Part Three of Wild Spirits, Gentle Hearts: The Story of Two Mustang-Crazy Girls
October 21, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Part Three of Wild Spirits, Gentle Hearts: The Story of Two Mustang-Crazy Girls

By Emily and Sarah Harris

Ever since we were younger, it was our dream to adopt a wild mustang. Every year we would look at the Bureau of Land Management’s mustang auctions, always hoping that one day… just maybe… we would bring one home.

This year our childhood dreams became reality.

Read Part One here!

Read Part Two here!

For the conclusion of our journey, read below.

From Sarah:

Choosing Our Final Two Mustangs

After deciding to choose another horse instead of the one we bought on the online auction that turned out to have a lump on her stomach, I searched around, longing to find my next equine partner. We were all set with our first filly, and we knew we were approved for a total of three mustangs, so we could choose two more. I looked at the other horses in the pen, and my eyes stopped on a large sorrel gelding. He was the second-tallest one I’d seen, but his plain coloring caused him to be overlooked. He hadn’t been chosen yet, at least I hoped. The clipboard said he was five years old. I made a mental note of his tag number.

I still wanted to find one more horse and suddenly I saw her. She was a faded black color, and boy, was she a tank! I knew Emily would love her. The list said she was two years old and “brown” in color. I made a mental note of her tag number as well.

Emily and Hope

While we stood in line to fill out new adoption applications, Emily and I went over our plan for securing our next best friends. We would still get the sorrel filly we had won on the online auction, and then we would try to get the sorrel gelding and the brown filly I had seen. Now we had to wait. As each minute passed, the knots in my stomach got tighter. I prayed they wouldn’t be chosen by someone further up the line. Behind the adoption table was a list of all the horses there. When one was adopted, the BLM workers would cross out their tag number. My heart would lurch into my throat every time a worker stood up to cross out a listing.

We finally reached the adoption table and finalized the papers for our “internet horse,” received a refund for the filly that had a lump on her side, and completed our in-person adoption application for the other two. After paying $25 each for the two we found that day, it was official! We were bringing all three home!

After the horses were haltered, the BLM workers took off their neck tags and handed them to us. It was like being handed keys to a new car or home, but we were being handed the ownership of three beautiful wild horses! We watched our newest treasures load onto the trailer, then as we drove home, we felt them shake the trailer like we’ve never experienced before! We realized we were in for the time of our lives with this new adventure and, if we are honest, we almost second-guessed ourselves.

Bringing Three Mustangs Home

We have had experience training green horses, and we have raised a yearling and broke her to ride. We have had lots of “project horses” because that was mostly what we could afford, so we were used to working with inexperienced horses. But this was going to be the ultimate challenge; we would be training three completely wild, untouched, and untrained horses.

Sarah and Blaze

Emily and I decided to name the five-year-old sorrel gelding Blazin’ Wildfire, “Blaze” for short, because of his fiery sorrel color and wild nature. We can say that his name totally fits him! His health record showed he was from Chloride Canyon, Utah, and had been brought in only three months prior and was gelded the next month.

As for our two-year-old sorrel “internet adoption” filly, we named her Bold Faith and “Faith” for short. Her name was symbolic because she was the first mustang we bid on and won. Getting her was an act of faith. We noticed how confidently she walked up to us when we got her home. Her health records indicated she was from Antelope Valley, Nevada, and born in a holding facility because they listed an actual birth date instead of a capture date, which would explain her willingness to approach us and her open-minded nature.

Last, but certainly not least, we named the two-year-old brown (faded black-looking) filly High Hopes and “Hope” for short. We noticed she was very inquisitive and curious. She always had this hopeful look like she wanted to check us out, but she was hesitant. Since she was a replacement filly for the one we had passed on from the auction, we had “high hopes” she would be a good choice. We learned from her health records that she was from North Hills, Utah, and was rounded up in 2019. She had been in holding for two years.

Creating Partnership and Trust

We have had our mustangs for a few months, and we are completely in love with them. From day one, we have worked on building their trust. We have discovered that despite their wild spirits, they truly have gentle hearts. To take a wild horse and win its trust to the point that it would let you touch it is such a special experience. If you have ever heard mustang owners talk about that “first touch,” it is truly an INCREDIBLE feeling. Emily and I can honestly say that having wild horses has made a huge impact on our hearts and lives; we are completely hooked on them as our favorite type of horses. We are mustang crazy more than ever!

