Some of these tips came from customers, friends and other professionals in the horse industry who were dealing with difficult situations with their horses. The old catch phrase, necessity is the mother of invention, is still as true as ever. If you have a helpful suggestion you would like to contribute – just let me know.

1. A cheap bag of frozen corn or peas makes a great emergency ice pack. It is flexible enough to be wrapped around the leg or wherever it is needed. Use vet wrap, leg wraps and/or duct tape to hold it loosely in place. When thawed it can be re-frozen and re-used.

2. Emergency rescue blankets can provide fast relief for a sore back. Just drape it over the horse so that the reflective side is closest to the horse. The horse’s body heat will be reflected back so it is a little like sitting under a heat lamp. They can also be cut into smaller pieces as needed and taped or placed over the horse where you need extra warmth. The one pictured here opens up to 52"x90" and cost less than $5.00 at a local hardware store. It is hemmed at the edges and reinforced internally with threads (see the 'dimples') so that it is very durable. After many uses, this one still looks brand new.

3. A vibrating massager can really help when your horse is sore or after a workout, particularly if he has strained a muscle, tendon or ligament. You need to be careful not to use this on the bony part of the legs and be careful with the pressure, but it should feel great on any of the large muscle groups. Everyone loves a back rub and most horses revel in the extra attention. Sometimes it’s even better than a good itchy scratch! This one (made for people by Homedics) has several massage settings plus infrared heat. It came with two sets of massage heads - one of soft rubber and one that is hard plastic. The hard plastic ones work great on a horse. My horses were wary of the massager at first, but now when I pull it out they walk right over to me and wait for the massage to start. They don't even have to be tied!

4. A good stretching program before and after a workout is as beneficial for the horse as it is for the human. In between workouts this can help relax muscles and decrease soreness. Make sure that you warm up your horse before beginning any stretches and NEVER force a stretch.

5. Applesauce is a great base for mixing medications. If, for example, your horse develops an attitude toward powdered Bute in grain, try mixing it with applesauce. You can even clean out an old Bute paste syringe and refill it with the powdered Bute and applesauce mixture. If you use the syringe to squirt the mixture into your horse's mouth, warm the applesauce until it is tepid. Nobody likes to be squirted in the mouth with an ice cold surprise.

6. Lameness issues can be some of the most difficult things to figure out. If you are confused try this. Trot your horse in hand on asphalt, concrete, or brick paving then ask him to stop and do a sharp turn. Watch to see if he gives to the inside. He should be able to pivot smoothly and trot with you in the opposite direction. This is a great way to see very early stages of laminitis for example.