Look back at our struggle for freedom,
Trace our present day’s strength to its source;
And you’ll find that man’s pathway to glory
Is strewn with the bones of the horse.
~Author Unknown

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.

This holiday weekend, while you take in the department store sales and the smell of baked beans in the air, remember another hero of war — the horse. In an article entitled “The Horse in the Civil War“, author Deborah Grace gives credit to the equine component of war. “Although few people realize it, the horse was the backbone of the Civil War,” she writes, “Horses moved guns and ambulances, carried generals and messages, and usually gave all they had.”

The horses chosen for war were the healthiest and the strongest. General John Gibbon wrote in his diary: “The horse for artillery service should be… strongly built, but free in his movements; his shoulders should be large enough to give support to the collar but not too heavy; his body full, but not too long…and the feet in good condition.”

After World War I, horses began to be phased out of cavalry, being replaced by army tanks, though a few horse cavalry units were still used into World War II, especially as scouts and for transport of supplies and people. Horses are rare in modern warfare, though according to Wikipedia, “Many nations still maintain small units of mounted riders for patrol and reconnaissance, and military horse units are also used for ceremonial and educational purposes.”

Your horse may not be involved in battle, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be scrapes and wounds. Turn to Mane ‘n Tail to help heal your horse’s everyday wounds and equine skin conditions. Our Pro-Tect Topical Skin & Wound Spray Treatment will not only speed up healing without burning or irritation, but will also condition your equine’s skin and coat, preventing dry skin in horses. For complete healing treatment and protection, try Mane ‘n Tail’s Pro-Tect Anti-Microbial Wound Cream. Let’s work together to keep your horse strong and healthy!

Is War Horse one of your all time favorite equine movies? Check out our favorites!

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This Mother’s Day, take a moment to appreciate mothers of all kinds – humans and animals alike. There’s so much involved in the creation and delivery of offspring.

Take gestation periods for example, the period during which an embryo develops in the womb. We all know that as humans, our gestation period lasts approximately nine months. But what about other animals? According to Barkham Burroughs, dogs have a 9 week gestation period, which might seem short to a camel, who holds it young for twelve months, but long to a turkey, who has a short gestation period of only 28. Elephants have the longest gestation period – two years!

What about horses? Their gestation period falls around 11 months. However, unlike most animals who have an unvaried gestation length, horses can be born anyway from 317 days to 370 days – that’s more than a month’s difference!

Another interesting fact about mother horses is that the mare has the ability to postpone the birth if she is feeling disturbed or uneasy. Equine Veterinarian and Consultant Nutritionist, Dr. Jennifer H Stewart writes, “the mare can delay birth for many hours if she is not comfortable with her surroundings.”

A birth of a horse is an exciting time and the health of the mare and her baby is closely monitored. Horses, just like humans, get so many traits from their parents, both physical and behavioral. Healthy parents are a great start to ensuring healthy offspring. And a strong, flowing mane is a good sign of a healthy horse. In an article entitled “Horse Care – How to Maintain a Healthy Mane,” Mia France writes that while “a good nutritious diet is vital in producing the luxurious mane” it’s important to remember that “pet grooming is essential to maintain a healthy mane.” That’s where Mane ‘n Tail comes in! Learn how to make bath time lots of fun while grooming your horse’s mane and tail!

The Original Mane ‘n Tail Shampoo is an exclusive formula containing high lathering cleansing agents fortified with moisturizers and emollients. Regular use of this popular product enhances coat health and appearance. Say thanks to your horses today, mares and colts both, by using Mane ‘n Tail’s top rated shampoo. For best results, follow up with other Mane ‘n Tail grooming products, like Original Mane ‘n Tail Conditioner.

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To everybody affected by the recent events between Mane ‘n Tail and NYCLASS, Mane ‘n Tail is not a supporter of banning any horse activities, whatsoever, when our products were donated for the NY CLASS event we were led to believe by NYCLASS that we were contributing to the welfare of horses, we did not realize there was a political agenda behind the event or cause.

After receiving the feedback from our customer service, Facebook, etc… in regard to the event, Mane ‘n Tail began to investigate the nature of what was really going on and found out that we were led into something we do not support.

I made a trip to New York City to meet with Stephen Malone the President of the Horse and Carriage Association of New York City, and Christina Hansen, Co-Founder of Blue Star Equiculture, a non-profit organization that advocates for working horses and serves as the official retirement venue for the Horse and Carriage Association of New York City. Upon having met with them I have been enlightened to the entire situation and the sensitivity to the controversy created by NYCLASS’s efforts to ban the New York City Carriage Horses.