Hope and Faith enjoying their new home with Emily and Sarah

What makes our adoption even more memorable is that 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horse & Burro Act, which was unanimously passed by Congress to protect wild horses and burros from capture, branding, harassment, or death. The Act makes it illegal for anyone to remove these animals from public lands, to cause their death, to process the animals into commercial products, or to otherwise use them in any way for private use without government approval. This Act declares that “wild, free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people…”

We can certainly say that they have enriched our lives. We are very happy to have welcomed these three precious wild horses into our hearts and homes!

To learn more about Sisters Horsing Around, visit www.sistershorsingaround.com and follow them on Facebook,Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Find out more about the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sales Program on their website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoptions-and-sales.

 

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Seven Exercises To Develop Your Equitation Skills This Finals Season
October 15, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Seven Exercises To Develop Your Equitation Skills This Finals Season

We have all seen the pictures of the technical and impressive courses that the top equitation trainers set up to prepare for equitation finals, but what are some of the simpler ways you can do this yourself? Here are some tips to get you and your horse at the top of your game even if you are staying home this fall.

1. Cavaletti Work

Setting up a line of cavaletti is a great way to practice collecting and lengthening your horse’s stride. Cavaletti poles are easy to set up in a gymnastics pattern, which can help the rider’s balance and position.

You can set up a variety of exercises, like trot rails, bounces, one-strides, or a combination of these.

2. Bending Lines

Almost every equitation final course has at least one bending line. Setting up a bending line and learning to ride both the inside and outside track by adding or taking out strides is a great way to practice for future, more technical, courses. Riders can also practice holding the lead their horse lands on through the bending line. If you are unsure of what types of lines to set up, check out some past equitation finals courses for reference here: https://www.medalmaclay.com/equitation-courses

3. Practice Your Leads

Riders are often asked to canter fences on specific leads or show a change of lead while in an equitation test. This is a skill that is perfect to learn and practice at home. Making sure that your horse is in tune with your cues is essential. Horses can sometimes get a little anxious about picking up the counter canter, so executing a calm and smooth transition is key. All horses have a stronger direction, but working your horse equally so that they are as comfortable and strong as possible on both leads is helpful.

Additionally, it is important to be able to ask your horse to land on specific leads after a fence. Having the ability to land on different leads may help you in a test where the judge has asked riders to counter canter the next fence. Knowing how to land on the correct lead in a bending line can reduce the chance of your horse doing a lead change in the middle of the line or swapping before the next jump.

4. Transitions

Another skill equitation riders are often asked to demonstrate in a test is a transition. This can include transitions between gaits and transitions within a gait. Riders may be asked to return to a walk in a test or show a change of lead through a downward transition. Practicing these types of transitions to make them as seamless as possible will definitely benefit you in the equitation ring as well as improve your riding in general.

5. Adjustability

Equitation riders have to know how to manage their horse’s canter stride while on course. For example, an equitation final course may have a short three-stride line directly to a more open three-stride line. Riders should make sure their horse is adjustable and listening to their aids in order to collect and lengthen strides quickly. Equitation courses often have tight turns where a rider must collect their horse’s stride in order to successfully follow the track. Some tests require hand galloping to a fence, in which case the rider must know how to lengthen and maintain their horse’s larger stride.

6. Fences on the Corner

Equitation courses often include fences placed on the corner or end of the ring, which are designed to come up quickly. These jumps are sometimes skinny fences, which adds an extra level of difficulty. Straightness and communication between you and your mount come into play with skinny jumps. Your horse may not always be expecting these types of fences, so practicing different tricky angles at home can help both you and your horse become used to them. Looking at past equitation final courses to get inspiration for where to place the fence is helpful here as well.

7. No-Stirrup Work

This tip goes without saying. Riding without stirrups can help build strength and improve balance. You never know when the judge will ask riders to drop their stirrups in a flat class or test! Although you may see the top equitation riders jumping without stirrups around a 3’6” course with ease, remember it takes time and practice to get there. Start by dropping your stirrups for part of your daily flatwork and then slowly increase the time. Similarly, begin by doing no-stirrup work over poles and then gradually start to add in small fences.

