INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Any dirt or loose hair that gets caught between the horse and the saddle can cause chafing and discomfort. A quick grooming session with a curry comb, dandy brush, and soft brush will remove any debris that could cause problems. Grooming also calms a horse, which will make saddling it easier. In other words, lift up the dangling stirrups and tuck them under the seat of the saddle. This keeps them out of the way while you put the saddle on the horse. If you don’t do this before putting the saddle on, the stirrups will get in your way and may clang against the sides of the horse, causing discomfort and anxiety. The girth is the strap that buckles at each side of the saddle and loops underneath the horse’s midsection. Unbuckle it from the saddle so it’s out of the way when you put the saddle on the horse.  Alternatively, leave the girth buckled on the right-hand side and fold it over the top of the saddle. But it’s just as easy to unbuckle it completely. English saddles have 3 billets (straps with sizing holes) on each side, and the girth will be buckled to 2 of these billets per side. A contoured pad nestles under the saddle before you place the combination onto the horse. Nestle the pad underneath, then position yourself on the left-hand side of the horse and make sure it knows you’re there. Carefully lay the saddle over the horse’s back, so that the pommel of the saddle is just barely behind the withers—the ridge between the front shoulder blades that marks the high point of the back.  There should be at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of pad visible all the way around the edge of the saddle. If there isn’t, the pad isn’t large enough. If the horse is a bit skittish or not used to being saddled, be extra gentle and encourage it with a soothing voice. With a square pad, you place the pad on the horse’s back, then follow up with the saddle. Stand on the horse’s left-hand side, making sure it is aware of your presence. Gently lay the pad over the center of the horse’s back, starting it right at the withers.  Follow this by gently putting on the saddle, making sure at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of the pad is protruding beyond the edges of the saddle. Otherwise, use a bigger pad. Some square pads have a loop on either side that you feed a billet (adjustable strap) through to secure the pad and saddle together. If your pad has loops, make sure they’re near the horse’s front shoulders. The saddle is in the proper position when it rests level on the horse’s back. With practice, you can visually confirm that it’s level—to be sure though, try placing a piece of chalk on the center of the saddle. When the saddle is level, the chalk won’t roll off. Don’t slide the saddle forward, since this goes against the direction of hair growth and causes discomfort to the horse. If necessary, lift the saddle off and place it further forward to begin with.

SUMMARY: Groom the horse before putting on a saddle. Run up the stirrup irons on the stirrup leathers. Detach the girth and set it aside. Put a contoured pad and the saddle on together, as one option. Place a square pad, then the saddle, on the horse as another option. Slide the saddle back a bit until it settles into place.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The main goals of treatment are to preserve normal kidney growth, prevent progressive kidney scars, and avoid recurrences of serious kidney-related infections.  When the effectiveness of medical management is compared to surgery in the general reflux child population, there are no great differences between the two in reaching these goals.  However, in those whose medical therapy fails to prevent these reflux-related consequences, surgery is considered. There are two basic methods to surgically correct reflux: minimally invasive endoscopic treatment and surgical repair. Bladder endoscopy is performed using a cystoscope (cystoscopy). The cystoscope is a thin, flexible, lighted telescope-like tube that enables the surgeon to look into the bladder and perform some tasks like tissue sampling and injections. The endoscopic procedure for reflux is often referred to as Deflux, which is the name of the material used to eliminate the reflux.  The Deflux procedure is done through the cystoscope. Deflux is a viscous biodegradable gel. No actual surgical incision is required for this procedure. Using the cystoscope, the surgeon injects Deflux to create a bulge just below or within the urethra where it enters the bladder.  The bulge reduces the size of the opening, allowing it to close during bladder contraction to eliminate reflux. After the procedure, the urine may be light pink for a while and your child may have some discomfort when urinating for about a day.  Acetaminophen can be used for the pain—follow the dose instructions on the package since this comes in many strengths. Open surgery for reflux is a treatment choice for high-grade reflux, particularly when the reflux is associated with more extensive abnormalities of the ureter or bladder. Your child will be hospitalized following the procedure and pain management provided.  This open surgery is much like any other procedure, but should be less painful. If everything goes well, your child should then be released from the hospital if she is eating, drinking, and urinating without problems. Laparoscopic surgery also has been used in this setting, but the frequency of unsatisfactory results or complications is higher than open surgery.

SUMMARY: Talk to your child’s doctor about surgical correction. Consider using endoscopy to treat your child. Consider open surgery as a treatment for high-grade reflux. Know that laparoscopic surgery is less frequently used in children.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: There are actually a variety of different cherry blossom trees available, each with different features. The Yoshino cherry tree grows quickly and has wide-spreading branches, while the Okame cherry tree has a rounded appearance and is a bit smaller.  The Kwanzan cherry tree is a tall tree that provides enough space to walk beneath it and admire it's bunches of blooms. There are also several kinds of weeping cherry trees, and you can choose one by size, if you have a specific spot to fill. In order to blossom, your cherry tree will need lots of sunlight, so choose a spot that gets at least four hours of direct sunlight per day. If possible, choose a spot that is elevated compared to the rest of your lawn or garden to keep cold air from settling around your cherry tree. Cherry blossom trees grow best in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8. The soil beneath your cherry tree should be rich and deep. It's important that the soil is moist, but well-draining. Cherry trees can adapt to several soil types, but do better in acidic than alkaline environments. . Nurseries sell cherry blossom tree planting stock as young trees, rather than seeds. Choose a tree in the type you have selected that is one- to two-years-old and that has been grown in an environment similar to the one you plan to transfer the tree too (i.e. sun exposure, soil type).

SUMMARY: Choose the type of cherry blossom tree you want. Pick a spot with full sun to partial shade. Select a space with deep, fertile soil. Procure a one- to two-year-old tree


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When substances build up around the teeth of your zipper, it can prevent the zipper from staying closed. As a result, you’ll need to clean the teeth and remove stuff that could be preventing the zipper from closing.  Combine water and soap in a small dish, and stir until suds form. Dip a clean rag in the soapy water and wipe down the zipper’s teeth. Grab a fresh rag and run it under the tap. Wipe the soapy mixture off the teeth with the damp rag. Attempt to zip and unzip as normal.

SUMMARY:
Remove buildup from a zipper’s teeth.