5 Hot Weather Tips for Keeping Your Horse Happy

9:52 am
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Lately I have written about summer topics like the importance of electrolytes and automatic waterers. This year’s summer is shaping up to be one for the record books in many parts of the country. With heat waves gripping the nation, broken up only by heavy storms with damaging wind and flooding rains, how is a horseman supposed to keep the horses healthy, safe, and fit during all this extreme weather? Here are five tips to keep your horses happy during as we head towards the dog days of summer.

1. Water for everyone: Water in buckets, water […]

The Ins and Outs of Polo Wraps

8:30 am
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Polo wraps are one of the oldest forms of support and protection for a working horse’s legs. When done up properly, their uniform look and striking color contrast with the horse’s coat color is very appealing. A horse with good polo wraps looks workmanlike, and if you’ve ever worked with a trainer who believes perfect groom equals success, you probably appreciate the distinction.

They’re not easy to master, however, and that’s important, because improper polo wraps can do far more harm than good. Let’s take a look at polo wraps and how they should […]

How to Use Recycled Materials to Cut Down on Equestrian Arena Costs

If your budget is the only reason you keep putting off your plans to build your own equestrian arena, here is some good news for you. While you can definitely save money by doing much of the actual construction yourself, you can also possibly cut down on costs by using recycled construction materials wherever possible. For example, choosing crushed glass instead of silica sand can save you a lot of money when it comes to putting together your sand surface. Additionally, recycled materials are eco-friendly and will help you bring down the carbon footprint of building your own equestrian […]

The History Behind Show Jumping

5:27 pm
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Show jumping is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete at the same level in the same competition.

Our friends at The Irish Field newspaper (http://www.theirishfield.ie/equine/Show%20jumping/511/) created an interactive  StoryMap to highlight the history behind the sport of showjumping.

The StoryMap can be viewed at – https://s3.amazonaws.com/uploads.knightlab.com/storymapjs/ffb3f89e5f8c2712dce9691116b11b40/history-of-showjumping/index.html, and is interactive and can be scrolled through.

We found it very interesting, and a great way to convey the history of the sport […]

Deep-Cleaning Your Saddles, Bridles, and Leather Tack

11:13 pm
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The weather forecast for the rest of summer: sultry. Ready to stop sweating it in the barn? Get the chores done early and haul your old tack inside: it’s time for a saddle and bridle deep-clean!

There are a lot of witch’s brews and home remedies out there for stripping and conditioning tack. Walk into a feed store and ask for recommendations, and you’ll hear hearty endorsements for everything from ammonia to olive oil. The general idea is to strip the oils and dirt out of the leather, leaving it clean, but dry, and then returning […]

Ready For Rio? Where to Watch the 2016 Olympic Games Equestrian Coverage

12:14 am
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With just a few weeks to go before Rio 2016, do you know where your Olympics coverage will be? Unless you’re heading to Brazil to catch the equestrian action first-hand, you’re probably going to want to figure out your television and internet options now — so you can plan to put the rest of the world on hold accordingly! Here’s the details we have on equestrian coverage for the 2016 Olympic games.

NBCUniversal’s combined networks and digital platforms plan on presenting nearly 7,000 hours of Olympics coverage — that’s more than ever before. They’ll […]

Celebrating National Farrier’s Week

8:41 am
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Next week is a national celebration of some of the most important people in your horses’ lives: their farriers.

Didn’t get the memo about National Farrier’s Week? Don’t worry, most people don’t, as it tends to fall onto those calendars of “weird holidays” like National Pumpkin Muffin with Icing Day. And that’s too bad, because we really couldn’t manage without our farriers. They deserve to be celebrated! In that spirit, we have five easy ways to thank your farrier for being awesome, not just on National Farrier’s Week, but every week.

1 […]

Preparing Horses for Fireworks Displays

2:22 pm
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With the Fourth of July upon us, it’s officially fireworks season in the United States. Are you prepared for the potential effects of fireworks near your farm? Fireworks can be hazards in a multitude of ways, whether it’s the physical debris or the loud noise. Here are some tips to assess your fireworks preparedness level.

1. Know your neighbors. It can be difficult to keep up with neighbors in rural areas, especially if you’re on large properties. If you aren’t sure who lives next door, you might want to think creatively to introduce yourself […]