Tarter Round Bale Feeder

Prioritizing safety, the spacing prevents horses from getting a hoof stuck in the feeder, while the smooth, rounded top loops discourage excessive mane rubbing. The loop legs are designed to not sink into soft surfaces. This feeder also prevents waste through the hay-saver panel and is designed to withstand even the harshest of outdoor environments. $349.99; www.ruralking.com

Haygain HG600

Haygain steamers are designed to kill mold, fungal spores, yeast, and bacteria often found in hay, creating a palatable meal that enhances digestibility and nutrition. The Haygain HG600 steamer also triples the water content of the hay for added hydration. Steaming reduces airborne dust by nearly 98%, reducing a horse’s susceptibility to inflammatory airway disease by 65%. $1,749.00; www.haygain.us

Rolling Bale Bag

This nylon rolling bale bag will allow you to easily transport and store your hay, protecting it from debris like dust and dirt. This bag is water-resistant and provides ventilation and breathability for your hay. Four wheels and sturdy handles make moving even large bales easy. Monogramming available. $69.95 (monogram $8.95 extra); www.doversaddlery.com

Kensington Slow-Feed Hay Bag

Made exclusively for SmartPak, this hay bag features 1.5-inch netting to slow consumption and is padded by Textilene on the sides and bottom to prevent unnecessary hay waste. Has adjustable/detachable straps and closeable lid. $69.99-$79.99 depending on size; www.smartpakequine.com

Nylon Hay and Grain Portable Feeder

This on-the-road portable feeder is made of 600-denier nylon, adjustable closer straps, and large lid opening for easy-to-manage filling. Even if you choose not to use a bottom tray for grain, this bag is effective in preventing your horse’s hay from being trampled on the ground. $28.49; www.statelinetack.com

Corner Feeder

This three-in-one stall corner feeder offers three sections: one large center cavity for hay, and two smaller side cavities for salt and grain. This feeder is designed to reside on the ground so that your horse can eat naturally with his head down in a comfortable grazing position. $575.95-$1,159.95 depending on size; www.smartpakequine.com

Smart Cart

Designed to stand up to heavy use in a barn or boarding facility, the polyethylene pan, powder-coated metals, and aluminum alloy frame fight barn acids in harsh environments. This Smart Cart is easy to maneuver, with a well-balanced design and wheels. $439.95-$539.95 depending on size; www.smartpakequine.com

This article about hay accessories for horses appeared in the July 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Hay Accessories for Horses: Make Feeding Your Horses Easier appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Due to the global pandemic, an increasing amount of horses are in need of new homes. Equine rescues and shelters have been put under an immense amount of stress as these facilities have reduced functions due to lack of volunteers, staff, and resources due to COVID-19. However, many horses at these facilities still need permanent, loving homes. Therefore, the ASPCA has launched an innovative solution to help match horses to future owners through their ASPCA National Adoption Weekend, June 5-7. This nationwide remote event will not only help horses, but cats and dogs, find homes in a socially-distanced way.

“This is a historic moment for equines, as this is the first national adoption event to include equines,” says Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB, Vice President of ASPCA Equine Welfare. “Not only is this an indicator that equine adoption is growing as a way to obtain a horse, but also that horses are embraced by a growing number of the general public.”

ASPCA research suggests there could be “at least 2.3 million adults in the U.S. with the resources and desire to adopt a horse in need.” If you have the resources to adopt a horse, or know of someone else who has the resources to adopt, you and your friends and family can get involved in the ASPCA National Adoption Weekend by visiting www.aspca.org/adoptfromhome. Here you can find one of the 572 participating rescue groups and animal shelters nationwide, where you can search for available horses, as well as other animals in your local community.

You can also visit www.myrighthorse.org for more adoptable horses if you have a hard time finding a shelter near you on ASPCA’s “Adopt from Home” map. MyRightHorse.org is the online equine-only adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative (TRH), a program of the ASPCA.

There are hundreds of horses of varying breeds, ages and disciplines available for adoption on MyRightHorse.org, and many more waiting for rehoming opportunities. “By adopting a horse during this difficult time, you are helping multiple at-risk horses by opening a stall for the next horse in need,” says Weiss.

One Adoption Partner’s Unique Online Solutions

Moreover, with facilities in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Louisiana, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, a TRH adoption partner, is one example of an equine welfare organization using creative and unique solutions.

New Vocations has been creating innovative solutions to match horses with their future homes by hosting Facebook live meet-and-greets every day (except Sundays) at noon and doing Facetimes between one of their adoptable horse’s trainer and a potential adopter.

During their Facebook Live meet-and-greets, potential adopters and horse lovers can receive a horse’s comprehensive history and health, as well as see their temperament.

“The meet-and-greets were such a hit as people were a captive audience,” says Sarah Coleman, Director of Public and Community Relations at the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. “They were stuck at home, many with more time on their hands than normal, and spending more time on social media platforms. We adopted out 60 horses in April and another 60 in May—those numbers are HUGE, not only for this time of year, but because of what is going on in the world!”

New Vocations normally adopts around 500 horses each year, and up to about 40 percent of them are adopted without the potential adopter ever coming out to meet the horse in person, says Coleman. “Though this idea could seem foreign to some, New Vocations works diligently to provide as much information as possible to the potential adopter so they are comfortable with the horse; in addition to the plethora of photos and videos online,  the dialogue potential adopters can have with our trainers is very transparent and open. Because our trainers know the horses so well, they can answer all sorts of questions, from how the horse is in turnout to how he lunges, acts under saddle, etc.”

