Category: Barn Management Tips

January is the season of resolutions and the time most people dedicate to setting goals for the year ahead, but whether it’s the start of the year or not, dedicating time to mapping out your goals is the most effective way to achieve your expectations. For equestrians, goals could range anywhere from aiming for specific […]

  Give your horse a break. If you and your horse have a strict schedule for training and competing throughout the year, the colder months can be a great opportunity to give your horse some time off to rest and recover. While some people feel their horse can’t mentally handle down time of more than […]

The feed room is a vital part of a horse facility. It’s a place visited at least twice a day (although usually more) by a farm manager and staff. Whether your feed room is a corner of your garage or a full room in your barn, keeping things neat and tidy is important to ensuring […]

How much time do you spend sitting behind your desk staring at the numbers that sum up the workings of your facility? Bookkeeping is integral to keeping your horse farm running, but it can sometimes feel overwhelming and disorganized. While many professional facilities can (and should) hire a professional to handle the complex parts of […]

Equestrians today understand the importance of monitoring health and training to better care for their horses, improve their riding, and prepare for competition. With technology changing daily, how do you know where to look to meet your expectations for top-of-the-line apps to let you reach and exceed your goals? Here are a few of our […]

1. Take advantage of scheduling tools. Carrying around a physical calendar isn’t an option for most managers, which is why digital scheduling tools are crucial for optimizing organization. Keeping your appointments, reminders, and tasks all in one place will help you maintain a more regulated barn and allow you to plan your days and weeks. […]

Every spring, home owners flock to greenhouses and garden stores to stock up on colorful plants to brighten their outdoor living – unsurprisingly, barn owners are often right there with them! Whether you have a green thumb or just love the look of a freshly planted bed outside your barn, we have a few suggestions […]

Every horse owner knows the dietary dangers of grazing horses on lush, spring pastures, but many forget the other dangers that come with warm weather. Here are a few other issues lurking around the farm during the spring months.   Ticks If you live in an area that doesn’t see ticks often, count yourself lucky! […]

Whether you just bought a horse and are curious if you should get it insured, or are a facility owner looking to protect yourself in a world where people hand out lawsuits like candy on Halloween, navigating the world of equine insurance should be top of your to-do list. Conduct Research Insurance coverage is specific […]

In just a few minutes, a small spark can quickly turn into a raging fire that consumes thousands of dollars of equipment and tack – and sometimes the lives of horses. Barn fires are a horse owner’s worst nightmare, but there are a few preventative measures that can be taken to help reduce the risk. […]

Running an equine operation can be challenging, but having a tool like StableSecretary can help ease the burden and provide management support where you need it!   Struggling with Team Communication? Many barns enlist the help of employees and working students to run smoothly, however, a larger staff (often working different hours) can mean an […]

The leafy, lush trees lining the pasture’s edge are quickly giving way to bare branches, and your green pasture often starts out the day with a coat of silver frost. This can only mean one thing – winter is on its way! Whether you keep a couple of horses at home or manage a large […]

The high-level preventative and recovery treatments that used to be reserved for horses in the strings of upper-level riders are becoming more widely available to competitive horses of all levels. As research and understanding of performance and recovery in horse sports improves, there has been greater use of treatments such as acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic […]

Ear plugs, most commonly seen in the hunter ring, are an often brought up topic at shows. If they can be used is regulated by the rules of the discipline at the level of competition, however when they should be used is another question entirely.  Ear plugs for horses are usually soft, squishy (and sometimes […]

Whether you’re riding in show jumping or cross-country, many equestrians struggle with remembering their course under the stress of competition. It can seem simple when glancing at the course map, but the turns come up quickly and it’s easy to lose your way once in the saddle. Luckily, we have a few tried and true […]

Located in Ocala, FL, is a 10-acre farm with a 12-stall barn, beautiful pastures, and a pristine arena where riders can practice dressage movements under a gorgeous sunset. This is Sunflower Hill Farm, the home of LCH Equestrian, run by dressage trainers and sisters Lisa and Catrina Hellmer.     Growing a Business LCH Equestrian […]

  If flies are wreaking havoc on your horse’s legs, but he constantly removes or destroys expensive fly boots, it may be time for a bit of creativity. Grab a pair of tall old socks (knee-high crew socks work well) and make your own inexpensive fly boots! Cut the toe off the sock and then […]

Located in West River, Maryland, Sudley Farm is home to Blue Clover Eventing, a training, and competition program run by Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride. With a long list of career highlights and an even longer list of client reviews overflowing with positive recommendations, Valerie’s high expectations for herself and her horse management program are paying off. […]

Every season has its concerns for horse owners, but summer can push many horse care experts to the limit when it comes to keeping horses cool, fly-free, and hydrated. Whether you’re caring for one horse or thirty, these tips can help keep you sane when summer management demands even more time and energy. Some horses […]

Joanna Novakovic has been leading Cornell University’s Equestrian Teams as head coach since 2014, and has been personally involved with horses for 32 years. Novakovic is a United States Hunter Jumper Association certified trainer with a history of excellence in showing and horse care. Her coaching has brought the Cornell Equestrian Team an outstanding record […]