As the time for your horse to retire nears, you will need to make some plans for your horse’s care. Some horse owners are lucky enough to retire their horses at home, but horse owners without their own barns will have to look for other options. Sending your horse to a retirement facility is a...
5 Benefits to Pasture Boarding Your Horse
When it comes to boarding your horse, the traditional boarding option is stall board, where your horse stays in a stall at night and is turned out during the day. But pasture boarding is another option, and it can offer you and your horse a number of benefits. Here some reasons you might want to...
5 Ways to Prepare Your Horse for a Parade
Parade season is here, and it's likely that you'll have an opportunity to participate in a parade with your horse. It's important to prepare your horse for the sights, sounds, and smells that he'll encounter during a parade. Here are five ways that you can help your horse to get ready. Ride in Crowded Arenas...
6 Things You Should Know About Living in a Barn Apartment
Did you dream of living in a horse barn when you were a child? If you're lucky enough to get a position as a barn manager, or to find a barn apartment for rent, that dream could become a reality. But before you move into your first barn apartment, there are a few things that...
5 Ways to Build Your Connections in the Horse World
Do you feel disconnected from your local horse scene? If you board your horse at home or aren’t active at a large boarding barn, it’s easy to feel a bit separated. Here are five great ways that you can build your connections in the horse world. Take Some Lessons Taking riding lessons can be...
5 Reasons To Take A Group Lesson
If you typically take private lessons, the idea of taking a group riding lesson might seem odd. But hear me out. There are actually a number of reasons why you should consider taking a group lesson. Here’s why. Learn From Other Riders Taking a group lesson gives you a chance to see other riders...
5 Tips To Find The Right Distance To Jump
Do you have trouble finding the right distance to a jump? Finding a distance is one aspect of jumping that countless riders struggle with. If you’re having a hard time finding the right distance, try out these five tips. Count Strides Out Loud Many instructors tell riders to count down to a jump, starting...
7 Reasons Pony Camp Was the Best
Anyone who was lucky enough to go to pony camp as a child likely remembers it fondly. Here are seven reasons why pony camp was the best. You Got to Ride Every Day Possibly the best part of pony camp was the fact that you got to ride every single day. No more having to...
6 Ways to Keep Your Horse Healthy at Horse Shows
Do you love competing in horse shows? Shows are a popular activity among riders, but because horses are brought together in close quarters, shows can negatively affect your horse’s health. These tips can help you to keep your horse healthy at shows. Condition Your Horse for the Show Be sure to spend adequate time...
5 Tips For Storing Hay
When you own a horse or a barn, you’ll be dealing with storing hay. Hay can be a pricey investment, so you’ll want to be sure that you're storing hay correctly. Here are five tips to get you started. Store Hay in a Separate Building Whenever possible, store your hay in a building which...
7 Barn Fire Safety Tips
Barn fires can be devastating, but there are many ways that you can help to prevent them. Check out these seven barn safety tips and make sure that you’re following them in your barn. Store Hay Separately Hay is highly flammable, and if hay is moldy, it can heat up so much that it can...
6 Things To Consider Before Letting Someone Ride Your Horse
When you own a horse, at some point someone will ask if they can come ride it. In fact, many different people may ask you this question. But should you say yes? Consider these six factors when making your decision. Can the Rider Ride? Think about the person who’s asking to ride. Are they a...
6 Signs It's Time To Leave Your Current Boarding Barn
Are you beginning to wonder whether it’s time that you leave your current boarding barn? Every boarding barn has its advantages and disadvantages, but sometimes things get to a point where it’s better if you just move on. Keep an eye out for these six signs that it’s time you and your horse leave. The...
Tiny Horse Who Thinks He's A Dog Surprises Owner By Winning A Show!
You may not think of horses as house pets, but 27-inch tall Simba is an exception to the rule! This smart, lovable little horse is also full of talent. The 3-year-old took owner Mandy Parfit by surprise when he was named Supreme Champion at the International Miniature Horse of the Year show in Europe. He'll...
