Amanda Vella is the founder of Save A Horse Australia Horse Rescue & Sanctuary (SAHA), a non-profit rescue that takes unwanted, neglected, abused and slaughter bound horses, rehabilitates them and finds them a forever home. Established in 2001, they have two sanctuaries operating in Minden and Tarampa in Queensland, Australia. In May of 2010, Vella...
7 Ways To Create A Safer Horse Pasture
Your horse spends a good amount of his day in his pasture, so it's important to make your pasture as safe as possible. Here are seven ways that you can create a safer horse pasture. Install Safe Fencing The safety of your pasture greatly depends on the fencing that surrounds it. Install a safe fencing...
How To Make Homemade Fly Spray For Horses That's All Natural
The cost of fly spray can add up, especially if you prefer all natural products. Here is our recipe for homemade fly spray for horses that's all natural: I don’t like to use harsh chemicals on me or my animals. Aside from the reactions I usually have because my body is super sensitive, I just...
Horseback Riding On The Beach: 7 Safety Tips
Summer is approaching, the weather will be warm, and the beach will be calling. Are you looking forward to taking your horse for a ride on the beach? Horseback riding on the beach is tons of fun, but it’s also important to keep safety in mind so that you, your horse, and everyone involved can...
8 Tips To Help You Choose a Summer Horse Camp For Your Child
If you’re thinking of sending your child away to a summer horse camp, then it’s time to start looking at potential camps. Finding the right camp for your child can make for a positive experience. These eight tips can help you to choose a summer horse camp. Consider the Distance From Home It’s important to...
6 Tips For Selling Your Old Breyer Horse Collection
If you were like most horse-loving children, you probably amassed a Breyer horse collection. You couldn’t help but love those model horses, and you might even have memories of playing with them for hours as a child. If you’re like many, those old models are still in storage. Truth is, many of them can be...
9 Facts About The Shetland Pony You Might Not Know
For many, a Shetland Pony is their first introduction to riding. Most of us think of them as a child’s mount. But if you grew up in or near the Shetland Isles from which they come, you may already know that they are so much more than that. Check out these fascinating facts about this...
5 Tips For Leasing Out Your Horse
Leasing your horse out is a great option for many owners. It helps to minimize the financial demands of owning a horse, but allows someone else to enjoy your horse while you retain ownership. Check out these tips for establishing a successful lease situation. Interview the Lessee Before you agree to lease out your horse...
6 Ways To Help Your Hot Horse Beat The Summer Heat
Summer means time for trail rides, beach trips, and long nights spent at the barn. It's your perfect opportunity to maximize time spent with your horse, but those hot months also come with problems. If you live in an area that experiences high summer temperatures, your horse has a serious risk of overheating. It doesn't...
Learn To Communicate Through Horse Agility
By now you may have seen some videos online showing horses doing courses that look an awful like dog agility courses. The horses jump obstacles, go over planks, weave through poles, and even have some type of teeter-totter. The question that may cross your mind is why – are they just goofing around with their...
6 Ways To Stay Cool During Horse Shows
Summer means horse shows, but it also means warm temperatures and hot sun. Horse shows and the heat don’t always go together too well, so be sure to check out these six ways that you can stay cool during horse shows. Park in the Shade Try to get to the show early so that you...
6 Ways To Meet Other Horse People
One of the great parts of being a horse person is that you'll have plenty of opportunities to meet other horse people. Some of your best friends may turn out to be people who you meet in the horse world. Want to meet more people and make more friends? Here are six tips to help...
Woman Turns Horse Body Clipping Into Art
Melody Hames clips horses for a living. But her work is so much more than a “simple” body clip. Body clipping a horse is never easy, but Harmes does something so much more – her exquisite designs and intricate details transform normal clipping into an art. Located in Lancashire, northwest of England, JMC Equestrian Custom...
