Among the many forms of horse care are co-op (cooperative) barns in which all horse owners split responsibility for the barn chores and care of all of the horses. Co-op barns provide an alternative to the standard rough, semi-rough, and full boarding options for horse owners who don’t yet own horse barns of their own. Could a co-op situation work…

Is your horse looking a little overly plump thanks to the summer pastures? While many horse owners prefer their horses to have a little extra weight on them going into the winter, a horse that is carrying too much weight will need to lose some in order to stay healthy during the additional time in the…

On October 25, 1870, Pimlico Race Course, located in Baltimore, Maryland, opened its doors for the first time. Pimlico Race Course is the second oldest racetrack in the United States – Saratoga is the first, having opened in 1864.

The idea for creating Pimlico originated with Maryland’s Governor, Oden Bowie. Governor Bowie was highly involved in racing, and…

Have you ever been tempted to volunteer for a therapeutic riding center? Do you wonder what exactly is involved? Volunteering in any area of life can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Putting your horse knowledge to good use by volunteering at a therapeutic riding center will mean that you’ll not only feel good about offering your…

When it comes to selling your horse, making him stand out from the crowd of other horses for sale is important in finding him a new home. When you prepare to show your horse to potential buyers, there are a few major tasks that you’ll want to be sure to do.

Get the Horse in Regular Work

If you’re selling a…

No one likes to talk about the day when we have to put our horses down, but facing euthanasia is often a very real and necessary part of horse ownership. If your horse is moving into his senior years, planning and discussing euthanasia and aftercare can help to make the difficult time a bit easier. If you own a horse, you will want to give these specifics some…

The Trakehner, one of the most popular sport horse breeds today, originated almost 1,000 years ago. This warmblood breed makes an excellent dressage and jumper today. Have you ever ridden a Trakehner?

History

The Trakehner’s origin begins with the horses owned by Lithuanians and Old Prussians during the Middle…

Shipping your horse over long distances can be stressful on you both. You want to ensure that the trip is minimally stressful for your horse, and you’ll also want to be sure that he stays safe and healthy. Here are some ways you can help to make sure that your horse’s trailer ride goes smoothly.

Choose a Shipper Carefully

If you…

When horse owners look for a potential boarding barn, there are certain amenities that they tend to seek out. Including these features in your barn can help to increase its demand as a boarding facility. Are you planning a barn that you intend to use for boarding? Then you’ll want to give serious thought to including these features.

Generously…

With horses as injury-prone as they are, medical emergencies are almost certain to arise. And while you would hope that the barn manager would be able to reach you if your horse were to ever have a medical emergency, unfortunately that’s not always the case. What would happen if your horse needed treatment and you weren’t…

When a scraggly bay colt was born in 1889, he was sick and crippled and not expected to live. But thanks to the treatment and care from his owner, Dr. William Key of Shelbyville, Tennessee, the colt not only survived, but flourished. Dr. William Key was a former slave and was self-taught in veterinary treatments,…

When you train at something long enough, sooner or later you're bound to hit a wall. The same is true of riding – despite schooling and lessons, at some point you may find yourself unable to advance past a certain skill or aspect of riding. So, what do you do if this happens?

Don't Panic

Remember that every rider, no matter how…

The air is already cooler, and winter will be upon us quickly this year. No one enjoys doing barn chores in the winter, but when you design your barn there are ways that you can make those chores easier. If you live in a climate that has a cold winter, you might want to put some of these practices into effect when you’re…

Do you have a Halloween horse show coming up? Are you planning to ride in a costume class? Costume classes are great opportunities to show off both yourself and your horse in a whole new light, but when you introduce costumes to horses, things can get interesting. Follow these tips to ensure that you and your horse stays safe and relaxed during your costume…

With Halloween right around the corner, what better breed of horse to profile today than the stunning black Friesian? The Friesian, a graceful breed with a distinctive appearance, is quickly growing in popularity. You may even have a Friesian living in your…

We’ve all had one – that riding instructor or trainer who made a huge difference in our lives and forever altered the way we see our equine friends. October 5^th is World Teachers Day, and in honor of that we’ve decided to take a moment to appreciate all that our riding instructors…

Planning the layout of your horse barn is hugely important, and you’ll want to be sure that the barn is the right size for your intended needs and uses. Deciding just how much barn you need can be a challenge, though, especially when you want that barn to last you for decades. If you’re beginning to plan out your barn, these tips will help you decide how much…

Halloween is almost here, and October horse shows bring with them all sorts of fun costume classes for both horses and riders. But designing a costume for a horse is a bit different from designing a costume for a human. Looking to design a great horse Halloween costume? Here’s…

The ground in West Springfield, Massachusetts will rumble as the World Percheron Congress moves into town from October 6^th through the 11^th. The World Percheron Congress, one of the largest competitions showcasing the Percheron in existence, will be held at the Eastern States…

Looking at potential boarding barns can be overwhelming – how do you know that a new barn will be a good fit for your horse? While you’ll always want to have an idea of just what you’re looking for in a boarding barn, it’s also a good idea to have a list of questions prepared for when you go look at a potential…