Viewers can also engage by seeing the adoptable horse being ridden. Coleman explains that, even before the pandemic, potential adopters of horses at New Vocations are not allowed to ride horses at any of its locations before they adopt. “Because this precedent was already in place, our organization did not have to adjust as much as some other adoption and rehoming organizations did,” she adds.

Coleman encourages other welfare organizations to engage with potential adopters on social media platforms during this time, because people are captive audiences right now. “What is helpful to remember is that people don’t necessarily want a planned, perfectly executed sales video,” she says. “During this time of unrest and uncertainty, people are even more interested in authenticity. People feel they really get to ‘know’ our trainers during the meet-and-greets, and their trust in them has grown exponentially.”

“Getting on any format of live-streaming platforms really lets the audience feel they are a part of your organization—and bloopers are just fine! It’s horses—we all know you can’t plan down to the last detail anytime they are involved!”

You can check out their Facebook Lives, and share with friends and family, at www.facebook.com/new.vocations1.

If You Can’t Adopt

If you are not able to adopt at this time, Weiss shared a few other ways one can participate in the ASPCA National Adoption Weekend. She encourages those unable to adopt to share an available horse from MyRightHorse.org on their social media channels, especially with the hashtags #adoptfromhome and #righthorse.

“Not only will sharing from MyRightHorse.org help find that specific horse a home, but [it] will also increase the overall visibility of horses in transition,” she says.

The post ASPCA National Adoption Weekend Kicks Off Friday, June 5 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

In light of the global pandemic, industries across the world are promoting May 5, 2020, as #GivingTuesdayNow, a day of global action for giving and unity in response to COVID-19. The #GivingTuesdayNow movement is inspired by the #GivingTuesday movement, which occurs each year after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This worldwide movement formed in response to the unprecedented tragedies and need caused by the novel coronavirus that is sweeping the globe. #GivingTuesdayNow aims to meet industry and commnity needs with unity and generosity by the general public. If you are able to contribute financially, or otherwise, to the horse industry for #GivingTuesdayNow, then we offer eight ways in which you can participate in the movement.

Helping Horses for #GivingTuesdayNow

1. Purchase riding lessons for the fall. Lesson barns could use the added cash flow now to keep their horses fed and to pay their staff.

2. Donate to an equine rescue. This donation doesn’t have to be via check. Check with the rescue, and if they need, your donation could be made in hay, feed, or even through volunteering your time and efforts to the rescue (while adhering to the social distancing measures they have put in place, of course). Volunteering could include helping organize adoptions and fostering, fundraising, and advocating on social media.

3. Donate supplies to your local stable. Call ahead and see if there is anything the stable desperately needs. Many keep a running wish list.

4. Offer services for free to a horse business in trouble. You could help a struggling business by providing services in accounting, landscaping, marketing, website maintenance, etc. If you have a skill set you know can be beneficial to a horse business in trouble in some way, reach out and let them know. They will be more than happy to incorporate you and your services into their team. Who knows, maybe you’ll love it and will want to continue being a part of the business beyond COVID-19 times.

5. Adopt or foster a horse. Many horses are now displaced due to COVID-19 thrusting owners into a place where they can no longer financially care for their horse. And the longer the situation continues, the more horses that will become horses in transition. If you have been looking into adopting a horse, or even fostering one, and are still able, now is a great time to do so as many equine shelters are overwhelmed. To foster or adopt, check out www.myrighthorse.org for more information and to browse available horses.

6. Promote #GivingTuesdayNow on your social media accounts, especially in regard to the horse industry. Directly message, snap, e-mail, text, and call your friends who are passionate about horses and the horse industry to let them know about the movement! You can even share this article to your social media platforms. Encourage those around you to participate in any way they can, even if that is just through additional awareness.

7. Collect donations for a horse-related non-profit. Take some time to research horse-related non-profit organizations, see which one you connect with the most and are inspired by, donate if you can, and then encourage others to donate. There are numerous ways in which you can begin donation pages on social media platforms in order to reach a broader audience and to encourage friends and family to donate to horse-related non-profits that need our help during this time. To learn more and participate in #GivingTuesdayNow, visit the GivingTuesday website, Facebook page or follow @GivingTuesday and #GivingTuesday on Twitter. For youth interested in joining the movement, visit GivingTuesdayKids.org for inspiration and project ideas

8. Reach out to your beloved friends who own or take care of horses to see if they need help. They may be struggling to take care of their horse(s) during this trying time. There could be many ways in which you can help them. Moreover, aside from just friends and family, let your local barn manager know that you are willing to help out other horse owners at their barn in any way that you are needed during this tough period.

As always, these suggestions are crafted for people who are in a position to donate their time and resources to #GivingTuesdayNow to help the horse industry. Do not feel pressured in any way to contribute if you are experiencing distress during this time—mentally, physically, or otherwise—and especially if you are experiencing financial uncertainty. Keep in mind that one of the best ways in which one can contribute to this global movement is through spreading awareness (#6) about community and industry related issues. A simple share of a #GivingTuesdayNow post is effortless, free, and could inspire many others to get involved.

Further Reading

• May 5, 2020 is #GivingTuesdayNow, a Day of Global Action for Giving and Unity in Response to COVID-19

The post 8 Ways to Help the Horse Industry for #GivingTuesdayNow appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.