Well, after addressing happy dogs, I must say that I totally forgot about those of you who have cats. I must beg your forgiveness and with that said, let me relay some information I have gathered about the feline of the family. Believe it or not, I myself had a total of 6 cats, mostly because my ex-wife insisted on it so most of the knowledge I have about cats comes from personal experience.

Cats are very finicky, and to keep their attention, you had better bring your “A” game to the table. When my cats were kittens, they use to love chasing a ball of cellophane. I would ball it up and throw it, the kitten would chase it, and then become amazed when it slowly begin to expand. I spent hours playing that game, and the kitten never seemed to get bored. Also, I would get out a ball of yarn, roll it across the floor, and watch the fun when, as it began to unravel, it would turn into the toy that kept on giving. The real fun is when you have a toy that moves around while the kitten intensely watches it, and then it stops. That’s when the feline would turn on the “stalking mode” and try to sneak up on the toy. Then the toy would move, and the kitten would jump a mile in the air. Now that same type of toy works with adult cats also. All cats are predators, and that type of toy allows them to use the same instincts that they would use in the wild to stalk prey. I have a bird feeder in my backyard, and many a time I have seen cats sneaking up on the birds that are on the ground eating spilled seed.

Cats appreciate an interesting toy just as much as dogs do, and just about every cat loves a “kitty condo”, which often has several elevations and platforms to climb and sit on. Vertical hiding places and sanctuaries are very important to cats since this is what they look for in the wild. Try to find a condo that’s upholstered in a kneadable fabric, or carpet remnant. And if your cat still has his or her claws, you may want to invest in a good “scratching post,” if you want to save your furniture. If you’re handy with some minor tools and material, you can make these things at home. Especially since some of the condo’s that they sell in pet stores could cost you as much as $100 on up.

Now some other toys you can get is a feline version of the mouse exercise wheel which you can get at Catwheelcompany.com. Some other “homemade toys” you can make includes toilet paper rolls filled with catnip or treats, and wands made out of rulers, rubber bands, and feathers. There are countless thing you can get to entertain the feline in you home, or outside if you let your cat roam the wilds of the outside, and as I said for dogs, a playful cat is a healthy happy cat. Have fun.
  
   
PONCHO33
 

Cat photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

by Marlissa Campbell, Contributing Writer

The Wintec Pro Dressage saddle with Contourbloc is one of several models of dressage saddles made by Wintec.  The Pro Dressage saddle with Contourbloc features a large knee block incorporated as part of the flap. This can be contrasted to the flexibloc system, which consists of changeable blocks that fasten with Velcro underneath the flap. The Pro Dressage can be purchased with standard flocked panels, or with Wintec's unique air-filled CAIR system.

All Wintec saddles are made of synthetic materials, rather than traditional leather. The use of synthetics means lower prices compared to leather saddles of comparable quality.  Synthetics are also easy to care for, meaning more time in the saddle and less time cleaning tack. Wintec uses a changeable gullet system for all of their saddles, which helps to fit a wider range of horses than is possible with a single gullet size alone.

I was able to try the Wintec Pro Dressage saddle with Contourbloc, thanks to SmartPak equine's test ride program. I had been riding in a Wintec 2000 All Purpose saddle, which fits my horse well. I was interested in a dressage saddle in order to ride comfortably with a longer stirrup, while feeling secure both in the arena and out on the trail.  This review is written from the standpoint of a general pleasure rider, rather than someone actively competing in dressage.

Pros:

- The saddle was generally comfortable for me to ride in. I really liked the Contourbloc, which helped me feel secure in a good riding position without any sense of being restricted.

- Like other top-of-the-range Wintec saddles, the Pro Dressage with Contourbloc is a lightweight and attractive saddle.  The Equisuede seat looks nice and has a bit of grip, which adds to the sense of security while riding in the saddle.

- The adjustable rigging has a Y-shaped rear billet, which helps balance the back of the saddle.

Cons:

- The saddle required a 26 inch dressage girth. At least on my horse, this placed the buckles right behind her elbows. I'm not sure that it really got in her way, but it seemed an awkward placement to me.

- The Pro Dressage with Contourbloc has a surcingle, or overgirth, attached to the flaps of the saddle.  It appears to be designed to hold the flaps down by fastening around the barrel of the horse over the girth -- unlike leather flaps, the synthetic material won't break in to the shape of the horse. The surcingle prevents adjusting the girth while seated in the saddle.

