With the Kentucky Derby just days away, here’s a look back at one of the superstars of the Triple Crown world of horse racing - the amazing Secretariat.

Hopefully you are able to put away most of your horse blankets until next year. Quality horse blankets can be expensive so you want them last as long as possible. Instead of just tossing them in a pile in the corner of the tack room until next fall, take these steps now and they'll be good as new next time you are ready to use them.

There are as many theories on how and when to deworm your horse as there are products to do it with. The worry has always been the possibility of overmedicating your horse, resulting in eventual resistance to dewormers, or not to deworm at all.

Whether you are building a barn, doing a big renovation or just adding a few things, you can do a lot with barn accessories. Including, but not limited too automatic waterers, new barn fans or ultimate tack organization. Check out the products at Classic Equine Equipment for some great ideas.

A. Some horses are very food-oriented, to the point of becoming disruptive while waiting for their next meal. One way to solve this problem is to always have food available for the horse and the easiest way to do that is to leave a hay net hanging in their stalls. You see this at most racetracks to keep Thoroughbreds calm and busy between running. Hay nets come with different size holes – choosing one with smaller holes will not only make your horse work harder to get the hay but also keep him busier for a longer period of time.

If you ever thought about sprucing up your barn with some landscaping, now is a great time to start! The weather is cool, but not cold and there’s enough rain in the forecast to give your plants plenty of moisture but not too much. And most garden centers have a wide variety of options right now. But before you begin buying plants, consider a few things first:

Horse owners want the very best for their horse and are very critical when deciding to move their horse somewhere new. One way a horse owner can decide which barn is best for them is to make a list of the “must haves” and compare boarding facilities based on these items.

Even if your horse has been trailered countless times, your first time trailering him alone and by yourself might be a challenge for both of you. Take a moment to see if you are both ready by knowing the answers to these questions.

Just as important as the footing your horse rides on so is what your horse stands on in his stall. While stall mats are a great option to cushion your horse’s legs after a hard long workout or long term confinement, the next step up in quality care is a stall mattress.

The flooring in your barn is what you and your horse will be standing and walking on. It’s important to pick the right flooring for both your horse and your budget. There are several flooring options available to you, but regardless of what you pick always remember to install your electric and water lines before choosing your flooring.