Outdoor Shade Structure

Cost: $110 – $135 per structure

Need:
◆ Shade tarp
◆ Four 10-foot-long 4″x4″ pressure-treated posts
◆ Four bags of quick concrete
◆ Concrete-mixing receptacle like a wheelbarrow
◆ Posthole digger or posthole-digging shovel
◆ Heavy-duty zip ties

Providing shade to animals during the sunny summer months is important, and if trees and run-in sheds aren’t available, building a very simple shade structure is another option. Luckily, it doesn’t have to break the bank.

Harbor Freight sells mesh tarps ranging in size from 8’x10′ to 12’x 20′. These tarps have a close-knit weave that blocks approximately 60 percent of light, and can be doubled up if needed. The tarps cost $33 to $55.

Purchase four pressure-treated wood 4″x4″ posts with a minimum height of 10 feet from a hardware store, and dig four 2-foot-deep post holes in the appropriate configuration for the tarp. These posts cost approximately $17 each.

Drill ½-inch holes through the beams within 4 inches of the top for fastening the tarps with heavy-duty zip ties.

Mix quick concrete to slightly drier than package instructions, and cement the posts into the holes, checking for plum lines and even spacing.

Allow the concrete to set for 24 hours before using a ladder to secure the mesh tarp to the tops of the posts with heavy-duty zip ties. Be sure to watch the shade structure for any wear and tear, including holes in the tarp or failing zip ties.

Five-Gallon Bucket Safety

Cost: $5

Need:
◆ Electrical tape

Five-gallon buckets are used for all sorts of things around the barn, including storage, step-stools and their intended purpose—watering horses. Their universal nature is appreciated, but when used as water or feed buckets, the small hooks attaching the handle to the bucket can pose a hazard to a horse.

Itchy horses can rub their faces on the small hooks and damage a nostril, eyelid or catch long hair in the tight space. To remedy this, buy some electrical tape from a local hardware store and wrap the electrical tape tightly around each of the two hooks on a five-gallon bucket. The tape will make the hook less accessible, and the stretchy nature of electrical tape means it will grip more tightly as it is applied.

As a safety bonus, make sure all double-ended snaps are facing toward the wall when the bucket is hung. This means there is less opportunity for scratching horses to snag anything on the clip.

Safer Grain Storage

Cost: $50-100

Need:
◆ Deep freezer or heavy-duty bin
◆ Clear tape to hang feed tags

Storing grain in a consistent environment can be difficult, especially if the feed room is more rustic. No matter the location, keeping pests and mold out of the grain bin is critical for your horse’s health.

A classic grain storage hack for your barn is using an unplugged deep freezer to store the feed. Freezers are insulated, durable and seal to keep animals out. Plus, they don’t have to freeze things to keep grain safe. They’re frequently available on local sites such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for less than $100. Any other type of other tight-sealing, heavy-duty storage boxes that you already own or can find for second-hand purchase will work, too.

As a bonus hack for your barn, save all feed tags and tape them to the grain bin for reference while feeding that bag. The white tags located on the bottom of grain bags list the lot number of grain and sometimes “best by” dates.

Should something go wrong with the grain, knowing which lot the grain came from is vital for feed companies.

Metered Fly Spray

Cost: $25 each

Need:
◆ Automatic bathroom scent sprayer
◆ Batteries
◆ Canister of metered fly spray

Flies are a constant hassle of horse ownership, and controlling them can feel like a never-ending task. Employing fly boots and misting horses daily with the bottle is nice, but automatic fly-spray systems in barns take fly control to the next level.

Although metered fly-spray devices are available at feed stores for around $50 each, you can save by making them from battery-powered bathroom scent sprayers. You’ll need to make sure the device matches with the brand of metered fly spray you purchase. With some leg work, an automatic and adjustable fly spray system perfect for your barn and run-in sheds is within reach.

Muddy Spot Remedy

Cost: $0-50

Need:
◆ Shovel
◆ Organic material to fill

A muddy spot at a gate or barn door is not only irritating; it can also pose a danger to horses. Mud can be slippery and promote thrush-causing bacteria growth. Try this hack for a muddy barn area.

The first step to helping a muddy spot is to see if a small ditch can be dug to direct any pooling water away from the area. The width and depth of the ditch will vary with the size of the issue, but should measure at least 6 inches wide and several inches deep. Using some elbow grease and a digging shovel, dig a channel away from the muddy spot.

If digging an escape route for water isn’t possible, adding product to a muddy spot can help too. Some of the common options are woodchips, gravel and sand. Local tree-care businesses often have woodchips from jobs for free, as long as you pick them up yourself.

Gravel and sand are also widely available at local landscaping shops. Or buy by the yard, and not by the bag, at a hardware store.

Whatever material used, add to the problem area when it is dry and get a nice, sloped base draining toward the lowest point. When it becomes muddy, add material as needed until the mud is subdued. Eventually, the place will be built up with fill material and less water will be able to pool there.

DIY Corner Feeder

Cost: $30 each

Need:
◆ One 55-gallon plastic barrel
◆ Drill with ¼-inch drill bit
◆ Jigsaw
◆ Coarse sandpaper
◆ Cleaning supplies
◆ Heavy-duty zip ties
◆ Wall eyelets

Feeding horses with their heads in a downward position is the most natural and has been proven to put less strain on their bodies. There are several large, plastic corner feeders on the market, but they start at $100 and climb in price from there.

Make a budget-friendly corner feeder for grain and hay using a 55-gallon plastic barrel. These can be purchased second-hand on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or from local businesses (make sure they only ever held food-grade materials) for approximately $20 each.

Once the barrel is home, measure and mark where it will be cut. Cutting one in half will yield two corner feeders, although the top portion will not be as suitable for feeding grain due to the grooves from the lid.

After measuring, drill a hole into the line of division and use a jigsaw to cut around the barrel as it lays on its side. Jigsaws can be purchased for about $30 or rented for about $15.

Once cut, thoroughly wash the barrel with hot water, dish soap and diluted bleach. Sand the rough plastic edge with a coarse sandpaper. Drill at least two small holes in the barrel near the top to secure it to the wall.

