Breaking News in the Equine World: Modern Domestic Horses’ Origins Revealed!

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Debates around where domesticated horses came from has been a hot topic in the horse world for many years. For a long time, we believed that our modern equine friends originated from Przewalski’s horses, a rare and endangered ‘distant cousin’ subspecies native to central Asia’s steppes. However, a 2018 research publication by Science revealed compelling evidence of bridling, including bit marks on teeth remains of Botai horses, originally from a region North Kazakhstan, approximately 5500 ago. These findings suggest that Botai horses shared close proximity to humans long before Przewalski’s horses were around.

Surprisingly, DNA analysis and […]

The Turnout Debate and How to Minimize Field-Related Injuries

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The turnout debate:

After several months of lockdowns and social isolation, people around the world have become increasingly aware of the effects of prolonged confinement on mental health. So, when a renowned Grand Prix rider announced that she was not giving her horses any turnout in order to avoid potential field injuries, it sent the internet into an uproar. Social media users were quick to point the finger at her disregard for her horses’ well-being and mental health. She defended that, while her horses do not get field turnout per say, they leave their stalls several times […]

Wild Turkey Farm – an Equine Facility Design Project

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Twenty years ago, Equine Facility Design started a new ambitious journey with a client to plan, design and build a new home for Wild Turkey Farm, a luxurious equine breeding and training facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. Initially bought in 2001 by Barb Ellison, the long-time horse breeder worked closely with EFD to renovate this Willamette River waterfront property for nearly 10 years. The project was completed in 2009, and with it came the promise of a successful elite breeding center. Today, this impressive 215-acre equestrian estate is preparing to change ownership and has recently been listed on Christie […]

Equine-Assisted Therapy in the COVID-19 Era

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Mental Health and Equine- Assisted Therapy (E.A.T) in the Covid-19 era:

Following our previous blog post on the ‘Benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy’, we thought it might be interesting to revisit this topic in the context of the Covid-19 global pandemic.

Mental Health has been at the forefront of many discussions this past year, while anxiety and depression have skyrocketed as a result of prolonged isolation, grief, and loss. As we continue to recognize the benefits of outdoors activities and contact with animals on our mental health, adequate funding for large-scale scientific studies […]

The Annual Jerez Horse Fair: A Colorful Event for All Andalusian Horse Lovers

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Imagine sipping a glass of fine Sherry wine while riding a beautiful Andalusian stallion and witnessing a parade with some of the most stunning horses in the world, right under the palm trees and sunshine of Andalusia. This is what you can expect at The Feria de Jerez, also known as “Feria del Caballo” (Jerez Horse Fair), a colorful event that would take any horse lover’s breath away.

After being canceled due to the pandemic in 2020 for the first time since the 1938 Spanish Civil War, the Jerez Horse Fair is back on this year- and while ongoing […]

Strategies to Prioritize Barn Safety During COVID-19

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As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread through the country, chances are you’re facing some challenges in managing your barn that you’ve never encountered before. Some states have gone into lockdowns, requiring all non-essential businesses to close, while others are still fully operational. In this uncertain time, how do you ensure that your horses receive the care they need while keeping yourself, your barn staff, and your boarders safe? These tips can help.

Stay Up to Date with Your State’s News

Because states are in different phases of restrictions and lockdowns, it’s […]

Disaster Preparedness for the Horse Owner

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With Hurricane Florence hitting North and South Carolinas this week, we’ve all seen firsthand how important it is for horse owners to have a disaster preparedness plan in place. Have you designed an evacuation plan yet? The tips below can help you to create, improve, and refine your plans so that you’re well prepared just in case disaster ever strikes your area.

Create a Detailed Evacuation Plan

If you had to leave your farm with only a few hours’ notice, what would you do? Where would you go? Could you transport all of your horses and […]

How to Help Horses Affected by Natural Disasters

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With natural disasters ravaging sections of the United States, from thousand-year floods in Louisiana to devastating fires in California, heart-rending scenes of horses in danger have many people wondering how they can help. Most charities agree that financial donations are the best way to make sure horses (and humans) get the help they need. Certainly if you’re a few hundred miles away, sending a big load of hay and grain over is out of the question. It’s tougher to prove that your dollars are going directly to the horses with cash, though. Before you send a […]