Summer Fun in Fort Collins

Posted on June 7, 2023 by blogeditor

Get ready for the upcoming summer season in Fort Collins as familiar classics make their return. The historic streetcars, food trucks, and drive-in theater are getting ready to bring back the nostalgic vibes and mark the beginning of a vibrant Fort Collins summer. These iconic elements serve as the early signals that the season is just around the corner, filling the air with anticipation and excitement. Continue reading to find out more about summer fun in Fort Collins. 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.

Ideas for Summer Fun in Fort Collins

Did you know that old town Fort Collins has a streetcar? The beloved Birney Cars 21 and 25 have returned for another exciting season! Also, you can join in on the fun by heading to the City Park Depot at 1501 W. Oak St. During weekends and holidays, from noon to 5 p.m., these charming trolleys will be in operation, taking you on a delightful ride. Departing every 30 minutes, the trolleys will be available for rides until October 1, weather permitting. Don’t miss this opportunity to hop aboard the streetcar experience! The cost of a ride is $2 for adults and $1 for seniors and children, while children under 3 can enjoy the ride for free. Cash, credit cards, and debit cards are all accepted for payment.

Exciting news for music lovers! The free summer concert series have just announced their incredible lineups for the season. Starting on June 1, Thursday Night Live will commence a series of captivating concerts every Thursday in the heart of Old Town, running through September 7. At Colorado State University’s campus, get ready for The Lagoon Summer Concert Series, featuring an enticing new summer lineup. These Wednesday night shows, held twice a month, will begin on June 14 and promise to be a fantastic musical experience. But that’s not all! New Belgium Brewing is back with a bang, bringing their renowned Friday night summer concert series. Prepare for a treat as free live music fills the air from 5-7 p.m. every Friday, continuing until October. Mark your calendars for these unforgettable musical events!

The Colorado Tiny House Festival

Posted on June 7, 2023 by blogeditor

Get ready for the grand return of the Colorado Tiny House Festival on June 24 & 25, 2023! This year, the festival promises to be bigger and tinier than ever before! Prepare to be amazed by the incredible variety of small living structures showcased at the event. From charming tiny houses on wheels and innovative container homes to unique conversions like a semi-trailer, skoolies, van conversions, teardrops, yurts, and more, the Festival has it all. 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.

2023 Tiny House Festival

The event will take place at the sprawling grounds of the Riverdale Regional Park, formerly known as Adams County Fairgrounds. The Colorado Tiny House Festival creates a perfect blend of the tiny living movement’s spirit. Plus, you’ll get the latest information on embracing a minimalist lifestyle. Also, the event will feature the themes of simplifying your life, and living in an environmentally friendly manner.

The 2023 Colorado Tiny House Festival is where attendees can engage with experts and attend informative workshops. You will also hear firsthand experiences from tiny homeowners. This invaluable opportunity offers insights into downsizing and simple living, while touring a variety of real tiny homes, including custom-built houses on wheels, van conversions, yurts, and shipping container homes, showcasing innovative use of space and eco-friendly design. Witnessing these remarkable creations up close provides an authentic understanding of the true essence of tiny living.

Colorado Barn Weather Vanes

Posted on May 10, 2023 by blogeditor

Homeowners utilize barn weather vanes or wind vanes to indicate wind direction. Farmers commonly mount them on barns and other structures. They serve as a practical tool for farmers and ranchers to make informed decisions about planting and harvesting. Over time, weather vanes have become popular decorative instruments, adding a classic and elegant touch to any building or facility. Continue reading to learn more. 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.

What Makes Good Barn Weather Vanes?

Engineers craft weather vanes from various materials, including copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and wood. Copper is a popular choice due to its durability and rust-resistant properties, making it ideal for areas with high humidity such as barns. Aluminum weather vanes are lightweight, weather-resistant, and offer a sleek and modern appearance, making them a favorite for contemporary buildings. They are also generally more affordable than other materials. Stainless steel weather vanes are long-lasting and frequently used in commercial and industrial settings. Also, experienced metal workers craft weather vanes to create unique decorative pieces for Colorado barns.

A vast selection of designs ranging from animals to sports and simple directional arrows is available for weather vanes. The design of your barn’s weather vane should ideally reflect the lifestyle and type of activity carried out at your property. For instance, if you own a breeding farm, a weather vane depicting a mare with its foal would be appropriate. On the other hand, if your facilities’ activities are focused on ranching, a weather vane featuring a cowboy on horseback or a rodeo-themed design would be suitable. Other potential designs for weather vanes could include horses, cows, bulls, or other ranch animals.

