There are six essential nutrients in a horse’s diet: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. Among these, water is paramount. It plays a critical role in a horse's digestive health and overall ability. A high-fiber diet, rich in hay, grains, and grass, requires ample water to help the fiber move through the digestive tract. While a horse can survive nearly a month without food, it can begin to show signs of colic and other serious health issues within just 48 hours without water. In fact, a horse can only survive about five days without hydration. Dehydration is a significant concern, especially if a horse is left unattended for even a day. During hot summer months, horses are particularly susceptible

Regardless of the size of your facility or how many horses you have, running a barn is a task of great responsibility. When it comes to riding and keeping horses, accidents and injuries are not uncommon, and tragedy can sometimes strike. One of your top priorities should be to keep everyone safe. Establishing barn rules will help to ensure the safety of riders, horses and boarders. Horses should be respected for the big animals they are. Everyone should be taught to be sure that the horse has time to adjust to new people coming into the barn or stable area. Barn rules can include behavior you expect from people (e.g., to wear a helmet) or state which behaviors are prohibited

The dreaded words many horse owners hate to hear – stall rest.  If you have been riding long enough, sooner or later you will have to deal with a horse that is on stall rest. Whether the vet prescribed a week, a month, or several months, stall rest can be stressful and frustrating for horses and owners alike.  Although it is needed from time to time, stall rest can feel like horsey jail to all involved and is not something equestrians ever want for their horses. Every horse owner can only envision the worst: a restless unhappy horse, a destroyed stall, dangerous hand walking and lost sleep. Horses do best, physically and emotionally, when constantly moving. So the prospect of

Once you have done your research and made the decision to own a horse for the first time, you will have to stock up on some horse riding and horse care essentials! While owning a horse is exciting, it can also be expensive and a bit overwhelming at times. Although horses have a reputation for being difficult, high-maintenance animals to care for, you can make it as complicated or as simple as you’d like. As long as your horse has clean, adequate shelter for warmth and protection from the elements, access to basic hoof care, as well as daily food, water, and hay, he or she will likely thrive and live a happy, healthy life. Once you get your first

A horse barn is a home for your horses. Just like humans want well-lit houses, so do these majestic animals. For those who know what it means to have a horse barn, they know how important it is to keep their barn well-lit and comfortable for their horses. Lighting is paramount for horses to live in their barn comfortably and for humans to work in and around the barn. It is essential to keep all the stalls, the aisles, walkways and storage well-lit in your horse barn. Also, the place where the hay is kept should be adequately illuminated to avoid rodents or bugs and for safety purposes When it comes to your horse barn interior, proper lighting is key.

Horses do have a voice, but don’t speak human language! Horses are constantly ‘talking’ to you and everyone around them, both people and other horses. Horses are highly social animals, and they are used to living together in herds; therefore, it is important to them to be able to communicate with others in their family. For horses in the wild, their ability to survive depends on this communication, from gaining the protection of the herd to finding food and shelter. A horse will use their “voice” when they neigh, whinny, nicker, snort, blow and squeal, but the majority of their communication is far more orientated towards their behavior and body language which provides a subtle and sophisticated system of engagement. Horses use