Putting up a winter’s supply of hay is a satisfying accomplishment for horse owners and barn managers, but improperly stacked hay is an invitation for trouble. Not only can hay stacks become dangerously unstable, they can also welcome pests,...
Q: Is there a safe way to keep flies away from my horse’s eyes? He always manages to take off his fly mask, but it doesn’t seem safe to use fly spray near his eyes. Are there any other...
Earlier this week, a West Virginia horse named Catnip was found viciously strangled with a tow rope in her pasture. Although Catnip's owners removed the rope and worked with her veterinarian to help the horse recover, her throat was...
Q: I have been at my boarding barn for almost three years. Other horses rotate in and out for various reasons. I would like to try switching from the rotational deworming routine to the fecal count method. But can...
Barn workers are paid to keep stalls clean and horses fed and turned out. Yet without much fanfare, boarding barn workers often do much more. Even so, owners sometimes ignore their own role in helping barn staff help their...
When our days are busy, we tend to use our time at the barn for necessities only: feeding, grooming, mucking stalls, and, if we’re lucky, riding. But don’t let yourself become so busy that you inadvertently neglect facets of...
A horse relaxes in the trailer after the completion of a safe journey. Here's how to make sure your travels are safe and relaxing, too. Photo: Lesley Ward
A fragile treasure needs to be layered in bubble-wrap and carefully nestled...
Horses relax in a parked slant-load trailer. Photo: Lesley Ward
Buying a trailer can be a very stressful decision. Not only do you need to make sure any trailer you buy fits with your budget and lifestyle, you need to...
Standing water near your horse's home can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Amazing how a tiny insect can cause serious problems for a 1000-pound horse, but mosquitoes can do just that.Those pesky mosquitoes are more than just annoying. They transmit...
