Does My Horse Need a Winter Blanket?

3:06 am
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Here comes winter! Well, it’s starting to feel like fall in many parts of the country, and that means shaggy horses. If you’re clipping winter coats, you’re probably starting to go through your blanket inventory. If you’re leaving your horses fuzzy this winter, you might be wondering if your horse needs a winter blanket.

Well, he might not need a winter wardrobe at all. A healthy horse with a winter coat, a good diet with plenty of calories, and a windbreak with shelter probably doesn’t need a blanket until the cold gets extreme — as low […]

5 Horse Toys for Your Bored Horse

8:22 pm
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Is your horse stall-bound? Or does he get turned out alone, and spend his days walking the fence, whinnying, and generally being a pain? Some horses need more entertainment than a pile of hay or a swath of green grass. Luckily, modern horses can alleviate their boredom with horse toys. Here are five horse toys to liven up your bored horse’s life!

The Jolly Ball. It’s been around for decades, and the Jolly Ball (www.horsemenspride.com/products/) is still making a certain segment of the equine population (mainly the mouthy boys) very jolly indeed […]

Grooming 101: Keeping Your Horse’s Tail Beautiful

5:55 pm
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Is your horse’s tail less than perfect? Most of us dream of a perfect unicorn with flowing forelock, mane, and tail, but life is usually less than perfect. Our fantasy unicorns never roll in mud and always disdain cockleburrs, but our real-life horses generally prefer dirt and mess to anything else.

There’s no magic potion to make your horse’s tail unicorn-quality overnight, but careful management in everything from grooming to feeding can help your horse develop a tail you’ll be happy to daydream about.

Daily Grooming: Daily maintenance is key to a […]

Light Coats: Do’s and Don’ts for Keeping Horses Show-Ready Under Lights

8:07 pm
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The fuzzy days of fall are upon us, when horses lose their show-ring sheen and begin to puff into mastodon models. If you’re showing this winter, or just plain don’t want to deal with all that hair, you might be tempted to leave the barn lights on late. Horses do grow their winter coats based upon the shortening of winter days, not the crisp chill in the air, but take a minute to review these do’s and don’ts of keeping your horse under lights. It would be a shame to pay that extra-large electric […]

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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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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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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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 […]

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