Small Farm Makeover Archives – Page 2 of 10

Small Farm Makeover: Composting Horse Manure-Simplified!

June 13, 2023December 22, 2022 by Alayne Blickle

Correctly Managing Manure Doesn’t Need to be Difficult or Expensive There are many reasons why a mismanaged manure pile is a problem—from chore inefficiency to horse health issues (horses allowed to graze near their own manure are quickly reinfested by larva that hatch from worm eggs shed in manure), to …

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Hog Fuel, Gravel, or Sand? Winter Footing Options for Equine Confinement Areas

January 3, 2022 by Alayne Blickle

One advantage of sand is that horses love to lie down and roll on it. Photo by Alayne Blickle.

The dead of winter usually comes with footing challenges for horse owners. It’s unhealthy for horses to stand in disease-causing muck and it’s difficult to get chores done when pushing a manure cart through ankle-deep mud. Plus, there are detrimental implications for the natural world around us since dirty water …

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Pre-freeze Planting on Horse Properties – Native Plants Benefit Everyone on the Farm

December 1, 2021 by Alayne Blickle

Red flowering currant works well in hedgerows

Fall in the Pacific Northwest (before the ground freezes) is an ideal time to plant all kinds of things— cool-season veggies, pasture grasses, perennials and both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Of all these, native plants can be of particular importance on a horse property. Humans, horses, wildlife, and …

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Barn Owls — Nature’s Mousetrap – Erect a Nest Box to Encourage Rodent Control

November 1, 2021 by Alayne Blickle

Photos from Alayne Blickle

Horse owners know how difficult rodent control can be on a horse property. Fall is the time of year when the mouse situation inside our barns can get out of hand. Mice and rodents can carry diseases, some serious to humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, …

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September To-Do List: Set Up Good Lighting! – It’s Time to Prepare for the Dark Winter

September 8, 2021September 1, 2021 by Alayne Blickle

Paddock lighting is a definite must-have for those with outdoor confinement areas and 9 to 5 jobs. Photos by Alayne Blickle

Even though summer is just barely in the rearview mirror, fall is the time of the year for winterizing horse properties. Chore efficiency is always my mantra, and this is especially true when prepping for the cold, rainy, snowy, windy, and dark months ahead. Setting things up so the barn …

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Water-Wise Tips for Horse Owners – Do Your Part to Save Water on the Farm and Beyond

August 5, 2021August 1, 2021 by Alayne Blickle

Using native drought-tolerant plants in your landscaping limits your need to use water. Photo from Alayne Blickle

If you live out West and manage horses on your property, you are undoubtedly pondering ways to reduce and conserve water. Many western states are suffering from prolonged drought conditions; some areas are even experiencing drinking water issues. With climate change looming, we each need to do what we can …

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10 Reasons to Create a Small-Scale Trail Course on Your Horse Property

August 5, 2021July 19, 2021 by Alayne Blickle

Short trail paths created with natural objects and plantings. Photo by Alayne Blickle

Trail courses are fun for horses and riders and can be beneficial for the natural environment. Landscaping a trail course with native plants can provide food and habitat for native insects and wildlife. Add in old logs and brush and rock piles, and you have the perfect habitat for other …

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Here Comes the Sun – It’s Not Good for Everyone

June 16, 2021June 16, 2021 by Nikki Alvin-Smith

A well-ventilated run-in shed keeps horses comfortable on the hottest of days. Photo by Kim Roe

The bountiful benefits of the sun’s rays bring joy to the hearts of horses and humans, especially for the winter-weary residents of colder climes. But the sun is not good for everyone. Staying sheltered from the heat and burning beams can be especially important for creatures great and small, especially …

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Build an Outdoor Wash Rack – Tips for Happy Horse Bathing Outside

May 17, 2021 by Alayne Blickle

Photos by Alayne Blickle

Outdoor wash racks are a 3-season way to hose off or bathe your horse while allowing the water to recharge the natural hydrology of your property. Even if you already have an indoor wash stall, during the warm summer months an outdoor wash rack can provide extra bathing capacity for …

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Product Review: Handozer Leveling Drag – Inexpensive Tool Proves Useful for Arena Maintenance

April 15, 2021 by Kim Roe

Photo by Kim Roe

A year ago, I started looking for a new arena harrow. For years I’d used a Parma Groomer that did a good job, but it was difficult for me to adjust and maintain. The points (sharp pieces of metal that screw onto the harrow teeth and cut into the soil) …

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Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

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