Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2020

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Colorado is a great place for dogs and dog owners. Colorado is full of parks and natural open space for your canine companions to enjoy. The most popular dog breeds of 2020 were released on March 16, 2021, based on American Kennel Club registration statistics. Continue reading for the top popular dog breeds.  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 Dog Breeds

At the top of list are Labrador Retrievers. Labs are known as the most friendly dog breed. They bond with the whole family and socialize well with other dogs and people. They are also enthusiastic athletes and require lots of exercise. Labs are great at swimming and pick up fetch quicker than other breeds. Next in line is the French Bulldog. This small, affectionate canine is a charmer. French Bulldogs don’t bark much, though they can still make good watchdogs. They happily adapt to life with singles, couples, or families. Unlike labs, this breed does not require a lot of outdoor exercise.

The German Shephard is another popular dog breed. These dogs are known for their loyalty, courage, and confidence, which is why they are often used by law enforcement. German Shepherds are gentle family pets and make great home guardians. And then there’s the Golden Retriever. Goldens are outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs. These dogs are a favorite for children because they keep their puppy behavior forever. They also enjoy outdoor play and are a whiz at fetch and other tricks. What do you think about the American Kennel Club’s top picks?

Plants Poisonous to Horses

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Colorado horses are amazing creatures. First of all, they are resistant to the cold, except in cases of severe winter storms. They are also great for therapy and connecting with nature. Though horses seem indestructible, there are some specious of plants that stop them in their tracks. Here is a list of plants poisonous to 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.

Plants Poisonous to Horses

Summer brings a lot of plants poisonous to horses, many of which grow wild in Colorado. These include wilted red maple leaves, black walnuts, and oak leaves. Also, keep your horse away from yew. The yew comes in different forms all of which are under the taxus species. They include the Japanese yew, American yew, English yew, western yew, oleander and rose laurel. Experienced horse owners are able to spot these plants from a mile away.

Rhododendrons and azaleas are also bad news for horses. These are beautiful flowers that you’ll love, but your horses will not. Also stay away from white snakeroot, richweed, white sanicle, jimmy weed, rayless goldenrod, burrow weed, yellow star thistle, and St. Barnaby’s thistle. Your vet may ask you if your horse has been exposed to these plants, therefore being familiar with them is important. The good news is that all of these plants are easy to remove from your land. Many of them are nice to look at and can be relocated to areas your horses don’t have access to like along your driveway or up against your home.

Post Pandemic Horse Vacations

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Looking for unique horse vacations this year that will get you off your devices and connecting with nature? Colorado has some of the best guest and dude ranches that you can visit in the country. Many guest ranches offer horseback riding, swimming and fishing, hiking, hayrides, cookouts and more. Here are the top rated guest ranches in Colorado. Remember to check for availability while things are slowly opening back up due to the pandemic. 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 Vacations in Colorado

One of the top rated guest ranches in Colorado is the Lost Valley Ranch. With over 20 secluded cabins, each nestled in the pines overlooking the ranch, there is room of everyone. Riding the amazing trails in the area or hiking through the Pike National Forest are some of the highlights. Also, you will ride with the professionals, enjoy heated swimming pools and learn the ways of the cowboy by helping the wranglers with their daily chores. Lost Valley Ranch has a pickle ball court, guided hiking adventures and family-friendly evening entertainment.

And then there’s Vista Verde Guest Ranch. Each private log cabin at the ranch is unique in design and décor and the amenities are amazing. They include a private hot tub on the deck, Italian linens, cozy comforters, spa robes, locally made bath products, and more. Also, summer is the season for the traditional family horse vacations. At Vista Verde enjoy the horseback riding, cookouts, green grass, quivering aspens, and fun barn dances. However, the winter is also a great time to visit. The ranch offers sledding, sleigh rides, hot chocolate, bubbling hot tubs, horses and snowshoes. Remember to check for availability before making any vacation plans.

Places to See Wild Horses in Colorado

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It is no secret that Colorado is big on horses. Not only does Colorado have a ton of horse properties for sale at any given time, if you’re lucky you can even spot wild horses. The term “wild horse” is also used colloquially in reference to free-roaming herds of feral horses. According to the Bureau of Land Management, the current population of wild horses in Colorado is around 400. Continue reading for the best places to see wild horses 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.

