Cowboy Downhill

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Have you ever heard of the Cowboy Downhill? This Steamboat Springs exclusive event is where pro cowboys from all over the state trade their boots for skis. It started over 40 years ago when a few Rodeo stars were invited to Steamboat for a day of skiing. It was such a historic event that it has become a huge tradition in the area. Continue reading for all the details. 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.

Cowboy Downhill Even Details

Everything starts on Monday, January 17th, at 11:00 AM in Steamboat Square. This is the 47th Annual Cowboy Downhill (sponsored by Bud Light) and there will be a western celebration in Gondola Square to kick things off. You will experience 4H farm animals, food and refreshments at Timber & Torch Grill, and a learn-to-rope clinic. There will also be appearances by the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, as well as commemorative Bud Light Cowboy Downhill logo wear and souvenirs.

There are two main parts to the Cowboy Downhill: the timed Dual Slalom and the Stampede Event. The race starts at 1:00 PM. Participants will ski down a dual slalom course, go over a jump, lasso a person, saddle a horse, and cross the finish line. You didn’t think it was just skiing did you? Afterwards is The Stampede Event. This is a mass start ski competition. First cowboy to the bottom wins the race. Also, there is an after party concert that you will not want to miss. This unique concert will feature the band Lil Smokies in Steamboat Square.

2022 National Western Stock Show

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Attention horse-lovers—the National Western Stock Show is already in full swing this year. There is more to see and do at this year’s festivities than there has been ever before. Visitors will be able to see the Coors Western Art gallery, horse shows, and even a stock dog competition. Also cheer on the kids in the Stadium Arena and shop at hundreds of western vendors for gifts and food. Continue reading for information on this historic Colorado Stock Show. 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.

Western Stock Show Details

The Stock Show began on January 8, but don’t worry if you forgot to mark your calendar. The festivities will still be going on until the 23rd. Depending on the day of attendance, tickets for adults are $17 to $25. Kids from ages 3 to 11 get in for under $5 and anyone younger than that gets in for free. Guest Badges, which are good for Grounds Admission for all 16 days were $70. Even though you’ve missed a few of the days, these tickets may still be available. Remember to check the Western Stock Show website before you go.

The Draft Horse, Mule, and Donkey Shows are on the last days of the stock show. Visitors will “Witness first-hand the immense horsepower of these gentle giants. Featuring the workhorses of yesteryear, the Draft Horse, Mule, and Donkey Show and pulling contest offers the beauty, grandeur, and sheer force of today’s draft horses. The final weekend boasts cart, team, unicorn, 4-horse, 6-horse & 8-horse hitch classes as well as various working horse events including the popular Feed Team Race.” There are four ticketed performances in this category so there are still opportunities to attend.

5-Star General Contractors in Colorado

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Believe it or not, December may be a good time to do some home renovations. Business is slower for general contractors and materials may be less expensive. Also, contractors may be eager to find work since this is usually their slow season. Continue reading for some of the top rated general contractors in your 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.

Top General Contractors in Colorado

One of the best general contractors in Colorado is Ace Handyman Services. Ace started in 1998 and have served over 100,000 homes. You simply can’t beat those numbers! Ace does it all. They do tiling for kitchens, baths, and entryways. Also, they can help with deck builds and repair, including siding, fascia, and soffit repair and replacement. They also do doors, drywall install and repair, texture, electrical, fence and gate repair, flooring and dryer vent repair. They have guys for gutter cleaning and repair, weather stripping, exterior maintenance, painting and staining, leaks and drips, garbage disposal, and faucet leaks. You name it, they can probably help you with it.

Another great company to hire general contractors is Handyman Hub, Home Repairs and Remodeling: Handyman Hub started 1994 and have served over 5,000 homes. According to them, “We pride ourselves on our superior customer service and providing quality workmanship at an affordable price. Our craftsmen are the best in the business, with an average of 26 years of remodeling experience. We do not markup materials, saving you money. You’ll be glad you called Handyman Hub.” Also, they specialize in home repairs and remodeling, bathrooms and kitchens, tile repair, tile flooring, luxury vinyl flooring, and grout repair. Handyman Hub can help you with caulking, lighting, faucet replacement, garbage disposals, toilets, safety bars, drywall, paint, doors and trim, molding, carpentry, decks, gates and fence repairs.