On behalf of Mane ‘n Tail we apologize to any of our fellow horse people that have been upset by what was perceived as our support of banning ANY equine activity.

Thank you to all our Mane ‘n Tail supporters for bringing this to our attention. I will continue to support all equine activities in New York City and around the world, as we have always done.

Sincerely,
Devon B . Katzev
President of Straight Arrow Products, Inc., makers of the Original Mane ‘n Tail

Thanks for personally meeting with us Stephen and Christina:

“I believe that Devon B. Katzev, as President of Mane ‘n Tail has made a conscientious and honest effort to correct and understand a confusing situation,” Stephen Malone, President of the Horse and Carriage Association of New York City.

“I want to thank Devon B. Katzev for coming here to meet with us to sit down and come together as horse people to make things right,” Christina Hansen, Co-Founder of Blue Star Equiculture.

Every story has a beginning.
Every horse has a history.

Take the story of Mane ‘n Tail for example: Originally created on the Katzev family horse farm in rural New Jersey, the Original Mane ‘n Tail Conditioner was a solution for their own horses. They wanted to counteract the harsh cleaning products on the market with a product that would provide for fuller, thicker, healthier manes and tails. They identified a niche in the market and promptly went with it. That’s exactly how it all started.

Retail products often have a name that makes it clear what that product is designed for. But don’t just stop at the name. Mane ‘n Tail, designed obviously for horses, was soon found to be great for humans too! The Katzev’s learned quickly that not only was their new product a brilliant choice for their beloved horses, but also for themselves.

Horse’s names are more complex, partly due to the rules for naming a Thoroughbred. The Jockey Club naming rules are long and restrictive. Maryam Louise, a Yahoo! Contributor explains how this affects how horses are named: “Due to the stringent system for naming Thoroughbreds, the need to pick unique names has definitely led to a few bizarre names that eventually joined the list of Kentucky Derby winners.”

When Animal Kingdom won the Kentucky Derby in 2011, people wondered where the champion horse got his name from. This one was fairly simple: Animal Kingdom is the son of “Leroidesanimaux”, which in French means “king of the animals.”

Many horses have names that can be linked to lineage. Remember the movie about the lovable racehorse Seabiscuit? He also got his name from his father, Hard Tack. According to Wikipedia, “Hard tack is a hard, dried biscuit sailors eat while at sea. So from Hard Tack they gave his son the name Seabiscuit and the rest is history.”

But not all names have family ties. Take for example the winner of the 2011 Preakness, Shackleford. He was named after “Shackleford Banks”, a barrier island in North Carolina. The island is a favorite vacation spot of Shackleford’s owners and home to a herd of feral horses.

With the 2012 Triple Crown event just around the corner, look for horses with fun and unique names like “Union Rags”, “El Padrino”, “Ever So Lucky” and “Daddy Nose Best.”

On your store’s shelves, in your local beauty and tack shops, look for the trusted, straight forward and dependable name of “Mane ‘n Tail” for all your horse and human needs!

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Mane ‘n Tail enthusiast and talented Eventer, Caroline Martin has been a busy lady these past couple weeks. She has been traveling and showing her string of horses and preparing to move up north back to her Pennsylvania farm from her season in Florida…all while fitting in High School courses privately!

Juggling a full-time career, school and traveling is indeed a lot for one person! She has been doing it all with unbridled success (no pun intended)! Three of her horses have been put in many top placing finishes, most recently her horses Petite Flower and Quantum Solace finished both second and third in the International CIC** at Poplar Place Horse Trials. Petite Flower won the Open Intermediate at Red Hills International Horse Trials. Classic Touch and Quantum Solace both finished in the top ten in the international CIC** at Red Hills International Three Day!

Caroline says, “Each time out my horses have been getting better and bolder around the more challenging courses! At the moment I am listed number 10 for Lady Riders in the entire US in Eventing, I am in second for Young Riders (losing by less than 10 points) and first for Intermediate Young Rider winning by over thirty points! I am so excited and proud of my horses this year and hope that we enjoy continued success! My next event is May 9-13 at Jersey Fresh with Petite Flower, Quantum Solace, and Classic Touch!”

We wish her all the best in her upcoming competitions! What does she use to keep her horses looking happy and healthy?…Mane ‘n Tail products of course!

