A great way to stay in shape is to head outdoors on your favourite steed! Take extra time to warm up your horse's cold muscles by spending more time at the walk and trot before venturing into deep snow or at faster speeds. Cooling down also takes longer because of the heavier winter coat, especially if a sweat has broken, so take your time…

Here are some quick and fun myths and facts to read about nutrition... enjoy!

"Bran Mashes are Good for Horses"

Research studies have proven that adding wheat bran to the diet does not have a laxative effect.  Loose stools because of a bran mash could be caused rather from digestive upset because of the high starch.  Wheat bran fed long-term can result in a higher phosphorous to calcium ratio…

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The Equestrian Lifestyle Blog

The Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Buying Winter Blankets

Well everyone, it's coming up to that dreaded season we all love to hate in Canada:…

Through the course of the winter season, horse blankets take a beating. Your horse’s blankets may be showing rips, tears, and even missing hardware. If you’re hoping to get them through just a few more months, then repairing them by hand is probably the way to go. These tips will help you get your blankets to last the…

As the cold weather drags on, it tends to feel like the end of winter is nowhere in sight. Luckily, we’ve come up with some fun activities for you to help beat the winter riding (or non-riding) blues.

Host a Barn Movie Night

Bring together students, boarders, trainers, and everyone else in your barn for a barn movie night. Choose a…

Safety is always a consideration when transporting your horse, but winter weather adds an extra challenge to trailering your horse. When you have to transport your horse during the winter, you will have additional factors to consider with each trip.

Keep a Close Eye on the Weather

When scheduling your trip, closely monitor…

As January hits, winter may be taking a toll on your blanketing morale. Are you tired of changing blankets and dealing with tears and rips? We’ve come up with some great tips to make blanketing easier for you.

Invest in Separate Sets of Blankets

If your horse is turned out during the winter but also spends time in his…

Winter can be rough on horses, especially those with arthritis. The cold, coupled with the reduced workload and frozen ground can leave your arthritic horse stiff and sore. Luckily there are a number of ways that you can keep your arthritic horse comfortable during the winter.

Provide Plenty of…

As the holidays approach, you may find yourself horse sitting for friends or even for horse owners you don’t know. Caring for horses during winter is very different than caring for them in the summer, especially when you are the sole caretaker for a barn. When you’re horse sitting in the winter, there is some very important information that you should make…

Winter brings with it unique challenges when it comes to horse and barn ownership. When caring for your barn during the winter, it’s important to stay ahead of the game to avoid larger issues. Do you have a handle on winter barn care?

Insulate and Drain Pipes

Before temperatures dip below freezing, take the time to…

Finally and at last, the ice on the pond has thawed and birds have returned. It’s our spring break.

My elderly, domestic ducks waddle off to the pond with a very officious gait, business-like in their bathing.  They quack around with wild ducks, exchanging opinions. Mine are easy to tell apart, they swim much lower in the water and act like they own the place.  They return to the yard in late afternoon for dinner- the old gelding shares his with them. It has been a long,…

Another missive from yours truly ... aka Shakespeare "The Equine" ... direct from Poet's Paddock. Enjoy!

Day Dreaming

I trot to trees green;…

Hi Everyone~ I'm Jamie at Bit Blanket. I'm a member here on Barnmice and a life long horse lover. I invented Bit Blanket, the electric bit warmer, and as the holidays approach and cold weather begins to set in, I wanted to share our fun list of why everyone needs a Bit Blanket. Most of these came directly from our customers and I have a strong suspicion that our horses would definitely agree with many of them, especially…

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