Riding in The Weminuche Wilderness

Posted on May 10, 2023 by blogeditor

With Summer visiting Colorado at last, it’s time to prepare your horse for the warm weather. Looking for places to ride? There are many national parks in Colorado that allow horseback riding. However, during this part of the year these places can quickly become crowded. Weminuche Wilderness is an unexpected gem for riders looking for an area free from tourists. Keep reading for a quick history of this unique Colorado wilderness area. 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.

About Weminuche Wilderness

The Weminuche Wilderness spans 499,771 acres. Also, it is the largest wilderness area in Colorado, covering an area approximately three quarters the size of Rhode Island. It is a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the area to safeguard a lasting resource of wilderness for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. Congress designated the Weminuche as a wilderness area in 1975. The area was expanded by the Colorado Wilderness Acts of 1980 and 1993.

The Weminuche Wilderness stretches across the Continental Divide, which is the geological spine of North America, with its watersheds flowing to both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Several peaks, including Eolus, Sunlight, and Windom, tower above 14,000 feet, while many others exceed 13,000 feet. Despite its average elevation of 10,000 feet, the Weminuche is a harsh terrain. Its ecosystems are also very delicate. Riders should be careful when disturbing the landscape of local wildlife. Make sure to plan your trip before heading out.

Prepare Your Horse For The Summer

Posted on May 10, 2023 by blogeditor

During the peak of the summer riding season, your horse’s daily exercise routine will change. The horse requires longer exercise sessions overall and, more importantly, a diverse range of conditioning challenges throughout the week to prepare for this season. Both short and long sessions are beneficial to help the horse achieve the necessary fitness gains. Continue reading for a few tips on how to prepare your horse. 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.

Prepare Your Horse Gradually

To prepare your horse for the season, you can gradually increase their daily exercise sessions. After consistently training the horse four or more days a week with a progressive buildup of low to moderate speeds and intensity for six weeks, most of the exercise sessions should be around 40 to 50 minutes long. Also shorter days, such as groundwork or easy hack days, can be included in the weekly schedule. However, if they begin to occupy a significant portion of the schedule, it can lead to detraining. Try to find a balance that works best with your horse.

After this stage, the duration and intensity of the horse’s conditioning and workouts become more tailored and intricate based on the desired objectives. Typically, the horse’s fitness is enhanced over a four- to six-day work week. This includes sessions lasting between 40 to 50 minutes. Try incorporating one or both of the following: a high-intensity workout and/or an extended low-intensity session. For more specific workout plans, talk to your trainer or vet. If you own more than one horse, then your exercise routines will differ from horse to horse.

Your Horse Fitness Goals

Posted on May 10, 2023 by blogeditor

The fitness goals for your horse are very important. To prevent poor health in horses, it’s important to determine the duration of exercise needed to maintain their bodily systems. While the minimum amount of activity varies depending on age, all horses depend on a basic level of fitness to achieve certain health benefits. These benefits include promoting gastrointestinal motility, clearing secretions from the lungs, and boosting immunity to diseases. They also include lymphatic system function, hoof growth, regulating body temperature, and reducing stiffness and mental stress caused by domestication. 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 Fitness Goals Maintenance

Twenty-five to thirty minutes of exercise at 40% of the horse’s maximum heart rate will maintain health benefits. Also, this corresponds to a heart rate of approximately 90 beats per minute, which is similar to a brisk walk or easy jog. Engaging in this level of activity for at least four days per week helps sustain the adaptations in the bodily systems mentioned earlier and prepares the horse’s body for more intense conditioning programs in the future. The following is an example of what your horse’s routine should resemble. Remember, consult your horse vet or trainer before changing your horse’s routine.

Sunday—Resting period
Monday— 25 minutes of walking
Tuesday— 20 minutes of lunging
Wednesday— 30 minutes of riding
Thursday— Resting period
Friday— 25 minutes of riding
Saturday— 25 minutes of groundwork exercises

Cozy Fall Home Ideas

Posted on October 17, 2022 by blogeditor

Autumn has reached Colorado. The leaves have started to change color and the summer temperatures are starting to cool. For Colorado homeowners, this time of year marks a change of scenery in the household. Fun décor elements like fluffy throws and pillows, candles, and warm autumnal colors are common. Continue reading for some popular cozy fall home ideas. 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.

Popular Fall Home Ideas

As the temperatures start to cool, make your home a warm oasis. Start outside with a thick fabric welcome mat by your front door. Inside, use long curtain panels to insulate your home from the cold. Also, use soft throw blankets on your sofa and chairs. Similarly, add a fuzzy rug to warm up your floor. Don’t forget your bedroom! Swap out lightweight summer sheets and blankets for heat-trapping flannel sheets and winter-weight comforters. Add a fleece throw across the foot of your bed to bring the entire room together.

