Thankful for a Legend

The mare or the foal: which would you choose to save if it came down to that heart wrenching decision? In January of 2012, that decision was staring my family and I right in the face as we watched my 8x world champion mare, Zips Sacred Slipper, become more and more lame as the days of her first pregnancy wore on. She was only about 2 months from her due date and could barely walk. The medicine she needed to be sound again could permanently harm her unborn foal or cause her to abort. This was a decision we never thought we would have to make. This mare had been hauled thousands of miles up and down the road going to hundreds of horse shows and had never taken a lame step in her life to this point. How does this happen upon retirement to the broodmare shed??

 Slipper was born on a spring morning in 2003. She was bred and raised on the farm and was average and underrated from day one. We had no hope of greatness for this little white baby with a bald face and huge ears. I came up the odd name Slipper after my parents shot down my first two name ideas: Snowflake and Rainbow (thank you for that Mom and Dad!). The older she got, the less impressed we became; she was small, too white and a very average mover. The plan was to break her and sell her quickly as a trail or open show horse. My dad put her in the University of Findlay’s colt breaking program because he didn’t have time or stalls for another training horse. After about a month one of the other instructors came up to dad and said he would be crazy to sell the little white mare and she would be a great youth horse for one of his daughters because of her great mind and willing attitude. With this warning in mind, Slipper entered her finals for the semester at Findlay winning every class she entered and was the only two year old in the group riding one handed; needless to say we were quite surprised and not as quick to sell her as she had blown past the expectations we had for her. Since I had just retired my older mare Rosey and was in need of a new 13 and under horse, Slipper was given to me to start her show career. Little did we know what was to come of this partnership.

Slippers first show ever in 2006

I began showing Slipper in the all-around her three year old year. While usually the youngest horse in the youth classes, Slipper excelled and was nearly unbeatable in the western pleasure and trail that year.  The more I rode and showed her, the stronger our bond grew. She never stopped improving and would do absolutely anything you asked of her. Her lack of fancy movement and flashy color were made up for by her consistency, preciseness and level of difficulty. We worked together to perfect pattern classes such as showmanship, horsemanship and trail. Those classes we could complete seamlessly as if we were reading each other’s minds. Slipper was an extremely intelligent mare and she knew exactly what her job was and she did it well. She would even run a 17 second barrel pattern and turn around to lay down the winning horsemanship pattern the next day. In 2007 we were 3^rd in the nation for PtHA 13 and under having only attended a few shows. We ended that show season with 8 Congress Championships and High Point 13 and Under at the Pinto Congress. I set my goals high for 2008, my last year of 13 and under. I wanted to win a world championship and be number one in the nation. I left my first ever world show with unanimous world championships in western riding and horsemanship and ended 2008 atop the standings for Youth 13 and under and more points than the number one 14-18 team. Slipper wasn't even five years old yet and had accomplished more than most twenty year old horses.

Slipper's first Congress in 2007

This was all accomplished on a plain little white mare we had never imagined would even earn points let alone win world championships. This was the kind of horse she was: she just shattered expectations at every turn. No matter what goal I set, she would carry me right to it and beyond. In 2009 we won the overall youth trailer for PtHA with over 5,000 points earned just that season. In 2010 we added 5 more World Championships and an All Around Saddle at the Pinto World Show. Every Pinto Congress I attended while showing Slipper for 4 years we left with the High Point title. The last summer I showed her she was pregnant with her first foal and still managed to win her APHA Versatility, Championship and lead the Zone for 14-18. I retired her at the end of the 2011 show season because frankly, I could think of nothing else we could accomplish together; she had made every single dream I had ever had for my show career come true and so much more. I was ready for a new challenge with my young gelding, Charlie and was eager to start his show career and Slipper’s momma career.

