March 2, 2020
Jenn Zeller
If you struggle with a horse that sits or pulls back, and enjoy using your rope halter, but hate undoing the knot after they struggle, this is the solution. I can’t believe I’ve gone 4 decades on this earth not knowing about this knot. Here is a photo of the knot: Have you tied your […]
February 23, 2020
Jan Swan Wood
Now that we’ve covered the head/neck and legs/feet aspects of form to function conformation, we will finish out this three part series by talking about the horse’s body from shoulders to tail head, and topline to elbow, stifle and belly. Since the performance horse was meant to be ridden, a pretty important part of the […]
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February 17, 2020
Kristen Schurr
When it comes to riding on the ranch you need to be equipped with the best quality products that can withstand the countless miles and hard work you put in year after year. Here are a few go-to products that not only hold up to daily ranch work but are also true cowboy masterpieces! […]
February 8, 2020
Jan Swan Wood
In part two of my dissertation on form to function conformation, we will go to the legs on the horse. The old saying “no foot, no horse” is pretty true, and the legs are as important as the foot. I read somewhere years ago that the Bedouin tribesmen would hang a curtain and stand a […]
January 23, 2020
Jan Swan Wood
It’s foaling season for many people and if you are foaling mares, you have probably had occasion to milk one to get a foal started with a bottle. As you have noticed, the “handles” are pretty short on a mare and even if she is 100% cooperative, it’s a back breaking, slow process. Some years […]
January 21, 2020
Dr. Matt Witzel, DVM
Never underestimate the importance of a horse’s eye. As a prey animal, horses rely heavily upon their senses to know when they are safe or in danger. Yes, horses can live reasonably well without eyesight as I am sure many of you know, but I think it is safe to say they would all prefer […]
January 14, 2020
Jan Swan Wood
Now that foaling season has arrived for some, I wanted to share a simple tip for safely moving a very young foal along with it’s mother without risk of it running off or getting separated from her. New foals haven’t usually been haltered and so leading them from the mare housing, for example, to the […]
January 10, 2020
Jenn Zeller
Here’s the who, what, where, when and how, of what to keep on hand at all times, in case your horse ends up with a pesky hoof abscess. Who will need this kit? Well, you and the horse, of course. Basically, if you own a horse and are responsible for his care you need to […]
December 22, 2019
Dr. Matt Witzel, DVM
Dentistry across all mammalian species has progressed by leaps and bounds over the past 30 years for a multitude of reasons. Today, though, I’m going to concentrate on equine dentistry. Because the teeth in a horse’s mouth continually erupt the reasons for regular dental maintenance are a little different than in other animals. Abnormal conformation […]
December 15, 2019
Jolyn Young
My mom used to gather all her charges in the 4-H horse group that she led and have us painstakingly take apart our headstalls, undo the Chicago screws that held our reins to our bits, and take the stirrups off our saddles. Once all the pieces of our tack were laid about us on the […]