HCW Tip Sheets

Creating and Using a Sacrifice Area for Horses

Freshly updated with new information and LOTS of photos!

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20 Things Every New Horse Owner Should Know
SPANISH TRANSLATED VERSION

Owning a horse is a big responsibility and a commitment of time, energy, finances and resources. AND, it can be an extremely rewarding and exciting experience when it’s all done well. The following 20 points review basic requirements for owning and caring for an adult horse. You can use this checklist to review your current horse management program or to assist you in determining if you are ready to take on horse ownership. Keep in mind that you should always consult your veterinarian on the health care program best for your horses or if you have problems or questions.

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Fall in Place
SPANISH TRANSLATED VERSION

You can count on winters in most of the northern United States being cold, wet, dark and windy. During many winters and in many areas you can add snowy and icy to that description. And there always seems to be at least a storm or two or three that wreaks havoc on our normal horse chore routines for days on end—stretching into weeks for the unfortunate. As it is with most everything, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here is a checklist of preparations that you can do now to help ease you through those times ahead when you least want to deal with winter’s little (and big) surprises.

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Paddock and Pasture Fencing

Choose safe fencing for your horses. Get suggestions for types of fencing and see examples of fencing for different applications, from paddocks to pastures.

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The Swallows Are Coming

Natural Insect Control for Horse Farms

One of our favorite subjects here at Horses For Clean Water is the arrival of the swallows in the spring. We have taken past TGH articles and researched some new information and combined them into a great new Tip Sheet. Help support more HCW classes, programs and projects by purchasing this wonderful new Tip Sheet.

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Planning and Building an Oudoor Arena

Seven Things to Know Before Building

Having your own riding arena can add a wonderful dimension to your life with horses. An arena is a safe, fun place for you to work with them, and helps keep them healthy by providing a chance for regular exercise.

Building an arena is also a big and expensive proposition. But it can be very rewarding, and you can save some money by doing many of the steps yourself. Start with a list of what you want to accomplish with your horses over the next 5 years and what types of riding and training you might end up doing. Take the ages and training levels of your horses into account, and also those of horses you might have down the road.

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Paddock and Pasture Fencing

Choose safe fencing for your horses. Get suggestions for types of fencing and see examples of fencing for different applications, from paddocks to pastures.

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Goodbye Mud And Dust

If you have horses then perhaps you have spent some time sloshing around in a paddock trying to catch a horse that has become thoroughly caked with mud. And, as you were slip-sliding around, you may have said to yourself, “So which part is the fun part? The mucky paddock or the filthy horse?” Or maybe your problem is dust. Are your neighbors with the log home fuming at you because the dust cloud rising up from your property leaves their house looking like it hasn’t been cleaned in years? Well, take heart, there is hope—just because you have horses doesn’t mean you have to have mud or dust! Read on to learn about sacrifice areas and other great ways to transform your horse place.

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Shopping for Horse Property

So, you’ve finally decided to do it! You’re going to buy that little place in the country you’ve always dreamed about. You’re looking forward to the joy of waking up each morning and looking out the window at your horses in their paddocks waiting for breakfast. If you work at home you’ll be able to pause between tasks to gaze out the window at your equine buddies happily grazing away in their lush green pastures. Now you’ll be able to carefully monitor their weight, look after their health on a daily basis and keep their stalls as clean as a whistle. Riding will be handier since you’re right there. Perhaps you’re even hoping to save a little money on expenses since you’ll be doing things yourself now. And besides, didn’t your spouse always want to drive a tractor like Eddie Arnold on Green Acres?

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Fall in Place

You can count on winters in most of the northern United States being cold, wet, dark and windy. During many winters and in many areas you can add snowy and icy to that description. And there always seems to be at least a storm or two or three that wreaks havoc on our normal horse chore routines for days on end—stretching into weeks for the unfortunate. As it is with most everything, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here is a checklist of preparations that you can do now to help ease you through those times ahead when you least want to deal with winter’s little (and big) surprises.

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Natural Solutions for Fertilizers, Weed Control and Pest Control

Tired of fighting weeds and bugs? Want to use safer products but don’ know where to start? This list contains ideas and products to combat common Northwest gardening problems naturally. Product brands listed are some more commonly available at home centers, (Fred Meyer, McClendon Hardware, The Home Depot, Lowe’s) or local nurseries such as Sky Nursery and some farm supply stores. There are many fine products available—feel free to research some of the web sites listed for more information. You may find that as you let Nature do the work for you, you have more time to enjoy it!

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5 Keys to Better Pastures

Picture your horse farm in summer: Your horses are out enjoying the lush green grass and you and your neighbors take pleasure in this beautiful scene. You’re pleased, not just because your horses and neighbors are happy, but because you know your horses are benefiting from healthy forage and you’re saving money with reduced hay bills. In this scenario the environment wins also; the abundant grass absorbs nutrients from manure and grass roots hold soil in place, preventing erosion. That’s your farm in summer, right? Or maybe the grass isn’t quite so lush and there are a few more weeds in the picture? And maybe your neighbors aren’t so happy about the dust coming from your place? If your pastures could be a bit more ideal than they are now, here are five steps you can take to improve your pastures, no matter how many acres you have.

formerly Summer Pasture Management

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20 Things Every New Horse Owner Should Know

Owning a horse is a big responsibility and a commitment of time, energy, finances and resources. AND, it can be an extremely rewarding and exciting experience when it’s all done well. The following 20 points review basic requirements for owning and caring for an adult horse. You can use this checklist to review your current horse management program or to assist you in determining if you are ready to take on horse ownership. Keep in mind that you should always consult your veterinarian on the health care program best for your horses or if you have problems or questions.

formerly Basic Horse Care

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5 Easy Steps to Compost

If you care for horses on your own place then you have, no doubt, wondered about what to do with that huge mound of manure and stall waste generated by your horse. In fact, one horse can create a serious pile in no time—one horse produces about 50 pounds of manure per day, over eight tons per year. Add to that the bedding you use each day and in no time at all you have a virtual mountain of manure! This Tip Sheet will give you information on how to build and use a horse manure composting system.

formerly How to Compost and Use Horse Manure

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