This brings us back to January 2012. My world champion, the mare who had been unstoppable, unbeatable and unforgettable was struggling to stand. We had no idea what was wrong. We treated her for a variety of problems but nothing helped. She was finally diagnosed with severe laminitis in all four hooves. Her coffin bones were rotating significantly. This happens extremely rarely in pregnant mares. Slipper was defying yet another odd but this time it was life threatening. The suggested medicine was not good for her unborn foal but if we wanted to save her we didn’t have many other options. If we wanted Slipper, we risked the foal’s life. If we wanted to save the foal we risked Slipper’s life as well as the babies if she didn’t make it to full term and deliver. While the agonizing decision hung over our heads my mother and I were spending every spare minute on the internet searching for possible solutions. I remembered something about travel gel boots a friend had bought for her older gelding to wear on the trailer to horse shows. I had been contemplating buying a pair for my show gelding for hauling and while looking at them read that they were good for the treatment of laminitic horses as well.

We ordered the Soft-Ride Boots with the special laminitis inserts as the last ditch effort to save Slippers life as well as her babies. These funny little “Slipper’s” arrived and were strapped on her feet iimmediately Now we waited and prayed to see a difference and improvement. Within days she was more comfortable and within in weeks she was nearly sound. We were astounded and overjoyed. The vets could not believe it. The rest of her pregnancy was thankfully uneventful as she wore her boots 24/7. On March 12^th, 2012 at 12:05am, Slipper delivered a gorgeous, healthy filly. She was a 50/50 black and white tobiano and absolutely everything I could have ever asked for. Thanks to Soft-Ride boots Slipper made it and so did Ella. With the excess weight gone from her pregnancy, Slipper steadily improved, wearing her boots the whole time. Though she would be questionably sound for the rest of her life, I was just happy to still have her around.

Slipper and Ella

It is January 2015. Slipper is pregnant with her 4^th baby currently. Knock on wood, we have had no other big scares like her first pregnancy and she has given us two other beautiful fillies. Her first baby Ella, my little miracle baby, is three now and starting her show career. She is every bit her mother’s daughter with all the willingness, talent and intelligence to make a fantastic show horse. I thank god every day that I got to keep not only Slipper around but also this amazing filly who is working on filling her mother’s shoes as my new show horse. Despite everything, Slipper is still as amazing as ever. She requires grass hay, special grain, supplements and of course her boots but it is all worth it to have my Slipper healthy. She is not show sound and never will be but she is happy and healthy to hang out in the pasture and have babies; a well-deserved retirement for my warrior world champion. She still wears her Soft-Ride boots every day and without them I truly do not know if Slipper would still be here. They saved her life.

Slipper wearing her Soft Ride Boots with her 2nd filly Kelly at her side

Ella as a 2yo (Impulse Photography)

Some days when the ground is soft and she is feeling especially good I hop on for a bareback ride around the pasture for nostalgia's sake. Though it has been almost 4 years since her retirement from training and show life, she still has it; every button is still there, albeit a little rusty. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to show such an amazing mare. I know she is truly once in a lifetime. The plain little white foal we had no hope in turned out to be one of the winningest youth horses in PtHA history and is well on her way to being a legendary broodmare. Never ever underestimate the power of a good mind, willing attitude and big heart in a show horse; it is truly all it takes to have a champion or maybe even a legend.

Riding Slipper in January 2015

ZIPS SACRED SLIPPER (2003-)

Sire: Zipped in the City (Zippos Sensation)    Dam: Sacred Scarab (Sacred Indian)

8x World Champion

Reserve World Champion

2010 Pinto World Show High Point 14-18

30x Congress Champion

4x Congress High Point Champion

2008/2009 PtHA Number One Youth in the Nation

20x PtHA Horse of the Year

Earner of over 10,000 PtHA points

Earner of over 550 APHA Points

APHA Youth Versatility

APHA Youth Champion

2011 APHA Zone 8 14-18 Champion

A HUGE shout out to the amazing Soft-Ride Boots that saved Slipper’s life. You can check out their website at the below link. Though they are wonderful for horses with hoof or leg problems, they are also widely used for hauling show horses and for long shows with a lot of concrete. I have them for my show gelding as well to wear on the trailer and at shows.

https://www.softrideboots.com/default.asp

Tips for Growing and Maintaining a Long Mane

The last few years I have been showing APHA All Around with my gelding, Struttin My Assets, aka “Charlie”, to the tune of multiple World and Reserve World championships, Year End Awards, High Points and many wins. As most of you know, Charlie is not your average All Around horse however; he’s got his own personal trademark. He has a long, white mane that reaches his knees! Every show I travel to, I have at least one or two people who come up just to touch it and ask me how I got it so long. I know of several people who have decided to grow out their horse’s manes after seeing my success with it.

