Even though the magnetic ends are a bit big for my braid, it still works just fine. I love being able to have a token of Diamond with me where ever I go ^.^
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
How to make a horsehair bracelet
Thanks to a lovely blog I came across this afternoon, I became inspired to create my own horsehair bracelet! Diamond was very obliging (as he didn't notice or care) and allowed me to clip a nice long chunk of tail hair from under his tail.
Allow me to express my trials and tribulations thus far.
Firstly, Diamond's tail hair is slightly varied in length. And by slightly I mean a lot. Even after retrieving what I thought to be a good amount, I was left with only a few choice strands that were long enough to work with. So even though it may be time consuming, next time I will stand with Diamond and pick out each tail hair individually so that I can be sure what I cut is useful and not just unnecessary tail trimming. (Note: I gently washed the hairs with some shampoo and let them dry outside.)
After finding that awesome tutorial I mentioned earlier, I went to the hobby stores in my area in search of a few things:
1. Foldover Cord Ends
2. Lobster Clasps
3. Jump Rings
4. Superglue
Lobster clasps and jump rings were easy enough to find, however, the foldover cord ends that were in stock were much too small for the bracelet I wanted to make. Disheartened, I looked for any other sort of cord ends that would do...to no avail. They simply do not sell them in the size I wanted. I was really surprised. Luckily, I stumbled across a bracelet with magnetic ends for $1.99. Mind you, this was a completed bracelet that I would have to dismantle in order to use the magnetic ends for my own use. So I bought the bracelet and brought it home. It was actually a nice little bracelet for 2 bucks and I was almost sorry to tear it apart. But I did my duty.
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I continued to follow the directions of the tutorial. I picked out hairs all of the same length and then tied a knot at the top. I attached this string of hairs to my pillow with a safety pin and started braiding. After finishing, I added some superglue to the top of the braid right underneath the knot. The glue that I bought, however, was not fast acting....it took hours to dry. Not cool. Crafting is hard.
After it was dry I measured out the length I wanted and added super glue to the hairs at the cutting point so that once they were indeed cut to fit into the magnetic ends, the hairs would stay together. Hours pass....I cut the braid at my superglue'd points and dab glue into the open ends of the magnets and also onto the braid ends. It is now sitting on my kitchen counter..drying for the next few hours. I will update with a final picture tomorrow. If it doesn't fall apart because of my terrible glue choice.
Allow me to express my trials and tribulations thus far.
Firstly, Diamond's tail hair is slightly varied in length. And by slightly I mean a lot. Even after retrieving what I thought to be a good amount, I was left with only a few choice strands that were long enough to work with. So even though it may be time consuming, next time I will stand with Diamond and pick out each tail hair individually so that I can be sure what I cut is useful and not just unnecessary tail trimming. (Note: I gently washed the hairs with some shampoo and let them dry outside.)
After finding that awesome tutorial I mentioned earlier, I went to the hobby stores in my area in search of a few things:
1. Foldover Cord Ends
2. Lobster Clasps
3. Jump Rings
4. Superglue
Lobster clasps and jump rings were easy enough to find, however, the foldover cord ends that were in stock were much too small for the bracelet I wanted to make. Disheartened, I looked for any other sort of cord ends that would do...to no avail. They simply do not sell them in the size I wanted. I was really surprised. Luckily, I stumbled across a bracelet with magnetic ends for $1.99. Mind you, this was a completed bracelet that I would have to dismantle in order to use the magnetic ends for my own use. So I bought the bracelet and brought it home. It was actually a nice little bracelet for 2 bucks and I was almost sorry to tear it apart. But I did my duty.
I continued to follow the directions of the tutorial. I picked out hairs all of the same length and then tied a knot at the top. I attached this string of hairs to my pillow with a safety pin and started braiding. After finishing, I added some superglue to the top of the braid right underneath the knot. The glue that I bought, however, was not fast acting....it took hours to dry. Not cool. Crafting is hard.
After it was dry I measured out the length I wanted and added super glue to the hairs at the cutting point so that once they were indeed cut to fit into the magnetic ends, the hairs would stay together. Hours pass....I cut the braid at my superglue'd points and dab glue into the open ends of the magnets and also onto the braid ends. It is now sitting on my kitchen counter..drying for the next few hours. I will update with a final picture tomorrow. If it doesn't fall apart because of my terrible glue choice.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Beet Pulp & Coconut Oil
Beet pulp: It's a great source of fiber and is low in starch and sugars.
I have tried several different brands of beet pulp over the years. The one that seems to soak the best is Standlee. Now for some reason I have never tried shreds, only pellets. I have read that the shreds soak more quickly and clearly for obvious reasons.
Diamond's hoof trim was this morning and the farrier and I decided coconut oil might be a good way to help keep some moisture in the hoof wall. He has extremely dry hooves and we don't want them getting too brittle. So now we will alternate water soaking one day and coconut oil the next.
I have tried several different brands of beet pulp over the years. The one that seems to soak the best is Standlee. Now for some reason I have never tried shreds, only pellets. I have read that the shreds soak more quickly and clearly for obvious reasons.
Diamond's hoof trim was this morning and the farrier and I decided coconut oil might be a good way to help keep some moisture in the hoof wall. He has extremely dry hooves and we don't want them getting too brittle. So now we will alternate water soaking one day and coconut oil the next.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
It has worked wonders!
The MTG has worked it's magic in only a few days! Diamond's rear end looks a hundred times better, the dry skin is gone and his coat looks clear. Of course I will continue to apply the MTG once daily for 1 week, just to be sure I get rid of all the bacteria. His legs will take a few more days to clear up I think.
And of course I forgot to get his beet pulp soaking this morning so I'll have to do it first thing when I get to the stables this evening...giving it as much time as possible to soak. If it doesn't look soft enough, he will have to wait until tomorrow morning for supplements. This morning he looked at me and made his "yawning" face..which I thought was a symptom of choke but maybe not? He keeps eating all his bermuda and doesn't seem to be in an discomfort. So I'm not sure what to make of the yawning behavior.
I read up recently on horses yawning, but haven't found anything I think is useful. Some articles claim horses yawn 3 times in a row because they are learning something, some say it is due to restlessness, some say it is because they are stressed and uncomfortable. I think I will continue to document each time Diamond yawns and what the circumstances are regarding that particular occurrence.
This morning when he yawned, I was on the east side of his stall, readying the pallet where I put his bermuda bale. I looked up and him as he was watching me and he yawned at me. Just once. I don't believe he was under any stress, he wasn't learning anything, but perhaps he was hungry? I'm not sure..
And of course I forgot to get his beet pulp soaking this morning so I'll have to do it first thing when I get to the stables this evening...giving it as much time as possible to soak. If it doesn't look soft enough, he will have to wait until tomorrow morning for supplements. This morning he looked at me and made his "yawning" face..which I thought was a symptom of choke but maybe not? He keeps eating all his bermuda and doesn't seem to be in an discomfort. So I'm not sure what to make of the yawning behavior.
I read up recently on horses yawning, but haven't found anything I think is useful. Some articles claim horses yawn 3 times in a row because they are learning something, some say it is due to restlessness, some say it is because they are stressed and uncomfortable. I think I will continue to document each time Diamond yawns and what the circumstances are regarding that particular occurrence.
This morning when he yawned, I was on the east side of his stall, readying the pallet where I put his bermuda bale. I looked up and him as he was watching me and he yawned at me. Just once. I don't believe he was under any stress, he wasn't learning anything, but perhaps he was hungry? I'm not sure..
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