Wild Horses in Colorado

A great place to see wild horses is the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area. This area is located just eight miles northeast of Grand Junction and spans more than 36,000 acres. It is home to 90 to 150 wild horses depending on the time of the year. Spring and fall are the best times to spot the horses. You can see palominos, paints, grays, blacks, bays, sorrels, blue red roans, appaloosas, and more here. Of course you may also see elk, turkey, mule deer, snowshoe hare and more in the area.

Another great place to check out is the Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area. The area is located between Norwood and Dove Creek in the beautiful southwest corner of the state. This wild herd dates back to the early 1900s and includes bays, sorrels, grays, and pintos. This wild group of horses has nearly 22 thousand acres of open rolling hills and rugged mountain terrain to roam. Visitors to the area may also see elk, mule deer, bald eagles, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, prairie dogs, and more.

Vaccinating Horses

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With vaccines rolling out to combat the pandemic, we are getting asked what about vaccinating horses? The answer is yes they need to be vaccinated, but not for Coronavirus. Horses contract diseases just like us. Horse owners vaccinate their horses against diseases. However, the diseases horses are susceptible to are different from the ones humans can contract. For more details, continue reading. 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.

Vaccinating Horses

There are a number of vaccines for horses. Some of these include tetanus, rabies, eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis, and West Nile virus. Vets recommend these for all horses. Some horses do experience adverse affects to vaccines, but these are very rare. Also, the American Veterinary Medical Association says core horse vaccines are extremely important. They protect horses from diseases that are endemic to a region. Not sure which regional diseases your horses are susceptible to? Ask your vet. Colorado has a large horse population. Therefore, the state has a lot of great horse clinicians.

Horses contract diseases that aren’t regional as well. Therefore, there are some vaccines that your horses only need in specific cases. Vets administer these vaccines for horses that need them. The need for each of the risk-based vaccines varies from horse to horse. Therefore, vets tailor vaccination programs for each horse. These vaccines include the equine herpesvirus, equine influenza, Potomac horse fever, strangles, botulism, anthrax, rotavirus, and equine viral arteritis.

Colorado Beasts

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With so many parks and open space, it’s no wonder that Colorado has a big diversity of wild animals. In fact, there are currently forty-two Colorado state parks in Colorado. All the parks provide a wide variety of recreation, from hiking and biking to camping and boating. Continue reading for a one in a lifetime opportunity to learn about Colorado beasts. 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 Best of Colorado Beasts

On April 8th from 6-7PM, Treasure Box Tours will be holding their Best of Colorado Beasts demonstration online. At this event you’ll learn about some of the animals that call Colorado home. The event will also focus on an upcoming tour at the Wild Animal Sanctuary. There have been some new developments at the Wild Animal Sanctuary. There is a new branch of the Wild Animal Sanctuary, in Keenesburg Colorado, where exotic beasts have found a new home.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary offers an incredible amount of natural habitats for its animals to enjoy. In fact, the Wild Animal Sanctuary boasts 10,500+ acres of habitat. The sanctuary focuses on giving homes to rehabilitated animals. They are home to more than 600 rehabilitated animals. The three facilities there represent the largest carnivore sanctuaries in the world, and are designed and built like no others in existence. For more information about the Wild Animal Sanctuary visit their website.

April Pet Expo

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During the pandemic, we all suffered from being cooped up indoors. This goes for pets too. Now that vaccinations are happening and we are able to get out more freely, it’s time to get your pets outside. Fortunately for us, Colorado Springs is opening up their annual pet expo. This is a great opportunity for you to get out with your pets and socialize safely! 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.

Colorado Springs Pet Expo

With so many parks, open space, and unchanged landscapes in Colorado, we are one of the more pet friendly states. Also, Colorado Springs is a great place for pets. The Colorado Springs pet expo features many of the top pet exhibitors from across the state. This event will also have lots of activities for animal lovers. Throughout the weekend of the event, there will be non-stop entertainment: including pet demonstrations, training seminars, adoptions and much more.