Sleigh Rides in Colorado

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Winter in Colorado is a magical time. Snow blankets the ground in white as everyone prepares for the holidays. Imagine taking a sleigh ride along beautiful Colorado landscapes, holding your loved ones and enjoying the crisp winter weather. Well, you can actually take a real sleigh ride with the whole family this year! Continue reading for some of the best places to find winter sleigh rides in Colorado. 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 Winter Sleigh Rides in Colorado

One of the best places to find winter sleigh rides in Colorado is Breckenridge. The Breckenridge Stables offer tours in two locations, namely Peak 9 and the Breckenridge Golf Club. Peak 9 is usually open from late November through mid-April, while Breckenridge Golf Club is open from mid-December through end of March. Therefore, it shouldn’t be hard to plan a day around it. Both areas have amazing views that are different from one another. Breckenridge Stables has three different sleighs. One seats 12 to 14 people, one seats up to 28, and a more intimate one that seats up to 6.

Another great venue for sleigh rides is Bar Lazy L Ranch in Steamboat Springs. The rides here are fully planned events, so the tickets are worth every penny. First they pick you up in town and shuttle you to the ranch where your horse-drawn sleigh awaits. Tickets even include a meal. That’s right, the sleigh takes you to one of their pristine outdoors settings so you can take in the sights while dinning. After you finish eating, there is some additional entertainment to help you relax a bit before riding the sleigh back to the shuttle.

Christmas Adventures

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Christmas is just around the corner. Are you looking for a new Christmas adventure to take your family on this year? How about a scenic train ride through some of the most beautiful places in Colorado? Continue reading for everything you need to know about these unique Christmas adventures. 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.

Christmas Adventures: Santa on The Train

This year you can live out your childhood dream to be on the Polar Express, now until December 24 with the Georgetown Looper. Enjoy the wonderful snowy vistas as you’re visited by Santa and his Elves. Also, they pass out presents and goodies to the little ones aboard the decorated and heated coaches. It is truly a magical experience for everyone in the family! Get your tickets now as their seats usually fill up quickly. If you miss out on this specific ride, don’t worry. Georgetown Looper also has a Victorian Holiday Celebration from December 26 to January 3. Your journey to this North Pole lasts approximately 50-60 minutes, round-trip. Guests may choose from the coach section, parlor car, or Presidential car.

Every wondered how the Georgetown Looper started? Here’s a quick history lesson. The Georgetown Loop Railroad was one of Colorado’s first visitor attractions. This spectacular stretch of 3 ft. narrow gauge railroad, built by the Georgetown, Breckenridge and Leadville Railway, was completed in 1884 and considered an engineering marvel for its time. The thriving mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume lie 2 miles apart in the steep, narrow canyon of Clear Creek in the Rocky Mountains west of Denver. Engineers designed a corkscrew route that traveled nearly twice that distance to connect them, slowly gaining more than 600 feet in elevation.

Senior Horses and Winter

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Not all horses are the same, but generally speaking senior horses need a little more care during the winter months. Now is a great time to get your horses examined before the real cold gets here. Your vet can assess your horse’s weight and make specific recommendations for their nutritional needs. Continue reading for some more tips on how to get your senior horses ready for winter. 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.

Keeping Your Senior Horses Warm

Diet is important in keeping your horse warm. Within minutes of eating a meal, the horse’s digestive processes begin to generate heat and warm the body. Also, a lot like humans, calories that aren’t immediately absorbed are stored as fat. Fat is the ultimate insulation for horses. Older horses tend to have less fat on them, so make sure they have plenty of hay to eat this winter. Did you know that most horses consume 2% of their body weight in hay per day? For a 1,000-pound horse, that’s 20 pounds of hay! In winter you’ll probably need to increase that amount for your senior horse.

It’s a common misconception that horses have to have blankets on when it is cold or snowing. Rain and wind are actually worse, so make sure your senior horses have access to shelter. Shovel a path and put down straw, hay, gravel, or shavings to make it a safe surface for walking. But here’s the bottom line. An older horse with the proper weight and no health issues probably does not need a blanket. Leaner senior horses or horses with health issues should be blanketed. Shivering is a sign they definitely need a blanket.

5-Star Rated Gutter Companies in Colorado

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Before you know it, it will be snowy season in Colorado. You know what that means—it’s time to get those gutters cleaned out. Don’t know any good gutter companies in Colorado? No worries. We’ve put a list together of some of the best gutter companies we’ve working with in the past. 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.

