Horse Sleeping Patterns

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Horse Sleeping Patterns

Horse Sleeping Patterns

Just like us, horses must sleep to stay energized and healthy throughout the day. But how much do horses sleep and what about horse sleeping patterns? Horses can sleep both standing up and lying down. Horses are able to sleep standing up because a “stay apparatus” in their legs allows them to relax their muscles and sleep without falling over.

Humans tend to need an unbroken period of sleep, but horses do not. Horses sleep in short periods of rest. Horses usually spend anywhere from four to fifteen hours a day in standing rest (not to be confused with sleep), and from a few minutes to several hours lying down. The total sleep time in a day may range from several minutes to two hours.

Horses require approximately two and a half hours of sleep, on average, in a twenty-four hour period. Most of this sleep occurs in many short intervals of about fifteen minutes each. These short periods of sleep consist of five minutes of slow-wave sleep, followed by five minutes of rapid eye movement sleep (REM) and then another five minutes of slow-wave sleep.

Horse REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep, REMS) is a unique phase of sleep in mammals and birds, distinguishable by random/rapid movement of the eyes, accompanied with low muscle tone throughout the body, and the propensity of the sleeper to dream vividly.

Horses must lie down to reach REM sleep. They only have to lie down for an hour or two every few days to meet their minimum REM sleep requirements. If a horse is never allowed to lie down, after several days it will become sleep-deprived. Horses sleep better when in groups because some animals will sleep while others stand guard to watch for predators. For information on horse sleep patterns, contact your veterinarian. For a list of horse clinicians in Colorado, provided to you by Colorado Horse Property, check out our Local Resources page.

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Equine Poison Prevention

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Equine Poison Prevention

The ASPCA and Equine Poison Prevention

The ASPCA is a leader for equine poison prevention. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. The ASPCA is based in New York City and got its start in 1866. Their mission is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”

What To Do In An Emergency

If you think your horse has ingested something poisonous, remain calm and assess the situation. Is your horse having difficulty breathing? If so, clear the airway if you can. After that, call your horse clinician immediately. Ask your horse doctor if they have a “charcoal slurry.” This is concoction that will absorb toxic chemicals in the stomach and intestines. Then your horse doctor will give your horse and laxative to help them pass the charcoal concoction along with the toxins. Alternatively, feed your horse Epsom salt as laxative. However, always contact your clinician first to let them know what you’re doing and ask them for their professional opinion.

If you suspect that your animal has ingested a poisonous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. For a list of horse clinicians in Colorado, check out our Local Resources page. 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.

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Colorado Horse Nutritional Facts

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Colorado Horse Nutritional Facts

A horse’s digestive system is made to process large quantities of grass. This type of diet is high in fiber and water. However, the basic diet for most horses should also include good quality hay that is free of dust and mold. Of course it almost goes without saying that your horse should be provided with plenty of fresh, clean, unfrozen water at all times, even if the horse only drinks once or twice a day. Continue reading for more information on Colorado horse nutritional facts. 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 Horse Nutritional Facts

Unless your veterinarian tells you otherwise, your horse should be able to graze or eat hay when they want to. However, it is important to watch your horse and make sure it is maintaining an appropriate weight. Again, your veterinarian can help you decide how to keep your horse fit and healthy. For a list of horse clinicians in Colorado, check out our Local Resources page.

Remember, you horse doesn’t have to eat grains, and sometimes its good for them to avoid such foods. Most horses don’t need the extra calories found in grains, which are high in carbohydrates. You don’t have to feed your horse extra grain in the winter to keep them warm. This is a common misconception. Hay actually produces more heat when digested than grains.

It isn’t a good idea to let your horse or pony break into the grain bin or be allowed to gorge on green pasture for the first time since the fall. Remember that if you travel with your horse, bring their food along. For some horses, you may also have to bring a supply of the water along.

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Colorado Horse Rescue

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Longmont Horse Properties for Sale

Longmont Horse Properties for Sale

If you are looking to purchase a Colorado Horse Property then you should look into Longmont Horse Properties for Sale. Longmont is home to the Colorado Horse Rescue. Colorado Horse Rescue, as its name suggests, is a horse rescue based out of Longmont Colorado. This horse rescue dedicates its time and money to saving the disadvantaged horse. Their motto goes, “One human, one rescue, one home at a time.”

History of the Colorado Horse Rescue

Today Colorado Horse Rescue is a powerhouse of the community. The rescue is a place where horse owners and enthusiasts can come together and share information as well as meet with local horse clinicians and veterinarians. The Colorado Horse Rescue is a great place to visit today and has come from a long and vibrant history.

