Spoiler Alert: Horse feed storage is critically important

 Specialty feeds for horses come with all sorts of intriguing extra ingredients, mostly for added vitamins and minerals and other nutritional bonuses. Sometimes equine grain formulations are aimed at easier digestibility, or even better taste.

 

Horse owners pay extra for all that good stuff.

 I was all-in for my horses, willing to shell out extra dough-re-mi to obtain the optimum feed choices for each of them. And we were basically happy with our feed supplier, who was generally pleasant and dependable. Also, he was local and accessible and convenient, storing his inventory in a big airy outbuilding not far from the horse farm.

 So I bought bag after bag after bag from him. And all was well.

 

Then I found a surprise inside a bag of pricey grain.

 Fuzzy, stinky, damp, decaying horse feed was not exactly what the equine veterinarian ordered. My horses wouldn’t be likely to approve of it either. 

Most horses will reject moldy grain (or moldy hay), if possible. But if they consume the offensive feed, it can cause digestive troubles (even colic), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (heaves), reproductive problems and other issues.

 Avoiding this exact situation was one of the main reasons I bought our horses’ feed on an as-needed basis, rather than stockpiling at the stables.

 

I was a little steamed. Maybe more than a little.

 I schlepped the bulky bag back to our animal feed guy. He blamed the unseasonably humid weather we’d had for the moldy grain. He offered to credit me for half the price of the product.

 Let’s see … how much of that fungus-filled feed was I going to be able to use?

 

Hey, sometimes ya just gotta break the mold.

 Or at least, sometimes ya just gotta find a new feed supplier, if the grain comes with mold.

 Ever since that moldy mishap, I have purchased our horse feeds from merchants with climate-controlled feed storage. They’re a little out of the way, but worth the trips.

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What basic rules does a horse barn need?

Most equestrian riding and horse boarding facilities have basic barn rules, which may or may not be posted in a prominent spot on site. Others print their list of rules on their barn websites or in boarding or lesson contracts. 

What barn rules are most often included?

Generally, barn rules are aimed at safety (for horses and humans), common courtesy, and peaceful coexistence. Here are several commonly posted barn rules, gleaned from several sources. Not all barns choose to have all of these rules, although many of these items may merit inclusion.

• No smoking.
• ASTM-approved safety helmets are required for all riders (or all riders aged 18 and under).
• Sturdy closed-toe shoes are required at the barn.
• All riders (or their parents, if minors) must sign liability release forms.
• Visitors must be accompanied by barn staff or horse owners.
• Children must be adult-supervised at the barn.
• Unleashed dogs are not allowed on the barn premises.
• Please clean up after your horse.
• Please clean up after yourself.
• No drama.
• Hand-grazing is not permitted on the barn owner’s lawn.
• Do not leave horses unattended (except in turnout or their own stalls).
• If you break something (or your horse does), please speak up.
• Barn board is due on the first of the month. Every month.
• Call out “Door!” before entering the arena.
• No stopping or standing on the rail in the arena.
• Out-of-control horses (on lines or under saddle) must be collected and depart the arena, while others are using it.
• A barn-approved riding instructor/trainer must be present during jumping.
• Do not handle, ride, lunge, medicate, feed, or offer treats to others’ horses without permission.
• Vet calls may be placed only by horse owners and barn staff (with horse owners’ permission)
• Only horses, barn staff, and boarders are allowed in the turnouts.
• Heaters and lights must be turned off, if not in use.
• Parking must not block access to horse trailers.

Additional rules may cover barn hours, horse vaccination and deworming requirements, arena usage, tack storage, guest riding policies, lesson/clinic arena priorities, and other concerns.

Of course, the big question remains:  How are these barn rules enforced?

Images:

Adapted from public domain artwork

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Who works harder, the human or the horse?

“Horseback riding isn’t really exercise. The horse does all the work.”

Oh, boy. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, I could probably cover my horse’s monthly board.

The horse definitely carries the weight, packing the rider and the saddle and tack around. He walks and trots and canters (or walks and jogs and lopes) circles in the arena or miles on the trail. He leaps over jumps, zips around barrels, or stomps through streams.

But the rider gets a workout too.

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Sure, the most advanced and polished equestrians make horseback riding look effortless. They pilot their athletic mounts as if by mind control alone. The cream of the crop makes it look easy.

But it’s not. If you ride horses, you know better. Those folks are working overtime up there. It’s just imperceptible to the casual observer.

“You’re working too hard,” my own trainer has said (more than once). Curiously, that usually happens when I am already tired, so my riding form and technique is sort of falling apart. At such times, I know in my head how I should be riding, but it doesn’t seem to translate to my extremities. (Maybe you’ve been there.)

Horseback riding does get simpler with practice, but it still takes effort.

It’s not only a matter of improved fitness (in both horse and human), although that’s certainly important.

