Tips to keep your barn safe for you and your horse!

Hello everyone, this week we are going to make our barn safe for the horse and for the human! Many so-called accidents happen in the barn or around the trailers. A famous quote I found "There is no such thing as an accident--it is simply fate, misnamed," Napoleon Bonaparte.

That’s right, most accidents can be avoided when it comes to a horse and an owner. A few tips to make the barn safer are to make sure there are no loose nails, barbwire, splinters, or broken wood pieces that could cause injury you or the horse. Also try to make your stall doors wider along with the gates and entryways into the barn. The more space the better. This lessens the risk of you being smashed if the horse spooks.

For trailers there are a few things that increase safety as well. Spend time with your horse and teach it how to load without you. That’s Right, let your horse load it self. Make sure you are not in the way when your horse jumps or lunges into the trailer and always give yourself enough space to get to safety.

Now to get to the nitty gritty, make sure you have clean floors. Tripping over stuff while trying to lead your horse somewhere can be a huge hazard. Make sure that your floors have grip for the horse and you. When concrete gets wet it can become very slick. Get a construction worker to broom the concrete, which makes the concrete have little grooves allowing for more grip even when wet. Another alternative is to buy rubber mats, rubber mats help the horse and you keep your footing in a wet environment these are highly recommended in the wash rack and in the trailer.


Can you find whats wrong with this barn?

Horses offer much more than just enjoyment!

That’s right; horses are not just for riding they actually offer much more. Horses are used in a treatment program for disabled humans. It’s called therapeutic horseback riding; therapeutic horseback consists of using horses and equine-assisted activities to help disabled people improve their social, emotional, and physical skills. It also helps improve many other skills as well. It helps the person develop a relationship with the horse and allows them to work together as a team.

Therapeutic horseback rising benefits disabled people because “horses provide a unique neuromuscular stimulation when being ridden through their one of a kind movement.” The movement a horse allows the riders muscles and bones to be moved in the same way as if they were actually on the ground walking by themselves. This improves the riders balance, strength, coordination, flexibility, and even confidence.

Horses also offer championship for disabled people. Many disabled people are cared for by loved ones. In this case the disabled gets to care for a loved one. The disabled can feed, brush, bath and do much more for the horse that the horse can’t do on its own. Although the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding vary upon each person’s disability, motivation, and companionship with the horse, therapeutic horseback riding is way better than an exercise machine. It allows all the muscles to be moved at one time so it is an all in one work out. Whereas, an exercise machine only focus on one muscle group at a time making disabled people spend a lot more time at the gym than they want to.

Horses need pedicures too!

Check out this video for horse hoof care:)





We all know how important it is to take care of our horse’s feet. Yes, they need pedicures just like humans do so they don’t get any fungus, cracks, bruises or abbesses. A horse relies on there hooves to get around and to carry you around. They need healthy hooves so they can compete, trail ride, or even just walk around the pasture. The environment, the terrain, genetics and even horseshoes can affect your horse’s most valuable asset. However, there are certain things that can be done to maintain a healthy horse with a healthy hoof.

You need to clean the hooves everyday with a simple hoof pick this will ensure that rocks and debris are not stuck in the hoof. It is also important to check your horse’s shoes for any loose or snagged shoes this will help keep the foot from bruising easily or putting the horse in pain that is not necessary. In addition keeping your horses hooves moisturized in dry temperatures will help prevent cracks and dryness. Along with that the ground plays important role in hoof care. If it is muddy where the horse is pastured or stalled please remove the horse. Standing in mud for a long period of time can cause fungus to grow in the hooves. And lastly you can feed your horse a type of feed that promotes hoof health.

Here are three funny jokes about horses!

1. Q: Did you hear about the horse with the negative altitude?
A: She always said Neigh


2. Q: What kind of horses go out after dusk?
A: Nightmares!

3. Q: Where do horses shop?
A: Old Neigh-vy!


source: http://www.jokes4us.com/animaljokes/horsejokes.html

If you have any good jokes don't be scared to them with me.

All about Quarter Horses

Everyone that rides horses enjoys a little speed every now and then. Quarter Horses are breed for the durability, cow sense, and quick off the line. Settlers, for cow herding used Quarter Horses, they are quick off the start and are built compact for a reason. This allows them to turn quickly. Now Quarter Horses are used in rodeo events like barrel racing, cutting, reining, team penning, and other speed games. Quarter Horses are not only used for Rodeo events or racing. They make excellent family horses; their calm temperament makes them perfect for long trail rides and all day work. Barrel Racing is my particular favorite probably because I have been competing since I was four years old. When the horse walks out into the arena and takes off to complete the race there is no other feeling. The power behind a Quarter Horse is immense on take off and throughout the turns. Some Quarter Horses have been clocked at 50 miles an hour. What a ride.

Quarter Horses do not just come in red. They come in many colors, from roans, grays, grullos, duns, palominos and even buckskins. Sometimes even color-coated horses like pintos can become registered Quarter Horses as long as the mother and father are registered as Quarter Horses.

However, the introduction of Thoroughbred into the Quarter Horse has allowed the horse to run a greater distance at a faster speed than originally. But these horses are not Pure Quarter Horses. They are Appendix Quarter Horses. These horses tend to be taller and leaner than the average Quarter Horse. The average Quarter Horse is only between 14.5 to 15.5 hands whereas the Appendix Quarter Horses can range form 14.5 to 16.



Now its time for 5 fun facts:

1.Did you know that horses sleep standing up! They also sleep lying down but are more cautious when doing so.


2.The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed of horse because of its calm temperament and diversity to complete multiple tasks.


3.Horses like to live in herds. They do not like to be by themselves just like humans don’t.


4.Horses only have a one-way digestive system. They can’t burp, vomit or breathe through there mouths. Once it goes in it must come out the other end. That is why horses are at high risks of colic compared to cows.


5.Horses teeth can reveal its age.

Secretariat

I think Secretariat was and still is the greatest racehorse in the history of America http://t.co/3GnqlnEKyc

— Jess_cowie17 (@Jess_cowie17) August 5, 2013

Secretariat is one of the best racehorses of all time. In this documentary you learn about all the struggles that the trainers and horse went through. Secretariat did not just win the Triple Crown he won the people. He was also awarded the world’s best horse at the age of 2. What an accomplishment. The rider says that he didn’t have too much. Secretariat knew what he was doing. I believe Secretariat was the people’s horse because even as a little kid I dreamed of riding a horse of that nature. After going to the Kentucky Derby my self I finally realized the speed at which he was running to beat other horses with 31 lengths was unbelievable. One of the greatest quotes in the documentary is when the owner says to his dad. “You have always wanted perfection well at the end of the Belmont, you saw it.” Secretariat was designed for racing he was an athlete. Secretariat is a story of a great American team not of a rider or a horse. This leads to me to final point. When you ride your horse, you’re a team; you need to trust your horse. Allow them to show you what they can do instead of making the horse do pointless things over and over again. Watch the documentary it is truly amazing.