Using eyelets screwed into the wall, secure the feeder to the corner with heavy-duty zip ties and trim them short.

Making life easier around the barn is a constant journey, but one horses deserve and owners will be thankful for. These hacks should improve life around the barn for your horse, so give them a try.

This article about DIY barn hacks appeared in the September 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post DIY Barn Hacks appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Whether you’ve owned horses for a long time or you’re planning to buy your first horse (or first horse in a long time), one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is: Where will my horse live?

There are essentially two answers: board your horse at a nearby equestrian facility or bring him home to live on your own property. Your choice will depend on multiple factors, including cost, zoning, and the question of how much control you prefer to have over your horse’s care.

Let’s check out some of the benefits and drawbacks of keeping your horse at home versus keeping him at a stable nearby.

Boarding

You’ve seen the local horse barn advertising and driven by a few times. Would it be a good place to house your horse? It could be.

Benefits:

◆ Reduced workload. Individual rules may vary from facility to facility, but in general, you can count on enjoying less of a workload when boarding your horse. Depending on the type of boarding plan you agree to, you may not be required to perform daily feedings. You may be able to skip out on the veterinarian and farrier appointments if you want. Stall cleaning, hay hauling, aisle sweeping—you may be free to do as much or as little of that as you care to. Broken fence? Not your problem. ATV won’t start? You’re not on call.

◆ Knowledgeable help. Maybe you’re new to the horse world and could really benefit from some help early on. Boarding can be a perfect solution, as you’ll be surrounded by experienced horse enthusiasts who can help walk you through certain aspects of horse care and training.

◆ Social contacts. You’ll probably meet a lot of horse friends at the barn and enjoy the company of a like-minded group who wants to go trail-riding, take lessons, and attend shows as much as you do.

◆ Flexible scheduling. When your horse boards, you have the option of not going to the barn every day, which may be helpful if you have a lot of other commitments to family or work. If you travel frequently, boarding may be the only sensible option for owning a horse.

Drawbacks:

Boarding isn’t perfect, and you can expect a few downsides.

◆ Expense. This is probably the most significant downside for many people. Boarding a horse (or two!) can be a very expensive proposition. Prices will vary depending on the region, and possibly by how rural your area is, but expect a monthly bill that may run several hundred dollars and up—sometimes way up. You’ll pay less if you agree to perform daily care, but that isn’t as easy to do when you’re not living on the premises.

◆ Less control. When you agree to board your horse at a facility, you do agree to give up some amount of control over his care. You may or may not be able to choose what to feed your horse, particularly when it comes to forage. Your horse may not enjoy as much pasture turnout time as you’d prefer. You’ll have to share certain aspects of the facility—riding arenas, round pens, feed rooms, wash stalls, even the barn aisles—with other boarders.

◆ Less convenient. There will be busy days where you just can’t make it to the barn—and therefore don’t get to see your horse. There might be other times when you have a stray hour (or half an hour) where you could go the barn but choose not to because the commute is too inconvenient for such a short visit. By boarding a horse, you forfeit some of the one-on-one time that you might have if you kept him at your home.

Building

You might realize that boarding is fine for some people, but perhaps you’ve always had a dream of keeping horses on your own property.

Benefits:

◆ A room with a view. There’s nothing quite like looking out the windows of your home and seeing a pasture with your very own horses grazing happily. It’s hard to beat! You’ll experience the pleasure of having horses integrated into your everyday life. For many people, having a horse say hello to you each morning and feeding him hay right before bed just makes life better; it’s something you can’t put a price tag on.

◆ Handy horses. If you have a spontaneous whim to take a ride, you can do it! If you have a free hour, you can easily spend it with your horse—all you have to do is put on your boots and walk to the barn. It’s easier to fit horses into your schedule because they’re so easily accessible.

◆ No sharing. At your own place, there’s nobody waiting in line for the round pen or blocking the aisle with their hose in cross-ties. With the luxury of your own barn, you won’t have to wait on anyone.

◆ You make the decisions. Home horse ownership puts you fully in the captain’s seat, able to run your barn the way you want. While this may be a big responsibility for newbies, more capable horse owners will likely enjoy the freedom and the option of making all of the care choices.

◆ Stable design. If you’re building from scratch, you get to decide what your barn will look like and how it functions.

◆ Cost savings. There may be a significant initial investment in your infrastructure (see below), but assuming you already own the land and have some of the vitals in place (a water source, electricity, et cetera), keeping your horses at home can represent a significant monthly savings over boarding.

Drawbacks:

With all of these advantages come some potential downsides. Specifically, you are the one responsible!

◆ Building can be a big job. Maybe you’re starting out with an ideal horse property with stables, pastures, water, fencing, and arenas already installed. But for many folks, bringing their horse home means constructing some or all of this from scratch, which can be a major task. Transforming vacant acreage into a horsey paradise might involve removing trees, bringing in gravel, and constructing driveways. Not to mention the cost of electrical and water hookup, stables and fencing. However, some of these features may already be present on your property, and the cost of building a stable for one or two horses is significantly less than one designed for many animals.

◆ Daily care. For many horse people, the daily feeding, grooming, turnout, and exercising of their horses isn’t a downside at all. But there are logistics to consider. Will this fit in with your job or family life? Caring for your horse only “when you want to” is not an option the way it is at a boarding facility. Even if the weather is bad, or you’d like to sleep in, or something important comes up, your horses are still depending solely on you for care, so it’s a big commitment. And you may need to arrange for backup care options if something happens to you, whereas at a boarding barn, boarders have been known to pitch in when others need help.

◆ You’ll make important decisions. Feed choices; finding, purchasing, and storing hay; keeping water thawed during the winter; deworming schedules; farrier appointments—managing your own barn comes with a lot of decisions and responsibilities. Again, this may not be a downside to some people, but it’s worth taking a careful look.

◆ Vacations are more complicated. If you’re used to traveling a lot or enjoy spontaneous “let’s hit the road for a long weekend” excursions, keeping horses at home may not be ideal for you. Horses are heavily routine-driven animals, that usually prefer everything done in the same way at the same time of day. Whenever you leave home, you’ll need a responsible, horse-savvy farm sitter to step in for you.

