Going through the horse gear

 And found that I simply need a proper tack room. For the time being, everything is stored in my art Studio. And the day will come when I have a proper horse barn again, but in the meantime I've been going through my things, updating things, and reorganization is the name of the game.

Which brought me to this little gem- the horse braiding kit I've had for years.

The pink hair tools I'm holding are new, $3. off Amazon cuz I think the Topsy tails will work better than a rug hook for braids! And this bucket of rubber bands for kids crafts was a great score last winter after Xmas,  I think it was $6. And I even found a package of Gray bands from the same maker. So, that said, they're much much cheaper than the same bands marketed for horses, and they work just as good. 

Here you can also see the little belt pouch with the braiding tools in it, the folding thinning blade, and the little Altoid tin with bands and a cutter (which is typically what I keep in my overalls pocket). Also shown is the zip lock baggies with precut yarn inside, and actual horse bands inside the bucket. 

The gray bands I snapped up for Dusty... 

Now if I could just keep him and Sierra from chewing each other's manes 🙄. 

When I was teaching myself english braiding I used the traditional yarn, which is why it's here. But I've since learned that waxed thread works better, so I plan to get some of that in the correct colors. 

I also learned that hair wax sticks are even better than Quik Braid spray which i have used, so I plan to make some of that wax, rather than buying any. 

(I already make balms and salves so this is familiar territory)  Plus, I would make it with soothing ingredients so the horse is less likely to rub and itch the braid itself- which would keep things tidy longer and protect the hair. 

I'm a big fan of DIY products for hair and skin care, and feel that the chemicals in most products can't be good for people or animals so I just do my own thing. But that's probably a post for another day...

Actually it's probably a great way to keep track of horse care recipes that I like, to put them here.... Stay tuned....