As the days start to get shorter with corresponding longer nights, now is a good time to start thinking of additional lighting in your barn to help chase away the gloom of the darkness for both you and your horse. Horse’s eyes are sensitive to weak light. Their eyes don’t have the ability to adjust to darkness quickly, which is why they will often refuse to enter a dark building. In addition, shadows and poorly lit areas make stall cleaning cumbersome and inhibit observation and care. A combination of individual stall and general aisle way lighting is preferred. Place fixtures where they won’t create shadows for the horse when he enters his stall.

It’s Halloween and that means it's spooky season. So how can you protect yourself from things that go “bump in the night”? With a magic horse shoe, of course!

Two main problems with buying a new saddle are the cost and the uncomfortable process of breaking in the new leather. However, when buying a used saddle, you need to be on the lookout for a variety of issues that could signify that the saddle is damaged. Here’s what to look for:

With Fall hunting season coming up it is best to make sure you stay as safe as possible when outdoors and especially when riding on trails or pastures along hunting grounds.

It is always important to make safety #1 when riding, especially when you are riding with children.  

Making your barn more environmentally friendly is not only good for the environment but also makes good business sense. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has Cooperative Extension programs across the country. Congress created the Extension system nearly a century ago to address exclusively rural, agricultural issues. At that time, more than 50 percent of the U.S. population lived in rural areas, and 30 percent of the workforce was engaged in farming. Today, fewer than 2 percent of Americans farm for a living, and only 17 percent of Americans now live in rural areas. But Extension agents still serve a purpose by helping farmers grow crops and small farm owners plan and maintain their acreage.

Clicker training is a leading force-free method for training a number of diverse animals. It is a science-based method that traces its origins back to the work of B.F. Skinner. Karen Pryor, one of the early pioneers of marine mammal training, coined the term clicker training and helped expand the work into the broader training community.

Equine teeth are designed to wear against the tooth above or below as the horse chews, thus preventing excess growth. The upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw. In some cases, sharp edges can occur on the outside of the upper molars and the inside of the lower molars, as they are unopposed by an opposite grinding surface. These sharp edges can reduce the chewing efficiency of the teeth, interfere with jaw motion, and in extreme cases cut the tongue or cheek, making eating and riding painful.

Flies always seem to be lingering around. In the barn, around the barn, on you, and on your horse. They won't go away and you wish they would. Luckily, we have a few tips that may help decrease the number of flies you've been stuck with.

Most of us probably know the general basics when it comes to taking care of your horse when he is hurt. But what if you or another rider is injured and/or is left unconscious? Could you recognize the signs of shock, and do you know how to treat it? If you spend a lot of time around horses, then it’s possible that one day you will have to help a rider in a serious situation. Let’s review the First-Aid basics that you will want to know.