Ancient Horse Superstitions

Posted on August 24, 2020 by blogeditor

Horses have been galloping through the fields on planet Earth for a long time. Humans and horses have lived in symbiosis for hundreds of years. With such an old history, it is not surprising that we’ve developed some horse superstitions along the say. Here are a few of the most commonly known horse superstitions. Before you continue, are you looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado? Colorado Horse Property is the #1 horse property listing site in the state. We also have a full staff of horse-person realtors that can help you find the horse property of your dreams.

Horse Superstitions That Still Exist Today

The word superstitions conjures up negative tropes, but don’t forget that superstitions also include good luck charms. For instance, a common good luck charm in Ireland is the horseshoe. This is because most horseshoes were made of iron. In ancient times, the Celts of northern Europe believed in the magic of iron, which had the power to keep away bad spirits and negative energy. This is probably why there is so much art made from horseshoes today. Check out the Colorado Horse Property Pinterest for horseshoe art.

A common horse superstition in England is the horse brass. A horse brass is a decorative medallion, often seen on working draft horses. These are used to ward away evil spirits from valuable horses. They have existed in some form or another for more than two millennia. The modern horse brass that we see decorating heavy horses first showed up in the West Country of England in the early nineteenth century. Similarly, ancient Egypt and other middle eastern countries have a history of using brass bells on horses for the same reason.

Should Horses Stay Out In The Rain?

Posted on August 24, 2020 by blogeditor

It is true that most people do not like to be out in the rain. But do horses feel the same way? You might be surprised to find that left to make the decision for themselves, horses will choose to stay outside when it rains. The better question to ask is, “should horses stay out in the rain?” Even in light raining conditions, some horses are prone to developing skin problems while others are unaffected. Therefore, the short answer is that it depends on the horse. Also, if you are looking to purchase a horse property in the future, consider Colorado Horse Property.

The Long Answer to “Should Horses Stay Out In The Rain?”

Some horses are more susceptible to contracting skin fungi when exposed to the rain than others. Other horses have psychological problems that make spending time indoors just as dangerous as time outdoors during a storm. The only way to really know is to try both. If your horse is willing to stay out in the rain, let them. If a problem arises, like a skin/hoof infection from being wet, then it is safe to say that they should not be left to the elements. Even if they are fine, continue to monitor them after each experience to make sure no problems occur. Also, not every weather event is the same.

Light, gentle rainfall likely won’t jeopardize a horse’s health. We often don’t get torrential rains in Colorado, but they do occur sometimes. In these cases, even with horses that are good with being left out in the rain, they should be taken inside. Storms that include severe winds can be dangerous as well. You don’t want your equine companion to be hit by debris flying in the wind. Lighting is also dangerous even if your horse is standing under a tree. Though we rarely see extreme precipitation in the front range of Colorado, we occasionally get hail. It goes without saying, if it hailing your horse should not be outside. In conclusion, for a healthy horse it is usually okay for them to be left out in the rain unless the weather is severe.

How To Buy A Horse

Posted on August 17, 2020 by blogeditor

Many people believe that buying a horse is easy. Nothing can be more further from the truth. Buying a horse isn’t like buying a dog from a breeder or adopting a cat from a shelter. Buying a horse requires a lot of planning, mentally and financially, akin to buying a house. Here are a few steps that we’ve put together for how to buy a horse the right way. Speaking of buying a house, if you are looking for a horse property in Colorado give us a try. We have the largest selection of listings of horse properties in the state!

Steps For How To Buy A Horse In Colorado

The first step to buying a horse is figuring out exactly what you want. Make a wish list of age, height, level of training, and temperament you’d like in your new equine companion. At the top of the wish list, write down your budget. How much you can spend will have an effect on your wish list. Now you can begin searching. Word of mouth is great when you have a good community of horse people around you, but that doesn’t always happen. You’ll probably have to look online. Facebook is a great place to start. Once you’ve found a few reliable sources, talk to the sellers. The key is to ask a lot of questions.

Be honest with sellers about your riding ability and exactly what you are looking for. In the best scenario, the seller will be willing to let you have a trial run with the horse. Ask the seller is they’ll allow you to take the horse for a day or two to see if he is a good fit. Before buying a horse, make sure a veterinarian or horse clinician does an exam of the horse’s overall soundness. You don’t want to buy a horse only to find out that it has a medical condition that you didn’t account for in your budget. There is a certain level of maintenance required to owning a horse. This includes food costs and routine check-ups. All of this will factor in your decision.

The Right Way To Fall From A Horse

Posted on August 17, 2020 by blogeditor

Horseback riding instructors harp on riders staying in the saddle. They don’t often teach riders what to do if you are going to fall from a horse. Though professional show-riders get this training, it is important for every rider to know the basics on how to fall from a horse. You don’t even have to be on a horse to practice what to do when a fall occurs; any soft surface will do. The best way to fall from a horse is commonly known as the tuck-and-roll. In order to use the momentum of your fall to your advantage, tuck in your extremities and roll away from the horse. Here’s how to practice this falling method.

The Tuck And Roll Method

Begin practicing by kneeling on one knee. In this position, turn your head and shoulders away from the direction of your intended fall and drop to the ground. Try landing on the blade of your shoulder. Try again, but this time draw your knees up and bring up your arms to protect your head in a curl with your chin tucked toward your chest. For the best results, roll back onto your knees and spring back onto your feet. Depending on how bad the fall is, you won’t know how your horse will land or respond to falling. Therefore, getting back onto your feet and moving aside could keep you from getting kicked or trampled accidentally.

If you lack a soft place to practice or need help in any way, many training facilities offer fall-safety training. Horse training facilities are usually equipped with landing mats, crash-mats, and foam shapes to help you practice. The tuck and roll method is effective because it doesn’t matter in which direction you fall. The steps are always the same. Once a rider is rolling, they just need to hang on to their tuck position until their momentum has decreased enough to get to safety. Remember, if you are looking for a horse property in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today.

Minimizing Barn Flies

Posted on August 4, 2020 by blogeditor

There are many types of barns and stables. These buildings are a must for horse owners, but they do come with there own challenges. Perhaps one of the most complaints that owners have is barn flies. If barn flies are ruining you and your horse’s summer, then check out these tips on minimizing these pests. Also, if you’re looking for horse properties in Colorado, we have the largest horse property database in the entire state. Contact us today.

How To Reduce Pesky Barn Flies

First of all, where is your manure pile is currently located? Manure is the biggest cause of barn flies, so your pile should be located away from the building. Another way to deter flies from hanging out is to make sure that the space is well-ventilated. Flies don’t like moving air, so use a fan to keep air circulating through your stables during the summer. This will also help to cool your stable and can improve your horse’s respiratory system. If you are designing a new barn, make sure to include many windows to promote cross ventilation.

Flies are also attracted to dirty feed and water buckets. During the winter you can get away without cleaning these daily, but during the summer it’s a must. If you have water troughs, clean these regularly as well. Barn flies often lay their eggs in stagnant water, and it can take between 4 days and two weeks to mature. If your horses are in their stalls during the day, then pick out the stalls regularly. Not only will this help to keep the stalls cleaner, but it will also mean that you’re removing the manure that attracts flies. Barn flies are mostly harmless, but they will cause restlessness in horses if they persist for long periods of time.

Horse Blanket Cleaning

Posted on August 4, 2020 by blogeditor

Does your horse use a horse blanket during the cold season? Leaving the Colorado winter, your horse blankets are probably still caked in mud and hair. Now that summer is here, it may be time to get your horse blankets a good cleaning before the snowy season rolls back around. The following tips can help you clean your horse blankets properly and lengthen their lifespan. If you are looking for a horse property in Colorado, contact one of our premiere horse-person realtors today.

Horse Blanket Cleaning Tips

Most horse blankets are waterproof, so you’ll need to invest in a detergent specifically engineered to clean them. If you use a traditional laundry detergent, you risk stripping the blanket of its waterproof coating. Also, a traditional washing machine isn’t made to withstand the heavy dirt load contained in horse blankets, so your blankets as much as possible before loading them into your washer. Remove clumps of dirt and hair with a stiff brush, and hose them off first. We’ve talked about washing your horse blankets, but what about drying them?

First of all, avoid putting horse blankets into a dryer—this can impact their waterproofing, or even worse it can leading to tearing over time. Hang your horse blankets and let them air dry. Horse blankets are typically too heavy for a traditional clothesline, so drape them over a fence or stall door. If blankets are even a little damp when you pack them up, they can get moldy, so make sure to leave them out for a long time to dry completely. If you’re cleaning your blankets months before winter, try putting some fabric softener sheets in with them. This will keep them smelling fresh and may help to deter pests from turning them into nests.

How To Introduce New Horses To Your Herd

Posted on August 4, 2020 by blogeditor

Growing your horse family is rewarding in so many different ways, but it can be stressful at first. Horse herds are a complex hierarchy that offers security, social status, and safety to its members. When a new horse is introduced to the herd outside of breeding, all of these things have to be redefined internally. Though the horses will do this naturally, there are a few things that you can do to make sure everything goes smoothly. Looking for a horse property in Colorado? Contact one of our horse person realtors today.

Tips On Adding New Horses To Your Herd

Before bringing a new horse into your established herd, make sure you know the current dynamics of the herd. You should know which horses are the alphas and which are more submissive. Put the new horse in a stall next to a beta horse from the herd and introduce them to each other slowly. This way, when you introduce the new horse to the rest of the herd, they’ll already have a buddy to rely on.

