A cheap way to keep your horse occupied in the stable is to tie up an old plastic bottle (remembering to take of the lid) using bailer twine (easily broken) and your horse will have a great time with it chewing and nudging it around in the air! It certainly works for me.

Empty Tuna cans make great bridle/headcollar hooks!

When brushing your horses tail (if it is very thick)use a human hair brush its great for knots and does not rip the tail out

If you have a horse with a white stripe on its face. Use a Baby Wipe to remove any dirt on the morning of the show. Really effective if your horse has a bit of dirt on it. Always works for me!

If you like to give your horse a good brush but cant seem to get the grease off, get some hot water and place a handcloth in it, wring it out so its only damp and run through horses coat. It soaks the grease up, you could also spray a little mane & tail spray onto the damp cloth 2 giv that silky, shiny look.

If you have a Handy Hint to share with the other users of this site, please contact Horse Connections via the online forms

Use avons skin so soft body spray on your horse when they are constantly trying to rub them self raw, in summer to provent sweet itch. Also old engine oil reduces inflamed skin and prevents sweet itch in the same way. It worked wonders on my cobs and is saving on the cost of my fencing.

Try using Aloe Vera Gel on your horses' white bits to stop them getting sunburnt.

The image shows what can happen to your horse if it is affected by sunburn.

In this case the horse was washed, in preparation for a show, with a shampoo which appeared to increase her sensitivity to the sun. After two days in the burning sunshine at a show this was the very painful result.

Take care on hot days at shows to provide your horse with shelter and shade from the burning rays as a precation.

Use Sudocreme on horses noses prone to sunburn as it keeps them soft, soothes, is hard for them to rub off, lasts longer and is cheaper than suntan lotion

When showing a Dun coloured horse, rub a piece of sheep wool over the horse's coat to give a brilliant shine.

For showing a horse with white sock / stripe mixing hand lotion with chalk dust will make coat very white

When keeping a stabled horse on rubber bedding, try using an outdoor type rug over stable rugs to stop stable stains.

Mix olive oil with 5% lemon juice to cure and prevent sweet itch. Use daily the oil has regeneration properties and the lemon keeps flies away! My mare's mane and tail grew back after only 2 weeks application.

Especially useful for people with horses with light coloured tails.

If travelling to a show, wrap your horses tail in clingfilm before applying bandages. This will help to ensure that any stains do not penetrate the tail (the hardest part to clean at a show, especially if plated).

Using cow whitener from a farm shop is excellent for grey horss(it is like a white baint and comes up brilliant white).