Building the horse barn of your dreams is a big project, and to do it right, you want to make sure that you’ve planned properly. Barn building isn’t a project that you want to get deep into, only to discover new challenges or obstacles. Before you start building your barn, make sure that you’ve done the following preparation.

Check Zoning Laws

It can’t be stressed enough – check and double-check your local zoning laws before planning your…

Selling a horse can take time, but the more effectively you market your sale horse, the better your chance of finding your horse a new home quickly. These techniques can help you to market your sale horse more effectively.

Take Quality Sale Photos and Videos

Sale photos and…

When building your barn, it can be tempting to splurge in your purchases. We’d all love a luxurious barn filled with energy-saving efficient designs and accessories, but that’s not always an affordable option. When deciding where to splurge on your barn versus where to save your money, think about which investments will…

I love spring.  As I sit in my bed typing this, a cool breeze is wafting, bringing in the wonderful, sweet honeysuckle scent from the over exuberant vegetation outside my bedroom window.  The dawn chorus of bird song has replaced the nighttime toad/frog and insect chorus, right now it is in the high 60s F, but it will be in the low 80’s F, the heat and humidity is starting to come back here. 

For my birthday my husband gave me enough money for a technical fabric…

 Today I was able to…

Before you start planning out your horse barn, it’s important to make sure that the property you will be building on has enough acreage to successfully support the barn’s daily operations. When housing horses, how much land is too little, and how much is just enough? Consider these points before building your barn.

Look into Zoning…

Riding a ring sour horse doesn’t make for the most enjoyable time. Unfortunately, being ring sour is a problem that affects many horses, especially those in serious training. Want to improve your horse’s ring sour behavior? Here’s how.

Understanding Why a Horse is Ring Sour

Most horses become ring sour out of boredom. If you have been riding your…

Just like people, animals can have allergies too, and it's important that we know what they are and how to treat them. I'll discuss two here and more in the future. I have a list if allergies. I am allergic to dust, cats(hospital worthy), dogs, rabbits, birds, perfume, cologne,scented detergents, scented candles,mowed grass, rabbits, chocolate(very small), mold,pores,pollen,flowers,weeds(of various types) and finally, spores found in dirt. I am not…

Building a strong topline in your horse ensures that he can carry himself properly and comfortably. It also results in an improved conformation, and can make a big difference in the show ring. When your horse’s topline is properly developed, the change should be gradual. These tips will help you develop your horse’s topline correctly.

Work in…

The Rose is a delicate flower, with its beautiful petals and sharp thorns to protect it. A long smooth stem gives it an elegant appearance that captivates many. They come in many colors and…

Barn doors, while built to be strong, are not meant to last forever. Years of use and wear can leave your barn doors weakened and ineffective. Winter snow and ice can crack and warp barn doors, while years of moisture and rain can cause wood to rot and weaken. At the very least, your barn doors probably need a new coat of paint. At the worst, they may need to be replaced…

This week was absolutely positively beautiful weather. Perfect weather in fact, minus the 4.2 earthquake that was felt by most of Michigan(I definitely felt it). 

The sun was out, the sky was blue and a gentle breeze blew through the trees. Green grass like emerald jewels greeted you wherever you went. Grills were brought out and hotdogs were cooked as children played in their yards. Siblings took their younger siblings and dogs for walks through the park and returned with…

What defines a trail ride as a trail ride? Is it a simple jaunt throughout the back pasture or a slow walk through the words? Is it merely trotting through someone's field or leaping over logs and cantering through rivers in the woods? 

When I rode with Sandy, I rode outside weather permitting.  Sandy didn't have an arena or indoor inclosure so I had to ride throughout her 22 acres, all fenced in I believe. After a couple weeks of lessons I was allowed and expected to…

I am greatly encouraged by my physical progress now.  Knock on wood; I seem to finally be recovering from my 16 month old MS exacerbation.  I had been recovering last summer, but then I got appendicitis 9 months ago and that really set me back, but now I seem to be making progress each week, miniscule progress each week but it adds up over the months!  My walking is stronger though I still have a tendency to stagger, I have been able to do a LITTLE house work (hey, a…

Can you believe it? The Kentucky Derby is right around the corner. The Derby is one of the major icons of horse racing, and it unites horse lovers with those who come out for the festivities of the huge event. Here’s what we love about Kentucky Derby day.

The Potential for a Triple Crown Champion The Kentucky Derby winner stands poised to make history…

Thoughts on AQHA's lip chain rule…I'm all for policy developed on evidence – which often collides with emotion In the horse biz, where we can get stuck in "we've always done it this way" kinda thinking.

Glad to see AQHA committee members consulted with animal welfare, vet, and professionals in their decision to eliminate lip chains. So this is how the…

There seems to be two types of riders in the world, those that love an OTTB and those that don't!  I am squarely in the former category and if you are also there, well make yourself comfortable because this week on Daily Strides we are focusing on basic exercises you can begin implementing with your OTTB today that will help lay a solid foundation for future schooling, regardless of the discipline.

You can read the original post & listen to the…