In 1986, Sharon Jackson and Jill Pratt founded Colorado Horse Rescue to provide shelter, rehabilitation and care for horses. They began by focusing on helping horses that came from abused and neglected situations. With a handful of area stables and land from local farms, the rescue was able to offer vacancies at their facilities to help shelter horses. Two years later, the Colorado Horse Rescue received its non-profit status from the state of Colorado.

Throughout the following years, the rescue has seen some wonderful improvements. Just last year the rescue’s indoor area was refurbished into a safe and usable space for riding and training purposes. This new development gave the rescue the ability to host clinics and events in inclement weather, as well as continue to ride and train horses year-round! In 2017, Colorado Horse Rescue received the Top Nonprofits Award, and the Boulder County Horse Association’s Appreciation Award in recognition of its support of horses and equestrian interests in the community. This year the rescue has continued to grow with its new dedicated adoption and volunteer coordinator position.

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Elizabeth Horse Properties Events

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Elizabeth Horse Properties for sale

Elizabeth Horse Properties for Sale

Looking for a horse property to buy, but not sure where to look? One of the best places to own horse property in Colorado is in Elizabeth—don’t worry there are many Elizabeth Horse Properties for sale.

The Elizabeth Stampede

Why is Elizabeth a great place for horse properties? It just so happens that Elizabeth is the home of the famed Elizabeth Stampede! Also, over the stampede’s twenty-seven years of operation, the Elizabeth Stampede has established itself as a top regional Rodeo in the Colorado/Wyoming PRCA Mountain States Circuit. The Circuit’s membership voted the Elizabeth Stampede as the Top Small and Medium Rodeo ten times over.

History of the Elizabeth Stampede

Before the Elizabeth Stampede grew to what we know it to be today, there was no horse-related entertainment in the Elizabeth area in Colorado. The Elizabeth Commercial Association form in 1910. During the 1970’s the Elizabeth Commercial Association became the Colorado State Rodeo Association. Historically, many of the local events from those earlier years were retained, also including Wild Cow Milking and Rawhide Races.

Other horse events continued well into the 1980’s. These include two Saturday and Sunday Rodeo performances, Rodeo Royalty, Rodeo Parade, Rodeo Dance and Carnival. Also, the rodeo included such events as calf roping, bull riding, and steer wrestling.

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Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption

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Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption is a horse rescue center located in Centennial Colorado. This equine rescue got its start back in the nineties. Bill Stiffler picked up over thirty horses going to Colorado State University. Many of the horses had Strangles. Strangles or equine distemper is a contagious upper respiratory tract infection. A specific bacterium causes this disease. Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption got the horses proper care. Then the rescue found the horses reliable and safe new homes.

The rescue was founded in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) not for profit. It has expanded to include community service, therapeutic riding, education, and rehabilitating abandoned, abused, unwanted, neglected or slaughter-bound horses. In 2002 their dreams became a reality when they got the opportunity to consolidate from five locations into one facility. They’ve called this new place home for the last 16 years (the former El Jebel Stables). Friends of Horses currently occupies the ten acres of land equipped with an indoor riding facility.

The rescue’s proximity to Cherry Creek State Park is ideal; it is only steps away from a sprawling prairie surrounding eight hundred and eighty acres of reservoir. Their horses come from owner surrenders. They also rescue horses off the track. This includes Thoroughbred racehorses doomed for euthanasia, as well as horses bought from slaughter auctions. Unfortunately, they sell horses by the pound and slaughter them for their meat.

Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption

Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption offers a number of community activities such as riding lessons, pony camps, equine educational programs, fulfillment of service hours for school scholarships or court dictated hours. Also, coming up again this June, the rescue will be offering their eight weeks of summer camp for children ages seven through thirteen.

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Spring Creek Horse Rescue

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Spring Creek Horse Rescue has been saving horses in the Durango area since 1976 and has no intentions of stopping any time soon. In their own words, Spring Creek was an equine rescue before rescues were cool! The owner of this horse rescue center, Diane McCracken always had a way with animals. Things got started when a local breeder had an injured colt. Also, with nowhere to go, Diane took in the animal. You could say that this rescue was born out of a need to shelter and rehabilitate horses.

They have thirty-five irrigated acres, four stall barns, and several run-in sheds for the many different equine families living on site. As a part of the local community, Spring Creek has been a driving force as horse advocates since its inception to local school groups, special needs groups, and other private groups. The rescue also gives horsemanship lessons and are La Plata county’s hay bank for people that are in need.