Even if you are not attending indoor finals this fall, these exercises are helpful in improving your equitation and getting you ready for the show ring!

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Part Two of Wild Spirits, Gentle Hearts: The Story of Two Mustang-Crazy Girls
October 8, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Part Two of Wild Spirits, Gentle Hearts: The Story of Two Mustang-Crazy Girls

By Emily and Sarah Harris

Ever since we were younger, it was our dream to adopt a wild mustang. “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” was our favorite movie. We wrote books about wild horses and played games about them. We watched documentaries about the wild mustang stallion Cloud and watched the movies “Wild Horse, Wild Ride,” “Wild Horse Redemption,” and “500 Miles.” In 2016, we met the winner of the 2014 Youth Extreme Mustang Makeover, Kirsten Mew, at an event, and she shared encouraging words about training mustangs. Every year we would look at the Bureau of Land Management’s Mustang auctions, always hoping that one day… just maybe… we would bring one home.

This year our childhood dreams became reality.

Read Part One here!


From Emily:

Finding a Filly

When the online auction started, we had already picked out several favorite horses that we wanted to try to bid on. The auction lasted a week with bids being placed on the horses throughout that time. There was a two-year-old sorrel filly that was approximately 14.2 hands that Sarah liked. We bid on her and got into a mini bidding war, but we came out on top with the winning bid of $205! We lost a bid on another mustang as her price was beyond our budget. There were horses whose bids had skyrocketed upwards of THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, which was WAY out of our price range.

With minutes left on the clock, we searched for another mustang to bid on, but by this time the pickins were very, very slim. Then we found her, a sweet looking two-year-old brown filly. She was a hand shorter than the one we were winning, but she was quite the looker! We placed our bids and waited. Another mini bidding war ensued. With only seconds left on the clock, we waited in pure suspense. Our web browser’s refresh button probably felt like a tennis ball getting whacked by a racket with how many times we clicked that button. 3…2…1… game over. WE WON! The little filly was ours for $110!

To say we were relieved would be such an understatement. We melted in our seats and let out all the built-up tension. It was happening; our dreams were becoming a reality. Now all we had to do was get them home.

Picking Up Our Mustangs

The closest pickup location for the mustangs in that auction was at an in-person BLM Adoption Event three hours away from where we lived. In addition to being a pickup location for horses sold in the online auction, the Adoption Event featured other horses and burros, all of which are unhandled and untrained, available for the public to adopt or buy for a flat price of $25.

The event was held at The Meadow in Doswell, Virginia, which was also the birthplace of legendary racehorse Secretariat. When we arrived, we immediately set out to find our two mustangs. Our hearts melted as we entered the huge covered arena where the event was taking place. Holding pens full of the sweetest faces you’ve ever seen were looking around, wondering what on earth was going on. Despite the many people milling around, the mustangs were calm and watched with curiosity. There were bays, paints, sorrels, blacks, buckskins, creams, duns, greys, and roans.

Since we weren’t told where our mustangs were, finding them was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Each holding pen had a clipboard listing the horses’ tag number, age, color, sex, and state of origin. It wasn’t long before we laid eyes on the first filly that we had won, confirmed by the tag number around her neck. We found our adorable sorrel filly in a pen full of sassy youngsters milling around her like a merry-go-round. She was the cutest little thing!


A Change of Plan

Now that we had found our first filly, it was time to find our second one. We walked around the pens, scanning them as we passed by and finally found her. She had a very distinct Andalusian-like body that stood out in the crowd of horses around her. We were beaming, until a large unsightly lump on her stomach caught our eye. Our excitement was dashed like a kite being struck by lightning. We stared in disbelief at her stomach. Could it be her? Or were we mistaking her for a gelding? Nope, her tag number let us know it was her, but the lump bulging out of her stomach looked very concerning. Something was wrong. It could be a hernia, or it could be worse: cancer.

We knew that once we signed off on her, we would instantly be responsible for her medical care. If there was something seriously wrong, then we might be in for potentially costly medical expenses right off the bat.  Disappointed, we decided to pass on getting her and looked for another mustang. Saddened, we shuffled back to our first filly’s pen and tried to come up with a game plan.


