Summer mud. Winter mud. Spring mud. Fall mud. No matter what the season, mud is a part of a horseman’s life. Whether you live in a part of the country with a rainy season that makes mud a daily nuisance, or you just don’t have the best drainage in the world, mud happens.
And mud is more than just a tedious mess that ends up all over your boots. Mud can cause a host of health problems, from soft feet to skin infections. So what should horse owners be aware of when […]
Well, the official kick-off to summer has come and gone, and although some spots in the country might still have snow on the ground, there’s no question that most of us will be seeing hot weather very soon — if not already!
It’s nice to put away the blankets and jackets, of course, but hot weather comes with its own set of challenges for equine health.
One problem that often crops up in the summertime is dehydration. Keeping horses hydrated can be quite the challenge. (You can lead a […]
You walk into the barn and sigh. Your horse’s stall is a wreck. There is more hay beneath his feet than bedding. He’s been working on that tunnel to freedom again, too: the gnawed spot on top of his stall door is easily an inch deeper than it was yesterday. And look at those hoof-marks on the wall. He’s been kicking. Last time he kicked the stall walls, he was lame for a week.
All to easy to picture? As horse-owners, most […]
One of the easiest ways is to take everything out and separate items into piles: keep, store, fix, give away and throw away
•The “keep” pile might include the tack you use every day; first aid items, boots, and bandages and other frequently used items. These items should be clean and ready to go. Thoroughly inspect all your leather tack to see if it belongs in the “fix/clean” pile to repair any damage and give it a […]
Makes sense, right? With this being an election year, my thoughts take me to the campaign process and recent debates. Each candidate expresses their views, experience, and opinion with great passion and conviction. For the most part, they present a compelling argument. However, I tend to […]
Because I enjoy cleaning out my closets several times a year and organizing my garage (always a daunting task) this article immediately grabbed my attention like dust to a microfiber cloth.
Although cleaning stables can seem like a massive undertaking, the suggestion is to tackle one thing at a time […]
It may also be necessary after a period of disuse or as a precautionary measure when infection is suspected. Here’s how:
1. Remove all bedding from the stall. Do not put contaminated bedding in a manure pile or anywhere near animals. Piles of manure and bedding are perfectly suited for the breeding of bacteria. Dispose of soiled bedding by spreading […]
Cindy is an avid dressage and trail rider and the owner of an interesting assortment of horses who each have their own story to tell. Besides being a part owner of a successful manufacturing business and a garden enthusiast, she is also a former Reserve Portland Mounted Police Officer and monthly columnist, “Trails by Tyree […]