◆ You may need more than one horse. This could also be considered a benefit, depending on who you ask! Horses are social animals that need the company of their own species, so it’s probably wise to own at least two horses if you’re keeping them at home. Many people add a third to keep the one that’s not being ridden or trailered out to shows company.

Ultimately, only you can make the choice of whether to build or to board, and there may in fact not be a wrong choice. In either case, you’ll be able to enjoy life with horses in a satisfying and pleasant atmosphere, whether that’s a busy barn full of horse enthusiasts or a quiet corner of your own property with just you and your favorite equine buddy.

This article about deciding whether to board your horse or build a barn originally appeared in the September 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Board or Build: Finding the Best Option for your Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

A barn fire is one of the biggest fears of a horse owner. However, victims of barn fires learn that while they thought they were prepared with insurance and safety measures, it turns out they weren’t.

Learn About Barn Fire Prevention

The Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA) presents an educational seminar on Saturday, July 16 to present what barn owners need to do to be better prepared for such a tragedy. The seminar will be hosted in part with Horseshoe Indianapolis in the Family Pavilion of the grandstand, starting with a morning networking opportunity at 10:00.

In an effort to turn a tragedy into a positive, the ITA wanted to share what has been learned in the aftermath of recent barn fires. “That’s why we chose the topics that are being covered in this seminar, because we learned so much from the fire and had no idea what we didn’t know,” says Susan Burger, ITA board member and Thoroughbred farm owner.

The board members worked alongside the presenters of the seminar to put together an informative program that gives attendees the most information in an easily digestible nugget.

Discussing the legal ramifications of a barn fire, Peter Sacopulos has specialized in equine and real estate law, amongst other specialties. Sacopulos is familiar with the Indiana horse racing industry, as a member of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and having represented the industry in multiple facets.

The insurance information you didn’t need to know will be presented by horsewoman and insurance expert, Kim Green with Schuetz Insurance Services. Horse owners will learn about emergency triage and what to do with the animals in the midst of the fire with Denise Fletcher. And, finally, member of ATF and horsewoman Cassandra Jones shares tips on what you can do to prevent and battle barn fires.

Attendees will be treated to lunch on the breezeway of Horseshoe Indianapolis and everyone will be eligible for giveaways provided by sponsors such as the ITA, Finish Line Horse Products, the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana, the Indiana Standardbred Association, Murphy Trailer Sales and others.

Attendance is open to everyone, and free registration is required. Complete the registration here.

The seminar will be livestreamed via the ITA Facebook page and on ShowBarnFlix.com. Updates will be posted on the ITA Facebook page.

About the Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance

The Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA) is a collaboration of breeders and horse enthusiasts dedicated to the continued success of Thoroughbred breeding and racing in the state of Indiana. The not for profit group was formed in 2020 and continues to welcome new members.

More information can be found on the group’s website.

The post Free Barn Fire Prevention Seminar appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Building your horse care dream team is a huge step. You’ve welcomed a new horse into your family, or decided to pull up roots and move to a new area—of course bringing your beloved equine with you. Now you need to build a horse care team that can work with you in giving your horse the high-quality care he deserves.

Where do you start?

Finding the Right Veterinarian

The horse world is a little different than the small-animal world in that there are not as many health care options for horses. In most towns, there are multiple small-animal clinics
and maybe one large-animal clinic, if you’re lucky. If you’re located in a remote rural area, it can be very difficult to find the right equine veterinarian.

“Location is definitely important,” says Tony Wolfe, DVM, owner and veterinarian at Wolfe Equine Services in Petersburg, Ky. He suggests asking fellow horse owners for their recommendations to learn about their experiences with not only routine horse care, but also emergency situations.

“Word of mouth is our largest referral center,” says Wolfe. “People are very honest; if they like the vet, they love them, and if they don’t, they’re very quick to tell you they don’t
and tell you the reasons why.”

Clinics can differ in what services they offer and how they schedule appointments. Wolfe Equine Services offers both haul-in appointments, where the owner can transport their
horse to the clinic, and appointments where the veterinarian comes to you. It’s important to ask what the farm call fee is, if that is an option.

Once you’ve chosen a suitable veterinarian for routine horse care, you may need to look a little deeper to be prepared for a situation where your horse needs a specialist.

“You’re going to find a huge variation with practices,” says Wolfe. “We are lucky because Lexington is only an hour away, so while we don’t offer surgical options, we can refer you to a place that does that’s not too far of a drive.”

After all the other considerations, you should make sure that you get along with your veterinarian. Wolfe says this is a very big thing for new clients to consider.

“If you don’t feel like you can approach your vet or call them, that will hinder the ability for proper treatment for your horse,” he says.

Veterinarians will tell you they don’t mind over-communication with a client, especially when it comes to the horse and his issues; what an owner might think is a minor problem might actually be a bigger issue. Your veterinarian should be proficient in communication — responding to text messages and voicemails.

“I’d rather a client tell me something their horse did and for me to be able to say, ‘That’s not a big deal,’ than to not know everything and have it turn into a much bigger issue,” says Wolfe. If a practice has multiple veterinarians, there may be various personalities, so try working with all of them in case one fits your horse-care style better than the others.

Finding the Right Barn

Location is a big factor in finding the right barn for keeping your horse. A long drive to the barn may keep you from going there daily (if that’s what you want) and shorten the quality time you can put into your horse’s care. Whatever you do, avoid the dreaded “Bermuda Triangle,” where work, home and the barn are all far apart from each other.

Jody Neill, owner of Camarillo Springs Ranch, between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Calif., knows her location might not be the quickest drive thanks to the typical traffic pattern in Southern California. But she feels that her 1,000- acre ranch is an oasis for the 50 horses that live there and their owners to get away from it all.

“No matter what’s going on in your life, when you get to the barn, you want to drive through the gates, take a deep breath and relax,” says Neill. She and her husband have owned Camarillo Springs Ranch for 24 years.