If your home has a fireplace, autumn is its time to shine. Though many homes in Colorado have fireplaces, they often go unused. Cleaning a used fireplace is tedious and messy work. Instead of burning firewood, fill your fireplace with thick pillar candles and light those instead. Also, don’t forget to dress your fireplace mantel. Use natural elements like gourds, leaves, and small potted mums for a autumn feel. A basket filled with a comfy blanket or two adds texture and color to your hearth area.

Fall Leaves Dangerous For Horses

Posted on October 17, 2022 by blogeditor

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

It is autumn in Colorado, a magical time for the outdoors. The leaves have already begun to change colors and fall from branches. Though this is a beautiful sight for us, did you know that some fall leaves can be harmful to horses? Continue reading to find out which trees have dangerous fall leaves for 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.

Fall Leaves that are Dangerous for Horses

The first on our list of dangerous fall leaves is the Red Maple. Ingestion of one and a half pounds is toxic. Ingestion of three pounds or more is fatal. If you have a red maple on your property make sure your horse can’t graze near it. Eastern Black walnut is also toxic to horses. Unfortunately these are sometimes used as shavings in horse-stall bedding. Therefore, be careful when sourcing your stalls floor bedding. Signs of black walnut toxicity include laminitis, reluctance to move, increased temperature and heart rate, difficulty breathing, digital pulse, limb edema, and increased gut sounds.

Certain Oak trees can be toxic to horses. Remember to keep horses out of areas where wilted oak leaves and acorns fall. This type of foliage contains tannic acid which causes kidney damage and gastroenteritis. Symptoms of poisoning include lack of appetite, depression, constipation, and colic. Did you know that cherry and plum trees have cyanide-containing compounds. It is found in leaves, fruit, and pits of the trees. Though the fruits are not toxic to humans, they can be fatal to horses in large quantities. If your horse has been exposed to any of the toxic foliage discussed here, make sure to contact your vet immediately for treatment.

Should I Clip My Horse?

Posted on October 17, 2022 by blogeditor

You don’t have to be a horse owner to know that horses are naturally covered in hair. Though this hair is usually short, some breeds have more than others. Many new horse owners ask themselves the question: should I clip my horse? Continue reading for an answer from the experts. 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.

Answering The Question: Should I Clip My Horse?

There are many reasons why you need to clip your horse’s hair. The most obvious reason is due to the weather. Even though hair insulates horses from the cold, if you work your horse during the winter you should actually cut their hair short. This allows body heat to escape, which prevents the horse from becoming too sweaty. If not properly cooled down after a ride, your horse will sweat and become chilled. A horse that becomes chilled may be more prone to colic, colds, and other serious health conditions.

In general, grooming a horse with thick hair is more strenuous. Clipping your horse can significantly cut down on time spent grooming. Aside from grooming, clipping your horse can have health benefits as well. For example, during the Colorado summer when it rains, trails often get muddy. Keeping the legs and fetlocks clipped short can help prevent conditions such as scratches and mud fever since the mud will have no hair to cling onto. The last thing you want is your horse to have dirty and matted hair. Clipping dried mud clumps is very hard and often results in you nicking your horse with the clippers. Removing the hair before this can occur is completely worth it!

The Horse From Sleepy Hollow

Posted on October 13, 2022 by blogeditor

Halloween is right around the corner, so let’s talk about the horse from Sleepy Hollow. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a gothic story by American author Washington Irving. It originally appeared in a collection of 34 essays and short stories. One of the big characters in the story is the Headless Horseman. Continue reading to find out more about the antagonist’s steed. 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.

Dare Devil Is The Horse From Sleepy Hollow

The Headless Horseman, or the “Hessian,” rode a horse named Dare Devil. As the story goes, the Hessian appeared as a mercenary sent by German princes during the Revolutionary War. The Hessian says that the horse’s father was a pitch black Arabian stallion. Tim Burton adopted the book into a film of the same name. In this film, two Spanish Horses played Dare Devil. Therefore, judging from their manes, tails, and other features, Dare Devil was an Andalusian.

The story occurs in 1790 in the countryside around Tarrytown in a secluded glen known as Sleepy Hollow. Here raconteurs tell of the legend of the Headless Horseman. He is supposedly the restless ghost of a trooper whose head had been shot off by a stray cannonball during the Revolutionary War. The hessian rides with a pumpkin for a head, searching for his actual head. The story implies that the Horseman was really an extremely agile rider named Brom in disguise. Brom also uses a Jack-o’-lantern as a false head to scare the people of Sleepy Hollow.