Cat's Tack & Horsey Services

08/28/2025

Top 3 Oils in My Barn Kit & How I Actually Use Them

I keep three essential oils in my bag at all times because they’re barn favourites:

Lavender – I’ll offer to let them sniff before a hoof care visit if a horse seems a bit anxious.
Tea Tree – Handy (properly diluted!) for gear cleaning days.
Peppermint – A light, diluted spritz for me on hot days; I’m always careful about what goes near horses’ faces or their sensitive skin.

These aren’t just nice smells, they’re practical tools I reach for almost every day.

Helpful tidbit: Always dilute, introduce scents slowly, and give horseys the choice to move away.

08/18/2025

Tidbits on 'Swamp Foot'

Here in North Carolina, USA we incur wet & dry cycles especially during our warm/hot months. It can be hot and humid with afternoon rain or hot and humid with no rain for 2 or more weeks. This make a great environment for infection to hangout in the hoof and make itself comfy. We also have a fantastic biting insect season. Combine this is the hoof's natural function of expansion and contraction with weight bearing and non-weight bearing and it's a recipe for what we pros like to to call 'Swamp Foot".

Swamp Foot can occur anytime of the year though mostly during our mid to late Summer season. Hooves that are chipped up with some dark/black debris in between the hoof horn tubules are dubbed this name.

The best thing we can do has professionals is to remove the infected material as much as we can safely. The infection is anaerobic so simple allowing air to come in contact with it will help greatly.

Here's somethings owners can do to help:

1. Keep your horsey/donkey/muley on a consistent schedule, going by what your farrier suggests.

2. Provide a clean and dry place for your horsey/donkey/muley. The infection likes warm and moisture.

3. Don't overuse over-the-counter topicals. Some topicals can be caustic and cause more damage if used too much.

08/15/2025

Rope Tack Storage -- Guidelines

* Hang your rope tack in a place with good airflow. Plopping it in a tack box can cause mold and mildew on your rope tack and on every item in the box.

* Give it a quick wipe-down or dunk in a bucket of clean water after use especially if it got sweaty or muddy. Then hang in a shady area to dry. Hang using a 'S' hook (for plant pots) under a tree or use the tree limb to hang.

* Hang in a place with good airflow and out of direct sunlight until next use. This will help your rope tack to dry fully and keep it's colour longer.

We use double braid polyester rope to make our rope tack. Polyester fiber holds up well and proper storage can help to keep it looking and feeling like new for years.

08/11/2025

Essential Oil Safety

When it comes to essential oils around horseys, donkeys, and muleys, less is more. They have an amazingly sensitive olfactory system, so smells can become overwhelming quickly.

Here's some guidelines:

1. Dilute. When in doubt dilute with a good carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil (FCO). Some essential oils should always be diluted (Cassia, Oregano) as they are considered 'hot' oils and can cause irritation to the skin. Additionally dilution can lengthen the experience. Think of it as sipping versus gulping a drink.

2. Choice. Offer the oil in a space where they can hang about or leave. This allows them to decide if they want to engage. If they turn their head or walk away, that’s okay. It could be a signal they need a second or two to process. It could also mean a “no, thank you.” Patience is key for us humans here.

3. Know Your Oils. There are 3 ways we can use essential oils; Aromatically, Topically, and Internally. Each bottle should have instructions, there you'll find the intended use for that oil/blend. Do keep in mind label instructions are intended for human use.

Have questions about using essential oils with your horsey, donkey, or muley? Please ask away. I'm happy to help.

Obligatory Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnosis, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

08/07/2025

What Your Horse Wishes You Knew About Hoof Care

Do you know how much balance it takes to stand on three legs?

During a farrier appointment, your horsey/donkey/muley is doing more than just standing still.

Balancing on three legs takes strength, balance, trust, and patience. Your horsey/donkey/muley is essentially practicing yoga by engaging their core and the thoracic sling (the muscles that help suspend the chest between the shoulders) to stay steady while your farrier works.

Youngins and geriatrics require more patience from us humans.

Foals haven't developed the strength, balance, stamina, or mental capacity to stand on three legs for long.

Geriatrics need more time for them to mentally process the movement and balance required. Do keep in mind the older they are the more time they need and the more breaks they need.

Keep in mind making each appointment a good experience will help both equid and professional over time.

Even footing, calm handling, and giving them a bit of time to shift and redistribute their weight can help make the appointment easier on everyone.

07/29/2025

A fantastic representation of blood flow in the foot.

Artist unknown. Do you know the artist or have a suggestion of how to find out the artist's name? Please comment below.

07/27/2025

Rope Quality Matters!

If you’re looking for a halter that’s comfortable, durable, and feels good in your hands, polyester is the way to go.

07/10/2025

Does your farrier include complimentary scritches with every appointment?

This horsey was having none of it when we got to the back hooves, until we figured out what he really needed, a good ol’ scratch session first.

Sometimes it’s not about pushing through, it’s about pausing, listening, and meeting them where they are. A little patience (and a few scritches) go a long way!

07/10/2025

Look at all the trim and shoe jobs represented here. Neato

Remember this is Farriers Week. Please reach out to your farrier and give them a thank you.

It's more than ‘just nailing a shoe on’ or ‘just a trim’.

Your farrier's tool box is full of skills and styles to suit each individual horse's needs, all of which aim for a sound, healthy and happy horse.

Some examples of farriery interventions include -
🔨 Hoof balance
Compensate for conformation or pathology
🔧 Provide protection
Abrasive conditions, shield injured areas
🔨 Traction
Safer working on different surfaces e.g. concave shoes, stud holes, road pins
🔧 Therapeutic
Alleviate pain, support healing, manage orthopaedic conditions
🔨 Performance
Optimise biomechanics on difference surfaces, maintain healthy hooves

07/07/2025

This week is National Farriers Week. Please reach out to your farrier this week to say thank you. Comment below your farrier and why you appreciate him/her.

07/04/2025

Trimmed up Miss Rose today and noticed the start of a central sulcus infection brewing. With all this wet weather lately, I’ve been seeing it more often, so figured I’d share how I handle it in case your horsey’s dealing with the same.

I usually reach for benzonite clay, but we had diaper rash cream on hand this time, and honestly it does the trick! It’s got antibacterial properties too and helps protect the area while it heals.

06/16/2025

Which Rope Tack Color Gets Your Vote?

We’ve got a lineup of quality rope tack in colors to match just about every horse and rider style—and we want to know which ones you’re drawn to!

Black
Coyote Brown
Electric Blue
Hot Pink
Kelly Green
Purple
Imperial Red
Teal/Turquoise

Whether you like to keep it classic or go for bold, your tack should reflect your style and your horse’s personality.

Let us know your favorite color in the comments!
(And if you’re stuck between a few, you’re not alone—we love them all.)

Looking for a custom setup or wondering what we’ve got in stock? Shoot us a message—we’re happy to help!