Alayne BlickleBe Prepared to Care for Your Horse in Remote Areas By Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water Matt and I do a lot of trail riding. We know that once we head down the trail with our horse buddies and out into the backcountry, we leave the security of cell …
Considerations for Building and Locating a Sacrifice Area on Your Farm Probably the most important aspect of managing pastures is the time when you take your horses off your pasture. You can greatly improve the health and productivity of your pastures by creating and using a winter paddock or confinement …
Climate change is a defining issue of our time, and we’re at a pivotal moment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and increasing at a mind-numbing rate. Climate resilience is the …
Frozen pee spots. Icy paddocks. Piles of snow that you and your horse slosh around in. Winter is winding down, but the memory of dealing with it is close. If you and your horse live in a climate where managing frozen or snowy paddocks and confinement areas is challenging, here …
Fall in the west (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 the …
Exploring Options By Alayne Blickle A lack of enrichment opportunities and boredom in horses can contribute to health issues such as weight gain, ulcers, stall vices (chewing, pawing, weaving, cribbing), fighting between horses, crabbiness under saddle, even colic. An increased exercise schedule, more turnout time, utilizing track paddocks, or …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