Though long manes are still not the norm in the stock breed show rings, it is gaining in popularity to show a horse with a long mane in the Western Pleasure or even the All Around for a select few. If a horse has the right neck and movement for it, it can really accentuate your horse and make you stand out in the pen. After my success with Charlie, my 3yo Ella also has a long mane. Given how many people have asked me my secret for growing a long, healthy mane, I decided to share my process with everyone.

Thanks to Mr. Long Mane, I have become a pretty solid expert on equine hair care products and what works and what doesn't. I had a pretty good system; it worked on Charlie's mane and I was content. Granted it was a mix and match of like 20 different products and such an involved system I didn't let anyone else do it. But everyone had been telling me for a while to try EquiFUSE. I kept saying nah my system works and I was skeptical of these supposed "miracle products". Finally I was able to get some test samples of the EquiFUSE products and after trying them on Charlie, I was HOOKED. The EquiFUSE products are HEALTHY, NATURAL and they WORK! I love that instead of stripping the hair to clean it, it hydrates it and makes it healthier. The products are very natural, not full of harsh chemicals and fillers. The best part is they work so well. Charlie is clean and stays clean for days. The last horse show I went to was Thursday-Sunday. I gave him a bath Monday night and didn't bathe him all weekend. That's almost a full week without a bathe and he still gleamed in the show pen and people (judges included) complimented how good he looked. The less bathing at horse shows with this white horse the better. So I am completely sold on the EquiFUSE line.

Below you will find my step by step system for successfully growing and maintaining a world champion worthy long mane from the nutrition to the best products and everything in between.

1.    Start with a good diet. This is the base for a healthy horse and a healthy mane. Good hay and good nutrient rich grain are the basis. I also keep Charlie on a supplement for his hair coat, SmartShine from SmartPak. I think this helps all his hair grow healthy and shiny, including his mane. Since he has been on that supplement, his mane has been even better.

2.      Bath Regularly but not too often. I bath sparingly to help the hair retain moisture. The more you wash, the more you strip the hair of its natural oils. I wash my horse’s manes about once every 2-3 weeks. If they seem to get dirty and the braids are getting ratty quicker then I adjust the timeline, likewise if they seem to be lasting longer. I adjust this during the summer months to allow for cleaning after outside turnout or the baths for horse shows that are more frequent. Also, if they are wearing a sleazy, hood or neck cover a bit more often because the neck ware will cause rubbing and if you are not careful, it will rub hair out.

3.      Bath time: I suggest if you have access, use warm water. This is better for the hair and will help to open the hair follicle and get the shampoo in there for maximum cleaning and allow the moisture to seep in deeply. Also, a safe wash area is a must: a good, safe tie and a strong place to tie your horse. Tie them high enough so they cannot step over the rope and make sure it is tight enough that they can’t reach their heads all the way around or put their nose on the ground. I encourage rubber mats to avoid horse’s hooves slipping especially when they are shod. Keep buckets, bottles, brushes, hoses and anything else in your wash area away from the horse’s hooves to limit problems and accidents.

4.      EquiFUSE Products: Here is the list of products in order of use during the bath.

-          CFS™ Concentrate + Paste Shampoo: This concentrated shampoo is awesome. It is easy to use, you only need a little bit and it gets them SO clean. I use the bucket of water method: I put a small spoonful in an empty, clean bucket and add about a gallon of warm water and then use that on my brush and scrub them all over and then rinse out. I use the Groom Net and the medium firm scrub brush to apply this and use it all over the horse and on light colored hooves if needed.

-          Citrafoam Sulfate Free + Foaming Shampoo:  This is great on their manes and tails as well as extra dirty spots and poop/yellow stains. It gets foamy and you can see the cleaning happening before your eyes. It also smells great which is a huge bonus in my opinion. You can do the bucket method if you are covering a lot of horse or a little dime sized dollop in your hand for a mane or tail. A little goes a long way. Rub into the mane and tail and scrub with your fingers at the crest of the neck and/or the tailbone to get rid of the dead skin and add moisture to the roots. Work into a strong, foamy lather before rinsing. For an extra dirty spot, leave sit for a moment.

