Stall and Stable: Ideas for Happy Horsekeeping

In horses, we're always looking to build the better mousetrap. Whether it's a product or service that saves time, money, or headaches, we're all about it. Of course, there's a balancing point between the cost of bringing a new product into your barn and the benefit that product offers. In this episode, Helena reviews her experience with a new type of bedding - shredded cardboard - and she chats wi...

Piggybacking off of episode 24 and the concept of horse people carving out professional niches for themselves, today's topic covers one of those niches - professional Groom. There are so many different responsibilities when it comes to horse care, and it kinda makes sense that as our industry evolves, and our higher education system starts supporting the development of equestrian professionals, ne...

The winner of our Trafalgar Square Books free book giveaway contest is announced in this episode, along with some personal updates that you may find interesting. The life of the backyard horse owner is as different for each of us as we are different from one another. At the same time, there are SO many things we have in common. Perhaps Helena's experiences with equine gastric ulcer syndrome will r...

I think we've all experienced that dreaded moment when your farrier says, "I have bad news; I'm moving to the moon." Ha! It doesn't matter where she or he is moving, if they can't take care of your horses feet anymore, they may as well be moving to the moon. Your heart sinks, you start to sweat, and then the real panic sets in. Where on earth am I going to find someone as good?! Or maybe you run a...

We're going world class today with a guest who works at the top level of our sport. She's the kind of person who's brain I could pick for days on end and still never feel satisfied. Her name is Emma Ford, and her career as a professional groom, most notably as Olympian Phillip Dutton's groom, affords her an expertise in horse care that few can rival. The exception would be Cat Hill. You see, Emma...

For the small horse property owner, keeping grass turnout grassy enough to be an asset is always a challenge. And while we can't stop horses from being hard on the land upon which they live, we can take certain steps to reduce the damage they do to their paddocks. In this episode, Helena shares 10 tips for helping to keep your small turnout in tip-top shape. Plus, we review an innovative product t...

In our continuing series on books we recommend for your stable's  library, we discover a new horse training program called The Compassionate Equestrian. The book, The Compassionate Equestrian , co-authored by Susan Gordon and Dr. Allen Schoen, DVM, MS, describes the 25 principles that compassionate equestrians use as a guide to create healthy, happy, and productive relationships with their horses....

Our guest this week is Dr. Bob Grisel, DVM, an equine lameness specialist and author of the book, Equine Lameness for the Layman; a must-have book for any serious horseman's library. With a helpful glossary of technical terms, lots of illustrations, and the brilliant use of QR codes and videos that complement specific sections of text, you will really appreciate the in-depth knowledge that Dr. Gri...

Wouldn't it be great if every barn could have it's own little library in the tack room, stocked with books old and new about horses and horsemanship? Working with our friends at Trafalgar Square Publishing , the Harris clan is building up our library of treasured reading material. The first new book in our updated library is already a favorite: In the Middle are the Horseman , by Tik Maynard. It i...

Horses have a great internal system for regulating their body temperatures when they're at liberty, but sometimes we need to help them find ways to stay cool and comfortable on the hottest of days. In this episode, we share 10 tips for cooling off those hot ponies. Listen in!

If you are plagued by a growing manure pile and no solid plan for disposal, you'll appreciate today's chat about ideas that can relieve your manure pile stress. In this episode, Helena welcomes back her horse husband, Buck, and they discuss some of the more popular options for manure management and removal, what they tend to cost, as well as the pros and cons of each. What did the Harrises choose...

Our dreams and realities don't always match up. While many of us would love to have a stable full of happy, healthy horses, and satisfied boarders, it rarely ever works out the way we imagine it should. That doesn't mean, however, it can't be awesome. In this episode of the Stall and Stable show, Helena is joined by guest, Sheri Grunska, author and owner of ProBarn Management, a stable management...

If you dream about owning your own horse property, or if you have one you need to sell, you will appreciate Helena's chat with real estate expert, Megan Stout, of Results Real Estate Solutions. Not only is Megan a great realtor, she's also the Hunt Secretary for Full Cry Hounds in Huntsville, Alabama. As a life-long equestrian with experience in many disciplines, Megan knows a thing or two about w...

Have you ever wondered where your hay comes from? In this episode, we learn about what it takes to produce the most important component of a horse's diet. Plus, we learn about things like how spot a good bale when you see one, how to measure moisture content, prevent spontaneous combustion, and more. This is an episode that's chock full of really interesting information. LISTEN IN!

Wanna keep your horses at home but don't have much space? This episode takes you through some of the planning and design choices Buck and Helena made while setting up their 2-stall, backyard barn. From sand footing in the barnyard, to a riding ring that multi-tasks like a boss. We talk fencing materials, gate choices, and more. Listen in!

If you run a boarding stable, you have probably experienced more in life than most people! The good, the bad, the easy, and the oh my god will this day ever end ? In this episode, we're talking about 5 strategies that can not only ease the pain of those difficult days, but that can actually boost your business by making your clients happy without sacrificing the kind of horse care you know you can...

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...

I have a nice little Kingston bumper pull. I don't need a new trailer, but whenever I'm at a big horse expo, I find myself inexplicably drawn to the trailer area like a moth to a flame. Last fall, in Massachusetts, I discovered a new line of all-in-one horse trailers from Equi-Trek called the Vision. The urge to hop in and drive away with it was overwhelming! Since I couldn't do that, I invited Ly...

Many of us have had to board our horses at one point or another. And, I bet many of you, like me, have had good experiences and bad experiences. If we're lucky, we learn from both, so that ultimately, we have more good experiences than bad ones. In truth, there is no perfect boarding barn - just like there are no perfect boarders. But you know, things don't have to be perfect to be ideal.  In this...

Best practices in stable management often start with responsible horse ownership. One of the easiest and most effective ways to make sure our horses don't end up on a slaughter truck, or lost in catastrophic situations, is to microchip them. In this episode, Helena and Buck are joined by microchipping expert, Cailin Monahan, from the Datamars corporation. Find out how microchips work, why they are...

Neat Product Episode!  I'm joined by Horse Husband extraordinaire, Buck Harris, today, as we talk the business of horses. More specifically, horse products. Buck accompanied me to the Equine Affaire expo in New England last fall, where we met many equine entrepreneurs as we searched for innovative products and services to feature on our podcast. One of our favorites was the Scratch N All, a self-s...

Nikki Alvin-Smith is an international Grand Prix dressage trainer, competitor, and clinician. She also writes equestrian 'How To' articles for horse publications, like Chronicle of the Horse, The Horseman's Yankee Pedlar, Equine Journal, and more. Together with her husband Paul, who is also a Grand Prix dressage clinician, Nikki imported and bred Hanoverians for twenty six years. This dynamic dres...

Making everyday barn chores easier first requires making them simpler. Take watering for example. Filling buckets lined up in stalls each morning and evening is essential, no matter where you keep your horses. Heading out to faraway lands to prep paddocks and pastures for turnout, however, can be one of those farm tasks that eats up time, energy, and for the professional barn manager… money. In my...

Thoroughbred racing has long been a part of American history. So has the unfortunate demise of thoroughbreds when they are no longer able to generate income for their owners. In response to the overwhelming numbers of ex-racing thoroughbreds headed to slaughter, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program was founded, offering retired racehorses new opportunities for compassionate homes and suitable...

Wouldn't it be nice to curry, brush, and tack up in a grooming stall that was warm in the winter? Your horse would appreciate a warm back just as much as you would appreciate warm hands and toes as you hop in the tack for a brisk winter workout. And don't forget the therapeutic bennies from increased O2 to joints and muscles, thanks to low-level laser light solariums from  Drimee .