Stall and Stable: Ideas for Happy Horsekeeping

Small farm or large, the essentials of horsekeeping are the same. Some methods we use to keep our horses happy and healthy will differ based on the way we use our horses, but the underlying principles are pretty firm, whether you have two acres or 20. In this episode, Helena shares some observations from her recent trip to several farms in the heart of horse country in Maryland, Virginia, and Penn...

If you're one of the lucky horse people who finally get to bring their horses home or start that boarding business you've always dreamed about, you'll appreciate this episode. Tips and advice about horsekeeping are plentiful on the internet, but many of them are either unreliable, sketchy, or based on a situation that's very different than yours. Today's tips are generic enough to be used just abo...

Have you ever thought about adopting a wild mustang? With so many programs now available to help horse lovers learn to train these wild horses, having an idea about what to expect in the first few days and weeks of bringing one home could help you decide whether or not a mustang is in your future. Today's episode features a conversation with horsemanship trainer, Don Jessop, about what to expect w...

Whether you are thinking about building a small barn or a large one, there are thousands of decisions to make along the way. When it comes to the actual components of your stalls, this is where you need to really focus on making decisions that are safe and comfortable for your horses. This doesn't mean you have to sacrifice beauty. Nick Thornton from Lucas Equine Equipment helps us understand what...

Now that COVID is settling into our rearview mirrors and Helena's out and about with her vaccinated self, she has some neat experiences to share with you. In the past three months, she's traveled to at least a dozen farms, met with barn owners and managers, attended clinics, and hosted some of her own. In this episode, she shares key takeaways from two of her favorite events, plus 10 new tips for...

Whether you own your own farm or have dreams about it, this is an episode you want to listen to. Making money in the horse industry is tough. The good news, is that there is help you may not know exists. This week, Buck joins Helena to talk about loan programs available to equestrian businesses. Buck is an Economic Development specialist who works with entrepreneurs (yes, Ms. Horse Trainer, that's...

Fuzzy coats, sweaty horses, fancy horses, plain horses, all kinds of horses benefit from having their coats clipped. Did you think that clipping was just for show horses or very specific circumstances? It turns out that clipping is often necessary to keep our horses comfortable, whether they are competitive or pasture pets. There are many different ways to clip a horse, and doing so thoughtfully a...

What's the latest in forage-based diets for horses? What myths have plagued you, and what do we need to know in 2021 about feeding hay to keep our horses healthy and happy? Do horses need Omega-3 supplements? Is beet pulp all that helpful? What gut supplement can actually help prevent ulcers? Carey Williams, Ph. D., a research scientist and professor at Rutgers University Equine Science Center, jo...

Shopping for a tow vehicle can be a daunting task! In this episode, I recount my experience shopping for a truck that could haul my two-horse bumper pull trailer but also serve as our daily driving family vehicle. It took a lot of online research - and inner work - when talking with dealership sales reps who know little about hauling horses. Listen in!

Barns are the perfect proving grounds for efficient management and thoughtful design. There are many different ways we can improve upon our daily chores - from setting up feed and turning horses out, to sweeping up after all of those picked hooves. This week, I'm sharing a few observations and tips that can keep your barn chores flowing and efficient. Plus, one more update on Siouxsie and the Soli...

This episode was going to be about hoses, but so much has happened in the last three weeks, Helena thought it would be more fun to share her experiences (and epiphanies) with Siouxsie as a temporary client on training board at Unexpected Farm.  Plus, we get our geek on with Marc Hollahan from Tangent Materials, as he explains just how Tangent Fencing is made and why it's a great choice for horse p...

It's springtime in America, and that means many of our horses are back to work in earnest. For some horse owners, separating our horses from their friends in order to work, travel, or show, can mean managing emotions - theirs and ours. Nick Rivera, of The Horseman's University, joins Helena in this episode to talk about how we can manage our horse's daily routines in order to help them learn to be...

