EQUINE
JULY 26, 2018 | THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER | 21
Mount Forest shop one of few custom leather western saddle makers in Ontario BY OLIVIA RUTT
MOUNT FOREST - In a small wooden shop, no larger than a single car garage, Steve Close works on making reins for a western bridle. With his glasses low on his nose, he works the leather into shape. Close and his wife Sharri Crowley own Saddle Shack tack shop, a custom western saddle and tack shop north of Mount Forest, one of the few
handmade by Close. There isn’t a lot of stock, because Close makes them individually and most are made to order. The back half of the small shop is where he works. Pieces of leather are piled in every corner, while tools and saddles in various states of completion line the walls. Close started working with leather about 25 years
“I started out just fixing it on my own and tearing it apart. I spent time with a few different saddle makers; the wife of my partner at the time had done some carving and tooling, so she taught me the basics of that, and it just grew from there.” - STEVE CLOSE
saddle makers in Ontario. In the front part of the shop is a store. Along with a few items that horse riders won’t be able to find in too many other places in Ontario, there are leather items like leads, bridles, halters and more, all
ago by repairing saddles for a trail riding club he was a part of and learned a lot of techniques through trial and error. “They’re just isn’t time to be running to get stuff repaired,” he said. “I started out just fixing
Steve Close, co-owner of the Saddle Shack tack shop, works on repairing a leather saddle. As a leather worker, he makes western saddles and other leather western tack. Photos by Olivia Rutt
it on my own and tearing it apart. I spent time with a few different saddle makers; the wife of my partner at the time had done some carving and
tooling, so she taught me the basics of that, and it just grew from there.” Close also read books to learn how to build saddles.
“Probably some of the best books were written before I was born, in terms of technique and education and how to do it and how to measure,”
he said. The couple moved from Elora in 2004 to their CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
martin-ranch@hotmail.com www.martinranch.net
“Quality Horse Hay” Round Bales • Timothy/Alfalfa Dale Norris 519-846-8298
DIGITAL X-RAY IMAGING!
Colt Starting Training & Sales 519.591.8728
8540 Hwy. 6, ARTHUR Listowel
Chets custom colts
8451, Hwy 23 N • 1-800-565-2047 FOLLOW US ON
Mount Forest
322 Main St. N • 1-877-523-4422
www.heartlandvets.ca
For our friends in the Equine Business, we offer the Best Customer Experience in the auto industry KEEPING YOUR BUSINESS MOVING A DEALER REPRESENTATIVE TO GIVE YOU THE INDIVIDUAL HELP NEEDED SO YOU GET THE EXACT VEHICLE YOU NEED FOR YOUR JOB EXTENDED SERVICE HOURS WORK READY LOANERS GMC PRO GRADE PROTECTION
ROBINSON BUICK GMC | 519.821.0520 875 WOODLAWN RD. W., GUELPH AUTOMALL ROBINSONBUICKGMC.COM | TOLL FREE: 1.877.525.5225
22 | THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER | JULY 26, 2018
The Mount Forest custom western saddle maker “Probably some of the best books were written before I was born, in terms of technique and education and how to do it and how to measure” - STEVE CLOSE
FROM PAGE 21
property north of Mount Forest where they built the small building that acts as their shop. “We kept getting busier and busier and more and more people dropping off saddles for repair, and I got tired of them being in my dining room,” said Crowley, laughing. Making a custom saddle is a lengthy process, said Close. And it starts with a long conversation about what the rider wants; everything from how the rider sits on the saddle to the colour of the leather, stitching and tooling - design work carved into the leather. “At this point, when they’re buying a custom-
made saddle, they have a pretty good idea,” said Crowley. Each saddle starts with a wooden tree wrapped in rawhide, then each part is added, building it piece by piece until it resembles a saddle. Close makes his ground seat out of leather rather than metal or plastic. Four or five pieces are layered then shaved down to get the perfect shape. “It’s like everything else in the world today, there’s a quicker, easier way to do it, but it’s not as good,” said Close. Each part of the saddle is trimmed from about two and a half to three hides. “You’ve got to have an idea of what you’re building to start with because different pieces have to come out of different parts of the hide for
Steve Close and Sharri Crowley own The Saddle Shack and Tack Shop in Mount Forest and are one of the few custom western saddle makers in Ontario.
strength reasons,” said Close. Even the stitching is done for the most part by hand. While a sewing machine can stitch the flat portions of the saddle, around the horn and cantle requires Close to punch a hole through the leather so he can sew the pieces together. “I’ve been to (the ER) with my hand stitched to a cantle and carrying the tree with me,” he said.
