Charlotte's Saddlery - Equestrian Supplies

Charlotte's Giddy Up Gazette©

Everything For Riding Except the Horse!


Vol. II Issue 02 - February 2008

Letter From the Equi-ditor


Charlotte's Saddlery Owner

Introducing Charlotte's NEW Clearance Zone! Why price these items at such reduced clearance prices? They are product closeouts, discontinued products or items that we are overstocked in and need to clear out in order to make room for newer items. There is limited availability on the clearance items. The clearance zone will feature products from various departments and will be constantly changing! Don't forget to check out the Saddle Clearance area as well.


Spring/Summer '08 Sport Clothing is coming soon. Look for the newest colors and latest styles from Kerrits, Ariat and others in the next 3-4 weeks. The new lines will be available at both Charlotte's locations and online as well.


Reading educates! Until next month.

Tim S. Raisbeck


The Black-Hearted Monster Called Horse Thrush


Horse Thrush

What You See/Smell:
As you're picking out your horse's feet, you notice the rubbery tissue of his frog and the deep crevices alongside it are mushy and smell foul. He may or may not be tenderfooted or obviously lame.

What This Might Mean:
The soft tissues of your horse's sole, possibly compromised by prolonged wet weather, mud, and/or filth in his environment, have become infected.

Action Plan:
Is the frog smaller in the affected feet than in normal feet? Is the gunky stuff grayish-black in color? Does your horse seem to object to having the crevices along the frog cleaned out?

It sounds like thrush. If your horse resents having affected tissues touched, or if you're queasy about this, call your veterinarian today. Otherwise apply home treatment below.

Home Treatment:

(If at any time during home treatment, your answers on the action plan change for the worse, call your vet!)
Step 1: Clean the hoof. Scoop out easily removed diseased/dead tissue with a dull hoof knife, dipping the knife often in a disinfectant solution. Then scrub the affected area and adjacent sole with a nylon-bristle vegetable or pot-scrubber brush, using two disinfectants one after the other: (Lysol disinfectant solution, mixed 2 tablespoons per gallon of water), and Betadine® solution diluted with water to the color of weak tea. Rinse well between each application of disinfectant. Repeat until the hoof looks (and smells) clean.

Step 2: Disinfect the hoof. Pour Kopertox® or Betadine® solution as in Step 1 onto the freshly cleaned tissues. Hold the leg flexed, sole up, while the disinfectant soaks in. Once it has, repeat with 1/4 cup of the Lysol solution used in Step 1.

Step 3: Request an appointment with your farrier. Call your farrier and request trimming, balancing, and shoeing if your horse isn't shod. (Shoes will raise his diseased foot higher off the ground, which will aid in drying.)

Step 4: Adjust your horse's living situation. To help keep his feet dry, stable your horse in a clean, mowed, grassy paddock or large well drained stall with shavings or other bedding material kept scrupulously clean.

Step 5: Be diligent, and re-assess regularly. Repeat steps 1 and 2 twice daily and gauge your horse's progress. Is normal-looking tissue visible? Is the smell dissipating? Is the foot less sensitive? If you don't see definite improvement after 1 week, call your veterinarian. Your horse might need more aggressive trimming under sedation or anesthesia, and he might need systemic antibiotics. If improvement is evident, keep it up: It could take 4 to 6 weeks for complete healing.


Meet Our Family


Meet Bill Grace

Meet Bill Grace: Bill has been a member of the Charlotte's Saddlery family since the mid 90's. Bill heads up the Western department at the Houston location. You can be sure if you have any questions regarding Western, that Bill has the answer, as he has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. Bill is a native Houstonian (there aren't many) who lives with his wife Pam, a well known dressage trainer. Bill's favorite passion is snow skiing.


Little Known Dates


Get A Different Name Day - Annually, Feb 13. For the pity of the millions of us who hate our birth names. On this day we may change our names to whatever we wish and have the right to expect colleagues, family and friends to so address us. For info: E Mail or phone: 717.279.0184.


Sweet Sixteen and Growing Up With Horses


My daughter turned sixteen years old today; which is a milestone for most people. Besides looking at baby photos and childhood trinkets with her, I took time to reflect on the young woman my daughter had become and the choices she would face in the future. As I looked at her I could see the athlete she was, and determined woman she would soon be.


I started thinking about some the girls we knew in our town who were already pregnant, pierced in several places, hair every color under the sun, drop outs, drug addicts and on the fast track to no where, seeking surface identities because they had no inner self esteem. The parents of these same girls have asked me why I "waste" the money on horses so my daughter can ride. I'm told she will grow out of it, lose interest, discover boys and all kinds of things that try to pin the current generation's "slacker" label on my child. I don't think it will happen, I think she will love and have horses all her life.


Because my daughter grew up with horses she has compassion. She knows that we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must make sure those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.


Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned responsibility for others than herself. She learned that regardless of the weather you must still care for those you have the stewardship of. There are no "days off" just because you don't feel like being a horse owner that day. She learned that for every hour of fun you have there are days of hard slogging work you must do first.


Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned not to be afraid of getting dirty and that appearances don't matter to most of the breathing things in the world we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes, jewelry, pretty hairdos or anything else we put on our bodies to try to impress others. What a horse cares about are your abilities to work within his natural world, he doesn't care if you're wearing $80.00 jeans while you do it.


Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned about sex and how it can both enrich and complicate lives. She learned that it only takes one time to produce a baby, and the only way to ensure babies aren't produced is not to breed. She learned how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes die before reaching their potential. She learned how sleepless nights and trying to outsmart a crafty old broodmare could result in getting to see, as non-horse owning people rarely do, the birth of a true miracle.


Because my daughter grew up with horses she understands the value of money. Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits. Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between feed and good care, or neglect and starvation. She has learned to judge the level of her care against the care she sees provided by others and to make sure her standards never lower, and only increase as her knowledge grows.


Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to learn on her own. She has had teachers that cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond body language and reactions. She has had to learn to "read" her surroundings for both safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where others might only see a pretty meadow. She has learned to judge people as she judges horses. She looks beyond appearances and trappings to see what is within.


Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned sportsmanship to a high degree. Everyone that competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and ribbons may prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a horseman. She has also learned that some people will do anything to win, regardless of who it hurts. She knows that those who will cheat in the show ring will also cheat in every other aspect of their life and are not to be trusted.


Because my daughter grew up with horses she has self-esteem and an engaging personality. She can talk to anyone she meets with confidence, because she has to express herself to her horse with more than words. She knows the satisfaction of controlling and teaching a 1000 pound animal that will yield willingly to her gentle touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling of those stronger than she is. She holds herself with poise and professionalism in the company of those far older than herself.


Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to plan ahead. She knows that choices made today can effect what happens five years down the road. She knows that you cannot care for and protect you investments without savings to fall back on. She knows the value of land and buildings. And that caring for your vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel or being stranded on the side of the road with a four horse trailer on a hot day.


When I look at what she has learned and what it will help her become, I can honestly say that I haven't "wasted" a penny on providing her with horses. I only wish that all children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons from horses before setting out on the road to adulthood.

Kindly provided by Tracy Meisenbach
Trinity Appaloosa Farm


Internet Specials


* Buy any eGift Certificate from $75 to $150 and get a second one for $10 FREE. Buy any eGift Certificate over $150 and get a second one for $25 FREE.

* FREE Ground shipping on any SSG Gloves purchased.

* $5 OFF Dublin Half Chaps with purchase of any Dublin Paddock Boots ! (Ladies or Kids)

* FREE pair of Braided Spur Straps with purchase of any set of English Spurs !


New Pre Owned Saddle Listings


Pre Owned Jump:
HDR Pro Pony 14", Albion Legend 5000 17 1/2", Collegiate Graduate 17", Bates Caprilli 16", Crosby XL "H" 18", Devoucoux 16", Jaguar XJS 17 1/2", PJ Original 17", Black Country 17 1/2".

Pre Owned All Purpose:
Bates Momentum 17", Bates Caprilli All Purpose 17", Bates Caprilli All Purpose 17 1/2", Collegiate Senior Event 16 1/2", Stubben Siegfried 18".

Pre Owned Dressage:
Anky - Buffalo Print Leather 16 1/2", Passier Grand Gilbert 16 1/2", Passier Grand Gilbert 17 1/2", Wintec Pro Dressage 17 1/2", Bates Isabell 17 1/2", Bates Caprilli 18", Passier Katrin 17", Stubben Maestosa Deluxe 17 1/2".


Equine Definitions - Part I

Clearance Zone


A few of the current items:

Bates InnoVa Demo Model - Size 1 (17/17 1/2) - Extended Block
Suggested Retail: $2995.00 Clearance Price: $2375.00
Devon Aire Camden Field Boot Gusset
Suggested Retail: $199.95 Clearance Price: $101.50
IRH Advanced Tech Helmet (ATH) - Gun Metal
Suggested Retail: $159.99 Clearance Price: $79.50
Ariat Crowne Pro Field Boot - Zip
Suggested Retail: $549.95 Clearance Price: $398.50


Helpful Links


Keep in Touch: Contact the Equi-ditor
Charlotte's Storefront: Lets Shop!
Charlotte's Saddlery Locations and Hours: Where Can I Find You?


Frequency and Feedback


The Giddy Up Gazette© is usually mailed the first week of each month and offers special promotions and discounts from time to time. We understand your right to privacy. We will not abuse this privilege. Your feedback is important to us! Simply let us know of your concerns, questions or suggestions. Send us an email.