Place the new horse in a paddock with his buddy where they can see and perhaps smell the other horses, but without sharing a fence line. Soon you’ll be able to place the new horse with his buddy into the pasture with the other horses. With an established hierarchy in place, alpha horses will not like new horses getting between them and their food. Scheduling the first few full introductions after feeding time will reduce fighting. Alternatively, place widely separated hay piles. Watch over the herd closely during these first full interactions. Unattended meetings could go wrong and you might need to be there as a distraction. If a problem occurs, don’t feel bad about going back to placing the new horse and his buddy in a separate paddock for a while. Horses are social beings just like us and they’ll accept the new horse eventually.

Are You Riding Fit?

Posted on August 4, 2020 by blogeditor

August in Colorado is prime riding season for horse owners and lovers. Following the cold season, riders can find themselves out of practice and peak athletic condition. Before hopping back into the saddle, here are a few tips to get you riding fit. Also, if you’re riding alone because of social distancing practices, try some of these horse safety apps. Remember, if you’re looking for a horse property in Colorado, we have the largest database of horse properties of any other site.

Tips To Get You Back Into The Saddle

One of the things that make experienced riders fit, is their heels. You can flex your heels by standing with them off the edge a surface, like stairs. Find a suitable surface in your home and practice dropping your body weight down on your heels. Do this exercise for just a few minutes a day to help remind your heels how to drop down when in the stirrups. Over the holidays, most of us skip the gym to spend more time with family and friends. To get riding fit, you’ll probably want to dust off that membership card. Focus on strength-training exercises, work out your core and add planking, leg squats, and exercises that target your shoulders into your routine.

Cardio is important for equestrians, because it helps increase endurance while riding. There are many ways to do cardio. You can hop on the treadmill or go running or swimming. As long as you’re raising your heart rate, then you’re on the right track. Incorporate cardio workouts at least two or three times a week. Another important aspect of being riding fit is balance. Incorporate some balance exercises regularly into your exercise routine. There are many balance-enhancing exercises, including using a wobble board, standing on one foot, walking from heel to toe, and more.

Should I Mow My Horse Pastures?

Posted on June 26, 2020 by blogeditor

There are many people out there who think that horse owners do not have to mow their pastures. Horses eat grass, so horse pastures take care of themselves, right? Actually, this is a common misconception. Any good horse owner will tell you that mowing your pasture is an important part of your routine maintenance. Here are just a few of the benefits of mowing your pastures.

Here’s Why You Should Mow Your Horse Pasture

Benefit number one: weed management. Horses love to eat grass, but they will always avoid weeds. When weeds go uneaten and the grass around them is consumed by your horses, they are allowed to grow more freely. If you do not mow your horse pastures, the weeds will grow so big that they start to choke out the grass. Pastures not maintained can easily become more weeds than grass. Mowing weeds helps to keep them from going to seed, while reducing their height and giving the grass around them a fighting chance.

Another great benefit to mowing your pasture is to regulate horse grazing patterns. Taller grass isn’t as sweet as shorter grass. Poor pasture maintenance will lead to your horses overgrazing their preferred areas of short grass, leaving only the tall grass in patches. Fortunately, you can break your horses’ grazing patterns simply by mowing. Mowing the taller grass makes it more palatable and appealing to your horses, encouraging them to graze these previously untouched areas. Are you looking for horse properties for sale in Colorado that include pastures? Contact Colorado Horse Property today and talk to one of our horse-person realtors.

First Aid Kits for Horses: The Alternatives

Posted on June 26, 2020 by blogeditor

Did you know that just like us there are first aid kits for horses? A well-stocked first aid kit in your tack room is important. Horse owners should always be prepared for equine injuries and illnesses. While the standard essentials like gauze pads and a thermometer are always helpful, in some situations more unusual items may be the key to helping your horse. First aid kits for horses should be updated periodically. When updating for kit, consider adding these less common items. They could just save your horse’s life.

Unusual Things for Your First Aid Kit

Consider adding the inner tube from a bicycle wheel to your first aid kit. I know that sounds weird, but hear me out. You can cut a bicycle inner tube in half and use it as a tourniquet to help prevent blood loss from a leg injury. This stretchy material can make a great seal to a wound. Flashlights are essential in any first aid kit, but the winter cold will drain their batteries, and holding a flashlight while you’re treating your horse isn’t practical. Glow sticks offer an advantage because they don’t rely on battery power and can be placed anywhere.

Another item that you should always have in your first aid kit is duct tape. It might seem peculiar at first, but there are so many ways duct tape can help in an emergency. Not only is it great for temporary fixes with tack, it can also be used as a temporary bandage. If your looking for more horse safety tips, call us today. Colorado Horse Property is the leading horse property listing site in the entire state.