-          Citracreme Deep Conditioner + Rehydrant : This conditioner is so good! Put a liberal amount in the mane and tail, leave it sit for 2-3 minutes and rinse out. Give specific attention of the conditioner to the ends. Your manes and tails will feel so healthy and soft and the shine is incredible. Also a refreshing, lasting fruit smell to make all your friends jealous of your fresh smelling horse.  

-          Rehydrinse Coat Protector + Conditioner: The last bathing step and the easiest. Using your clean bucket, add a small amount of Rehydrinse and add a gallon of water and sponge all over the clean horse. Do not rinse it out, just sweat scrape and you’re done. This is a conditioner for the whole coat and it repels dirt and stains (which is how I kept Charlie clean for a week at a horse show with no bathes). 

-          Gleam Moisturizer + Shine Serum: This is the mother of all detanglers. This will make combing out a breeze without the slimy, sticky aftermath. Put a small amount in your hands and work through the mane and tail. You will notice the softness and shine added to the hair and no residue on your hands and brushing will be unnecessary for days. I use while wet and after drying as well as for any brushing needed. This stuff is awesome and smells SO good. 

-          The Groom Net: This little net is an awesome body scrubber. It is gentle on their skin and muscles but gets the dirt out and is easy to clean and dries quickly (and takes up almost no space in a bucket or grooming bag). It's the small green ball in the photo.

-          I also use a regular medium firm scrub brush to scrub legs and hocks. I have another stiffer scrub brush for dirty hooves.

5.      Side note: This EquiFUSE system is also fantastic for fake tails. It really adds the moisture back into the hair and keeps them shiny to match the real tail. Gleam is a LIFESAVER for my fake tails.

6.      After washing, let it dry about halfway before brushing. This is when I apply Gleam as needed. Brush starting from the bottom working your way up to the roots in small sections. Avoid pulling and ripping on the hair as much as possible. Some hair will fall out, this is inevitable but limit it as much as you can but using Gleam as needed, the Oster brush, small sections, starting at the ends and brush as softly and slowly as you can. Taking the extra time brushing will save the mane in the long run. I am a fan of the Oster Mane andTail brush; it is the best for manes and tails in my opinion.

7.      Braid in semi-thick, two inch sections. Braid tightly so the braids stay in and the hair stays untangled. Braid down as far as possible. Tie off with a rubber band, but don’t tighten it as many times as you can, semi-tight is plenty good.

8.      For the 2-3 weeks before the next bath, I spray a concoction called Happy Hair (my own personal creative nameJ) about every other day to keep the hydration up and the tangles minimum. This is a mix of Rehydrinse, CitraCreme Conditioner and Gleam in the mane. (I do not use a specific recipe, I basically do one capful of CitraCreme, a squeeze of Rehydrinse and a dash of Gleam and add warm water to dilute in a spray bottle).

9.      Be careful with hoods and sleazys. Always make sure the hair is sleek and straight in the sleazys and hoods, and don’t leave on for extended periods of time. Make sure you take them off once a day to check the mane and make sure it is not bunched up and ratty.

10.  In between classes at shows when the mane doesn’t need to be down, I put it in a loose running braid down their neck to keep it under control and untangled. A running braid is a bit like a French braid, where the braid is against the crest of the neck.

Products list: SmartShine, EquiFUSE product line, Oster Mane and Tail brush, and rubber bands.

There is my secret procedure! I hope this helps some people out in growing their horse’s manes, and I expect to see more and more beautiful long manes around the show rings. I know I will always have one or two in my barn! Just remember, not every horse has the genetics or neck to grow a long mane, so use your best judgment.

As I said, I am sold on EquiFUSE. It is the only bathing items left in my tack room now, I threw the rest away! It is easy, cost effective, healthy, smells great, natural and it WORKS! Switch to EquiFUSE  for all your horses but especially the long manes and you will not be sorry. For more info on my EquiFUSE process, see my blog post regarding it. 

 If you have any questions, please let me know. For more information and to order, I put the links to the EquiFUSE website, Facebook and my Supplier, Glowing Results by Amber Dunmire. 

http://equifuse.com/

https://www.facebook.com/EQUIFUSEINC

http://www.glowingresult.com/