Our friends at Diamond Trailers have put together the real cost of owning a horse, as it’s every little girl or boys dream to own one. Think back to your childhood and you probably though about it at least once. Probably asked your parents for one at Christmas or a birthday? Well, it sounds great. Until you look at the cost of owning a horse in the long run, it’s a huge financial commitment and not one that should be taken lightly. Here’s a infographic showing the initial cost of owning a horse and the yearly cost […]
Should My Indoor Arena Connect to my Stable?
Indoor and covered arenas are becoming increasingly popular for horsemen across the country. There’s really no climate in which a trainer or even casual rider can’t take advantage of a roof over their head while riding. Protection from rain, snow, and blazing hot sun — all of these conditions can significantly impact your training calendar, as well as your enjoyment of your horses. They also come in handy for turn-out when paddocks are inaccessible or unsafe.
To maximize the benefits of covered or indoor arenas, many barn owners are opting to connect them to their stable, or even […]
Monitor, Raised Center Aisle Barns
Choosing a barn that’s right for you starts with your horses and their comfort. Second only to happy horses, though, is the way the barn will affect you: do you need extra storage? Easy access to arenas in all weathers? Accommodations for you or your staff? As we continue to look at different barn styles, one style that particularly lends itself to living quarters and extra storage comes to mind: the monitor, or raised center-aisle, barn.
Frequently built around pole construction, lending longevity and sturdiness to the structure, monitor barns are distinctive from typical center-aisle barns thanks […]
Barn Design Pros and Cons: The Center-Aisle Barn
The center-aisle barn: one of the most adaptable and popular equine stabling options in the United States. Many people’s brains simply default to this style of barn when they think about stables. It’s the preferred choice for horsemen across the country, spanning a variety of disciplines, breeds, and climates.
But is the center-aisle barn right for you? Last week we looked at the good and the bad of the shed-row style barn. This week, let’s look at some of the pros and cons (yes, there are cons!) to the center-aisle barn.
The pros […]
Barn Design Pros & Cons: Shed-Row Barns
Having a hard time deciding what kind of barn to build? There are so many options and floor plans out there, it can make such a serious decision extremely difficult to make! Like any tough decision, the best place to start is with a solid list of pros and cons. Let’s take a look at different barn styles one by one, starting with shed-rows.
Shed-row barns include a row of stalls opening onto an open breezeway, such as our Gilroy stable project. You might find one row of stalls, or the stalls can be back-to-back […]
5 Steps to Finding the Right Farrier
New to the area? Just getting started in horses? Taking over the farm? From time to time, we find ourselves facing the need to choose a new farrier. This is no small decision. Don’t just call the first farrier’s number you see pinned to the bulletin board at the feed store! We have five steps to finding and keeping the right farrier for you and your horse.
1. Start with the right recommendations. The first person to ask about a farrier should be your veterinarian, followed by trainers and barn owners with visibly happy, sound horses […]
3 Ways to Explore National Parks with Horse Power
Feeling a little penned in by your arenas? It’s time for a new adventure! Why not put a whole new kind of ride in the planner? As the National Park Service celebrates one hundred years of protecting and sharing the country’s most treasured landscapes, saddle up for the trail ride of a lifetime with one of these amazing national park riding experiences. Here are three very different ways to explore our national parks with horsepower.
(Feature photo: Jeff Hitchcock/Flickr)
Glacier National Park in Montana offers stunning views, diverse wildlife and geologic history, and a variety of options […]
5 Easy Ways to Make Your Barn Safer in Minutes
We all know there’s nothing like too much safety around your barn. Did you know you can make your barn just a little safer in a few minutes? Add an extra layer of safety (and improve your peace of mind) with these quick fixes.
Evacuation Halters: Does your horse live in an urban area, or even a relatively rural one, where it’s likely civilians or emergency personnel might be responsible for evacuating the animals? Unless you live right upstairs and always have a barn-sitter, there’s always the possibility that disaster could strike with no […]