The Leading Equine Community In The USA

The most important part of the massive creature that we know as the horse, is most likely their hooves. It’s such a small and almost delicate foot for an animal of such stature. A healthy hoof is essential to their well-being and ability to work and run. A horse will become lame if the hooves are not kept healthy and this means possible death for him. A horse that develops severe issues with is hooves is at risk because if he goes down, you have a very difficult time getting him up again. ...

As much as I’m sure we would love to, most horse owners can’t keep their horses on their own property. It takes a lot of space, time, money, and commitment, which is why we generally find ourselves at boarding facilities. Since you’re trusting your horse with other people and spending good money in the process, it’s important to find a place where your horse is well cared for and you and your horse feel comfortable. Here are some tips on choosing a good facility: - Al...

There’s more to buying a horse than picking a pretty or flashy horse.   Of course we all want the dream of a beautiful horse with a long flowing mane and tail but what do we really need?   First, figure out where you will be riding the horse? Is this arena only? Trail? Jumping? Dressage? Endurance?   Then find out where you will be keeping the horse? Will you be boarding? Will you have the help of a trainer? Will you be boarding where there is n...

To all of you horse lovers out there that have ever taken in a rescue, I thank you. I have broken down the steps I take when a new horse arrives and have created a checklist that may be helpful. There are three aspects to diagnosing the issues you may be faced with.. Abuse can be physical, psychological and nutritional. Upon arrival at my ranch, each horse is placed in a quarantine paddock. A full body check is done to check for obvious injuries. Fresh water and good quality hay is giv...

Old horses often require additional attention beyond lush pasture to maintain long healthy lives. Certain horses have earned a home for their lifetime. Despite getting old and being unable to earn their keep today, a horse who’s gone above and beyond deserves special elderly care.     “Dental disease is the most overlooked and least recognized problem by horse owners,” according to Dr. Mary Paradis, equine veterinarian. A dental examinati...

Recently a friend at my barn told me about a great dude ranch he and his family visited.  Now I know there are many great dude ranches out there but this sounded unusual. As you may already know, riding in south Florida has its problems.  If its not in the 90’s then it’s raining. And this is not just rain, but rain with a lot of lightning, not what you want to be in. I was intrigued. My husband had not ridden in 30 or more years but he was willing to try. &nb...