He also dyes all the pieces and tools the leather in the shop. The intricate design work uses stamps and carving tools to limn flowers and patterns. Close has a box of paper pattern samples - that he says are older than him - and uses portions of them to sketch out a design. He recently completed a saddle that had two maple
“You’ve got to have an idea of what you’re building to start with because different pieces have to come out of different parts of the hide for strength reasons” - STEVE CLOSE
leaves carved onto the back housing. It can take anywhere from
a year to 18 months to finish a CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
Dufferin Veterinary Services Professional Corporation for LARGE ANIMALS
· Annual Horse Vaccines · Equine Reproduction & Dentistry · Full Service for Horses, Cattle, Sheep, & Goats
Horse Fence Oak Fence
Rex G Crawford DVM
Horse Shelters Electric
|
Ruedi Waelchli DVM
|
Mandy Mulder DVM
519.941.7690
Page Wire Post Pounding
24 Armstrong St., Orangeville
ġ
from our backyard companion to the high performance horse
For all your fencing needs call John Eyre
hollowford@hotmail.com
519-400-1730
DESBORO | ELMIRA | FERGUS | FREELTON GUELPH | MOFFAT | SHELBURNE | WALKERTON
www.hollowfordfencing.ca
Serving all of Wellington County and Beyond
www.SharpeFarmSupplies.com
JULY 26, 2018 | THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER | 23
Saugeen Bluffs
Horse Campground
CONSERVATION
519-367-3040 www.svca.on.ca
“A well-built saddle will outlive any horse ... so we say get something comfortable for you and the type of riding you’re doing”
FROM PAGE 22
saddle, but he works on multiple other projects at the same time. “I make ‘em one at a time, and there’s no two alike,” he said of his saddles. Along with building saddles and making other leather tack, many saddles come into the shop for repairs. They have seen a lot of saddles that are still new that are in need of repairs. “People want to buy new, but they’d be much further ahead to buy a 20-year-old saddle that’s been well maintained that’s good leather,” said Crowley. Both Crowley and Close stress the importance of a well-fitted saddle.
Camp with us in Southern Ontario
- SHARRI CROWLEY
“A well-built saddle will outlive any horse ... so we say, get something that is comfortable for you and the type of riding you’re doing,” said Crowley. Close also offers advice on how to care for your leather saddle. “Clean it on a regular, as needed basis,” he said. Those that ride mostly indoors should clean it more often than those riding outside. He also said if it gets wet
not to worry. “If you’re going out trail riding and it gets rained on, don’t worry about it,” he said. “A good cleaning and an oiling will hide an awful lot of sins as far as water damage goes.” The Saddle Shack and Tack Shop is located at 271346 Grey Road 6, Mount Forest. To view more of Close’s work visit facebook.com/ TheSaddleShackTackShop.
WANT TO PAY FULL PRICE? NEIGH! Visit our website for North Winter Series dates
O N E D AY O N LY ! UNBEATABLE
DEALS
18% 10%
We Always Have...
+ ADDITIONAL SAVINGS FROM Discount off MSRP on Kubota Attachments
300
about good, new & used
SADDLES IN STOCK For all Western disciplines
Plus
from
350 4,500
$ $
a HUGE selection of show & working tack
Everything you need for your horse!
GREAT PRICE & EXPERIENCED ADVICE!
Discount off MSRP on Kubota Power Units
Kubota Canada Ltd. is pleased to continue its support to the Canadian Equine Community through its Kubota Equine Discount (KED) Program for special equine members. Some restrictions apply, please see your dealer for details.
