Emergency Preparedness for Horse Owners

11:55 pm

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Emergencies, whether caused by a storm, wildfire, or other event out of our hands, are not the time to start making plans and buying supplies. It’s important to be prepared for an emergency, a time when your farm might be without electricity, running water, or accessible roads, before trouble strikes. Here are some emergency preparedness tips for horse owners to consider.

Keep feed, hay, and medications well-stocked. The Humane Society of the United States recommends keeping several days’ worth of feed and necessary medications on-hand. Should your farm suddenly be cut off from easy access […]

Fall Pasture Care Tips

1:40 am

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Misc.

Fall is here! It’s time to think about grass. Wait — grass? But isn’t winter coming? If your spring grass is the last thing on your mind as the days grow cooler and the green starts to disappear from the pasture, read on. Next year’s grass depends on this year’s good care. Here are some fall pasture care tips to give you a green spring.

Take a soil sample. Your local extension office can analyze your soil and see what nutrients your ground is lacking. Some feed stores offer this service, as well. Why is […]

Three Easy Steps to Dry Hooves

7:12 am

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Equine Care

We all know that mud and constant wet wreaks havoc on our horses’ hooves. We also know that mud and wet weather is a part of life in most stables. So what’s an equestrian to do with all those wet hooves? Here are three easy steps to dry hooves that can maintain a balanced moisture level and make your horse happy.

Stable your horse on clean bedding. Even a horse who is happy living outside can benefit from some time on your favorite bedding if their hooves are water-laden. Wood products naturally draw moisture from hooves. Just a […]

Groundwork and Games For Horses

6:38 am

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Equine Care

Is your horse on a lay-up? Are YOU on a lay-up? Stall rest, whether it’s for you or your horse, doesn’t have to be boring, or a waste of training time. Bone up on your horse’s ground manners, or learn some new games and skills that will increase your bond once saddle-time is back. Try some of these groundwork and games lessons the next time riding is off-limits!

Groundwork: Manners. So many horses lack basic manners, and it gets even worse when a fit horse is suddenly taken out of work […]

5 Tips for Winter Barn Prep

9:00 am

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Equine Care, Facility Planning & Design

Winter barn prep… in September? Well, we might be in the dog days now, but autumn is just a few weeks away, and, depending on where you live, winter may be hard on its heels. So even though your thoughts may be on keeping cool, it’s time to consider how you, your horses, and your barn will fare at keeping warm this winter.

Blanket Inspection. It’s time to open up those scary contractor’s bags and tack trunks where you’ve been storing the winter rugs, brush away the dust and spiders (we’re sorry) and […]

Stall Door Types: Pros and Cons

8:50 pm

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Facility Planning & Design, Products

When you’re designing your stable, seemingly hundreds of tiny details become very large decisions. Stall doors are one of those decisions that can affect your daily life at the barn, whether it’s your business or your hobby. Sliding, Dutch, grills, yokes — what’s the best stall door for you?

Sliding doors (as shown in the French Hill Farm project) are popular in barns and often come in prefab stall kits. They take up less space because they don’t intrude on the barn aisle, making it easier to lead or cross-tie horses in the aisle. Because you […]

Where Should I Feed My Horse Hay?

9:00 am

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Equine Care, Products

Hay nets, hay racks, hay feeders, hay bags, hay on the ground… it seems like the only thing we can agree on as equestrians is that horses need hay. The science of actually feeding that hay can get pretty complicated and pretty opinionated, pretty quickly! Some horsemen swear by hay nets, but others never really master the art of stuffing the flimsy things. Others prefer a trough feeder or a mat on the ground, saying that horses shouldn’t reach up for hay. And busy boarding stables often swear by hay racks, which allow for quick, efficient feeding by grooms […]

Keeping Senior Horses Happy

2:02 pm

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Equine Care

Recently, the equestrian world saw a 37-year-old pony make headlines in the UK for winning a dressage competition. The judge told Scrumpy’s rider that the spunky pony looked like a four-year-old.

While not every horse is going to be fresh as a colt well into their golden years, it’s still possible to maintain the happiness and soundness of older horses with smart senior care.

First, know your horse. Memory is faulty, and so when senior horses go downhill gradually, losing condition and good health without the changes to their body being glaringly noticeable, horse […]