BarnManager’s Favorite Equestrian Fall Activities
October 26, 2023| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Fall is a beautiful time of year to spend outside and at the barn with your horse. The temperatures are not too hot but not too cold and the leaves on the trees are picture-perfect. Take advantage of this wonderful season by trying out some of BarnManager’s favorite fall activities.

Plan a Photoshoot

All equestrians want a stunning photo of their horse with fall foliage in the background. Choose a nice fall afternoon to stage a photoshoot with your horse and maybe even some of your barn buddies. Hiring a professional photographer is a great option to get your perfect fall shots. If you are on a budget and do not have professional equipment, iPhones can take quality photos with proper editing. This is a fun activity to do with friends so you can take turns taking pictures or do a couple of group photos.

Enjoy a Trail Ride

Take advantage of the nice weather and enjoy the fall colors by planning a trail ride. This is a fun activity to do in a group. If you decide to trail ride outside your own farm property, make sure you are wearing high-visibility clothing because it may be hunting season. It is also a nice opportunity for the horses to enjoy time outside of the arena, especially if you will be riding in an indoor all winter.

Enter a Costume Class

What is the fun of fall without picking out a Halloween costume? This year, consider coming up with a costume for both you and your horse. Dressing up with your horse can be a fun activity whether you are attending a Halloween-themed horse show or just dressing up with your barn family.

Click HERE for BarnManager’s favorite Halloween costume ideas!

Make Fall-Themed Horse Cookies

Everyone loves pumpkin spice-flavored goodies and fall comfort food, including horses. Plan a weekend afternoon to make your own fall-themed horse cookies. This is a great activity to do at a gathering at someone’s house or even at the barn if you have the appliances.

Click HERE for a list of BarnManager’s favorite recipes for fall-themed horse treats!

Organize a Live Stream Night

Instead of planning a movie night this fall, gather a group of barn friends for an evening of watching live streams. The fall includes several prestigious horse shows and finals with night classes that you will not want to miss. Order a pizza and get a few snacks to eat while you and your friends enjoy top competition. Don’t forget that many streaming services also offer on-demand viewing so you can catch up on big events you may have missed. If you want to mix it up a little, consider watching a Masterclass or a Barn Talk from Horse & Country to learn new tips and tricks from top equestrians.

Click HERE for a list of must-watch live streams for this fall!

Attend a Haunted Hayride

Although this activity may not be directly related to horses, it is still something fun to do as a group. Look for the haunted hayrides in your area and gather your barn family for a fun night. You can also plan a group dinner before or after the hayride for more team bonding.

Try out a few of the activities on BarnManager’s list to ensure you are enjoying fall to the fullest before the winter weather comes.

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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DIY Recipes for Fall-Themed Horse Treats
November 3, 2022| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

One of the best parts about fall is all of the pumpkin spice-flavored beverages and goodies. Since you may not want to give your horse flavored coffee or donuts, BarnManager created a list of recipes for DIY fall-themed treats you can easily whip up for your favorite equine partner.

Oatmeal Horse Treats

From: LittleHouseLiving.com

Ingredients: 

  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 large apple
  • 1 cup molasses
  • 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Shred the carrot and the apple into a large bowl.
  3. Add in the oil, oats, and molasses. Stir to combine well so that all the oats are covered in molasses.
  4. Pour the mixture into a greased 9-by-13 baking dish. Pat the mixture down with a spoon or with your fingers so it is flattened into the pan.
  5. Bake at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes or until the mixture begins to get crispy.
  6. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool and harden slightly.
  7. Cut into individual treats and remove from the pan.

Click here to open a printable recipe card!

Crunchy Pumpkin Horse Treats

From: Lighthoof

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
  • 1 cup alfalfa pellets
  • 1/4 cup flax meal

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Soak the alfalfa pellets in just enough warm water until they are completely soft. Drain any excess water.
  3. Mix in the pumpkin and flax meal.
  4. Spoon into quarter-sized lumps about 1” apart on a baking sheet.
  5. Bake for about 45 minutes or until they are crunchy but not burned. The idea is to dehydrate them more than to bake them. If they are starting to burn just turn the heat down.

Click here to open a printable recipe card!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Horse Cookies

From: HorseGirl Blog

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups whole oats
  • 1 can pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoons nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoons honey or molasses (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Thoroughly mix the pumpkin puree and water together.
  3. Add the flour, oats, and spices.
  4. If desired, mix in the honey or molasses.
  5. Put spoonfuls of the mixture onto a greased cookie sheet.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes or until done.

Click here to open a printable recipe card!

Let your horse enjoy the pumpkin spice season with you by testing out one of these DIY treat recipes.

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!

Get Demo

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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!

Get Demo

Learn More