Alayne Blickle 
Most horse owners spend a lot of time thinking about fencing, but gates are often what make a horse property either easy to work with — or frustrating every single day. You usually don’t notice a badly placed gate until you’re hauling hay, pushing a wheelbarrow through mud, trying to … Read More
Every horse owner knows the feeling. You finally get a warm stretch of weather, the horses are shedding out, pasture season is starting to look good… and suddenly the bugs arrive in full force. Flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and biting midges can make horses absolutely miserable this time of year. And … Read More
By the middle of summer, I’ll take any excuse to bathe horses outside instead of inside the barn. There’s usually better airflow, more room to work, and honestly, most horses seem more relaxed out in the open. But I’ve also learned the hard way that simply dragging a hose into … Read More
Best Friends Animal Society Creates a Successful Scenario with Compost Jordan Moody is the Landscaping Manager at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. Best Friends is the largest animal sanctuary in the U.S., and the leading figure in the no-kill movement, with a mission to bring about a time … Read More
Trail Obstacles Produce Training Opportunities for Horses and Riders Trail courses have many benefits. Primarily, they create interest for horses and riders and provide positive training opportunities. They can also be beneficial for the natural environment around us. Landscaping a trail course with a few native plants or a pollinator … Read More
Keeping Barns Organized and Clutter-Free Aids Safety and Sanity Norma Stein has ridden and owned horses for over 50 years. She started out in hunters and transitioned to eventing, eventually spending most of her years in dressage. Now she thinks of herself as “a retired dressage rider who trail rides … Read More
Consider Natural Solutions Fall is a good time to consider rodent control plans as that’s when mice and rats really start showing up in our barns looking for a warm, dry place to hang out for the winter. Rodents are probably one of the toughest challenges to deal with on … Read More
Simple Ways to Make a Difference When it comes to climate change, many feel that things are beyond our control—that we are living on a planet rocketing towards a brave new world of environmental change. While this is true in part, there still are several simple practices we horse owners … Read More
Biting Insects Can Lead to Serious Health Problems in Horses and Humans Ahh, summer… the long days, the sun and warmth. The season is wonderful in so many ways, except when it comes to those annoying bugs. Flies, gnats, and mosquitoes can make our horses’ lives miserable (ours too), and … Read More
Free and Natural Insect Control One of my favorite times of year is the March/April time frame when swallows begin returning to the Pacific Northwest. These vivacious little birds overwinter in Central America and return to North America in time for the spring nesting season. These pretty little birds provide … Read More
