You probably think I’ve finally slipped the knot with that title, eh?  Well, you see, I’m kinda going for the marine catalog combined with horsey catalog theme… I know, I know, if you have to explain it, it isn’t working.

But, first things first:

WE ARE MAKING AN LG BITLESS BRIDLE ORDER FROM GERMANY ON MONDAY!  ANYONE WANT TO JOIN IN AND GET ONE?  CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT IT AND SEE HOW TO ORDER.

OK, now back to the regular fare for today…

CRUISING THE MARINE FOR HORSEY STUFF, PART DEUX!

I got a lot of mail regarding our first pass at the West Marine Boating Catalog.  In case you missed it, here is the link.

I did have several sheets torn out that I didn’t post in the last go ’round so I’m going to post them today.  It’s Sunday and everyone likes to peruse and dabble on Sunday mornings with their coffee.  If not, you can just buzz through the pictures…

1)  HIGH INTENSITY LIGHT

This little ditty is my Hero.  The idea is that this light will strobe, only at night, for an entire year without fail.  I am assuming that boaters would use this in case they are lost in the high seas.

For me, I love that this light knows the difference between night and day (not an easy feat judging by some of the people I’ve met lately)…  But besides that, IMAGINE if you will, that you could warn Hubby, so very simply, with this little beacon.  When you are having one of those days just put the High Intensity Light outside on the porch before Honey arrives home.  It will gently strobe a high intensity warning, and keep on insisting, throughout the night – or for the next year, depending upon how badly you feel.

2)  EXPLORER BINOCULAR NOXB3 WITH NIGHT VISION AND INFRARED

OK, well, some of you may want binoculars so that you can see the lovely herd of elk in the far field or perhaps to look at the weather that may be coming in…  Others may find unique uses for these.  I’m not going to suggest anything, but let’s just say you are camping and hear a bear.  Most likely, if you can hear him, he is too close for your night vision binoculars…  But, you could throw them at him.

Or, if you were horse camping and forgot your blanket, you could use the infrared feature to spot a warm possum milling about. All you then have to do is catch him and shove him in your jacket for a nice, warm sleep.

3)  GENIUS CARABINERS

These are genius.  They open at an angle to accommodate fatter rings or larger receivers of any kind.  Love it!  How many times has your bird feeder dumped on you as you were trying to hang it back onto the fat ring Hubby screwed into the tree?

I am eternally clipping my finger instead of the ring on my girth when I put away my saddles.  (I add a carabiner onto the ring by the pommel and then slip the girth ring through it when I put my saddles away.)

This catalog has a plethora of incredible fasteners!  I think it is because men “boat” and women do horses (mostly).  So, the men have thought of all these incredible fastening devices and we haven’t.  Go look at “Carabiners/Snap Hooks” on the website.  You will see DOUBLE ACTION SAFETY HOOKS, SISTER CLIPS, STAINLESS STEEL SNAP HOOKS, STAINLESS STEEL SNAP HOOKS ASYMMETRICAL WITH EYE, BOAT SNAPS and my favorite just because it has a girly name in a manly catalog, BRONZE BABY SNAPS.

4)  FLOOD AND DOCKING LIGHTS

There were so many to choose from here that I just couldn’t decide so I am listing my three favs.

a)  KEVIN HIGH-FLUX LED SPREADER/DECK LIGHT:  I don’t know who Kevin is but I like his light.  This one uses low amperage, can spread or spot, is marine grade for wet areas and his highly resistant to shock and vibration.  So, this would be good on the trailer, for sure!

b)  TUNGSTEN HALOGEN FLOODLIGHTS:  I liked this one because it is a huge, square light.  I think this would be great on the back of your trailer to highlight unloading or your campsite.  It looks really hearty and you know some guy designed it for kickarse deck parties so I’m sure it is very bright…

c)  COMPACT DOCKING LIGHTS:  These are small and mount anywhere.  The boaters use them on the hull of the boats to dock easily.  I think it should be mounted at the top of your gooseneck or bumperpull, facing the ball.  ‘Nuff said.

5)  DOCK CARTS

Again, there were many in this category that could house hay or “ahem” or just pull your chihuahua around the show venues.

The first cart I chose to show is really inexpensive and it folds.  I love things that fold.  It is kinda like equestrian origami.  I figure you could put your cumbersome load inside the basket (or your designer dog) and wheel this around.  Or, just carry it around folded and tell all your friends that this simple little suitcase looking thing is really a cart!

Truth to tell, I really only need the bigguns for my duties around here.  I thought this cart, aside from the front peg leg which is good for a pirate but bad for a muddy dirt floor, was very well designed.  I mean, they have thought it through.  There is a dump gate at the back (so easy and should be in all equestrian wheelbarrows), it has huge wheels standard and can haul 330lbs of stuff!

6)  TERROR EYES BIRD REPELLER

Do you ever have those birds that dive bomb you when you are in the arena?  Well, not anymore!  Mount this little jewel on your jacket or saddle and watch the birds run with fear!   I love the added benefit that the eyes have “3-D technology”, whatever that means.  I’m guessing the eyes follow you around like the paintings at the HAUNTED HOUSE in Disneyland.

Actually, it is small enough, only 2′ diameter, and inflatable.  So, you could mount it to your forehead or chest when you have a very nasty colt or stud to handle.  I think they would think twice before hurting the 4-eyed two legger!

7)  CHARTUBE

What a simple idea that would work great for crops or quirts!

This item is shaped for charts which are basically the same shape as crops.  They have two versions.  One is 25″ long and the other 40″.   I could sure use these in my trailer as my crops get lost often!

8)  SAFETY TETHERS

I like this because obviously some engineer spent a lot of time thinking these through.   I mean it is nice to know that someone has put the time into a certain piece of equipment.  Many of us equestrians use clips that were designed for other applications where durability, safety and strength were not always considered.

These safety tethers have three different hooks.  1)  Snap Shackles that are easy to release under load but can be released accidentally if the lanyard is pulled (great for trailer ties…).  2)  Snap Hooks which are easy to attach but not easy to detach (great for wall or trailer or saddle attachments).   3)  Double-Action Safety Hooks which are easy to attach and detach (great for cross ties).

All my old snaps look kinda pre-school to me now…

9)  STRETCH AND SLIDE DOCK LINE

I love this!  For only $12.99, you can get an 8′ long line that has loops in it so you can catch your horse around the neck – if you do that sort of thing – and haul them around via neck rope.  This nylon rope is much more durable and comfortable than baling twine (which I use often) and it seems much more sensible.

Also, if you are one of those people who is training your horse to work off of a neck rope, I’m thinking that you could tie the end where you want it and then use this.  It isn’t as stiff as leather, but it is more stiff than rope and it might just work!

Anyway, it is an adjustable loop made out of soft yet durable nylon.  I’m sure there is a good use for this around the barn!

10)  BOAT BRAKES

I think these could also be called, RUNAWAY RUDDERS!  Yup, just put this handy item in your cantle bag.  If a horse is going too fast and isn’t going to stop anytime soon, just release the RUNAWAY RUDDERS and your mount will have a heck of a time pulling all that air behind him!

Imagine the surprised look on his face…  And, if the wind doesn’t stop him, the line catching on a tree branch or rock, will!  I’m not saying that this is the safest way to stop your careening horse, but it is another way…  ;)

Thank you for joining me as I romp through another 10 items in the West Marine catalog.  Have a great Sunday!

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The September Bucket Fund will benefit Grace, the skinniest horse still alive.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate to this incredible horse,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)