After looking at location, Neill recommends that you choose a farm where you feel comfortable. Your horse will be living there, so you want to feel confident in the care your horse is receiving. Also, relationships are important to Neill and other barn owners.

“My ranch may be 1,000 acres, but as far as I’m concerned, this is my front yard,” she says. “If you’re not happy, you need to move along, so I’ll help find a place that fits you better.”

Consider your “musts” when choosing a boarding barn: Do you prefer to clean your own stall, bond with your horse and trail ride, or do you want a dedicated trainer to help you tune your horse up for his next show? Do you plan to feed daily, or is your schedule such that you can only come out on the weekends, which means you need full care for your horse?

Horse owners should feel comfortable discussing the following when searching for the right barn, according to Neill:

◆ What is the age range of owners that visit the barn?

◆ Does this barn have all of the facilities and amenities you find important?

◆ If you are trying to support your horse habit on a limited budget, does this barn fit into that budget?

◆ If you already have a relationship with a veterinarian or farrier, can they come to the barn, or does the barn owner have their own list of designated ones you can use?

Finding The Right Farrier

It might not seem too difficult to find a farrier in your area, but are you sure of their credentials?

Brandon Stubbs is a Certified Journeyman Farrier (CJF) in the St. Louis, Mo., area. His business focuses solely on hunter/jumpers, but it has grown dramatically thanks to word of mouth and his certification with the American Farriers Association (AFA).

“The AFA has a search option on their website where you can find a list of farriers in your area that are either a Certified Farrier or a Certified Journeyman Farrier,” says Stubbs.

A certification means that the farrier is dedicated to continuing education and has passed evaluations of their skills. A CJF is the highest certification level.

“While it doesn’t necessarily mean that farrier isn’t a very good one because he doesn’t have a certification, it does help for owners to know if they need something specialized, this farrier stays up to date on all that pertains to the horse’s feet,” he says.

Neill makes sure she keeps a list of recommended farriers for her boarders who need a farrier as part of their horse care team.

“There are basically three types of farriers, so if a boarding barn is going to have a long-term relationship with a farrier, you need to make sure you have one that can do barefoot, one that can do basic shoes all the way around, and another that is more specialized,” she says.

Stubbs says it’s important for owners to ask potential farriers what disciplines they work on; not every farrier can cover every discipline. Farriers who specialize in certain disciplines understand the effort and needs for that particular event. For example, Stubbs is specialized in hunter/jumper horses, so if an owner asks if he can shoe her reiner, he turns them down, because he’s not the right farrier for that job.

The same goes for horses requiring therapeutic shoeing. In this case, you might want to consider the importance of finding a certified farrier recommended by your veterinarian.

Stubbs says your farrier should also be willing to openly communicate with you and educate you on your horse’s hoof needs. If there isn’t a comfort level between owner and farrier, it’ll make caring for your horse difficult and uncomfortable.

You Get What You Pay For

Every horse owner realizes that horses are an expensive habit and investment, so when a horse owner looks to trim the budget, our experts caution them to avoid cutting corners with the basic overall care of the horse. The most important variables include how personalities mesh, communication and location.

Many equine vets are happy to discuss costs with you before going ahead with a treatment plan, especially if you let them know up front that you’re on a tight budget. Some clinics will work out a payment plan if you can’t pay a big bill in one lump sum.

Neill says she interviews potential boarders over the phone before she brings them out to her ranch, because she wants to be straightforward on her charges from the very beginning.

“I think that any time someone is seeking out a service, it’s important that you understand the pricing associated beforehand, but I try to encourage owners to not keep that as the primary focus when it comes to caring for their horse,” says Stubbs.

Keep in mind that you are not only a part of your horse’s care team—you’re also the manager and your horse’s No. 1 advocate. Finding the right horse care team means that all the players can work together for the good of the horse when needed.

This article about how to build a horse care team appeared in the April 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Building Your Horse Care Dream Team appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Organizing and cleaning your tack room may not be as much fun as riding, but it’s an essential part of good horsemanship. In addition to discouraging pests and cutting down on clutter, keeping your tack room in tip-top shape means you always know where everything is in an emergency. If that’s still not incentive enough, think about it this way: the less time you spend each day rummaging through your tack room looking for lost and misplaced items, the more time you can spend with your horse.

A well-appointed tack room is also the perfect place to let your inner equestrian fashionista shine. Interior designer and avid equestrian Lindsay Hunter of Hunter Design in Nashville, Tenn., loves nothing better than adding a touch of horsey style to lived-in spaces—including tack rooms.

“I design spaces that look like you could live in them, and the way I do that is that I look at function first,” Hunter says. “Then I look at aesthetics second, because of course you want your tack room to look beautiful as well as be functional.”

Whether you’re redecorating an existing space or building out a new tack room, Hunter says you should start by identifying problem areas.

“Typically, the biggest problem I see is lack of storage or that the room just isn’t laid out in the right way,” Hunter explains. “For example, if you’ve got brushes in one room and saddle pads in another, you’re always going back and forth, which doesn’t work. Your things need to be separated, organized and categorized in a place that makes sense, like hanging girths next to saddles.”

When eventer Cathryn Brekken of Stony River Farm in Ashland City, Tenn., designed a new tack room for her barn, she thought about the amount of tack she uses on a daily basis.

“When we finally finished building out the tack room, it was several years after we’d built the original barn, so we had a lot of ideas about the things we needed,” says Brekken. “We wanted tack lockers, but we needed them to be organized and to maximize the amount of usable space. We put in two saddle racks, three bridle racks and wire baskets. We also added sturdy metal coat hooks and belt hooks for our girths and halters. The lockers look really sharp.”

There’s no need to break the bank to redecorate your tack room, but it’s always a good idea to set a realistic budget that fits your needs.

“Think of redesigning your tack room as an investment in your lifestyle and your productivity at the barn,” Hunter says.

After all, you use your tack room on a daily basis. Why not make it neat, efficient and an expression of your own sense of personal equestrian style?

Get Inspired for Your Tack Room Makeover

To motivate yourself to stay organized, create a space that inspires you. There’s no law that says tack storage has to be unattractive or mismatched. If wooden sawhorses or plain saddle racks don’t get your creative juices going, try something new.