7 Ways To Make Horseback Riding More Affordable
Horseback riding is a notoriously expensive sport. Even if you don't have your own horse, there's still the cost of lessons and gear to worry about. Most horse people spend a few hundred dollars every month, and that doesn't even include costs associated with vet bills, feed, and tack. It's easy to see those never...
Quiz: Can You Identify These Horse Bits?
There are more bits than there are breeds of horses. Some of them are easily recognized by anyone, regardless of what discipline you ride. Others are a bit trickier. See how well you know your bits by taking our quiz. And don't forget to share your score in the comments!
Find Out The Incredible Story Behind This Viral Image
An incredibly beautiful and moving image has been circulating the internet of a snow white horse bowing at a military funeral with an officer saluting next to him. The image is sometimes shown with the words “Stand Down Young Warrior. Your Mission Is Complete.” Even without knowing anything about the photograph, it is extremely moving....
7 Important Barn Safety Tips
Are you keeping up with your barn safety habits? When working around horses, things can quickly get dangerous. Here are seven barn safety tips to put to use today; with a little attention to these tips, you can make your barn a safer place for both humans and horses to be. Make Breakaway Crossties Crossties...
Kentucky Derby Party Ideas For Racing Fans
The Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, and racing enthusiasts and horse lovers all over the country will train their eyes on this race. If you want to join in on the celebration, think about hosting a Kentucky Derby party of your own. We've got some great party ideas to help you get started....
5 Retirement Ideas For Your Horse
Retiring a horse is always a sad decision to make, but sometimes you have no choice. Your horse’s age or physical limitations may require that you retire him from his current activity level. Luckily, there are a number of different retirement options for your horse. Here are a few ideas. Find a Younger Rider If...
Quiz: Can You Match The Saddle To The Discipline?
We all know the right saddle is essential. Not just the fit, but the style needs to match the discipline. Some saddles are easily recognizable, while others are a bit trickier. If you fancy yourself a saddle expert, take our quiz below and see if you can match the saddle with the discipline. Share your...
6 Effects A Poorly Fitting Saddle Can Have On Your Horse
You’ve probably heard all about how it’s important that your saddle fits your horse well, but do you really know why? Let’s take a look at six specific effects that a poorly fitting saddle can have on your horse. Spinal Pressure A poorly fitting saddle may put pressure directly on your horse’s spine. Rather than...
Woman And Her Horse Mosey On Up To The Drive-Thru For A "Pony Espresso"
No punchline here! A horse really did go through a drive-up window! Norco, California is known as “Horse Town USA” with good reason – the city has bridle paths everywhere and the business are horse friendly! According to Stacy Westfall, who rode her horse to a coffee shop drive-thru, many of the business have pens...
Breaking News - Nearly 100 Horses Rescued From Texas Floods
Extensive flooding in southeast Texas from heavy rain left nearly 100 horses trapped at Cypress Trails Equestrian Center near Houston this week. Many people stopped their vehicles to get out and try to help the horses by encouraging them to keep going. Some even got into the water to help the horses get to safety....
A Look Back At Seabiscuit’s Final Race
The story of Seabiscuit is one of my favorites from the racing world. A small horse who had been raced too much, too young with little to show for it but a bad attitude and a wariness toward humans. A grandson of Man O’ War, there had to be greatness in there somewhere – he...
Photographer Turns Your Horse Photos Into Fantasies
At some point in our lives, every equestrian has dreamed of riding our horse through an enchanted forest, snow-capped mountain peak or majestic castle. Maybe you wished every day that unicorns or pesgasi were real. Professional photographer Jamie Mammano can give you a truly unique work of art that features you and your horse inside...
6 Essential Spring Horse Care Supplies
The seasons have changed and the spring is here at last. Are you stocked up on the supplies that you will need to care for your horse this spring? The brief list below can help you to get started. Fly Spray Fly spray will become your horse’s best friend every spring. Make sure to purchase...
Quiz: Which Horse Breed Is Your Perfect Mount?