- Unfortunately, the Pro Dressage saddle simply turned out to be a poor fit for my horse. It wasn't an obvious bad fit. It didn't rock, it did not appear to bridge, and it did seem to sit level on her back. It was a little low at the withers, leaving about two fingers width clearance rather than the three to four generally considered ideal.  At the same time, it was clear a narrower gullet plate would have pinched.  In the end, she just did not seem happy to be ridden in it.  She was reluctant to go forward, and did not want to bend around my leg.

What to know before you try:

Remember that when you are buying or trying an English saddle, you will receive just the saddle itself. You will need to have, or arrange to borrow, stirrup leathers, stirrup irons, an appropriate saddle pad, and a selection of girths in different lengths.  You should have all these items to hand before you place your saddle order.

For a Wintec saddle, or other brands using the Wintec changeable gullet system, you will need to be sure that you have a gullet the correct size for your horse. This is a critical step, as without the correct gullet installed, you will not be able to assess the fit of the saddle. Wintec saddles are typically shipped with the medium width (black) gullet plate installed. 

If you're not sure which size gullet your horse requires, Wintec sells an inexpensive gullet gauge that will allow you to measure the width of your horse at the withers. Once you know the correct size gullet, you can buy one inexpensively. Ask around your barn and friends. If you're lucky, someone will have a gullet gauge you can borrow, and perhaps even the entire kit of gullets in different widths.

The combination of changeable gullets and the CAIR panel system gives Wintec saddles the ability to fit a wider range of horses than many other brands. That doesn't mean, however, that they will fit all horses. Additionally, don't assume that because one model of Wintec saddle fits your horse all of them will. Even the different models of dressage saddles made by Wintec are not identical in fit.  You need to try each saddle, with the proper gullet plate inserted, in order to be sure of a good fit.

Overall, I found the Wintec Pro Dressage saddle with Contourbloc to be an attractive saddle that was comfortable to ride in. I was disappointed that it didn't fit my horse. Give it a try if you think it might work for your needs. Just don't forget to listen to your horse.


Marlissa blogs about books (including horse books!) and the reading life at "You Are What You Read." She is also a Pinterest addict and can be found at her page of the same name.

by Richard Rowell, Staff Writer

Back in junior high school, a dear friend of mine wanted to base her Science Fair project around the question "Do Cats Think?" The teachers thought it was a ridiculous idea, and because the topic for the Science Fair was due, they made her do something more traditional and boring. I can't remember what subject they had her do instead, but it stuck with me for a long time that they were incredibly unfair to her for not letting her research what actually is a pretty interesting question.

My love of cats has grown much over the years. Everything I have learned about them over the years would seem to prove that cats indeed do think. They don't think like humans, of course, but there is definitely a thought process to what they do. They are highly intelligent animals, and they always seem to know how to get what they want. That's what makes them such fascinating creatures. They truly have minds of their own. Whether they have any sort of actual sentience - well, sometimes I'd like to believe so, and thus I have had feline characters in my creative projects that actually are!

But back to answering the question, I seem to remember one of the excuses for not letting her choose that topic was that "Cat's don't talk." First of all, that's an incredibly stupid argument. Actually, the teacher who made it wasn't even the science teacher - she was the math teacher, and she was a piece of work. The fact that the science teacher, who I actually liked before this debacle, didn't stand up for her really disgusted me. You don't have to talk to be able to think. Thinking is an internal process, of course. Cats do seem to have their own language, in fact. Oftentimes, cats will communicate with their owners with the same sounds they made as kittens, but with other cats their sounds are quite different. After a while, owners pretty much know what their cats are saying. And the way that they try (and often succeed) in manipulating owners to do what they want, it's clear that they have secret little plots going on in their head.

I know that the question "do cats think" gets some people to be incredibly rude and dismissive of the whole idea that it's possible. But I read something today that scientists have found that cats have the same sort of brain activity when in a deep sleep as humans have. So I think there's a lot we still don't understand about the feline mind. Maybe one day they'll take over - probably not, but it's funny to think about. Besides, cats have a great life right now. They get everything they want, so why not act content?

If you have a cat, be mindful of the fact that he or she's probably plotting right now!

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons