How Your Horse Property Can Work For You

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Wouldn’t you like to know how your horse property can work for you? These days supply chains aren’t always reliable and retail prices have risen. For horse owners this means that you might be looking to make some extra cash off your property. Here are a few simple ways how your horse property can work for you instead of the other way around. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

This Is How Your Horse Property Can Work For You

Does your horse property feature a riding arena? Whether it’s indoor or outdoor, riding arenas can be a huge asset. To make some extra money, offer riding rights to others via a monthly membership. Even if you have an unused pasture, you can rent it out for grazing. You will even save time and money on mowing the grass! In both cases, there is little to no upkeep needed from you. Just make sure there’s some sort of written agreement to ensure renters know what you expect from them.

Another way to make money from your horse property is by re-selling unused hay. Often horse owners buy more hay than they need. If you purchase hay in larger quantities you can often negotiate better pricing. Why not resell what you don’t use in smaller lots at higher prices during the winter when hay is in short supply? Also, consider selling your horse manure. Horses produce more than eight metric tons of manure per year. Connect with your local gardening groups or community gardens to discuss their compost needs. Not only will you make money, but you’ll also be connecting with your community in a positive way!

Teaching Old Horses New Tricks

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Have you ever been to a horse show and watched the horses perform stunts? Teaching horses tricks isn’t just for show horses. Anyone can do it! With a little bit of positive reinforcement you’ll be amazed at what your horse can learn. For each trick, make sure to use repetition, consistency, and reward. Continue reading for more information on teaching horses tricks. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Teaching Your Horse Tricks

The best trick to start with is bowing. It is simple enough for a beginner horse to learn, while still wowing the crowd. Bowing refers to when your horse kneels on one leg while lowering its head. You need a halter and a lead rope for this trick. Stand beside your horse and use a treat to encourage it to lower its head. Gradually bring the treat down to the ground. Encourage your horse to move its head down with your lead rope. Be gentle and have patience. Give your horse the treat as a reward for a job well done. This will reinforce the behavior.

Another great trick to start with is lifting a leg. Use as a gentle aid as a extension of your hand. If you grow crops on your farm, a corn stalk makes a great aid. However, anything that is soft to the touch but rigid in the hand will work. Lightly tap just below your horse’s knee with the crop while saying a cue word, such as “lift.” It will be slow-going at first, so be patient! Your horse will eventually react and lift its leg. Reward with a treat and gently lift your horse’s leg forward by gripping above the knee.

What is a 1031 Exchange?

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Are you looking to invest in a horse property? You may be able to obtain one with a 1031 exchange. A 1031 exchange is a swap of one investment property for another. Most swaps are taxable as sales, although if yours meets the requirements of 1031, then you’ll either have no tax or limited tax due at the time of the exchange. Continue reading for more information. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

How to Use A 1031 Exchange

1031 exchanges have several nuances, but looking at it broadly this is what it entails. You can change the form of your investment without cashing out or recognizing a capital gain. That allows your investment to continue to grow tax deferred. Also, there’s no limit on how frequently you can do a 1031 exchange. You can roll over the gain from one piece of investment real estate to another, and another, and another. Although you may have a profit on each swap, you avoid paying tax until you sell for cash many years later.

This is why you’d want to use this type of investment exchange. If it works out as planned, you’ll pay only one tax at a long-term capital gains rate. To qualify, most exchanges must merely be of like-kind—an enigmatic phrase that doesn’t mean what you think it means. You can exchange an apartment building for raw land, or a ranch for a strip mall. The rules are surprisingly liberal. You can even exchange one business for another. However, if you are planning on staying up for a while then this strategy is not for you. Talk to your financial advisor to see if a 1031 exchange is right for you.

