Posts by Matt | Equestrian Barns & Architecture: Start Living the Dream

Safe Stalls Program for Horses

5:41 pm

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Everyone who loves animals is heartbroken by images of neglect or cruelty.

We most often think of this in regards to dogs and cats or other household pets. Many don’t realize this is also a problem in the equine community.

But the Humane Society has stepped up with a program to build a network to address the problem. Watch this:

With these bigger animals comes a need for bigger solutions. By creating a network of providers across the nation, resources like pasture, hay, and stalls can be ready on an emergency basis.

If you love horses and […]

Run-In Sheds for Horses

10:31 pm

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Facility Planning & Design

Climate is, of course, as much of a factor of comfort for your horse as it is for you.

The desire to take shelter from intense heat, biting wind, or a downpour is as natural for equines as for humans.

Not everyone can afford a full barn for their horses and there is a range of options that can fill the need. One is a pasture run-in. The run-in is an open structure that may or many not have storage or a feed bin. This allows your horse to get out of the weather at will […]

Horses for Sale (and other things)

7:25 pm

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Misc.

According to IBISWorld, a leading market research company, a “return to disposable income will boost spending on race- and recreational horses” as well as on equine products in general in 2012.

IBISWorld predicts after a negative 2.7% growth from 2006-2011, we’re poised for growth from the end of 2011 through 2016. And by some significant margins.

Profits on $1.6 billion in revenue should be around $82.2 million for more than 106,000 businesses in this sector. The recovery over this period is expected to get an initial bump in 2012, with revenue projected […]

Horse Technology

8:17 pm

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Equine Care

Personal technology is something that has been overlooked by the horse industry, but that’s beginning to change, with some very useful results.

There are many innovative applications for mobile devices that can bring a lot of value both to the life of a horse owner and to the life of a horse. In this post we will highlight just a few. There are many out there, so explore, and talk to other equestrians.

TrailLogger, http://traillogger.com/

This is a simple, handy app that logs the time you spend riding. This can be useful for […]

iPad for Horses

9:59 pm

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Facility Planning & Design

This is just too adorable not to share.

Horse Barn Interior Safety

9:48 pm

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Equine Care, Facility Planning & Design

I’ve never seen any really egregious examples of bad practices for barn interiors. I’m talking about sharp corners, toxic materials, non-tempered glass and that sort of thing that could injure a horse when they’re in the barn.

Most of the shortcuts or less-than-ideal things I’ve seen in barn construction result from budgetary concerns and that is something that I understand. However, when you think about it, it’s not very difficult and often not expensive to keep your horse safe in the barn by following a few guidelines.

We don’t […]

Horse Tack: Saddle Care Quick Tips

9:17 pm

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Equine Care

Whether you’re riding leather or synthetic, English or Australian, protecting and properly maintaining your saddle can add years, even decades, to the life of your saddle.

If you dig around a little you will find an abundance of information concerning saddle care. The trouble is, nearly every piece of advice seems to also come with a backdoor pitch for the latest oil, more effective brushes, or a new type of sealant. Let’s avoid name-brand products and clever acronyms and distill all the information down to a few key steps that will help your saddle last […]

Video: Keeping Your Horse from Tripping in the Stall

5:20 am

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Equine Care, Facility Planning & Design

A sometimes overlooked item in barn building is door hardware.

Not just what the door is assembled with, which is a concern for horse health and should be factored in. But also how the door is moved.

Sliding doors in barns are optimal for a variety of reasons, space being one of the more important. Stall doors can be large and heavy and that means have secure rails and guides. But remember that your horse is going to be stepping through that space frequently. Innovative Equine Systems has come up with a great solution that you can see […]