Stay tuned for Part 3 coming soon when Emily and Sarah find their final mustang and bring them home!

Find out more about the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sales Program on their website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoptions-and-sales.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Swinging Into the Autumn Season With Seven Preparation Tips
October 1, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Swinging Into the Autumn Season With Seven Preparation Tips

The fall season for many can bring unknowns about fluctuating temperatures, unexpected weather events, and inconstant environments. Here are some tips to make sure your farm and horse are ready for the changing of the seasons.

1. Do you grow, harvest, and bale your own hay? Now is the time to look at how much you have left and how much space you have. Do you buy hay? Check it for freshness and any signs of mold.

 

2. Check your equipment for anything broken and in need of repair or replacement – wheelbarrows, pitchforks, shovels – all of the everyday items that have the most wear and tear.

 

3. Heading indoors for the winter? Find out about winterizing your outdoor footing to make sure it holds up with rain, ice, and snow coming soon. In your indoor arena, look into what to add to sand footing to keep it free of frost and soft when temperatures are subzero. Seal up drafts around the arena, wash all of the windows while the weather is still warm, and lubricate any sliding door tracks.

 

4. Riding outside, on the trails, and through forests and fields this fall? Make sure you know which are hunting areas, what the local hunting seasons are, and that you and your horse have high-visibility apparel.

 

5. Make sure sheets and blankets are aired out, clean, and have no holes, rips, or missing buckles and clasps.

 

6. Double-check all of your electric equipment, outlets, and lighting. The last thing you want to do in inclement weather is replace a burnt-out lightbulb!

 

7. If less daylight and lower temperatures mean your horse is coming inside more and changing its diet from pasture grazing to hay as its primary feed, talk to your veterinarian about how best to manage supplement modifications, sugar intake, hay quality and quantity, and how best to avoid colic as you make slow and steady adjustments.

With these tips, you’re well on your way to getting ready for crisp air, pumpkins, and apple bobbing (your horse’s favorite autumn activity).

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Wild Spirits, Gentle Hearts: The Story of Two Mustang-Crazy Girls
September 24, 2021| | in category Uncategorized 1 comment

Wild Spirits, Gentle Hearts: The Story of Two Mustang-Crazy Girls

 

By Emily and Sarah Harris

Ever since we were younger, it was our dream to adopt a wild mustang. “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” was our favorite movie. We wrote books about wild horses and played games about them. We watched documentaries about the wild mustang stallion Cloud and watched the movies “Wild Horse, Wild Ride,” “Wild Horse Redemption,” and “500 Miles.” In 2016, we met the winner of the 2014 Youth Extreme Mustang Makeover, Kirsten Mew, at an event, and she shared encouraging words about training mustangs. Every year we would look at the Bureau of Land Management’s Mustang auctions, always hoping that one day… just maybe… we would bring one home.

This year our childhood dreams became reality.

 

Emily:

Throughout the beginning of this year, I kept saying, “I am going to get a mustang this year!” I talked about it often and made plans. Whenever I bought things for my horse and pony, I bought extra in preparation for a new horse. Besides my childhood dreams to have a mustang, I had another reason that fueled my desire. If anything happened to my horse Amazing Grace, then I wouldn’t have a horse. She is my only riding horse, and she is heading into her senior years. Even though she may have plenty of time left, I didn’t like the uncertainty of it all.  Anything could happen. I had experienced the loss of having to give my other riding horse, Stella, back to her previous owner because I realized that she wasn’t physically able to meet my jumping needs. That was heartbreaking for me.  It didn’t help that the day I took Stella back was also my birthday. I don’t even want to imagine how I would feel if something happened to Amazing Grace.

With this ever-looming possibility in mind, I felt more eager to get a Mustang. Even when I was recovering from my concussion, I talked about having one, which seemed pretty ironic at the time. Here I am, unable to ride because of a pretty bad concussion, and I am talking about training a wild horse, knowing that it’s because of a green horse that I am even in this situation. It seemed like a recipe for disaster, but I was determined. My search for a mustang began.