◆ SOURCE CREATIVE STORAGE. In addition to bookshelves, tack trunks and pegboards, look for antique buffets, secretaries and storage ottomans. Pay less for scratched or dented furniture, then add your own paint or stain for extra personalization.

“I love incorporating pieces of furniture when-ever possible,” Hunter says. “Buying an inexpensive piece at a yard sale or estate sale can make a tack room feel really homey. I especially like using dining room buffets because they’re usually made up of both drawers and shelves.”

◆ CULTIVATE COLOR. Use different colors or textures of canvas, plastic or faux leather bins to create attractive storage. Add colorful woven mats to dress up the floor and equestrian-themed art to beautify plain wooden walls.

◆ STYLE YOUR SHOW RIBBONS. Not sure where to stash that ever-growing collection of show ribbons? Create a work of art and preserve cherished memories by arranging ribbons and rosettes in a gorgeous shadowbox display for your tack room or barn aisle.

Inspiration Close to Home

In addition to color and beauty, there’s plenty of function and efficiency to be found in repurposed household items. Tired of rummaging through a plastic bin whenever she wanted a particular bit, Brekken decided to come up with her own solution by converting a shower curtain rod into hanging bit storage.

“I looked for the sturdiest shower curtain rod I could find, and then used the metal shower curtain rings that had roller balls in the hooks so that they would slide more easily,” Brekken says. “Now I can see my whole bit library at a glance.”

Here are other ways to use popular household items:

◆ Corral your paperwork and keep records safe and tidy with a filing cabinet.
“If you have the space, I always recommend having a filing cabinet so you can keep all your information about your horses in one place,” Hunter says.

◆ Holster your whips. As an eventer, Brekken needed a dedicated spot to store whips and crops. She decided to install a metal blowdryer hanger inside her tack locker.

“The blowdryer hanger works great for storing our whips because it has a little holster, so you can put your whips in handle-down,” she says. “The holster holds the top end of the whip, and we added a small shelf below it for the handle to rest on.”

◆ Guard against sticky spills with plastic mats. If you’re storing liquid supplements or medicines on a countertop, use a plastic pet mat to limit the spread of spills and protect your furniture.

Make Easy Swaps

◆ Sick of swabbing dirt out of the bottoms of enclosed containers? Swap bins for wire baskets. Let the dust and dirt fall through to the floor, then sweep it away.

◆ Tired of carrying around a heavy brush box? Brekken uses a rolling craft caddy as a mobile grooming kit to wheel from tack room to cross-ties and back again.

◆ Make seasonal swaps part of your cleaning schedule. In the spring, put winter blankets into storage and bring out the fly sheets and coolers. In the fall, take your summer saddle pads home to wash and store over the winter.

Staying Organized During Your Tack Room Makeover

To stem the clutter tide from returning, don’t be tempted to incorporate a catch-all or junk drawer into your tack room. Instead, give everything a home, including the miscellany that tends to accumulate in every barn.

“Every single item needs to have a designated place to go, because if it has a place to go, you can pull that item out, use it, and then put it back,” Hunter says. “It gets challenging to stay clean and organized when you don’t know where things are supposed to go.”

Finally, the secret to consistent organization is a cleaning schedule. Whether you choose a weekend once a quarter or wait for a rainy day, designating time for cleaning your tack room means you’re less likely to fall back into your old messy ways.

And while you’re at it, go ahead and set up a riding schedule for yourself, too—after all, this year’s riding goals won’t crush themselves!

This article about how to do a tack room makeover appeared in the April 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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In this article, you will learn: what tools you should have for projects around the barn, what types of projects that tool is best for, how to make DIY projects easier, and what types of projects around the barn are easy to tackle.

Does any of this stable talk sound familiar?

“Barney broke his bucket hook off the wall.”

“The wheelbarrow handle is loose!”

“The ATV won’t start.”

“They chewed that fence post in half!”

There’s no doubt about it: Horses can be somewhat destructive when it comes to things like stalls, bucket hangers, gates, feeders, troughs, fence posts, and so on.

Projects Around the Barn

Not to mention all of the barn equipment like UTVs, mowers, tractors, trailers, carts, wheelbarrows, et cetera, all of which see heavy use and require repairs or maintenance over time.

Happily, you can stay on top of all of this. With the right tools for the job, there are many simple tasks and repairs that an average stable owner can accomplish on their own.

With the right tools for the job, there are many simple tasks and repairs that an average stable owner can accomplish on their own.

What do you need in your stable toolbox? Here are a few of our top suggestions.

Cordless Drill

“Wait,” you’re thinking, “I don’t see why I would have much use for drilling holes around the barn.” But a modern lithium-ion cordless drill is a versatile tool that does far more that drill holes—it doubles as a fast and powerful electric screwdriver.

Using screws for fastening is usually much easier than using a hammer and nails, and with the fairly reasonable cost of even high-quality drills, you should really consider adding one to your barn toolbox.

Battery power in the range of 18 volts should be enough for most of the jobs you’ll tackle. When combined with a good selection of bit types and sizes, cordless drills make quick work of any fastening job: bucket hooks, hay racks, stall latches, fence insulators, and many other stable needs.

For bits, get some Phillips head, square, and Torx, and then stock up on exterior grade screws in a few different lengths.

Now you’ll be ready the next time something breaks.

Hammer

If a cordless drill is often helpful for fastening, do you still need a hammer in the toolbox? Absolutely.

Besides its obvious first intended use as a nail driver, a standard claw hammer (distinguished by its two rounded claws on the back) is also useful for tapping objects into place or for removing old nails, staples, and other fasteners.

Socket/Wrench Set

You may not be a professional mechanic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make use of a basic socket set around the barn. This will come in handy for maintenance
to machines like ATVs and UTVs (think oil changes), as well as simple repairs to farm tools, such as tightening up a loose bolt on the wheelbarrow or adjusting the hinge of that sagging gate.