4 Great Ways to Market Your Horse for Sale
When you're trying to sell a horse, you need to reach an audience who is looking for the type of horse that you have. Good marketing can improve the reach of your ads, increasing the chances that you'll sell your horse quickly and that you'll get a good price for him. Stumped on just how...
6 Tips To Help You Find A Child-Safe Pony
Child-safe ponies are worth their weight in gold. These are the ponies that can be trusted to do their best to keep the child on their backs safe. A child-safe pony is essential for any child who is beginning to learn to ride. These tips can help you to find a child-safe pony. Define Child-Safe...
Artist Makes Incredible Life-Like Horse Replicas By Hand
Ekaterina Yakovenko’s work is so indescribably amazing that we aren’t going to say much about it – the pictures speak for themselves. (Seriously, choosing which of her works to reprint here was almost impossible – we wanted to share them all!) Residing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Katya creates custom horse replicas for equestrians all over the...
5 Tips For Keeping Rodents Out Of Your Barn
Rodents are a problem in just about any horse barn. Mice and rats are drawn to the plentiful food in the barn, and they also burrow into the bedding of stalls for shelter. Unfortunately, mice and rats can carry diseases, fleas, and ticks inside with them, and they can quickly spoil grain if they get...
Quiz: Can You Identify These Famous Horses?
Horse lovers grow up with their own canon of heroes. While others talk over the feats of Babe Ruth or the talents of Monet, we discuss as length what made Gifted so amazing, the tragic history of Ruffian, or how much we wished we owned a pony like Misty growing up. These are the heroes...
4 Things To Consider Before Transitioning Your Horse to Barefoot
Have you ever thought about letting your horse go barefoot? Many horses can successfully go barefoot, but that doesn’t mean that you should just decide to pull your horse’s shoes and see. Think about these four factors when deciding whether to transition your horse to barefoot. What Types of Riding Are You Doing? Think...
5 Tips To Help A Smaller Pony Lose Weight
Small ponies, like minis, can often put weight on in the blink of an eye but have a far more difficult time losing the weight. These ponies present their own set of challenges, since they’re usually too small for an adult to ride and exercise. These five tips can help you help your small pony...
6 Things To Think About Before Accepting A Gift Horse
Have you ever been offered a gift horse? Gift horses, or free horses, do exist, but the decision to accept one isn’t something that you should take lightly. Before you accept a gift horse, think about these six points. Consider Who Is Offering You the Horse When assessing whether accepting a gift horse is...
5 Tips For Quarantining A New Horse
When you import, buy, or adopt a new horse, sometimes it’s necessary to set up a quarantine. Quarantining a horse refers to separating that horse from the rest of your herd for a period of time–generally 30 days–until you’re certain the horse doesn’t have any diseases. It's the safest way to introduce a new horse...
5 Things To Think About When Bringing Home A Rescue Horse
Have you been thinking about bringing home a rescue horse in the future? Taking on a rescue horse is a noble effort, but before you make that commitment, you’ll need to be sure that you’re prepared for everything that comes with that choice. Here are five things you should know about bringing home a rescue...
6 Ways To Make Your Stable Healthier For Your Horse
Your horse spends a lot of time in the stable, and your stable is intended to keep your horse safe. But in truth, many stables can actually negatively affect your horse’s health. These six tips can help you to make your stable healthier for your horse. Allow for Interaction with Other Horses Many stables...
5 Ways To Keep Your Riding Arena In Great Shape
Riding arenas are expensive to install, and they must withstand frequent use. If you want to keep your riding arena in great shape, these five tips can help you out. Drag the Arena Regularly Dragging is an essential part of arena maintenance. Dragging your arena helps to redistribute and smooth out the arena...
