The #1 question potential horse owners ask is, “how much does it cost to keep a horse?” The answer is, of course, it depends. But the most common follow-up question is, “But won’t it cost way less because I’ll be keeping him at home in my backyard?”
The Cost of Keeping Your Horse At Home
BARN BUILDING 101: Barn End and Paddock Doors
We’ve discussed in previous blogs the importance of ventilation – or more importantly cross-ventilation – and light in your barn. Adequate ventilation can help remove summer heat, moisture, dust and toxic gases. If these are allowed to build up, mold, dampness and disease can result. Plenty of fresh air will provide ventilation and help eliminate respiratory problems with your horse. Openings can add light and keep your horse from being apprehensive when entering a dark barn from bright sunshine.
5 Reasons To Be Thankful For Your Horse
ADDING LIGHT TO YOUR BARN || THE CLASSIC WAY.
Adding additional lighting to your barn can chase away winter gloom for both you and your horse. Horse's eyes are sensitive to weak light, so they can see fairly well at dusk, but they don't have the ability t o adjust their eyes to darkness quickly, which is why they will often refuse to enter a dark building from bright sunshine. In addition, shadows and poorly lit areas make stall cleaning cumbersome and inhibit observation and care.
Should you clip your horse for the winter? Well, it depends. Clipping will allow your horse to dry more quickly after exercise and allow a much easier grooming process. You will also find that your horse maintains a better and healthier looking coat. If you need your horse to cool off quickly after work AND if your horse will have appropriate blanketing and adequate shelter, then the answer is yes.
SIX CLASSIC EQUINE EQUIPMENT PRODUCTS THAT MAKE WINTER EASIER
While everyone else is oohing and aahing over cold, starry nights and snowy days, if you own a horse you know that winter can be a challenging time of year. Your horse gets cold, things get wet and there’s the inevitable mud. To help you this winter, we’ve put together a list of six items (think of it as a Christmas gift list for your barn!) that can help make this winter a little less troublesome.
Photo Credit: Southern Comfort Barn and Fence- Emge Equine
Ride safe during fall hunting season
With the fall’s beautiful weather comes hunting season. Whether you’re heading out for a trail ride or turning your horses out in a pasture adjoining the woods, you need to be aware of the hunting seasons and take a few precautions. Here are some tips to help keep you and your horses safe!
Photo credit: Synergist Saddles
Know Your Area’s Climate before Building Your Barn
There's a lot to think about when you’re planning to build a horse barn. From how best to position the barn on the property to just what style of a barn you want to build, your plans will quickly become detailed and extensive! But there’s one common factor that you don’t want to forget about until it’s too late: Climate.
Photo Credit: Fine Art America
If you watch HGTV, you’ve probably seen a show called “Love It or List It.” It features homeowners who have lived in their cute, but often crowded or crazy floor plan home for several years, but now need a home that better reflects their current requirements. Two experts take on the challenge with a budget – one looks at how to make over the existing home, the other looks for a new home with all their requirements. Once done, the owners decide – love their old, but remodeled home or sell it and buy the new home.
Ghosts and Ghouls and Goblins, Oh My!
It’s Halloween and there are a lot of scary Spirits around. So how can you protect yourself from things that go “bump in the night”? With a magic horse shoe, of course!
Horseshoes have traditionally been made from iron which is one of the strongest metals. Iron was believed to be magical because it was taken from the earth and could withstand fire and cold and was highly prized.
Plus, horse shoes were attached to the horse using seven iron nails – seven being a lucky number. The shod horses symbolized power and strength and when walking on cobblestones the metal of the horseshoe often threw off sparks adding to their aura of magic.