Small Farm Makeover Archives – Page 3 of 11

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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Rediscover the Treasure of Horses – Take a Break from Farm Chores to Enjoy this Inspiring Read

March 7, 2021 by Alayne Blickle

“Horses are workmen, athletes, adventurers, accomplices. How they look is inessential. But how they go, how they are—in other words, who they are—is what makes any horse beautiful.” – Sarah Maslin Nir It may be surprising to some to learn that today there are over seven million horses in …

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The Scoop on Gravel – Footing Choices for Mud-Free Paddocks

September 26, 2024February 1, 2021 by Kim Roe

Photo by Kim Roe

I live in a river valley in the Pacific Northwest. With annual rainfall amounts close to 50 inches per year and clay soil on my farm, I’ve spent much of the 30 years I’ve lived here perfecting mud control. I’m often asked about the best footing choices for sacrifice areas. …

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Keep Your Confined Horses Happier

January 1, 2021 by Alayne Blickle

Locate your confinement area so your horse will have interaction and stimulus from the world around them. Photo by Kim Roe

Winter can be a challenging time for riders and our horses. Shorter days with inclement weather can make finding time to ride a challenge. Horses confined in paddocks or dry lots during winter still need something to do. Increasing turnout time, allowing social interactions between horses, and providing sufficient forage …

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The Biology of Aging Horses – Aging Begins in the DNA

December 1, 2020 by Michael Hipp

Aging is a mystery to science. We know that we age, we know how we age, but we don’t know why we age. The answer to that question would unlock some of geriatric medicine’s most puzzling dilemmas. Before I entered university as a student, I had a particular interest in …

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Build Your Own Permanent Mounting Block – A Simple and Essential Fixture for Riding Facilities

November 2, 2020November 1, 2020 by Alayne Blickle

Helyn, Jasper & the new mounting block. Photo from Alayne Blickle

I discovered the joys of a “real” mounting block about ten years ago when I tore my right anterior cruciate ligament and several other key ligaments that stabilized that knee joint. After the requisite surgery, my wait to get back on my horse was going to be six or more …

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Take Advantage of the Fall Rains – Capture this Precious Resource in Case of an Emergency By Michael Hipp

October 3, 2020 by Michael Hipp

Fall in the Pacific Northwest is a beautiful time in many ways. We can take long drives through the Cascades to see the colorful trees in all their splendor, enjoy cool evenings and sunny days, harvest time on the farm, and increasing rains. Did I say the increasing rains of …

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Footing Options for Confinement Areas – Gravel, Sand, and Hog Fuel are the Most Common Choices

September 4, 2020 by Alayne Blickle

Gravel works well particularly in wetter conditions or with more organic soils. Photo by Kim Roe

Footing is an important consideration for confinement areas. Using some type of footing, at least in the high traffic areas, will reduce mud by keeping your horse off the soil surface and avoiding erosion. Less mud equals less chance of nutrients and sediments running off and polluting surface waters, too. …

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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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