Once again, we began to look at the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro online/internet auctions. There were several BLM internet auctions scheduled throughout the year. Each internet auction had pickup locations where you could choose to pick up the horse or burro that you had won during the auction. We waited until there was an online auction with a pickup location located in our state. Our chance had finally come!

All of the horses listed in the auction were unhandled and untrained. This meant that they had never been touched by human hands. Starting bids were $25. We scanned through the horses listed and looked at their descriptions, videos, pictures, and Herd Management Area locations. Wild horses and burros live on areas of public land known as Herd Management Areas (HMA). These are areas of land that the BLM manages. There are 177 Herd Management Areas across 10 states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico and the total amount of land that make up these 177 Herd Management Areas is 26.9 million acres.

In an effort to manage the wild horses and burros and maintain a natural, thriving, ecological balance of all species on the rangelands, the BLM removes a certain number of equines to place into private maintenance and care by interested individuals who are willing to adopt or purchase them. Unmanaged, wild horse and burro populations can double every four years, putting them at risk for starvation and thirst because of lack of food and water and at the risk of death. Increased herd populations also threaten the survival of other wildlife species because of competition for food and water resources and the damage to the land and habitat of other creatures.

I sent in my adoption application so that I could get approval to adopt or purchase. Application approval is based on one’s ability to provide humane treatment and care (including proper transportation, feeding, and handling) for a wild horse or burro. There are minimum facility requirements for the wild horse or burro’s living area (their pen, corral, stall, shelter, etc).

I was approved to get three horses based on the space that we had available for their corrals. A person may adopt no more than four wild horses or burros in a 12-month period, unless permission is given for more based on one’s ability to care for them.

When the online auction started, we had already picked out several favorite horses that we wanted to try to bid on. The auction lasted a week with bids being placed on the horses throughout that time. It was a total nail biter! On the last day of the auction, during the last hour, most of our favorites were picked. Every time we looked, one or more of our favorite horses’ prices shot up like a hot air balloon on the fourth of July! Time was ticking, and we had to make a decision fast.

Visit the BarnManager blog next week to read what happens on Emily and Sarah’s journey to adopting wild mustangs!

Find out more about the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sales Program on their website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoptions-and-sales.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Eight Things You Should Know About Jumps at Your Barn
September 17, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Eight Things You Should Know About Jumps at Your Barn

We spoke with Pierre Jolicoeur, a former FEI-level course designer, three-time Olympic show jumping trainer, and founder of PJ Saddles and PJ Jumps to learn more about what types of jumps to have and what you need to make sure your barn is outfitted with correct, safe equipment for jumping.

 

  1. The type of jumps you need depends on the level of horses and riders using them as well as the type of riding they are doing. But no matter the discipline, the number one priority is safety. Find correct, well-made jumps, use breakaway cups, set courses properly, and you will be on your way to having fun and improving in the sport.

 

  1. Plan to have enough jump material for 10 jumps, including five oxers and five verticals. This doesn’t include any extra gymnastics you might want to set. That amount of jump material should give you enough to set a nice course of eight jumps and have reserves for when poles or standards break or need to be replaced, or when you want to build a double or triple combination.

 

  1. The length of poles needed is in direct proportion to the size of your riding ring. If you’re in an indoor ring or a smaller outdoor, ten-foot poles can be used. In a larger outdoor arena, 12-foot poles work nicely. If you’re lucky enough to have an expansive grass ring, you can try 14-foot poles but know that longer in length means heavier in weight!

 

  1. When setting a training course at home, design it first on paper and measure it to scale. For example, use graph paper where each square is set to a distance (i.e., one square equals one foot). Once you have measured your course out on paper, it will be easier to drop poles where the jumps should be in the ring, and you will know exactly where to put them. It is also a good idea to change your course at least once a week to keep challenging yourself and your horse, and so the footing does not get worn in the jump areas.

 

  1. Every training course set at home should be jumpable in both directions. This gives a lot of different options for training both horses and riders. You’ll need four poles per jump, whether it’s an oxer with two poles on each set of standards, or a vertical with two poles on the standards and a ground rail on each side.

