Old Man Winter Says, "Blanket Your Horse!"

When the weather gets cold and wet, it is time to dust the cobwebs off of the winter blankets and keep your horse warm!

Today, we will dive into the basics of blanketing your horse. It is not easy to decide when to blanket, and when to keep the blankets off, and what kind of blanket to get your horse, but have no fear, I am here to help!

'Round and 'Round: Lunging

Learning to lunge your horse is a vital training technique when it comes to keeping a horse sound and happy.

After learning about lunging and using some of these tips, you will soon be an expert, and be able to experiment with your horse! Each horse has different needs when it comes to lunging. For instance, while most horses maintain their sanity on a lunge line, Lenny tends to get a bit too excited. I only allow Lenny to walk and jog while lunging so that he stays calm and relaxed. Lunging should not be used to tire a horse, but rather to stretch a horse’s muscles and act as a “warm-up” before riding.

A Post Dedicated To The Rider

Riders need some TLC, too!

With winter just around the corner, riders can always use a few tips to find the best, warmest, and safest riding gear out there.

The Fear Factor

As per the suggestion of a reader, today, we will tackle the “fear factor” when it comes to riding horses.

If you own a horse, odds are you have fallen off of that horse…more than once.

Treat Safety and Recipe

I am a firm believer in the idea that horses deserve gifts just as much as humans do. Let’s face it, I should probably be paying Lenny for therapy sessions at this point! 

Today, I want to introduce you to my treat creation “Head-Bobbers” (name inspired by Lenny’s reaction to the sweet, minty goodness). I promise you will never see your horse happier than when he is munching on these treats!

That's A Wrap: Leg-Wrapping 101

This week will feature a how-to video on the proper way to wrap your horse’s legs for a ride. I will let my video do most of the talking, but I also want to make sure we all understand the importance of wrapping your horse’s legs before a ride!

What's In YOUR Groom Bucket?

Ahh, the sacred groom bucket. An appendage when it comes to readying your horse. 

This blog post was inspired by the 10 dirty, grimy, and smelly horses that I brought in from the muddy pastures today...

Colic Cures: Quick! Pass the Whiskey

One thing you should always have on hand at the barn is a bottle of whiskey.

And, no, it is not for you…

Get ready to learn the Lally family's best-kept colic-killing secret!

Bridle Basics

Before we begin, I would like to introduce you my horse (or as I like to call him, “my son”) Lenny. Lenny resides at our farm in Sewickley, and is the absolute KING of the barn. Right now, I am working to rehabilitate Lenny from a torn tendon in his left front leg (medically, a superficial lesion in his Digital Flexor—that sounded smart), which kept him out of commission from the 2014 show season. He will be my prop for many of my how-to posts, on his good days, of course. Lenny has a short attention span and sometimes does not like to cooperate with these sorts of activities, so we may have to substitute a more agreeable horse for certain projects.

So…with out further ado…the bridle.

Welcome, Horse Owners!

My name is Devin Lally and I created this blog to offer advice to horse owners who may need a little bit of help. New horse owners will get the most use out of what I have to offer, but some of you experts have room to learn, too!

Devin Lally with National Champion HCA Lynard Skynard

Horses, to me, are like flowers. They are fragile, beautiful, and if you are not careful, their thorns can prick you. It is not easy caring for a 1,000 pound animal, and the tools I share with you will not only keep your horse safe and healthy...but also yourself!

I grew up on a horse farm in Western Pennsylvania and have lived and breathed horses for my entire life. In fact, before I took my first steps, I rode a horse. Throughout my career, I have learned that falling off is just a reason to get back on, losing offers a chance for improvement, and winning is merely the cherry on top of everything.

I have shown Arabian and Half-Arabian horses competitively since I was 7 years old, and have numerous national and international titles to show from my years of hard work. On summer weekends, while my friends were at the beach, I was in the barn. If my family ever took a vacation, it was to a horse show. Some of my favorite places I have traveled include Albuquerque, New Mexico, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Lexington, Kentucky.

To me, this blog is far overdue. I am at a point where I now want to share all I know with those who need simple, yet helpful advice on owning Equus. So graze the blog as you please, and enjoy!