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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

If you operate a boarding barn, managing that barn carefully is important to its success. Are you wondering how you could be better at your barn management job? One of these five tips might help.

1. Check…

With spring’s arrival and the start of show season upon us, it’s the perfect time to bathe your horse. Regular bathing can actually strip your horse’s coat of its natural oils, so it’s important to make each bath count. These tips will help you get a better, more thorough clean when you bathe your horse.

Use Color Enhancing…

If you’ve ever set foot on a property dedicated to housing and training Thoroughbred racehorses, you quickly realized that the facilities are very different from those of your typical horse barn. Thoroughbred barns need to fulfill a unique set of demands in order to develop top racehorses. Let’s take a look at what makes Thoroughbred facilities, like the Kentucky-based …

Our horse hobby is an expensive one, but did you know that you can actually use your love of horses to earn a little extra money on the side? If picking up a part-time job isn’t for you, perhaps one of these money earning activities could help, instead.

Be a Ring Steward

Many horse shows need extra staff. Acting as a ring steward can be…

Radios are common in many barns, and some barns even play music in riding arenas during rides. But does playing music actually benefit your horse? You’ll find differing opinions, but here are some factors to consider when making up your own mind.

Calming…

A lack of confidence when riding your horse is a significant and widespread issue. A fall, an injury, or even riding a spooky horse can quickly shatter what confidence you have, and even aging often results in reduced confidence. If you find that you’re lacking…

Chances are that your hay bill is one of your highest bills in caring for your horse. The last thing that anyone wants to do is to waste hay, especially when the cost of hay is so high. Luckily for you, we’ve got some great tips to minimize hay wastage in your barn.

Store Hay Correctly

Did you know that before you even feed hay, you may…

Just outside of historic Midway, Kentucky, lies a very unique Thoroughbred racehorse facility. Margaux Farm, an expansive 640-acre farm, focuses on Thoroughbred starting and training, rehabilitation, layup, and boarding. With eight barns spread across the property and two more in development, this impressive facility houses approximately 115…

Chances are that somewhere in your years with horses, you have been touched by the generosity of another equestrian. Whether mentored by another rider or given free rides on a borrowed horse, generous acts in the equestrian world are abundant. Would you like to give back to the equestrian community? Here are just a few of the many ways that you can do…

Spring is finally here! For riders, spring means many things – some of them good, some of them not so great. Here are some of the things that we love – and hate – about spring!

Daylight Savings Time

Sometimes…

With horse show season beginning, you will likely, at some point or another, come home from a show without placing. And while it might seem like you lost out in that situation and didn’t have a successful horse show, there’s still a lot you can…

When your horse can no longer be ridden due to old age or injury, retirement becomes a popular option. While retiring your horse at your current barn may be impractical due to facilities, space, or boarding rates, retirement facilities offer great environments for your horse to retire in. But how do you choose the retirement facility that is right for your…

If you’ve ever had a horse who has had hives, you know how alarming the appearance of hives can be. Hives are more likely to occur in the spring and summer, so let’s brush up on what causes them and what to do if they occur.

What Hives Look Like

A horse with a case of hives will have patches of raised skin that are somewhat circular in…

If your wintertime bedding bills have left your wallet thin, don’t despair. There are plenty of ways to save on your bedding bill in the upcoming months.

Maximize Turnout

With warm weather finally here, it’s a great time to maximize the number of hours that your horse spends outside. If your barn has adequate pasture turnout, then…