kubota.ca |
SERVING YOU SINCE
1965 FARM | INDUSTRIAL | RECREATIONAL | HOME
Check out our Facebook page
14 Bruce Road 30
|
Chesley, ON
|
519.363.5598
0519 Wellington Road 7, Elora | www.deboersequipment.com | 519.846.5388 | 1.800.661.7006 SERVING YOU SINCE
1965
24 | THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER | JULY 26, 2018
Pilot Study looks at on-farm welfare assessment tool GUELPH - Thanks to a team of University of Guelph researchers, we are one step closer to having a welfare assessment tool tailored for horses in Canada. The research team, headed by Cordelie DuBois and Katrina Merkies, recently designed and tested an onfarm welfare assessment tool. The tool aimed to evaluate whether the National Farm Animal Care Council’s (NFACC) Code of Practice standards are being met on equine farms in Canada, while helping farm managers learn about the current standards. The results were
recently published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Major advances in equine welfare in Canada were made when NFACC released the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines in 2013. In other countries, documents outlining welfare guidelines are often paired with the development of welfare assessment tools that can be used to determine whether guidelines are being followed on farm. In Europe, there are multiple tools that exist, like the Assessment Protocol
for Horses and the Animal Welfare Indicators approach. Differences between industries in other countries and Canada, particularly related to welfare legislation, are part of the reason that developing a Canadian-specific tool was important. This, and ultimately, the tool’s ability to support the use of the NFACC Code of practice as Canadian welfare standards, is what makes DuBois’ work so monumental for Canadian equine welfare. Researchers tested the assessment tool on 26 farms in Southern Ontario. The farms had various primary
uses including boarding facilities, riding schools, private farms and trail riding facili-
“These interviews helped to identify areas where a welfare assessment program would be useful to the Canadian industry and areas where implementing a program might be challenging,” - CORDELIE DUBOIS ties. The farms had different numbers of horses and kept the horses under different
SERVICES D & LH
Providing
Emergency and Preventative Health Care
White Rose
Robertshaw
Farm
Davids Fencing Service | Hay Sales Individual Round & Square Bale Wrapping Tel: 519.846.5875 | cell: 519.760.3751
for your Horses, Pets and Farm Livestock E ldale V eterinary C linic
29 Trafalgar Rd. Hillsburgh
Interact with us: facebook.com/wellingtoncty and Twitter @wellingtoncty
SERVINGLEATHERTOWN LUM HALTON & WELLINGTON NOW BACK IN RESTOCK YOUR FARM WOODSHOP FOR LEA STOCK!! THE FALL COUNTRY R Y L OU TOWLFT FOR OVER N R 1x12 RoughS White PineLBoard U O W M UR 25 YEARS OO BE C
Omega Alfa
1.29 /
519-855-4403
Hours: Mon-Fri. 8-5:30, Sat. 8-12, Sun. Closed
Honouring the life of your horse!
asked about their familiarity with several documents related to equine welfare. Interestingly, managers were most familiar with Equine Guelph’s biosecurity handout (54%) followed by the NFACC’s Equine Code of Practice (50%). The researchers conducted follow up interviews with assessors and participants to evaluate their experience with the tool. “These interviews helped to identify areas where a welfare assessment program would be useful to the Canadian industry and areas where implementing a program might be challenging,” DuBois said. The feedback will be used to refine the tool for future work. “This study provides an initial look at the logistics of doing an on-farm welfare assessment in Canada, knowing the diversity of the industry,” DuBois said. “Our findings give us a foundation for future work investigating an on-farm assessment tool such as this.” This study was funded in part by Equine Guelph. - Nicole Weidner, Equine Guelph
We cover the county in more ways than one.
519-669-5672
1965 - 2018
Providing Custom Horse Mixes Local Delivery
team revealed dry stalls and well-stored feed, some of the typical findings not in compliance with the Code of Practice included: structural aspects, cleanliness of outdoor water troughs, provision of outdoor shelter, segregation of new arrivals and emergency preparedness. The assessments took an average of 144 minutes to complete. Researchers noted that differences in management practices between and within farms (such as some horses being on 24/7 turnout vs. other horses being on day time turnout) added challenges to the assessment procedure. Farm managers were also
150 Church St. W, Elmira
HILLSBURGH FEED & SUPPLIES LTD. Suppliers of :
management conditions. While the assessments conducted by DuBois and her
D R E PRO WORK FOR JEC ING TS
Rough pine boards, great for Board and Batten siding cladding. Available in 6',8',10,12,14',and 16' lengths. (C availability)
Albannach Acres
EQUINE BOARDING FACILITY
LEATHERTOWN
LUMBER
LEATHERTOWN LUMBER LEATHERTOWN LUMBER
LEATHERTOWN LUMBER IS YOUR SOURCE Albannach Acres is a small family owned stable near the towns of Drayton and Alma. FOR YOUR We offer a non-competitive environment where the leisure WOODWORKING rider can spendSOURCE hours enjoying FOR $ 99 WAS 12.99 the companionship of their equine partner. WOODWORKING PROJECTS 35-Yd. Gorilla® Tape Please call or visit website for more information. PROJECTS Double thick adhesive and tough reinforced
SUMMER SPECIALS 7 35 $39.99
Indoor and outdoor board available. LEATHERTOWN LUMBER IS
HOT HOT BUY! BUY!