 

  1. Pierre’s number one saying? “Horses hate surprises.” Make sure before you go to a competition that you have trained everything at home. Use your jump materials to simulate what you might encounter at upcoming shows. “Don’t do training at horse shows,” he says. “Know the facility you’re attending, the conditions, the course designer, the hunter judge; all of that gets you organized to win.”

 

  1. Make an investment in professionally-made jumps. “If you are spending money to buy and train a horse and compete at shows, you can’t be cheap on your training facility,” says Pierre. Jumps have too many details, and safety is too important, to make your own. Buy jump materials from people who know how to make them safely. If you’re on a budget, start with enough for six jumps, then buy six more the following year, for example. Soon enough, you will have a nice set of jumps that are high quality and will last longer.

 

  1. Speaking of lasting, Pierre shared a few tips for maintaining your jumps. Design your course so very few of the components touch the ground. Obviously, the bottoms of standards will be in the sand or on the grass; he recommends aluminum wings because they last forever and are much lighter than their wood counterparts, so they are also easier to move. When you are finished riding a course at the end of each day, go around to each jump and put the poles back in cups. Don’t leave them on the ground. “A couple of days on the damp ground, and you’ll need a new paint job!” he adds. If you’re going away for a significant amount of time, store them inside. Since jumps can be expensive and are a considerable investment, it pays to take care of them and save money in the long run.

 

With planning, consideration, and care, you can set a beautiful jumping course in order to have useful training at home and be prepared for success in the show ring!

 

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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The BarnManager Q&A With: Stephanie Nell, groom for Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa
September 10, 2021| | in category BarnManager Q&A, Uncategorized No comments yet

The BarnManager Q&A With:

Stephanie Nell, groom for Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa


What are three things that are always in your ring bag?
Stephanie: I always have the safety vest, sugar cubes, and a towel!

What is the most helpful habit that you practice at the barn?
Stephanie: Routine – things don’t always go according to plan with this job, but it’s good to have some sort of consistency for the horses to keep them level headed (and for the people).

How do you foster a great team environment in your business?
Stephanie: Communication, all the way. Unfortunately, we aren’t all mind readers, so if we need something or have any concerns, we need to speak up. If we need to know something, ask!

What’s your best tip or hack for grooming and horse care? Where did you learn it?
Stephanie: A mixture spray of witch hazel and vinegar for irritated skin. At my first job, I took care of a chestnut mare with highly sensitive skin, so every now and then we would have a rash breakout. To suppress the rash, I would spray that mixture once or twice a day. I swear it’s magic in a bottle!

What is your favorite equestrian sport and why?
Stephanie: Show jumping through and through. I’m always in awe when I watch horses, especially the ones I care for, compete at the highest level of the sport. It makes me feel luckier to do what I do every time I’m on the side watching them go.

If you were a horse, what would you be and why?
Stephanie: I think I’d like to be a wild Icelandic pony. They live in a beautiful part of the world and are known to be tough and sturdy, yet kind and curious.

 

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Tips on Going Back to School Sustainably
September 3, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Written by BarnManager partner Green Is the New Blue

 

Summer show season is coming to a close and riders are gearing up for finals. For the younger members of the equestrian community, that means it’s back to school. This week, we’re sharing ways you can be an environmentally conscious student, both at the barn and as you head to school.

Bring Your Own

Refuse to use single-use plastics. Instead, bring your reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go. Schools all have water fountains so you can have faith that you’ll have fresh, cold water. If your barn doesn’t have a water refill station, request that one be added to the tack room or lounge. Pack a lunch in a reusable container and bring home what you don’t eat, minimizing both packaging and food waste. Another good investment is a reusable glass or metal straw and carrying case – this can be great to keep in your bag when going out to eat with friends, or even for drinks at school.

Caffeinate Responsibly

Are you the type of student who picks up coffee before school or the barn? Bring a reusable coffee cup to your local shop, or, better yet, brew your own. Invest in a reusable filter for your machine and buy coffee in bulk. Coffee is water intensive, and farmers may be paid below market value for their crop, so choose shade-grown coffee from companies that can identify the exact source.

Back to School Shopping

Amazingly enough, thrifting is in! There are so many small thrift shops with super affordable vintage items to create that perfect back-to-school statement. Did you know the fashion industry is responsible for 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide? If you do buy new, choose quality items that will hold up over time and avoid fast-fashion at all costs.