Adopting Wild Horses

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Did you know that adopting wild horses is possible in Colorado? The Bureau of Land Management has an adoption program that you can use. However, some wild horses end up at a rescue facility. After rehabilitating the horse and giving it some training, the horse is ready to be adopted. Continue reading for more information on how to adopt wild horses. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

The Process of Adopting Wild Horses

One of the ways to adopt a wild horse is to simply go to an adoption facility. Though it isn’t as easy as picking the horse you want and pulling out your credit card. You’ll have to meet certain adoption requirements and submit an adoption application. Also, these facilities routinely hold adoption events. If you frequently go to stock shows, horse expos, and similar activities, you’ve probably seen the adoption centers booth. Most of the time the wild horses are available though regular adoption procedures, but sometimes they have to be auctioned off. In both cases, there are still requirements you must meet.

You can also adopt a wild horse online. The Bureau of Land Management’s Internet Adoption Program allows you to view photos of horses for adoption. To raise money for the organization, you have to bid on a horse for the right to adopt. Of course you must still meet the adoption requirements and complete an adoption application. Another way you can take home a wild horse is through a private sale. Animals eligible for private sale are those over 10 years old and younger horses that have been passed over for adoption at least three times. For more information, check out the Bureau’s website.

Sustainable Energy from Manure

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One of the jobs horse owners dread is manure and waste management. This type of work increases exponentially depending on how many horses you have. But what if there was a way to make a sustainable energy source from your horse waste? In Finland, this is exactly what is being done. Continue reading for more information on this relatively new form of energy harvesting. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Manure Makes Sustainable Energy

Current heat recovery technology works well and is gaining momentum in local equine shows and amongst farmers. It is the hope of some organizations that this will be a sustainable energy source that could replace fossil fuels. The idea is simple. Composting horse manure creates fertilizer and generates heat as a by product. This heat energy converts to a more usable power for homes. A rotary drum composting mechanism, equipped with a heat recovery system, generates the energy. The system converts energy until the waste is fully composted within a week. The recovered energy heats nearby rooms and water.

However promising, manure management as an energy source faces some obstacles. At the moment, the technology only works on a small scale. Managing moisture is one of the key challenges. Also, manure is over 80% water. Therefore, it has a very low heating value when moist. One solution is mixing the manure with wood chips to overcome the humidity problem. Today, the Finns are researching more efficient ways to solve this problem and harness the potential energy. It is only a matter of time. Though Finland currently spearheads the movement, the entire world of horse owners are watching.

Increasing Your Horse Property Income

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Owning a horse property can be very rewarding, but it isn’t for everyone. One of the biggest problems that you may face is low horse property income. Property values have continued to increase and everyday equine management expenses are always on the rise. Here are a few money making and saving ideas for horse property owners. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Horse Property Income

Did you know that you can share the costs of keeping a horse by part-leasing them to a suitable rider? This is a great opportunity for riders who can’t afford to buy a horse. In these types of relationships, it’s best to keep a written agreement detailing the lease. Also, include what you expect them to take care of and pay for while they’re in possession of the horse. If you don’t like that idea, you can always board someone else’s horse on your property for a fee. Create a boarding agreement in writing to make sure you’re on the same page as your boarder.

Do you have extra space in your barn? Is there an unused outbuilding on your property? Clinicians, instructors, and event organizers need facilities to conduct both riding and non-riding educational activities. Many of them rent spare spaces on horse properties to conduct business. Depending on the instructor, you could rent out your free space and possibly gain some free instruction at the same time. Another way to increase your income is by holding fee-based fun, educational, or competitive events on your property.

More Things to do at Red Rocks Colorado

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The Red Rocks Colorado Amphitheatre is well-known as an amazing music venue with incredible views. And yet is has so much more to offer. Not only can you watch a movie on the rocks, they even have a music-themed hall of fame. Continue reading for some more unique things you can do at Red Rocks. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Red Rocks Colorado Activities

Red Rocks Colorado is a great place for working out. The amphitheater boasts 380 stairs and has a lot of room for exercising. As long as the space is available, so can access the stairs and run as much as you want. Red Rocks allows visitors to access the park one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset on non-event days, and one hour before sunrise until 2pm on event days.