backing. For the toughest jobs on planet earth. Silver color. WAS $59.99
Ivan LeBlanc 7754 12th Line, Alma ON | 519.638.0018 Farm@albannachacres.ca | www.albannachacres.ca
5121827
2 Amp Oscillating Tool Kit 11,000-20,000 RPM. Includes end cut blade, semi circle blade, key and sanding pad with (3) sanding sheets. 0877878
$
40 Watt Keyston Light
Used anywhere a tradition is used. 3,000 lumens. Inc chains with hardware.
HOTY! BU
3324837
Let the staff at Ontario Equine Cremation Services provide you with your individual equine cremation.
Ontario Equine Cremation Services
“ONTARIO’S LARGEST EQUINE CREMATION SERVICE” Servicing all of Ontario • Government Licensed
OWNER: CRAIG HUNTER
1.888.668.2989 | 519.268.2989 clearblufarms@bellnet.ca
www.ontarioequinecremationservices.com
$5.99 $
3) s 0 and RP 087 ing 787 sh 8
5.99 WAS: $39.99 $59.99 $39.99 WAS: $59.99 WA
OAK FENCE BOARDS & CEDAR POSTS
WAS $11.99
Turboknife® X Utility Knife Tur boand C2om Comfortable ergonomic design Amp Tool with Kit hang kOscillating n f o ifeRPM. rtab 11,000-20,000 end cut blade, pencasing ® XIncludes holebOin Open and close security letail. 2 Amp Oscillating Tool Kit semi circle blade, key, and sanding pad a a n n lawith (3)d sanding UtiIncludes desCamouflage clos d ersheets. 11,000-20,000 RPM. blade, semi circle blade, key, and sanding pad button. blades. lity end5cut o . e se gcolour. nom Includes 160 0877878 K curit sheets. ic 428 with (3) sanding y bu desig nife 1604289 9 nw tto
Caledon, ON Cell: 416.985.2998 Cell: 416.779.2529
$39
2A 11,0 mp Os with 00-20, 00 c (
WHILE SUPPLIES LAST PRICING UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH
Your horse has given you a lifetime of love and it is hard to walk away when the time has come to say goodbye.
99 W
0877878
$13.99
diana@meredithlumber.ca
www.meredithlumber.ca
WAS $18.99
S: $ 11.9 n. C it 9 amo h hang ufla ho ge c le in c olor . Inc asing lude tail. s5
946-mL. Glossy Polyurethane WWW.LEATHERTOWNLUMBER.CA Dries fast to a hard finish. Protects and beauties interior wood surfaces. 6894596
They’re At$5.99 The Post WAS: $11.99 $5.99 WAS: $11.99 Turboknife® Utility Knife Racing 7:15 pm Saturdays until midXSeptember
$13 .99
946 Drie -mL . s fa st to Glo 689 s ah 459 ard sy P 6 o finis h. P lyu ro
$13.99 $18.99 Leathertown Lumber isWAS: your source for $13.99 woodworking projects!
te c t
s
Turboknife® Knife Fully licensed restaurantOpen open 365security daysXbutton. a Utility year and close Camouflage color. Includes 5 WAS: $18.99 Comfortable and ergonomic design with hang hole in casing tail. 946-mL. Glossy Polyurethane blades. Open and Free Admission & Parking allclose thesecurity time button. Camouflage color. Includes 5 Dries946-mL. fast to a hard finish. Protects and beauties interior wood surfaces. Glossy Polyurethane 1604289 blades. (see hanoverraceway.com for schedule details) 6894596 Dries fast to a hard finish. Protects and beauties interior wood surfaces. Comfortable and ergonomic design with hang hole in casing tail.
