Solve the Ground Squirrel Problem

The Squirrelinator by Rugged Ranch
MSRP: $59.99

Rating: *****

Manufacturer's Website: http://www.ruggedranch.net/Squirrelinator.html

This product is AMAZING! One of the best buys for your barn or ranch, bar none. My home barn has had a problem with ground squirrels for awhile, so three years ago, we purchased the Squirrelinator at a local tack store - desperate for a way to manage the ever expanding squirrel population. With regular use, we've been able drastically cut the squirrels down to a healthy level our land can support without posing a hazard to our human and domestic animal residents.

Today I purchased a second one for the small farm that houses my lesson barn after the number of squirrels suddenly spiked. In three hours, I caught 20 adult squirrels after having baited the trap only once with just a handful of chicken scratch. It was great to have my trust in this product reaffirmed.

Unlike other rodent control methods, the Squirrelinator uses no poisons, no messy kill traps, and has no risk of harm to other animals or children. Squirrels looking to eat the bait simply go in through a one-way door and find themselves unable to get out. Regardless of the panicking squirrels already trapped, new squirrels will continue to trap themselves until the trap is full. To empty the trap, simply unlatch the large door in the top of the cage.

The manufacturer recommends removing captured squirrels from your property and relocating them far enough away that they're unlikely to return, but Rugged Ranch also acknowledge that sometimes, killing the squirrels is best because of health concerns. The manufacturer suggests disposing of the pests quickly and humanely, regardless of the method chosen.

This Squirrelinator has held up well for me. It works every time I bait it, and even through it's been out in the elements for three years, it shows few signs of wear. A must-have for anyone with a ground squirrel problem.

Tough-1 Camo-Print Rain Sheet

MSRP: $69.99 (for rain sheet w/out fill. $79.99 for the blanket version with 300 grams fill)


Rating: ***+ (3.5 out of 5)

I bought this the Tought-1 rain sheet for my gelding back in November, and he wore it until the last week of February. I bought it at a local tack store for the suggested retail price.

I have to admit that I liked the fun print; most sheets and blankets are very traditional and come in limited color and style options. This sheet and the matching blanket also come in a pink/purple camouflage, as well as a variety of solid colors, including lime green and a highly-visible bright orange.

Overall, I thought that the sheet was of good quality for the price. The material is a rip-stop nylon outer shell, with a soft nylon lining. The sheet stayed reliably waterproof even during periods of heavy rain, and even after being washed in an industrial washing machine (without an agitator and on a gentle cycle with a special blanket detergent). The sheet was truly "rip-stop" as well; my gelding has a knack for destroying sheets, and even after scratching on the fencing, any rips he induced in the sheet's outer layer were small and easy to mend or patch.

As far as construction, I thought that the stitching and hardware on the sheet were it's weaker points. After just a few days of use, the upper chest strap fell off - the seam had popped even though the sheet fit the horse and was properly adjusted. The hardware was cheap, nickle-plated snaps and t-hooks. The snaps on the leg straps filled with mud on a regular basis which, when it hardened, made them impossible to unsnap. I had to either use an old tooth brush to scrub out the dirt, or else remove the blanket by unbuckling everything else and then having my horse step out of the rear leg straps. I ended up switching the leg straps out for better ones with small trigger snaps instead.

I don't see this sheet making it all the way though a second winter and I'll probably buy another rain sheet and keep this one as back up. I think that for horses who are easier on their clothes than mine is, this sheet is a good bargain and will do the job.

Fly Spray that WORKS

MSRP: $19.95 for a 32oz spray bottle (not available as concentrate)

RATING: **** (4 out of 5)

One of my clients, who switches fly spray brands like celebs switch hairstyles, bought "Green Hippo Organic Fly Spray" by Paddock Pride a couple of months ago, and I have to say I'm impressed!

Green Hippo is a blend of organic cedar oil in a water base - it contains no pyrethrins or citronella like most other fly sprays.

I'm not the type of person who makes buying decisions based on what's "green" or "environmentally friendly" - I've never gone to the supermarket looking for organic, free-range chicken, and my tack store buys are based solely on what's best for my animals and my wallet. So imagine my pleasant surprise when I started using Green Hippo. Not only does it actually kill and repel flies, but it actually continues to do so for more than fifteen minutes! In my experience, Green Hippo worked for up to two hours, even when the horse was sweating, and longer when the horse was at rest. It also smells good without being overpowering.

The downside is the price. I've seen it in local stores for as low as $16.99, but that's still expensive, even compared to the higher-end Farnam and Absorbine products. Also, be sure to spot-test your horse before applying. Some horses are susceptible to skin irritation/allergic reactions to certain oils.

