the benefits of MSM, Aloe Vera, Zinc, Castor Oil, Chamomile and Jojoba to support healthy skin.
Lavender Wash and the Natural Revitalising Wash I have used Lavender Wash and the Natural Revitalising Wash they are great to use after exercise. It is a no rinse product that is great for refreshing your horse which at the same time removes sweat and dirt. And they smell lovely too!
Salmon Body Brush .This body brush is the best I have ever used it leaves the horses coat gleaming. I received this as a birthday present ten years ago. This quality brush is still in excellent condition. The brush is made from high quality materials which include a varnished wood back, leather strap with pure horse hair bristles.
SoloComb My horse hated having his mane pulled. So I was delighted when I discovered the SoloComb. It is easy to use and you can create a good finish. I have used the original black SoloComb and the Mk.II blue SoloComb. The new SoloComb Mk.III has been launched and we recently road tested the Mk.III SoloComb and found it to be even better than the previous designs. With a SoloComb in your grooming kit pulling manes is a thing of the past.
Retractable Brush This brush is great for removing and collecting moulting hair. This cleverly designed brush has a locking device inside to lock the bristles in place. When used to brush the horse in a circular a motion it collects the loose hair. The loose hair is very easy to remove from the brush with a simple twist of the dial and the bristles retract leaving you with a neat disc of hair. Our horses also loved the massage it gave.
Lincoln Equimeasure If you own a horse or pony that is prone to gaining or losing weight an equine tape measure to calculate the approximate weight of your horse is a must. I have a Lincoln Equimeasure in my kit and use it regularly to monitor my horse’s condition. It is also useful to help you calculating the correct dose of horse wormer.
First Aid Products - Horse Active I purchase my first aid products on-line from Horse Active. On this website you will find everything you need for your equine and human first aid kits at competitive prices. The service I have received has been excellent and delivery is fast too!
Liveryman Arena Clippers I have owned my Liveryman Arena Clippers for 10 years. They are competitively priced, very easy to use and they give you a professional finish. I have used them to clip my own horses and other peoples including young and nervous horses. If you are looking for a strong robust set of clippers that will perform then check out Liveryman.
Fly Away I used Fly Away fly spray on my piebald cob. Unfortunately the local fly population find him really tasty so he is bitten relentlessly. I found the spray worked well both in the field and when ridden even on the hottest of days. Fly Away is a great product at an affordable price.
Pack-Away Bucket This cleverly designed bucket is a must have. Great to keep as a first aid bucket as it folds away so you can easily store it with your first aid kit and yet it holds a generous 7 litres. The Pack-Away bucket is an essential if you travel your horses as storage space can be limited so this bucket can be stored collapsed and extended when needed. The Pack-Away bucket is made from colourful flexible silicone that is soft, flexible and yet tough. The rigid rim and handle make it easy to extend and carry water without spillage.
Other Tried and Tested Sections Include:
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