This needn’t be a super-expensive purchase. Choose a solid set that includes the socket wrench, a few adapters, and a basic selection of socket sizes. If you can get one that includes both metric (millimeters) and standard (inches) sockets, so much the better—you’d be surprised how often the need for a metric socket arises. Also look for a special spark plug socket that will allow you to easily remove and replaced old plugs on a small engine.

If you’d really like to be prepared, throw in a half-dozen small wrenches of various sizes, along with an adjustable (monkey) wrench to fill in any missing sizes.

Locking Pliers

You might already own a pair of basic pliers, and they’re useful to have around for projects around the barn. But for your barn toolbox, you might go one step further and include a pair of locking pliers.

These robust tools feature jaws that are adjustable to different widths and can snap firmly in place with a very tight grip. They can be very helpful for grasping stuck or rusty bolts, old screws or nails, and other small objects that are otherwise challenging to work with. Be careful using locking pliers, however, as they’re so strong you can actually damage the object you’re trying to grip.

Circular Saw

Your stable certainly isn’t a construction zone, and if there is any major carpentry work to be done, you likely turn to someone knowledgeable. That said, there is one power saw worth having on hand around the barn: a circular saw.

These saws are versatile and can perform a wide variety of wood cutting tasks, including crosscuts (across the grain of the wood) and rip cuts (parallel to the grain). For the most power, you can choose a corded version, but there are also smaller battery-powered circular saws available.

Short Tape Measure

For simple repairs around the farm, a short 16-foot tape measure might be all you need, plus it will be lighter and less bulky than a standard 25-foot type.

Tire Inflator

A tire inflator is not something you typically think of when it comes to tools, but they’re almost essential around a barn. Keeping a small, portable electric inflator on a shelf in the barn will make life easier the next time an ATV or wheelbarrow tire is flat.

A Helper

Be sure to ask for an extra pair of hands when you need them for projects around the barn and get advice on a task if you’re unsure of how to proceed. Take care, and don’t use a tool until you understand how it works and how to perform the task safely.

This article on tools for DIY projects around the barn originally appeared in the September 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

Further Reading

• Fence Maintenance
• 30 Property Maintenance Tips
• Getting the Barn in Shape for Spring

The post Stable Toolbox: The Right Tools for Projects Around the Barn appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Nestled on a sizable 40-acre property in Abbotsford in British Columbia, Canada, is a stunning equestrian property. The facility embraces European style with fully shingled siding and artful arches. Private owners Mike and Merlin Heisey hired Quinis Design Works to bring their equestrian dreams to fruition.

It took about 18 months of meticulous planning and labor to bring the acreage to completion. The initial challenge began with leveling the terrain. The uneven ground needed a significant amount of excavation before building could kick off; there was a difference of 24 feet in elevation across the property.

There are four substantial buildings situated behind the stone wall of this equestrian oasis. The 10-stall barn has a shop and office, which is connected by an exquisite porte-cochère to a three-port garage. Then there is the impressive indoor riding arena and a coach house with living quarters.

A Herd Approach

Natural horsekeeping practices played a considerable role in planning the layout and functionality of the barn. The individual stall and paddock runs can be opened to a courtyard for horses to congregate. From there, the courtyard connects to a trail, which circles the entire length of the property. This setup encourages the herd to freely roam the property when they are not out on pasture together.

The stalls by Innovative Equine are free from traditional bar dividers in the middle. This is another way to encourage natural socialization among the horses, allowing them to reach into their neighbor’s stall. From a design standpoint, it gives the barn interior a much more open feel.

Thoughtful Details

The single-floor barn features vaulted ceilings along with four sizable double doors at each end to encourage circulating airflow. Large windows and full-length skylights bring in plenty of natural light.

A set of custom double barn doors are paired with a weathered and distressed latch designed by the architects that secures the large doors with ease. Deliberate details like these marry function and style.

The stunning multifunctional tack room is also a lounge and office space. There are 12 saddle racks on the wall along with custom cabinets for optimal storage. The restroom and feed room are also located in the tack room, along with access to the blanket room. Hay, grain, and bedding storage are found on the ground floor in the main barn opposite the stalls for ease and safety.

An indoor arena is a must for being able to enjoy an equestrian lifestyle year-round in Canada. The spacious 20,000-square foot arena is a horse owner’s dream. The footing is composed of blended sand and geotextile mix by GGT Footing. The unique roof is a tension fabric structure, completely customized to size with a handy kit by We Cover.

Beyond the alluring buildings and fancy layout are abundant pastures and wide-open spaces for horses to flourish. This equestrian property showcases thoughtful design with the horse in mind.

This article on an equestrian property designed with horses in mind originally appeared in the September 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Stable Tour: An Equestrian Property Designed with Horses in Mind appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

It may seem as if West Nile virus has always been a threat to horses. However, it only arrived on the Northeastern shores of the United States just two decades ago in 1999. Within a short three-year period, the virus was found across the country in 15,000 horses in 41 states. You might be asking, “How did it spread so quickly?” We’ll take a look at what West Nile virus is and how it affects your horse, the risks and how it is transmitted, plus specific preventive measures you can you take to protect your horse.

West Nile Virus Symptoms to Watch For

West Nile virus (WNV) is an infectious disease that attacks the neurological system of horses and humans, and to a lesser extent a variety of other species (goats, sheep, llamas, dogs, bears and reptiles). The blood-brain barrier normally limits access by bacteria, viruses, and fungi to the nervous system, but WNV is able to cross that barrier to cause inflammation and damage to the brain and spinal cord.

How this manifests depends on which areas of the central nervous system are affected. Common symptoms vary both in location and severity. Some horses become ataxic (uncoordinated) in the hind limbs. The horse stumbles, drags its toes, and may lilt to one side more than the other. There is often muscle twitching or tremors in the face, muzzle and lips, and/or in the neck, shoulders and chest. The horse may have trouble swallowing or experience impaired vision.

Normally tractable and calm horses might become hypersensitive to touch and/or sound. Fever and depression are common symptoms, along with limb weakness. In severe cases, the horse may wander aimlessly, develop convulsions, or become paralyzed in the rear quarters and go down on the ground, unable to rise. Death occurs in 30 to 40 percent of cases. Of those that survive, as many as 40 percent of cases persist with neurologic gait and behavior symptoms for six months, and some deficits may persist indefinitely.