This is either going to be one of those amazing adventures or one of those times in life when you call your mom crying because everything is awful and you just wanna come home.  Siouxsie and Helena are on an adventure in Wales, Maine. They were invited to spend a month riding and training with Chelsea Canedy at Unexpected Farm.  Getting unstuck sometimes requires the kind of help only to found on...

In Washington state, Nina Halvorsen is living her best life with her reining horses at home and a never-ending list of things to do around her farm. It's what so many of us horse lovers live for! Riding and driving and training our horses is the payoff, but the work that goes into keeping our horses is almost as much fun.  In this episode, Nina shares her story of setting up a 4 acre horse propert...

When making the decision to bring our horses home, it is easy to forget about how their social environment will change, and what effects that may have on how they're able to perform their jobs as riding or driving partners. The fantasy of a two-stall barn right outside your back door is a lovely one, but the reality of having two or three horses means we often have to accommodate the emotional nee...

Even if your horses graze on acres of lush pasture for most of the year, there is always a need for hay on a horse farm. For many horses, and for many different reasons, pasture is not an option as a primary source of forage, which means buying hay becomes a critical part of every barn manager's or horse owner's job. And it can be a tricky task. In this episode, Helena is joined by her good friend...

Horses can have a powerful impact on human beings. In fact, many of us believe our horses to be valid therapy for our mental health. But horses are individuals, with unique personalities. How we combine with those personalities shapes our relationship with them-whether as pets, performance horses, or therapy partners. In this episode, Helena is joined by Ph. D. Candidate, Ellen Rankins, from Rutge...

My guest today is Ashley Newman, a Stall and Stable listener from Atlanta, Georgia, who just bought her first farm. Ashley is in the process of setting things up for her own horses, while putting plans into place to one day welcome boarders, as well. In this episode, we chat about digging trenches, round bales catching fire, trailer mishaps, working out with goats, and more. Listen in!

Well, well, well, it's been an interesting three months of learning, coping, and evolving here at Hoo Hollow! From mental health and crazy horses, to shattered splint bones and a new truck, there's a lot to cover. No matter how long you've been involved with horses, or how much you think you know, there is ALWAYS room for learning… and a slice or two of Humble Pie. Listen in!

Innovation in the horse industry is always an exciting thing! Whether that's research findings in veterinary care, a high tech pitch fork, new training techniques, or software designed to make life a little easier for riders and barn managers. Today's episode includes a conversation with the founders of Strider , a new, digital platform that allows riders to enter events online, and makes simple w...

If there was a deity to worship in the world of barn design, John Blackburn would most certainly fit the bill! John is the principal of Blackburn Architects , inarguably producing some of the world's most beautiful and practical equestrian facilities today. With a focus on barns that can safely and elegantly serve horses of all kinds, in all disciplines, Blackburn Architects are problem solvers at...

Historically, most horse farms were designed and built with human needs in mind, The horses' needs weren't necessarily ignored, but they were (and often still are) secondary in the design and planning phases of equestrian properties. But, as we build new farms and update existing ones, we have the chance to change that. We have the chance to create properties that allow our hoses to live within th...

We know so much more about our horses needs today than we did 10 or 20 years ago. Research, technology, and the internet have allowed us to learn and share information about horse care like never before. One of things we have learned of late is that healthy horses and hooves depend a lot not just on how much time horses are turned out, but what they do while out there. Listen in!

This month, the Stall and Stable Pro Clinic series featured the legendary USET competitor and coach, Bernie Traurig to Seapowet Stables in Tiverton, Rhode Island. A small group of riders and auditors got the chance to experience top-level instruction that was surprisingly simple. This episode features a few key takeaways from the clinic - from a riding, spectating, and organizing perspective. List...

When you walk into a barn, can you sense the overall energy of the place? Are the horses happy? Is the barn clean and tidy. How are you greeted by the staff? All of these details are driven by one thing… the barn manager. Good energy in a barn starts with good leadership and works its way down to the tiniest of elements – and creatures.  My guest today is Chelsea Canedy of Canedy Horsemanship & Pe...