Wondering what breed of horse is your soulmate? Maybe you are looking to buy a horse and wondering what breed to get or want to know if your favorite barn buddy really was meant to be? Well, now you can take our fun quiz and find out which breed of horse is best suited to...
7 Everyday Products You Can Use In Your Barn
If you’re thinking about what supplies to order for the next time you spend time in your barn, then you might want to add some of the below items to your shopping list. These seven everyday items can be very useful around the barn. Duct Tape The uses for duct tape around your barn are...
5 Great Groundwork Exercises To Do with Your Horse
Groundwork is an important part of your horse’s training, and the lessons he learns through groundwork can transfer to his work under saddle. Make sure to do these five great groundwork exercises with your horse to enhance his training. Walk in a Circle This exercise is a good way to begin your groundwork with your...
Strange Animal Laws We Can't Believe Exist
We all know that some strange laws have ended up in our judicial system over the years. Some of them are just outdated but have lingered on because no one has bothered to try and get them changed. Others are just plain strange. When it comes to laws involving animals, the states have some pretty...
5 Spring Trailer Tune-Up Tips
The spring is the perfect time to perform an annual trailer tune-up. You trust your trailer to safely carry your horse, so it’s important to make sure that it always receives the tune-up that it needs. These five spring trailer tune-up tips can help you to get started. Remove the Mats Remove the floor mats...
5 Ways To Build Your Horse’s Confidence At Shows
Horse shows are unusual environments for horses, and they can be a source of anxiety when your horse is new to the situation. It’s up to you to build your horse’s confidence at shows so that competition becomes less stressful and more enjoyable for you both. Choose Your Shows Carefully When building a horse’s confidence,...
6 Ways To Manage Cribbing In Your Horse
Cribbing is a common behavior in horses, but it’s also one that you’ll want to discourage. Horses that crib can damage your barn and fences, but cribbing also has negative effects on the horse’s health, such as tooth damage and potential colic episodes. Try out these six ways to manage your horse’s cribbing. Use a...
Hospice Patient's Dream Of Meeting Budweiser Clydesdales Comes True
Crossroads Hospice has an incredible program called Gift of a Day, where they grant a wish to a patient in their care. Marion Roberts, a 95-year-old patient, has just one dream – to see the Budweiser Clydesdales at their home in Warm Springs Ranch and to “rub noses with them.” Roberts is an equestrian herself, having...
4 Ways To Get Rid Of Tack Mildew
Have you ever walked into the tack room only to find your tack covered in a yellowish-green mildew? Mildew can quickly grow on tack when there is extra humidity in the air, or when the tack sits unused for a period of time. These tips can help you to get rid of tack mildew. Clean...
6 Important Tips For Keeping Dogs Safe Around Horses
It can be so nice to be able to bring your dog to the barn with you. He can accompany you on a trail ride and can keep you company while you’re doing chores. When you have a dog around horses, though, it’s important to keep him safe. Here are some tips that can help...
6 Ways To Keep Riding In College
Are you concerned about being able to ride while in college? College means a major lifestyle change, and many people stop riding during their time at college. That doesn’t have to be the case, though – here are six great ways that you can keep riding in college. Join the Riding Team If your college...
Quiz: Can You Identify The Horse Coat Color?
It’s truly amazing the colors that horses come in. I feel like when I was kid, horses came in bay, black, grey, red (sorrel/chestnut) and paint. Now, you see cremellos and perlinos, silver bays and silver dapples – the list goes on and on. Some of these colors are easy to recognize while others just...
6 Interesting Facts About The Bashkir Curly Horse
All horses are beautiful, with distinctive traits that make them special. But this breed has something just a bit more – a distinctive curly coat – that might make them the most unique horse of all. And definitely in the running for cutest! While you may be able to recognize one by its curly coat,...
6 Ways To Keep Your Horse Healthy While Traveling
There are tons of activities that you can take part in when you travel with your horse – from clinics to horse shows to trail rides, traveling with your horse opens up all sorts of opportunities. Before you load up your trailer, though, check out these six tips to help you keep your horse healthy...