My Pony Sunblock

MSRP: $20 for a 4.5 oz container (enough for about 60 daily applications for one horse)

Rating: ***** (5 out of 5)

Manufacturer Website: http://www.myponysunblock.com

I love this product! I own a two year old APHA Medicine Hat filly, and of course her face sunburns easily. I had tried baby products on her, but they irritated her skin and the smell deterred her from eating for awhile after it was applied. I also worried, like many horse owners, about her licking the human sunblock chemicals off her lips. So when I discovered My Pony Sunblock at the Pomona Equine Affaire, I was very interested in a sunblock made especially for animals.

My Pony Sunblock is made of 100% pharmaceutical-grade natural minerals, it's safe to put around animal's eyes, nose and mouth, rectum and genitalia. It's not just for horse's either: the manufacturer lists their product as being suitable for dogs, cats, cattle, and pigs as well.

Each tub of the product comes with a small, diamond-shaped cosmetic sponge, and you can apply the sunblock dry, or mix it with water to form a paste. The minerals actually bond with the skin and create a thin protective layer, rather than needing to be rubbed into the skin like with traditional lotions. Basically, so long as you can see the powder, it's working. In my experience, one application lasts nearly a full 24 hours.

Moreover, I think that this product is a fantastic value. A little goes a long way, and at the rate I've been going, I think that my 9 oz tub ($32) will likely last me the rest of the year.

Pomona Equine Affaire Special Report Part II

Event: Equine Affaire Horse Expo

Location: Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, Pomona, CA

Part 2: The Clinics, Seminars & Demos

Rating: *** (3 of 5 stars)

Because this post is so long in coming, and thus, no longer news, I'll endeavor to keep this entry to a brief overview.

Featured presenters and clinicians at the Pomona Equine Affaire including the following:
Monty Roberts, Craig Cameron, Linda Allen, Richard Shrake, Stacy Westfall, Mark Rashid, Linda Tellington-Jones, Charlotte Bredahl-Baker, Allen Pogue, Linda Hiby, and many more.

Clinics and demos included breed exhibitions, saddle fitting, trick training, horsekeeping and health care, conformation, rider fitness, equine acupressure and herbal medicine, and of course training for all disciplines and styles.

Hiatus and a Correction

The long hiatus was unanticipated, and I'm sorry if anyone was put-out by it. The only reason for it was that in spite of the slowing economy, business has blossomed for me - I'm currently riding/training 12 horses a week, teaching 15 hours of riding instruction, while helping to manage two different facilities, and taking 9 college units at night. I thank God that I have the ability to do what I do for a living, but it does rather limit my internet time. So again, I'm sorry if anyone was annoyed by a lack of posts.

Also, a correction to my first post regarding the Vetrolin Shine coat spray. The old label stated that the product did not contain any silicone. However, a friend of mine contacted the manufacturer and found out that the product now contains 15% silicone, a chance which was not reflected on the new label.

Pomona Equine Affaire Special Report Part 1

Event: Equine Affaire Horse Expo

Location: Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, Pomona, CA

Part 1: The Shopping

Rating: *** (3 of 5 stars)

I attended my first Equine Affaire five years ago, and I remember being nearly overwhelmed by the fantastic deals on essentials from wormers to trailers, as well as the plethora of new and innovative products. Since then, some years have been better than others, and this year I wasn't overly impressed by either prices or selection. The primary exception seemed to be the bridles. Good harness leather western headstalls and split reins were available all over the place, and I saw some very high quality dressage bridles I was afraid to look at the price tags on. The saddle selection was disappointing, however. I saw some nice Western show saddles, along with a limited number of Western trail and work saddles, but there were only two or three vendors at the entire show offering English saddles at all. Now, I did go on the final day of the event, but some asking around revealed that the selection hadn't been much better earlier in the week.

There weren't many booths offering horse wear (blankets, sheets, lycra hoods, etc), though Kensington had a large presence in one of the buildings and seemed to have plenty of sizes and options available (I very much like their products; look for an upcoming review on Kensington). Rider apparel was limited to a couple of vendors selling breeches and cute T-shirts, though Ariat had a huge boot sale going on, with last season's fashion boots going for 2 pairs for $100. And of course there were the usual peddlers of worthless "training gadgets" that made me cringe.

Nevertheless, I did find a couple of products that stood out to me, which I'm currently reviewing for later blog extries.

Coming Next, Equine Affaire Special Report Part 2: Expo clinics and demos