Sustainable Equestrian Teams

For some students, back to school also means back to team riding. With IEA and IHSA teams comes exciting camaraderie, so use this to make a positive impact. When hosting shows, provide a water refill station, easy access to recycling bins, and minimize plastic in the food booth. Not only will your horse show be more sustainable, but maybe you’ll inspire other teams to take home those ideas to their own barns!

Get Involved

Collect your community service hours and build your resume this school year. Join a Green Team at your school or find other sustainability organizations in your community to work with. This could be anything from supporting a local advocacy group to gaining support for environmental legislation or rehabilitating wildlife at a professional center. If you can’t find the type of organization you’re looking for, start one!

With finals coming up, we commend young riders on their ability to balance their riding careers with their educations. These tips can help you become more sustainable, whether at school, home, or the barn. We wish everyone the best of luck at finals and a fun start to a new school year!

 

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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How To Get Your Horse Show Ring Ready
August 26, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Whether it’s your first time out showing in a while or you’re a seasoned competitor, you can’t deny the importance of sending a clean and shiny horse into the show ring in any discipline. Some shows offer awards such as “Best Turned Out” for horses that are impeccably groomed, but even if the show doesn’t, you want to show off your stunning horse and have it look its best for any photo ops. Here are some tips on how to fully prepare your horse to look stunning ahead of and during competition day.

The Day Before:

1. Bathe from head to toe.

Gather your favorite bathing supplies and head to the wash rack. Dilute your soap with water so it’s not too harsh on the horse’s skin and use a sponge to apply soap all over the body. Then, use a curry comb or similar grooming device to scrub your horse’s entire body with the soap, being sure to really dig deep into the fur and get all the dirt and grime out. Once this step is complete, thoroughly rinse and make sure to get all the soap off, because it could irritate the skin. If your horse is particularly dirty, this step may need to be repeated.

2. Condition the mane and tail.

You’ll ideally want to be able to comb both the mane and tail before you show to give each one volume, so conditioning and detangling is crucial to avoid pulling out any hair. Lather in conditioner, then rinse thoroughly. Use a detangling spray and wait for the mane and tail to fully dry before you begin brushing. When brushing, start from the bottom to remove tangles and move your way up.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of whitening shampoo.

If you have a white or grey horse, whitening shampoo is your best friend. Start applying whitening shampoo to the top of the tail and work your way down, then lather the entire tail and scrub. Give it a good rinse and repeat until it’s bright white, which may even take several days of washing post-ride. Also use the whitening shampoo on white legs and other spots where stains may be deepest.

The Day Of:

1. Arrive early to allow time to clean.

Some horses sleep quite well at horse shows, which can make grooming a more difficult task as they are dirty from laying down all night. Be sure to show up well before your scheduled ride time in order to bathe your horse and get it sparkling. Bring plenty of fans so your horse can dry quickly at the show.

2. Spot clean if you have to.

Some horses don’t need a full bath on show days. If you’re lucky enough to have only a few minor spots of dirt on your horse, use a dry shampoo or spot cleaner to remove those before show time.

3. Monitor your horse as the day goes on.

If you bathe at six in the morning and don’t compete until four in the afternoon, there’s a good chance your horse may lay down for a quick nap and get dirty again. Don’t leave your horse alone all day and expect a clean horse when it’s show time. Check back in an hour before you expect to ride and make sure your cleaning efforts haven’t been squashed.

4. Polish and head to the show ring.

Once it’s time to show and you know your horse is clean, it’s time to begin polishing. Go over the whole body with a soft brush to make sure any dust from stall shavings is gone and all the hair is going in the proper direction. Spray some fly spray to avoid any fly-bite mishaps, comb the mane and tail, polish the hooves, and begin tacking up. Have someone be prepared with a rag at the ring to wipe away slobber or anything else that could cause stains when preparing to show.

Anyone who knows horses knows they always choose the most inopportune times to get dirty, so as riders and competitors we have to be prepared with the best products and best techniques for grooming and cleaning ahead of competitions. Leave a comment below with your go-to grooming products!

 

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

Get Demo

Learn More