1604289
HANOVER RACEWAY
265 5th St. , Hanover 519-364-2860 www.hanoverraceway.com
6894596
264 Main Street North, Acton
519-853-1970
416-601-1259
ww Sun www.leathertownlumber.ca • Mon-Fri 7-6; Sat 8-4; Closed w.le ath erto wnl um www.leathertownlumber.ca
JULY 26, 2018 | THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER | 25
Getting to the “root” of equine dentistry DRAYTON - Regular dental care is important to keep your horse happy, healthy, and pain free. For many of you, an oral exam under sedation and “powerfloat” is already part of your regular routine. Regular dental care helps to catch any abnormalities quickly and ensure your companion stays healthy and competing at their best. There are many signs that your horse might need its teeth checked. Weight loss, dropping food, quidding, head tossing, bit resistance, and bad breath are just a few, but many horses show absolutely no signs at all. That is why we like to check their teeth each year, even if everything seems fine. Problems in the mouth can impact your horse’s overall health and your veterinarian is the best person to address both oral and systemic issues. A proper oral exam should be performed with a full mouth speculum. This allows for a more thorough examination and makes the entire procedure faster and easier for your horse. Sedation reduces any stress and discomfort for your horse, ensures a thorough exam and improves the dental float. Following sedation, your horse will recover within a few hours and will
be back to eating normally without even missing a meal. Many horse owners worry that a “powerfloat” damages the teeth or is too hard on your horse. With proper training and experience, use of the motorized float is safe for your horse’s teeth. Whether your vet is removing sharp points or reducing more severe problems like hooks, the powerfloat allows for focus on the problem areas without damaging any surrounding structures. During a dental exam, your vet should assess the whole mouth including the teeth, gums and tongue. Floating teeth is a careful balance of removing just enough tooth to provide a mouth free from painful points and maintaining the normal angles of the teeth and jaws that help your horse chew their feed efficiently. Common dental issues your vet will look for include: - damage to the teeth (cracks, fractures, wiggly or missing teeth); - sharp edges (what we call points or hooks depending on location); - problems with the chewing surface that may prevent normal chewing motion (ramps, steps, cupping or
Wood-chewing in horses: Examine the diet for cause GUELPH - Owners of wood-chewing horses generally cite boredom as the basis for the frustrating vice. Is monotony the motive behind wood-chewing? Or has blame been misplaced? “I’ve seen a lot of pastured horses with access to acre upon acre of lush grass sidle up to a fencepost or plank and begin nibbling at it, systematically shredding it,” said longtime nutritionist Kathleen Crandell of Kentucky Equine Research (KER). Like many vices, woodchewing poses certain risks to horses. Ingestion of splinters can cause health problems, including oral wounds, a puncture anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract, or impetus for enterolith formation. Old-timers list woodchewing as a possible reason for recurrent colic. “This question comes immediately to mind: how can a horse with succulent pasture grass at its heels be tempted by a driedout, painted fence board?” Crandell asked. The answer lies hidden in that question. “Horses crave fiber, and green grass contains little fiber. In fact, growing grass is composed nearly entirely of
water. When a horse desires fiber, it heads to the fenceline when no hay is available,” she said. “Horses possess digestive tracts designed to process lots of fiber, but fencing materials offer the wrong kind, because it is virtually indigestible.” A dietary change might help alleviate the need to chew wood, according to Crandell. This can be as simple as offering hay in addition to pasture. “Horses have an evolutionary need to chew roughage, and growing grass doesn’t fulfill that need,” Crandell said. Unfortunately, offering long-stemmed forage such as hay doesn’t always dissuade a horse from chewing wood. Other methods of discouraging wood-chewing involve covering surfaces with metal, wire or taste deterrents. Confirmed chewers can be outfitted with a muzzle that prevents them from grasping wooden objects with their teeth but allows free-choice eating. As a final note, woodchewing might be aggravated by hindgut acidosis, a disturbance in the gastrointestinal tract pH that causes some horses to engage in stable vices. - Equine Guelph
excessive transverse ridges); - inflammation, sores or pockets in the gums, lips, tongue, cheeks; and - presence or absence of wolf teeth, which may cause issues with the bit It is also important to note the difference between horses young and old. Young horses have a constantly changing mouth with new teeth coming in and the “baby” teeth (caps) falling out. These new teeth are sharp and should be checked at least yearly. This is especially important with young horses in training. Remember that horse’s
teeth continuously erupt (hence the need for floating) until they run out of tooth. This can lead to cupping and loss of chewing surface. Floating can help ensure that the remaining teeth are chewing efficiently without removing too much tooth. Next time your veterinarian is out ask to have a feel and a look in your horse’s mouth - you never know what you might find. Submitted by Mary Walker Heartland Animal Hospital and Veterinary Services