In order to bring your furry friends, there will be a waiver you must sign at the front door. However, save yourself some time and print your waiver in advance. Bring the filled out form with you to the expo entrance and you will get inside quicker. The expo will be held at the Colorado Springs Event Center at 3960 Palmer Park from April 23-25. If you have any questions, visit cspetexpo.com or call them at 800-756-4788. Adult tickets are just $7 and kids get in for free.

Horses in Film

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Animals and especially horses have been a part of films. Horses in film began around the 1920s when westerns were so big. Horses were a big part of filming the westerns National Velvet, Ben-Hur, and The Big Country. Today this relationship still exists in film. For example, horses were the only for of travel for the characters in The Lord of the Rings series. Unfortunately, horses weren’t always treated humanely. Continue reading for more 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.

Horses in Film: The Past and Present

During the early years of horses in film, there was a dark side to the movie industry. Productions companies often viewed horses as commodities. In other words, they saw horses as expendable parts of the filing process. In old westerns and war films, tripwires were used to get horses to fall. This caused lameness, broken legs, and other injuries often resulting in euthanasia. However, time progressed and so has our treatment of horses in film.

Today, the American Humane Association dictates how animals are treated in filming. They work with production personnel and trainers during the pre-production stage through on-set filming. Also, they monitor their Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media. In fact, the AHA monitors 70 percent of known animal action in film and television, which accounts for approximately 2,000 productions annually. Because of the actions of the AHA, we now have horses in film without endangering their lives.

Unique Places to Visit in Colorado

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Colorado is one of the best states in the union to go on vacation. We have some of the best outdoor recreation in the country. In fact, tourism contributes greatly to Colorado’s economy, with tourists generating $22.3 billion in 2018. Continue reading for some truly unique places to visit in Colorado that are off the beaten path. 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.

Places to Visit in Colorado Like No Other

A great place to start is the Great Divide Brewing Company in Denver. The tours here are free and you get to sample the goods. Colorado has a ton of other breweries and you can even attend a Colorado beer workshop online. If you’re looking to check out one of our scenic mountain towns, try Grand Lake. Grand Lake is less crowded than the more well-known tourist areas. Also, there is no shortage of shopping, dining, and sightseeing to do here. Plus there’s a lot of fishing and boating on the Grand and Shadow Mountain Lakes.

Like parks? Check out North Cheyenne Canon Park and Starsmore Discovery Center down in Colorado Springs. You’ll share the area with less tourists than other park, like the Garden of The Gods. And with the Discovery Center there’s arguably more to see here too. This park features eight picturesque hiking trails and the indoor center is full of interactive exhibits. There’s also the Paint Mines Interpretive Park in Calhan. Located just thirty-five miles northeast of Colorado Springs, the colorful Paint Mines Interpretive Park features a series of trails that wind around a unique and chalky archaeological district. The best part? These trails are free to hikers, so pack a bag and make a day of it!

Salt For Horses

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Just like us, horses need a good balance of nutrients, including salt. But did you know that there are different types of salt for horses? Giving your equine salt every day ensures that their maintenance sodium needs are met, which is vital for hydration. Continue reading for some tips on which types of salt to give your 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.

What Kind of Salt Should I Use?

Firstly, make sure you’re using sodium chloride and not Lite Salt. Lite Salt is a blend of salt that includes potassium chloride, which will not give your horse its maintenance salt. Sodium chloride comes in many forms, including plain white salt block, iodized salt, sea salt, kosher salt, Himalayan salt, and others. To keep your horse’s sodium level balanced, use plain white salt block. However, some horses are known to be picky eaters, in which case use a form of salt your horse prefers. As long as the packaging says sodium chloride, it can be used for horses.

But how much salt does the average horse need to maintain healthy levels? A 1,100-pound horse at maintenance on a cool day needs the amount of sodium provided by about 28 grams of sodium chloride. That is the equivalent of 1 ounce or 2 tablespoons of salt. This might seem like a lot, but remember your horse is a lot bigger than you and therefore needs more than you. If your horse doesn’t like salt-licks, you’ll have to add the sodium straight to their food. You can add the sodium chloride to their feed yourself, so you know they are getting the nutrients they need for hydration. However, you should still keep the block salt around so that your horse can consume more if they want.