Grooming your horse for show day?
Make your horse stand out with these time-tested techniques!

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For all of you Equine Mane ‘n Tail product fans!

See the May 2012 issues of Equus, Horse & Rider and Trail Rider magazines for some amazing coupons…courtesy of Mane ‘n Tail!
Find out more about these magazines.

Our products are available in local beauty and tack shops. If you are unable to find our products, you can purchase online or use our online dealer locator.

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Spring has sprung with above normal temps. Much of the east coast has had a mild winter, so we’re not that surprised. This was a cost savings to many horse owners, who saved expenses in plowing, bedding and utilities. However, those nasty equine skin conditions that the cold keeps at bay, are just appearing earlier. Learn how to identify your horse’s skin troubles.

In most cases, our horses just need a thorough cleaning. When the itching won’t go away and becomes painful to the horse, it’s time to address it with your veterinarian.

As the winter turns into spring, the air turns from dry to wet and that’s when you may see some red, irritated skin with crusted, raised scabs above the heels of both hind legs. These scratches on your horse’s skin may not be contagious, but it can lead to bacterial infection.

To know when it’s a concern, EQUUS Magazine has compiled a great guide, that includes a brief profile of some equine problems that you are likely to encounter, along with advice on how to treat and prevent it. Read their guide here.

Prevention is so important, and if used regularly, Pro-Tect Antimicrobial Medicated Shampoo is a great preventative and can be used to treat existing equine skin problems. Knowing the importance of healthy skin, Mane ‘n Tail has developed some other great products that are effective against skin problems associated with bacteria, yeast, mold, fungi and viruses.

Pro-Tect Topical Skin & Wound Spray Treatment is a highly effective, broad-spectrum antimicrobial spray that conditions skin and coat to speed healing without burning or irritation.

Our products are available in local beauty and tack shops. If you are unable to find our products, you can purchase online or use our online dealer locator.

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This week: it’s show time! Last week,  a young newcomer to the sport, Ashley, told us all about prepping for her first horse show. This week’s blog is once again straight from the horse’s mouth (so-to-speak):

When we arrived at the show, I wasn’t as nervous as I had been when I woke up. They had seemed to calm down, for now. I met up with 2 of my friends, checked in and watched some of the morning flat courses.

Getting closer to our time to compete, we needed to saddle up and stretch the horses out a bit. By now my stomach was starting to develop butterflies in it. We rode around the show ground. Spending extra time with my horse, I went to school Max to get him to feel more relaxed. While we were warming up, I treated it like we were out in the field where we ride for fun, having a good time, hoping it would calm both of us down. When he was feeling relaxed, I walked him back over to the trailer. It was now really close to when my classes were starting, which caused my stomach to drop to my knees, and as I changed into my show clothing, it dropped to the floor. I was getting more and more nervous.

After my friend, Taylor and I were dressed, we went to an open ring and schooled for a bit. For those of you who don’t know what schooling is, like I didn’t, its when you practice what you are going to be doing in the show ring. (Read more about the basics of schooling on The Equine Network.)

Then it was time to show. By now I was so nervous I was shaking. Our first class was Open Hunter over 18 inch fences. We knocked down the first jump! As if my nerves weren’t bad already. The rest of the course went pretty smoothly, and we didn’t knock down anymore jumps. We got 4th in that class, which is extremely well for our first time. I could finally take a deep breath and relax.

Next class was Open Hunter over 2 foot fences, and we were going up against my best friend Taylor (owner of TK Farms) and her horse Dixie! (Photo on right is Max on left and Dixie on the right.) This made my somewhat calm nerves skyrocket once again. Taylor and Dixie went first, and did an amazing job. They are such a perfect team. I could feel my nerves coming back ten fold just watching them. Then it was our turn. We started out good, didn’t knock anything over. But then we came to the diagonal jump. It was on his blind side, and suddenly I became very nervous. In an attempt to either see the jump, or to try and bypass it, he started trotting to his left, and turning his head to see the jump. I didn’t pull hard, but managed to get him on a somewhat straight away so he could jump it.

When he started to jump, I prayed to make it, and we did! The last jumps were great and we even got a round of applause. I was so proud of him for taking the jump. We got 6th, which wasn’t a surprise and Taylor got 3rd.

Congratulations to Ashley (photo on right with Max wearing his ribbon!)  for competing in her first horse show! Since this first show, she has gone on to compete in a few more. I will be attending one of these shows in April and give you the point of view from a spectator’s first horse show experience!