Other mosquito-borne viruses, such as Eastern or Western encephalomyelitis (EEE and WEE), have similar clinical signs to West Nile virus. Blood testing provides a definitive diagnosis.

Since WNV was first seen in the United States, many companies have worked to create an effective vaccine to protect against the disease.

Going Viral

Transmission of WNV relies on interplay between birds and mosquitoes, particularly Culex species mosquitoes. Birds are the reservoir for the virus, and many (like crows, ravens, jays, house finches, owls and hawks) often succumb to the infection.

If a mosquito bites an infected bird, it can carry the virus to horse or human (and to other birds) when it takes its next blood meal.

If you see dead birds on your property, notify your public health official and have them tested for WNV. If you have chickens on your property, move them to a location far away from the horses. Only a small amount of virus circulates in horse or human blood following a bite from an infected mosquito. This is good news because this small amount of blood-borne virus is not transmissible between horse and horse, human and human, or horse and human. Horses and humans are considered “dead-end” hosts.

Another welcome piece of good news is that not every horse or every human exposed to the virus actually develops the disease.

The Risks for West Nile Virus

All horses are at risk of contracting WNV if the right precautions aren’t taken. Other notable factors include:
◆ Horses that have not received a full series of WNV immunizations or have had inadequate number of vaccine boosters are at high risk of contracting the disease.
◆ Horses older than 15 are more at risk of developing severe neurological signs and dying as a consequence of the infection.
◆ Horses developing signs later in mosquito season (weeks 36-38) have less favorable odds of survival than horses infected with WNV clinical signs earlier (weeks 31-33).

In temperate climates, West Nile virus tends to appear in the mid to late summer months, lasting until a good killing frost that eliminates mosquitoes.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) considers WNV vaccine to be a core vaccine that should be given to all horses at least once a year.

Immunization

Since WNV was first seen in the United States, many companies have worked to create an effective vaccine to protect against the disease. To date, there are four or five different commercial vaccines against WNV for horses, yet none for humans.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) considers the WNV vaccine to be a core vaccine that should be given to all horses at least once a year. Immunization coverage is simple, with a two-dose series for adult horses. The horse is given the initial vaccine and then boosted with a second dose four to six weeks later, with the timing dependent on the type of WNV vaccine used. This is then boosted annually before mosquitoes start to hatch.

In some parts of the country where mosquitoes are abundant year-round, it may be necessary to boost the vaccine twice a year.

Foals need to be vaccinated with a three-dose series with timing that depends on the vaccination status of the mare; ask your vet for more information if you own a foal.

Property Management

Anything that can hold standing water is considered a mosquito breeding ground: gutters, flowerpots, buckets, swimming pool covers, wading pools, discarded tires, wheelbarrows, bird baths, and tractor buckets, to name a few.

DRAINAGE: Even a hoof print in mud or near a water tank is able to hold sufficient water for mosquito larvae to hatch. Turn water containers over and drill holes in the bottom to facilitate drainage when appropriate. Establish good drainage around the barn, stalls and runs. Apply gravel to areas driven over by cars and farm implements to eliminate mud and tire tracks that can hold water.

STANDING WATER: Clean stock tanks regularly to remove debris and make them less attractive to breeding mosquitoes. Ditches, creeks and ponds are also mosquito habitats; ponds can be managed with aeration systems and with larvae-eating fish.

KILL THE LIGHTS: Eliminate incandescent bulb lights around the barn and paddocks, as these are mosquito attractants. These lights placed elsewhere on the property lure mosquitoes away from horse proximity. Bug “zapper” devices kill roaming mosquitoes.

CREATE PHYSICAL BARRIERS: This is accomplished by using fl y masks, fly sheets, fly boots, and insect repellent. Permethrin-containing repellents are useful but may need frequent application.

MISTING SYSTEMS: Barns can be misted regularly with chemical insecticides. Take care to spray into cracks and corners of the barn where mosquitoes often lurk.

FANS: During active mosquito hours (dawn and dusk), it helps to aim a fan at a stalled horse to create a sufficient breeze that mosquitoes can’t negotiate. Screens on the windows and stall doors also limit mosquito access.

Attention to management details, along with immunization, is the most reliable way of protecting your horse against WNV infection.

This article on West Nile virus originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

Further Reading

• West Nile Still a Threat for Horses
• West Nile Virus: 10 Tips for Reducing the Risk at Your Farm

The post Warding Off West Nile: Protecting Your Horse from West Nile Virus appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

By Nikki Alvin-Smith, Horizon Structures

Fall is officially here, and with it comes fantastic riding weather. As a horse farm owner it is also time to get your Fall cleanup underway and prepare for the winter season. If you live in a hot climate then preparations will not be the same as those tasks your fellow equestrians in the colder regions of the country face, but a good clean up is beneficial for all barns regardless.

Clean the Barn from Floor to Rafter

The easiest method to clean down both the interior and exterior of a stable building is to use a Powerwash machine. These are actually fun to use and can save a lot of scrubbing of manure stains on walls by hand, especially if you were prudent enough to coat the wood surfaces with a sealant. Obviously avoid hitting electrical fixtures and outlets, and screens should be removed or protected from a harsh spray. If flyscreens are removable, then sponging them off with dish soap and water by hand is the best way to avoid damage to their fragile surfaces. If you don’t own a Powerwasher then your option is to rent one from a local box store or beg and borrow one from friends or family.

Be careful to use a cleaning agent that is safe around horses and that won’t damage metal surfaces. Dawn dish soap is effective and a favorite detergent that can be added to most machines and utilized without damage to building surfaces, but check with your building manufacturer to be certain.

Pay particular attention to flat surfaces, such as the top of dividing walls and rafters, and remove bird nests and insect nests on both the interior and exterior of the structure.

Once the building is clean, it is the perfect time to disinfect the stalls. Use a non-toxic product that is both safe for horses and other animals/pets and one that will kill both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The former are often more difficult to remove, so ask your vet for suggestions for the best products to use if you are unsure.