4 Ways You Can Bring Home an OTTB
Do you think that an off-track Thoroughbred (an OTTB) would be perfect as your next equine partner? One of the advantages of OTTBs is that they’re widely available and are often very affordable. If you would like to bring an OTTB into your barn, there are a number of ways to go about finding one....
Buying A Horse at Auction Tips: 6 Things You Should Know
Horse auctions are known for being places where you can sometimes find a good horse for a low price. Looking for some some tips for buying a horse at auction? We've got you covered. Here are six things you should know before making your purchase. Auctions Don’t Allow Returns At auctions, sales are generally final....
5 Ways To Keep Your Horse's Hooves In Great Condition
You’ve probably heard the saying, “No hoof, no horse.” This saying is most definitely holds true. This is why it's so important to be proactive about keeping your horse’s hooves in great condition. Not sure where to get started? Here are five tips to get set you on the right path... Start With a Good...
5 Ways To Save Money On Your Feed Bill
When you own a horse, it seems that your feed bill may be one of the most expensive bills that you have. We have five ways that you can save money on your feed bill each month. Put Your Horse on Pasture One of the best ways to cut down on your feed bill is...
6 Ways To Prevent Theft In Your Barn
As horse owners, we keep a lot of valuable things in our barns. From our horses to our tack, there are thousands of dollars worth of items, making barns a target for thieves familiar with the value of these things. Here are six ways that you can prevent theft in your barn. Install Floodlights If...
5 Ways To Perfect Your No-Stirrup Work
Working without stirrups is a great way to strengthen your muscles, perfect your posture, and develop a strong seat. Do you dread working without stirrups? Here are five ways to make your no-stirrup work more effective and improve yourself as a rider. Work on Sitting the Trot Start your no-stirrup work by sitting the trot....
5 Tips For Finding The Perfect Horse Trainer You Can Trust
At some point during your horse’s life, you may need to enlist the help of a trainer to work with your horse. Training a horse is a bit of an art, and it’s important that you find the right match in the trainer that you choose. These five tips can help you find a great...
6 Considerations Before Bringing Your Horses Home
Do you have dreams of having your horses in your own backyard? It may seem ideal to have your horses at home, but before you make the decision to turn that dream into a reality, here are six things to consider. Your Schedule Will Change If you bring your horses home, be prepared for your...
5 Important Signs That Your Saddle Doesn't Fit You
When riders talk about saddle fit, 9 times out of 10 they’re referring to how well the saddle fits the horse. But to be safe and effective, it also has to be the right size for the rider. Are you wondering if your saddle fits you? Then check out these five signs to watch for....
5 Tips To Safely Take Your Horse Swimming
Taking your horse swimming can be a great way to cool down while having fun at the same time. But swimming with your horse also brings with it potential dangers. These five tips can help you to safely take your horse swimming. Wear a Helmet It may seem silly to wear a helmet when you...
8 Things You Didn’t Know About The Chincoteague Pony
I don’t know a horse person alive who hasn’t seen the movie or read the book about Misty, the Chincoteague Pony. Without her, the breed would definitely not be as well known the world over. But other than the story of Misty, how much do you really know about this amazing breed? Check out these...
Trail Riding Safety Tips You Should Know
The weather has been perfect for some trail riding lately, and you’ll want to get out and enjoy the trails before the approaching winter. Before you head out on the trails, though, make sure that you’re familiar with these six trail riding safety tips. Bring a Buddy It’s always safer to trail ride with a...
Hilarious Commercial Features Moonwalking Pony
It can be hard to make it through the work day. You’re sitting at your desk, waiting on crabby customers or trying to get 30 children to be interested in something that happened 100 years ago, before (gasp!) cell phones. You’d rather be in the saddle – we so get that! If only there was...
5 Ways To Raise Money For A Horse Rescue
Horse rescues are often faced with more horses in need than they have the space and resources for. One of the best ways that you can help horse rescues out is to donate money, since the rescues can apply it to feed, supplies, vet bills, and any other expenses they may need to cover. Want...