Just as you have to groom your equine for show day, you’ll have to groom him (and yourself) after. On our website, we were sure to include your complete step-by-step guide on how to groom a horse. Check it out here!

Photos courtesy of Ashley Pechacek.

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I asked a friend of my teenage daughter, Ashley, a young newcomer to riding horses on what motivated her to start showing. She is also my motivation for learning to love equines! I mention and show photos of her and her horse many times in previous blogs. Here’s a piece of what she wrote about prepping for her first horse show:

Let me start by telling you about myself and my horse. I’m 18-years-old, and have been in love with horses ever since I was little. I’ve been riding since June of 2011. I never dreamed that I would be riding, much less showing. My horse is a 7-year-old Red Dun Tobiano named Smokin Hot Rebel, otherwise known as Max. He has the best personality and a big heart.

At first I wasn’t sure I wanted to show, it seemed like too much stress. But as Max and I worked together the following months, I realized we could be very good at it. I was concerned because Max is blind in his left eye which makes it difficult for him to make left turns. So I decided to stick with Flat and Hunter courses. Perhaps, as we get a better feel for each other, we may be able to do Jumper courses.

Part of showing, is educating yourself on what those courses are. Flat courses are basic walk, trot, and canter courses. Hunter is jumping that is not timed, and is based on the execution of the jump, and how everything looks, whereas Jumper is timed and it doesn’t matter how you make the jump look as long as you make it and within the time limit.

For my first show, I got a crash course from my best friend Taylor (pictured with me on the right washing Max), the owner of TK Farms. Taylor is a 19-year-old who has been riding since she was born and has been showing just as much.

First lesson was horse grooming for show day. Because Max is a paint, which means, he has white on him. He has white spots but also white stockings. We had to scrub all the dirt off of him the night before and pray he didn’t decide to do something stupid to get all dirty again by the time we loaded the next morning. We used Mane ‘n Tail shampoo and conditioner, along with the Spray ‘n Wash, and the Spray ‘n Braid. At one point, we were covered in more dirt then the horses were! When they were all sparkly clean, we braided up the tails and the manes, put tail bags on the tails, and put their blankets back on, and crossed our fingers that they wouldn’t get dirty again.

On the day of the show we had to be up early, and what teenage girl wants to be up early, ever! On our way up to the horses, we prayed that they weren’t dirty. Guess god heard us because Max’s legs were pearly white and Dixie, Taylor’s horse, was just as clean. (Quick little bit about Dixie. Show Name is Lenas Liberty. She is a 10-year-old bay mare.) We loaded them up onto the trailer and were on our way to the show. I was super nervous and excited at the same time.

Want to know how it went? You are not the only one, I am dying to know! But teenagers only have the attention span to write only so much in one sitting. Find out on our next blog post here!

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Get better at understanding what horses try to communicate in their actions, verbal, and body language. Understanding horse behavior and language is known to help achieve successful and caring outcomes.

Horse Talk Radio was the clearinghouse of information for all horse owners, and Warren Weschler was its Voice of Horsemanship. Warren noticed that when a horse is alert, his ears stand erect, aimed towards the scene that is holding its interest. Horse ears move independently, so if a horse has one ear pointed straight ahead and the other ear to one side or another, it is splitting attention. If a horse pins its ears back tightly against is head, look out! This horse is fearful and may act aggressively towards you. If a horse’s ears are drooping and almost flopping out to the sides, the horse is relaxed and comfortable, maybe sleeping.

But they are usually more indicative of the horse’s mood than ears and facial expression. Is your horse nibbling? He may try to reciprocate being groomed by someone they like by nibbling his or her shoulder, hands etc. Check out your horse’s nose. A “long nose” can indicate a wish for grooming. The lower lip will be drawn back and the neck extended, as it enjoys the groom. You might hear your horse sigh when you groom him in a particularly pleasurable place or after he’s just lipped a treat from your hand.

Read more about interpreting your horse.

Mane ‘n Tail’s Grooming Guide
Check out The Original Mane ‘n Tail Grooming Guide brought to you by the editors of the Equine Network! A complete and concise handbook for horse grooming — everything you need at your fingertips. Find out how to easily spray away mud on horses to making bath time lots of fun!

Bonus tip: One of the most important things you can do for your horse is to keep his hooves healthy. Looking after the hooves of your horse is critical.

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