Most definitely, a rank beginner displays a lot more physical exertion atop the horse, thumping and bumping and bouncing and maybe even hollering in the process. Don’t all of us tend to exaggerate cues when we first practice them? Eventually, as we and our horses build stronger and more sensitive partnerships, we find we can tone things down a bit. A slight seat shift, a soft squeeze of the legs, a harder step in one stirrup, or a gentle tickling of the rein can accomplish much – once we reach that point.

But the rider never checks out.

More than a few veteran trainers have instructed mounted students to “ride every step.” Some of us have high-energy horses that require plenty of half-halts or lots of gait transitions and riding patterns, just to keep their attention. Others have equines that need frequent nudges forward to maintain  forward impulsion and encourage collection. It all counts.

And any seasoned equestrian keeps his or her guard up, even during the most relaxing ride. Anything is possible. (Some of us have emergency room bills to prove it.)

That’s why they call it sport.

And as far as exercise is concerned, a real equestrian exerts plenty while fetching the horse from the pasture, cleaning off all that mud and dust, combing out his mane and tail, lifting and picking out hooves, lugging and putting on the saddle and tack, and performing all sorts of other related tasks. That is, unless the horse happens to reside in a fancy full-service stable, where the equestrian simply pays the bill and rides the polished horse. (Don’t get me started on that.)

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Winter horse hoof health: A professional farrier’s perspective

How do horses’ hooves fare in the harshest winter weather? The coldest months of the year bring hard and uneven frozen ground, icy patches, blowing snow drifts, and frigid temperatures. What special hoof care do most horses need in colder weather?

R.T. Goodrich, a West Coast farrier, shared several suggestions (in a private interview) for caring for horse hooves in winter.

NOTE: Written by this author, this copyrighted material originally appeared on another publisher’s site. That site no longer exists. This author holds all rights to this content. No republication is allowed without permission.

Winter horse hoof care presents scheduling challenges.

Cold, snowy weather can be hard on horses’ hooves and farrier scheduling, as R.T. Goodrich outlined. Canceled or postponed hoof trimming and horseshoeing appointments are common.

“For the first 15 or so years of my career, I lived in North Central Washington.” Goodrich recounted. “There’s quite a bit of snow in winter, and my biggest challenge was keeping my clients on a regular trimming schedule in winter months, as most horses are turned out.”

Colder months may bring muddy hoof problems in certain regions.

Now working in Northern California, R.T. Goodrich faces another sticky horse hoof concern.

“We have a great deal of mud to contend with, from November to about May,” he said. I advise my clients to provide dry areas for their horses.”

Mud can loosen horseshoes and also trap moisture in horse hooves, leading to deterioration or infections like thrush.

Special winter horseshoes and pads can be useful.

Horses used throughout winter months generally continue wearing their regular horseshoes. Equines who work outdoors may benefit from cold-weather horseshoes and protective sole pads in many regions.

Snow pads reduce the build-up of snow and ice inside a horse’s hoof, while tungsten carbide surfacing on horseshoes can add points or studs to increase traction on slippery surfaces.

“Working ranch and feed lot horses may be shod with snow pads and tungsten carbide for traction, particularly on icy concrete,” R.T. Goodrich stated. “I have very few horses here in California that take any time off. There’s very little down time in my show barns, so shoeing stays the same throughout the year.”

Most idle horses do best without shoes in winter.

Although farriers may debate this point, many hoof care experts advise horses go barefoot in winter, particularly if those equines are retired, pastured or given the winter months off.

R.T. Goodrich agrees. “I’m always in favor of pulling shoes when horses aren’t being used,” he contended. “In Washington State, most of my client horses were trimmed and not used in winter months. TI tended to leave a little more foot for protection. The ground up there freezes very hard, and it’s like walking on gravel.”

Hoof supplements may help strengthen equine feet in winter.

Although he does not recommend topical horse hoof treatments, R.T. Goodrich does endorse the use of feed supplements for stronger hooves in many cases. Equine hoof supplements may contain biotin, amino acids, and other healthy ingredients to strengthen hooves.

“I do recommend quality nutritional supplements when needed,” he said. Of course, no hoof supplement can substitute for a healthy equine diet.

Routine hoof care should continue throughout winter months.

Horse owners and stable staffers may be reluctant to schedule farrier appointments in inclement weather, but equine hoof health depends upon this practice. Horse hooves may grow somewhat slower in colder temperatures, but they may chip and crack under such conditions.

“My shoeing interval doesn’t vary much in winter,” R.T. Goodrich recounted. “Active show horses are done every five weeks, and the rest go about every six weeks. Each horse is an individual with his own needs, but I use the same basic methods for old, young, retired or active horses.”

Who is R. T. Goodrich?

R.T. Goodrich is a 25-year veteran farrier and owner of North Bay Farrier Service, located north of San Francisco, California. Although R.T. Goodrich focuses primarily on shoeing sport horses, he has worked with nearly all equine breeds. He is an AFA Certified Journeyman, AFA Approved Certification Tester and AAEP Vet/Farrier Short Course Clinician.

In 2005, R.T. Goodrich traveled to Louisiana to provide hoof and veterinary care for hundreds of horses displaced by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

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Adapted from public domain artwork

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