Don’t feel like running up and down stairs? Red Rocks has guided workout sessions too. Each spring and summer, thousands of people gather to practice yoga together on the warm steps of the amphitheater. Yoga on The Rocks is an annual event series that takes place on the sprawling steps of the amphitheater, sometimes drawing thousands of people to participate. Generally sessions last one hour, and cost around twenty dollars per person. Tough it depends on who is running the event.

Hidden Hiking Trails in Colorado

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Colorado is one of the biggest and best states for hiking. There are thousands of miles of hiking trails in Colorado. There’s trails of all types of terrain for hikers of any skill level. With hiking being so popular, you might find for favorite trail with a lot of traffic. If you’d rather hike with less passersby, Switzerland Trail is an undiscovered gem for many. Continue reading for more information. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Uncover Secret Hiking Trails in Colorado

Switzerland Trail winds majestically through the wilds outside of Boulder. This trail boasts over nine miles through the picturesque Roosevelt National Forest. The best time to use this trail is from May to October. Switzerland Trail is of course great for hikers, but bikers and off-roaders as well. The paths there are wide but also full of lush trees, shrubs, and rocky cliffs. There’s even a lovely meadow along the way. Switzerland trail has a lot of history as a former railroad line for the Salt Lake & Pacific Railway.

Just like Switzerland trail, most people haven’t heard of the Salt Lake & Pacific Railway. This is due to the fact that the line died out after a devastating flood in 1894. An attempt was made to rebuild the line to help miners travel to the boulder area. However the bid to rebuild never came to fruition. Though it was a blow to the area at the time, it paved the way for this amazing hiking trail. Many hikers pack a lunch and take a quick rest in the meadow. It is truly a magical place.

Hydrotherapy for Horses

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Have you ever heard of hydrotherapy. It includes swimming, underwater treadmill work, and other rehabilitation techniques. Hydrotherapy for horses works in the same way that it works for humans and other animals. Continue reading for how this type of treatment works for equines. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

How Hydrotherapy for Horses Works

Exercising in water reduces physical loads and concussive forces on the body. This is important when it comes to rehabilitating from an injury.  Muscle injuries occur with repetition on forces on the body. The buoyancy from water limits these forces. The science is simple. Water is more dense than air. Horses work harder at slower speeds during aquatic exercise. This leads to improved cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle development. There are a plethora of benefits to hydrotherapy for horses.

Weight reduction promotes greater range of motion and strengthens flexibility. This is the best benefit of all because it reduces the risk of future injury. With every treatment method, there are some shortcomings. Hydrotherapy requires horses to acclimate to aquatic conditions. This takes more time than other rehabilitation methods. However, hydrotherapy has been proven to help. In this case, the benefits often outshine the drawbacks. For more information on hydrotherapy for horses, talk to your equine veterinarian today. There may be this type of therapy center fit for horses near you.

Equine Skin Care

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Did you know that horses can get dry skin resulting in a poor quality coat? This can certainly happen in Colorado due to our low humidity and dryer climate. The best thing horse owners can do for equine skin care is to make sure the horse is eating the proper nutrients. Continue reading for more information about what nutrients your horse needs for defending against dry skin. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Equine Skin Care Treatment

Before we get into the nutritional aspect of this topic, here’s a good tip. If your horse has dry skin, take a look at the shampoo you’re using. Also, shampooing your horse too frequently removes naturally occurring oils. Use a simple shampoo with fewer detergents and alcohols. Biotin helps horses’ skin and coat. Biotin is tricky because there are no guidelines for how much to use. However, research suggests twenty to thirty milligrams aid in hoof quality, so we can assume similar levels help with the skin and coat.

Zinc also helps with skin quality. Epithelial cells that make up skin require zinc for reproduction, maintenance, and repair. Zinc is found in forages, but it still might not be enough. In this case, use a supplement to make sure they’re getting everything they need. Copper is also very important for equine skin care. Copper maintains the structural integrity of the cross-linkages that provide strength to collagen in the skin. In conclusion, check with your vet to see if biotin, zinc, and copper supplements are right for your horse.