Once you select the style of barn you want, you need to decide on the type of construction. Some things to consider are climate challenges, budget and the amount of time you can wait for your new barn to be finished. For example, a modular barn can be erected in a few days, while a pole barn building can take months.

Recently we wrote a blog on protecting your horses skin from the sun, but wanted to emphasize that it’s just as important that you also protect YOUR skin from the sun. Excessive sun can not only cause dryness and burning, but is also the leading cause of skin cancer. Remember that your skin can be damaged by the sun even on cloudy days.

Just like people, stress and a poor diet can cause ulcers in horses. Symptoms can include poor appetite or fussy eating, teeth grinding or sensitivity in the girth area. Incorporate these tips in your horse care program to help prevent ulcers.

If you’ve been around horses, you’ve undoubtedly heard them snort - in their stalls, out in pasture or being ridden. And if you own a horse, you may even have had the lovely experience of being snorted on. But do horse shorts mean anything more than a horse clearing his nasal passage? Last year, a team of researchers at the University of Rennes in France conducted research to see if they could identify under what circumstances these “blowouts” in horse’s occurred.

As summer heats up, you’re probably seeing more articles on the critical problem of heat stress or heat exhaustion for you horse. Signs can include elevated temperature, rapid pulse, rapid breathing and/or dehydration. But unless you know your horse’s healthy vital signs, you might miss a real emergency. So let’s review a horse’s T-P-R, I.e. their normal, relaxed temperature, pulse and respiration. We’ve also included a reminder on how to check for dehydration.

Think of pasture management as “grass farming” - grasses are the crop you grow and your horses “harvest”. The difference between a good crop (abundant, high quality grass) and a poor crop (weeds and unappetizing grass) is dependent on good pasture management. These include:

Did you know that your horse can get sunburn and damage his skin just like humans do? And like humans, sunburn can occur even on cloudy days. Light-colored horses and horses with white markings can get quite badly sunburned, especially on the muzzle and around the eyes, and need extra protection. Dark colored horses, however may not be as prone to sunburn, but their coat color can get bleached, turning your beautiful bay to mousy brown.

If you're thinking of adding breeding to your barn business, it’s important to evaluate your current barn and make any changes before you start your breeding program. Here are a few things to think about if you look forward to the patter of little hooves:

Time To Ride was created by the American Horse Council’s Marketing Alliance to encourage the growth of the U.S. horse industry. Their sixth annual National Meet A Horse Day on Saturday, July 20, 2019, is an opportunity to introduce a new generation to the wonder of horses. And you can be a part of it.

Nothing ruins a trip to the barn or a trail ride faster than being inundated by flies or other pests. But there are ways you can minimize them and their impact on your riding time. Try one or several of the following suggestions. An integrated pest control system is the best way to say “bye-bye” to flies.