Radios are common in many barns and arenas. But does playing music actually benefit your horse? You’ll find differing opinions, but here are some factors to consider when making up your own mind.

Calming a Nervous Horse

It is common belief that having background music can help calm and soothe a nervous horse while in their stall. You will find on racetracks, groomers whistle and sing to their horses as they care for them and typically rodeos play an array of music through the night. You will often find barn radios playing softly, even when horses are left alone in the barn. Many horses seem to enjoy the music, as long as the setup is designed with a horse’s natural habits in mind.

If you want to play a radio in your barn, remember that horses are naturally sensitive animals. They have excellent hearing, and their hearing is a sense that they use for self-preservation in the wild. Taking away their ability to hear well by playing loud music may put horses on edge.

When playing a radio in the barn, keep the volume low enough to only establish a background sound. You will also want to carefully choose the music that you play. While hard rock or heavy metal might be your preference, your horse might not feel the same. According to a study by British researchers, horses seem to be relaxed when listening to classical or country music. On the other hand, jazz and rock music resulted in horses exhibiting stressful behaviors.

When you set up your radio, make sure that it is positioned well out of reach of any curious horses. You will also want to be sure all electrical cords are out of reach.

Riding to Music

Many riders also like to ride with music playing. While playing music through arena speakers is a popular option, some riders choose to play music by using their phones or handheld devices.

There are many advantages to riding with music. Music can not only help relax a nervous horse but also relax a rider as well. Music also establishes a tempo, allowing an improved sense of variation in your horse’s pace.

On the other hand, music can be a potential distraction while riding, leaving you less focused on your horse and the cues that you are transmitting to him. If you play music too loudly, you may miss out on important communication from other riders.

The decision to play music, whether in the barn or while riding, is one that only you can make given your individual situation.

One of the major decisions that you will face when building or expanding your barn is selecting what style of horse stall you want. While there is plenty of variety between stall designs, stall doors come in just two styles – sliding and hinged. Unsure of which type of door is right for you? Here’s some information that might help in your decision!

Trail riding this time of year is a treat for both you and your horse.  Cooler temps and beautiful fall colors, followed by a winter wonderland.  But don’t take for granted that your “bombproof” horse will stay bombproof.  Consider taking these steps for a safer trail ride.

Pastern dermatitis, often known as scratches, is a common problem of inflammation of the skin behind or around the pastern of the horse.  In most cases, the infection is caused by bacteria or fungus that entering through any openings in the skin – small wounds, cracks or even chapping. The most common signs of scratches are scabs and crusting around the pasterns. There may also be a clear liquid substance leaking from the area.

While many horse owners are used to trailering their horse for several hours, there may come a time when you’ll need to move your horse a much longer distance. This could be due to a move you will be making or the purchase of a horse that lives in another part of the country. If you have the time and the truck/trailer to do so, you can certainly trailer your horse yourself, but there are many benefits to using a professional horse hauling company.

With the constant changes of weather – warm to cold, wet to dry – it’s a common time for horses to develop a hoof abscess. A hoof abscess is a localized bacterial infection in the sensitive structures of the hoof, typically in the front feet in the sole of the hoof, but can also be found elsewhere.

When it’s time to bed your horse there are a wide variety of bedding options. Here are some things to consider when deciding on what your horse will stand and sleep on.

Leasing a horse is an ideal way to see if you want the responsibility of owning your own horse. You will have the benefits of riding the horse and bonding with it while also taking on the responsibilities that come with it. Too often people are quick to buy a horse and then realize it’s too much work. Sometimes the horse suffers from neglect when the owner becomes too busy or quickly sells the horse to an owner of even lesser interest.

Knowing your horses normal behavior when he is feeling good will help you to better realize when he may be feeling sick or not normal. Every horse owner needs to know what is “normal” for their horse. Being able to report these behaviors to your veterinarian when you contact him can help evaluate whether a visit is necessary and/or how quickly your horse needs to be seen.

While stall mats are great to use as the base layer in your horse’s stall for comfort, stall mats can also be used in several “non-traditional” ways to make your barn safer, cleaner and more user-friendly. Consider these alternate uses in and around the barn as well as other areas where you can use Classic Equine Equipment’s versatile and durable stall mats: