More Things to do at Red Rocks Colorado

Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

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

Photo by Jeffrey Keenan on Unsplash

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

Photo by Fermin Rodriguez Penelas on Unsplash

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

Photo by Chris Bair on Unsplash

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.

Wild West Walking Tour

Photo by Matthew Pablico on Unsplash

Golden’s Wild West Walking tour ended this past week. For $15-$25 per person, participants enjoyed an education walk for 1-2 hours around town. The 1-1.5 mile trek began outside the Golden Visitor’s Center at 10th and Washington. Continue reading for more on what this tour offered. 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.

Wild West Walking Tour in Golden

Golden Colorado is a beautiful place to live and visit, but do you know anything about it’s history? Golden was a prime location of the Colorado Gold Rush. It was established early in the state’s history and boasts some of Colorado’s oldest continually running businesses. Golden once had cobblestone armories, territorial capital buildings, and unique bowling saloons. Golden was even a hotspot for wild west shootouts just like in the movies! Mark your calendars for next year’s tour to find out where these things actually took place.

One of the best parts about this particular walking tour is that it is an easy one. Though there are a few grades on incline on the tour, it is not a hike. This opens the event up to more people including kids and older participants. Everyone is welcome! It also takes frequent stops, so there will be plenty of time for photos. Public restrooms and water fountains are accessible along the route, but to keep things moving along.

History of The Riding Helmet

Photo by Elisa Pitkänen on Unsplash

Ever wondered how the riding helmet got its start? In the 1950s, racing associations mandated jockeys to wear a cap. However, that changed after a serious head injury at the 1978 equestrian World Championships. It seems like a no-brainer, but this decision has come under fire since its installation. 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.

Horseback Riding Helmet

Dissenting is the 2022 National Cutting Horse Association rulebook. It states that competitors must wear a cowboy hat. They can only wear a safety helmet with advance approval of show management. However, rodeo and reining groups are more progressive. Saddle and bareback bronc riders, barrel racers, and reiners can all choose between a cowboy hat or protective helmet. Cowboy hats are seen as for performative and part of the experience. And yet helmet acceptance is increasing due to high-profile injuries.

If you are a horse property owner, your decision to wear a helmet may be driven by your insurance company. According to insurance agencies, head injuries occur a lot in horse sport and are avoidable in many situations. Your insurer may talk to you about wearing a helmet. For some horse property owners, premiums can rise when you’re not protecting yourself properly. Are head injuries covered in your policy? Does it specify whether the rider was wearing a helmet? Ask your insurer how your policy stands on these issues.

Horses and Vitamin E

Photo by Christine Mendoza on Unsplash

Did you know that horses need vitamin E? Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that is an essential nutrient in equine diets. This vitamin acts as a biological antioxidant in horses. This means that it protects tissues from the oxidative effects of free radicals. Free radicals are a natural outcome of cell metabolism. Continue reading for more information on why horses need vitamin E. 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.

Why Horses Need Vitamin E

So, how much vitamin E does your equine need? The National Research Council has the answer. There are minimum recommendations for vitamin E intake for different body weights and metabolic states in the Equine Nutritional Guidelines. A mature 500 kg horse needs a minimum daily intake about 500 IUs. If the horse is active, then bump it up to 1000. Horses consuming diets higher in unsaturated fat like corn or canola oil may not absorb vitamin E as well.

Fresh spring pasture is one of the most abundant sources of vitamin E. On the other hand, stored forages like hay lose their vitamin E activity quickly. This is the same for whole grains and other stored sources of unsaturated fats. They nay have vitamin E, but they can be eaten quickly enough. The most metabolically available source of vitamin E for equines is one where vitamin E is processed to make it water soluble. This means that you might have to provide your horse with a supplement. Talk to you vet to see if your horse is getting enough of this essential vitamin today.

Taking Care of Your Pony

Photo by Radwan Skeiky on Unsplash

Taking care of your pony may be more difficult than you thought. Healthy adult horses typically eat up to 2.5% of their body weight per day when foraging on a pasture. However, many ponies can eat up to 4% of their body weight or more when foraging.  Therefore, you must monitor your ponies eating habits more closely. Continue reading for some tips on taking care of your pony. 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.

Tips on Taking Care of Your Pony

Ponies are very cute and great for kids, but they have a reputation for misbehaving. Depending on where you got your pony and how much training it received beforehand, this behavior is manageable. If your horse is particularly bad, you’ll want to get them training as quick as possible. Even in small equids, bad manors can lead to real safety hazards. It goes without saying that kids love ponies. A pony that snaps, bites, kicks, etc., isn’t cute but is also a danger to small children. So be careful when they’re around untrained ponies. Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they’re not a threat.

Like many animals, bad behavior could be an acting out due to health problem. Therefore, you should rule out sources of pain that might cause bad behaviors. After a check up from the vet, then you can assume it’s just a learned behavior. There are ways to correct bad behavior that owners at any skill level can do. Using techniques such as well-timed positive and negative reinforcement, you can teach you pony good behaviors just like the professionals can with large horses.

The Great Bear Rainforest

Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

Trying to find something that you and your kids will both enjoy watching can be chore. Kids want bright colors, animals, and simple story while adults are typically looking for something more cerebral. This inspiring film series is the best of both worlds. It is a lot like the popular Discovery series Planet Earth. However this film focuses specifically on northern British Columbia. Continue reading to find out more about The Great Bear Rainforest film. 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 Great Bear Rainforest Experience

First of all, Ryan Reynolds voices the movie. Kids will recognize the voice from The Adam Project and adults will recognize it from films like Deadpool. This film takes you on a journey to a land of grizzlies, coastal wolves, sea otters and the all-white spirit bear. The spirit bear from First Nations lore, is the rarest bear on earth. Because of its climate and location, the Great Bear Rainforest has been cut off from the rest of the world. Also, it is protected by the region’s indigenous people.

The rainforest itself is a global treasure that covers 6.4 million hectares on British Columbia’s north and central coast. That is roughly the size of the entire island of Ireland. All British Columbians have a stake in protecting it. The historic agreement that secures the future of the Great Bear Rainforest means more old- and second-growth forest will be protected, while still ensuring opportunities for economic development and jobs for local First Nations. For more information, check out their website.

The Butterfly Quest

Photo by Calvin Mano on Unsplash

Looking for something fun to do with the entire family? The Butterfly Pavilion’s Butterfly Quest Event is ongoing until March 30th and is exactly what you’re looking for. The event is, “a search to discover, track and monitor butterflies in the butterfly conservatory, capturing important data that contributes to our scientists’ research.” Continue reading for information an this Colorado adventure. 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.

Westminster Butterfly Quest

The cool thing about Butterfly Quest is that you’re just looking at butterflies, which is fun by itself. But you will also be helping scientists and their studies at the same time. As you observe tagged butterflies, you can record what you see on your phone. This meaningful data helps scientists shape animal welfare in zoos around the country. Here are some of the things you’ll help the experts keep track of. Also, check out their website for more details.

In order to understand and observe the lifespan of different butterfly species, there are a few things they need to know. You will record how long the butterflies live and how they behave. To collect this data, the butterflies are tagged upon emergence from their chrysalides. The scientists want to know how the butterflies spend their time in their home. This work can be very time consuming for them, which is why your help is so valuable. Of course you need to have fun with your family at the same time. It’s a win-win! The information you gather will help the experts discover new ways to improve animal care.