Top Rated Gutter Companies in Colorado

One of the best gutter companies in Colorado is K Guard. K Guard was established in 2017 by Brain, the son of Jackson Bain. K Guard has a personal touch because they are a small company of about eight employees. The goal of the K Guard system is that homeowners will never have to clean their gutters ever again. This ultimate goal is Indicative of their motto: “Make the last time you cleaned your gutters the last time you clean your gutters.” The guards that they install above your gutters are guaranteed to keep debris from clogging your gutters and they offer different warranty packages.

Another wonderful gutter company in Colorado is Leaf Guard. Leaf Guard has been in the gutter game since 1966 and that kind of experience is invaluable. They have served well over seven thousand homeowners. Leaf Guard strives to “deliver a legendary, hassle-free customer experience by providing you with a superior product that gives you peace of mind, protects your home, and keeps you off of ladders. We educate homeowners on different gutter protection options and why Leaf Guard provides superior results.”

Do You Soak Your Hay?

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Did you know that soaking your horse’s hay can help horses diagnosed with certain diseases? Well, now you know. That’s right, soak your hay for 15 to 60 minutes in water to reduce water soluble carbohydrates, potassium and dust. Here are the details. 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.

Reasons to Soak Your Hay

Soaking hay in water is a common way to care for horses diagnosed with a wide array of equine ailments. These include Laminitis, Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy, Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as the Heaves, is often abbreviated as COPD. However, it is different from the COPD that humans can be diagnosed with. The equine COPD is similar to asthma in humans and is a common reason for some horses persistent coughing. This can be tough to diagnose because affected horses do not have a temperature and they appear well.

Reducing your horse’s intake in carbs can help reduce their risk of developing these diseases. The experts suggest complete rations should contain less than 10-12% nonstructural carbohydrates. This is especially so for horses with laminitis and Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy. Also, horses with Hyperkalemic Pulmonary Disease need complete diets less than 1% of potassium. For more information, talk to your equine clinician soaking your hay in water.

Ye Olde Chuckwagon

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Ever wondered where early Colorado Cowboys and settlers get there food? From the chuckwagon of course! The chuckwagon was historically a type of field kitchen in a covered wagon. They were once used for the storage and transportation of food and cooking equipment on the prairies. They would line up in a wagon train for feeding workers—an old version of food trucks today. Continue reading for everything you need to know about the history of the chuckwagon. 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.

History of the Chuckwagon

There were mobile kitchens before the chuckwagon, but weren’t as elaborate. Charles Goodnight invented the chuckwagon in 1866. Goodnight was a Texas rancher known as the father of the Texas Panhandle. Goodnight created the chuckwagon from a Studebaker covered-wagon, a durable Civil War army-surplus wagon. He wanted it to suit the needs of cowboys driving cattle from Texas to sell in New Mexico. What made the chuckwagon unique was the addition of the “chuck box.” This was a set of drawers and shelves for storage space with a hinged lid to provide a flat working surface.

Cook provided many different types of foods out of chuckwagons. The food typically included easy-to-preserve items like beans and salted meats, coffee, and sourdough biscuits. Workers gathered food on the wagon’s route to cook and serve later. However, not everything was available. There was no fresh fruit, vegetables, or eggs available and meat was not fresh unless an animal was injured during the run and therefore had to be killed. The meat they ate was greasy cloth-wrapped bacon, salt pork, and beef, usually dried, salted or smoked.

Country Christmas Gift Show

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With Christmas quickly approaching, the best time to start shopping for gifts is now. Do you need inspiration on what to get for your loved ones this year? The Country Christmas Gift Show is coming soon. This year the show will be held at the Colorado Springs Center from November 19-21. Continue reading for information about this great Colorado Tradition and how you can attend the festivities. 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.

Gift Show Inspirations

The Country Christmas Gift Show is a very unique shopping experience that the entire family can enjoy. For parents, the show offers “gift ideas, original arts and crafts, sculpture, ceramics, specialty foods, home décor, clothing, furniture, floral designs, jewelry, skin care products, antiques, candles, toys and much more.” For the kids there will be a Santa Claus on the premises to listen to all of their Christmas wishes. You are  welcome to take your own picture with Santa, which is a great alternative to costly mall Santa’s.

The show is ran by Showcase Events Inc, which has successfully produced events and trade shows in Colorado since 1983. They always use modernized facilities with plenty of close in parking and the gift show will be no exception. The Colorado Springs location will provide access to concessions, restrooms, and spaces for exhibitors to showcase their products. Exhibitors have an opportunity to display and sell in well known facilities that accommodate easy access, move-in/out, public parking and a quality shopping environment. There will also be free WiFi and adequate parking for oversized vehicle and RVs.