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Natural Ways to Help Keep Flies and Mosquitoes Under Control

10 Tips
Swallow box with nesting Violet Green Swallows. Photo Courtesy Alayne Blickle.

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

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Free Farm Tour: Mud, Manure and Enrichment Strategies for Horses – October 11, 2025 – Stanwood, WA

Join us for a Farm Tour at Warm Beach Camp and get ready for winter with your horses! Discover how to: Save time while controlling mud and manurePrevent horse boredomProtect your horse’s healthKeep water on and near your land cleanYou’ll also learn about financial assistance programs available to horse and … Read More

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Eco-Friendly Ways to Control Mud and Manure, Plus Equine Enrichment – September 24, 2025 -Free Webinar

Join us for an informative webinar focused on enhancing your horse management practices! This session covers essential topics such as Mud & Manure Management on Horse Properties, providing practical strategies to improve pasture health, reduce environmental impact, and ensure your horses’ safety and comfort. Additionally, explore Equine Enrichment Opportunities in … Read More

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Small Farm Makeover: Build Your Own Trail Course

trail obstacles
Photos Courtesy Alayne Blickle

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

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Small Farm Makeover: Storage Tips for Barn Managers

tack room
Blanket hooks numbered corresponding to stall numbers. Photo Courtesy Alayne Blickle.

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

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Small Farm Makeover: Rodent Control on Horse Properties

rodent control
Barn Owl Box. Photo Courtesy Alayne Blickle.

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

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Small Farm Makeover: Climate Change and Horse Keeping

Climate Change
Photo Credit Alayne Blickle

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

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Small Farm Makeover: 10 Tips to Keep Flying Pests at Bay – Naturally!

10 Tips
Swallow box with nesting Violet Green Swallows. Photo Courtesy Alayne Blickle.

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

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From My Saddle: Expo Life

Jody and John Lyons with Karen at the Northwest Horse Fair & Expo

Face to Face Interaction is the Best After returning home from the Northwest Horse Fair & Expo in Albany, Oregon, I realized how seeing familiar faces and meeting new people was the highlight of the trip. I was especially excited to see John Lyons again after several years. He and … Read More

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Small Farm Makeover: Free and Natural Insect Control

Natural Insect Control
Image Courtesy Alayne Blickle.

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

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