Once the building is sprayed down, excess water can be picked up with the use of a Shopvac style wet vacuum. Don’t forget to change the filter from a dry to wet type before use!

All windows can be cleaned as insects should now be a non-issue, and grill bars can be sponged down to remove any grease build up.

Fire Hazards

All light fixtures and interior surfaces should be brushed free of cobwebs and dead insects in windows can be dry vacuumed away. A vacuum is a great tool as it won’t spread the dust and detritus everywhere. Be careful to remove all shavings/sawdust/straw or other flammable products from the stall or barn areas before plugging in or utilizing electrical equipment. If possible, plug all electrical equipment into a GFI (ground fault interrupted circuit) for extra safety, and if using extensions, be certain they are rated for the purpose.

This is a good time to check all locks and latches are secure, post an emergency contact board with phone numbers for fire/police/vets/hospitals in clear view, update any barn rules, and to clean any message boards to keep content current.

Fans should be cleaned thoroughly and stored for next year’s use.

If you plan to use any type of water heating system, check all appliances or equipment for wear and tear and replace any questionable units. Ensure that all fixtures to be used are secure and not within reach of inquisitive equine noses or their teeth.

Make sure you have fire extinguishers that are current and operable placed in high-visibility locations. For a center aisle or larger barn, use multiple units, and be sure to place at both ends of the barn and all entrances.

Tack Rooms

Soft furnishings, such as rugs/carpets and chairs/couches, can be removed and brushed clean or vacuumed. Tile surfaces can be scrubbed clean and a quick tidy up replacing summer sheets with heavier weight blankets will ensure you are ready for a change in the weather. Hopefully you had your blanket inventory washed and repaired at the end of Spring, but if not, time to get on it.

Tack should be cleaned and put away and also protected from freezing weather and moisture. Leather exposed to cold temperatures can crack, and excessive heat can dry leather out, so choose a well-ventilated location and make sure the tack is ‘fed and watered’ before storage with an appropriate oil or soap.

Protect Your Potions and Lotions

Fly sprays and other products can become chemically changed to their detriment if subjected to freezing temperatures. It is wise to remove all liquids, potions, liniments, etc. from storage areas that may freeze and store them in a heated area.

Medical kits should be updated with fresh emergency supplies and stored in a handy spot that is also protected from freezing. It is imperative that all medical supplies such as tranquilizers, antibiotics and such are stored at their required temperatures for optimum performance and safety. Check the labels.

Winter Access

Entrances that are free of obstacles such as flower tubs and benches are much easier to snow plow around than those left behind after summer use. Consider removing chairs and tables and garden supplies to another storage space so they are not buried in snow and damaged by the weather.

Bear in mind you will want your barn to be accessible by emergency personnel all season long, so make provision for snow removal and parking areas.

Vermin

The cooler weather will bring with it an array of new residents to your barn, and they will not be paying board! If you do not have barn cats to take care of their arrival strategic placement of mouse and rat traps early in the Fall season is a good option. Do not use poisons or around the horse barn.

Winterize the Pipes

Don’t wait until the weather changes to drain all exposed plumbing fixtures. Wash stalls and unheated bathrooms should be made winter worthy. If you are using heaters inside the building, obviously they should not have an open flame of any kind.

Hay and Bedding Supplies

When all is clean and swept, don’t forget to stock up on your winter feed and bedding supplies. It is much easier to get them in now during good weather than to fight the elements in the winter trying to get them up the driveway and into the mall.

In many areas of the U.S., hay is in short supply due to drought and flooding. The earlier you shop the better quality hay you’ll be able to find and the price will be cheaper than later in the year.

Now your Fall barn clean up is complete, the outdoor tasks remain. Fence repairs, mowing out pastures to top them off for the season, water tanks to be placed with heaters and all that other fun stuff to do.

Being a horse farm owner does make it hard to find time to actually ride, but don’t forget to find the time because after all, it’s what it’s all about!

This article is brought to you courtesy of Horizon Structures Inc., of Atglen, PA, modular horse barn and indoor riding arena specialists. Horizon Structures also offers both residential and commercial kennels, coops, multi-use structures and playsets. Please visit https://www.HorizonStructures.com to learn more.

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Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) and My Horse University will co-host a free webinar, “Land Issues and Small Properties,” on October 22, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. EST. ELCR’s Denise O’Meara, Director of Education, will present, focusing on the zoning issues, opportunities and realities of horse-keeping in the back yard and on small horse properties.

Using examples from several communities around the country that allow horses to be kept on small acreage and residential properties, you’ll learn how your community’s zoning practices, prevalence of existing horse-related activities, land characteristics, building codes, tax structure, state regulations and other factors enter into the decision to keep horses at your residence. Consider questions such as: Does your community support horse activities and horse-friendly zoning? Are there places and trails already in place to ride? Am I prepared to do the work and upkeep that horses and their environments require?

O’Meara, PLA, is an experienced landscape architect, educator and presenter, with almost 20 years of experience in the equine industry and land design in conjunction with community planning and zoning regulations. Her personal interest in small property horse-keeping comes from youth experiences on Long Island, N.Y., where hundreds of horses are maintained in legally zoned, back yard stables, including in her own childhood neighborhood.

Read the original ELCR article on the topic.

Register for this free backyard horse-keeping and small horse properties webinar.

About My Horse University (MHU)

MHU was established in 2005 at Michigan State University, a land-grant university with nationally ranked programs in equine science and management. MHU was created through a partnership between MSU Extension, the MSU Department of Animal Science, and MSU Global to bring research and knowledge from world-renowned experts to online educational material available to horse enthusiasts worldwide. Visit www.MyHorseUniversity.com or call (517) 432-5131.

About Equine Land Conservation Resource

ELCR builds awareness of the loss of lands available for horse-related activities and facilitates the protection and conservation of those lands while working to ensure America’s equine heritage lives on and the emotional, physical and economic benefits of the horse-human relationship remains accessible. ELCR serves as an information resource and clearinghouse on conserving horse properties, land use planning, land stewardship/best management practices, trails, liability and equine economic impact. For more information about the ELCR, visit www.elcr.org or call (859) 455-8383.

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