Spring Creek Horse Rescue

Like all non-profit organizations, Spring Creek Horse Rescue needs donations and volunteers to keep its doors open. Also, they need donations to complete their new facility. This includes like help clearing the land and help putting up fencing. Having been in the business of saving horses for as long as they have, Spring Creek’s truck has over six hundred thousand miles on it and they could really use a new one to haul their stock trailer. In conclusion, with the help of donations and volunteers like you, this rescue hopes to one day afford an indoor facility so that it can do training all year long and host more equine clinics so please give today.

Images provided by Spring Creek Horse Rescue.

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Buck’n-R-Ranch Animal Rescue

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Buck’n-R-Ranch Animal Rescue is a no-kill animal rescue located in Franktown Colorado. Buck’n-R-Ranch was founded by Don and Bonnie Buckner. The inspiration driving this husband and wife team occurred when they discovered an abandoned cat. They rescued the fifteen-year-old cat and named her Olive. Poor Olive had some dental problems, was malnourished, and in much need of some help. After rehabilitating Olive and getting her back to full health, this elderly cat lived with the family for nearly a year. The Buckner’s didn’t know it at the time, but Olive would become the first out of many animals that would eventually be rescued by Buck’n-R-Ranch.

Fast forward from those humbling beginnings to today, the ranch has accumulated a lot more than a single cat. The ranch is now home to an assortment of animals. This includes dogs, cats, eleven alpacas, five horses, seven pigs, fifteen goats, and two sheep. Perhaps the only rescue to house one of these big and beautiful creatures, the ranch is also home to a yak named Yanni. The ranch has twenty-two acres of land and hope to build an outdoor arena because it is this rescue’s goal to train their horses to become great trail riding companions. The rescue also trains their dogs so that when they are eventually adopted the animals are rid of any behavioral problems that they may have had originally.

Buck’n-R-Ranch Animal Rescue

Like most nonprofit animal rescues in Colorado, Buck’n-R-Ranch is in need of donations and volunteers. Since the ranch’s inception, everything has been done out the founder’s own pockets. Let’s come together as a horse community and help out any way that we can! With the ranch’s stunning new website, donators have so many ways to give—you can use Paypal, iGive, AmazonSmile, and more.

View the ranch’s donation wish list to find out things that they need to help them keep their doors open to all the needy animals out there. The ranch has an adoption event coming soon on May the 5th in Castle Rock at the King Soopers so go out and support your local horse and animal community. If you are unable to adopt please consider giving a donation or sign up to volunteer!

Images provided by Don Buckner, co-founder.

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Mountain Valley Horse Rescue

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Mountain Valley Horse Rescue

The founding of Mountain Valley Horse Rescue, a pillar of the local community, began back in 2004. Two horses were found abandoned in the Flat Tops Wilderness. This is the third largest wilderness area in Colorado. It has over two hundred thousand acres of land stretching across two national forests. Subsequently named Willow and Sunny, these two horses were the inspiration behind the rescue that we know today.

In its heyday, Mountain Valley was a grass-roots movement that operated out of backyards and private areas. These spaces belonged to the generous people of Eagle Colorado. However, Willow and Sunny are only two out of the estimated 6,000 unwanted horses in Colorado. Therefore the local horse community saw a problem and came together. They are doing everything they can to rectify equine abuse and neglect.

Horse Rescue History

Mountain Valley Horse Rescue works with the local law enforcement and animal cruelty investigators to save horses from bad environments. Also, there are many success stories that can be told from this partnering, like Sparky the Donkey. Sparky found his way to the rescue when it was discovered that his owner’s neglect had left him unable to walk. With the help of the rescue and some attention from a farrier, Sparky is now back on his feet. As a permanent resident at the rescue center, Sparky is now an ambassador for the rescue.

Because of a generous donation from the Shaw Family Foundation through Capital Campaign in 2015, the ranch was finally able to get land as a permanent home for horses in need. Mountain Valley Horse Rescue now operates out of a 114-acre ranch, located in McCoy between Vail and Steamboat Springs. Today the rescue has 32 horses on site. Willow is now used to help educate locals and visitors alike through the rescues outreach. Also, this outreach comes in many forms where the Mountain Valley Horse Rescue continues to bring the community together.

Images provided by MVHR Executive Director Shana Devins

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Denver Horse Properties

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Denver Horse Properties

Denver horse properties are what many people are looking into these days. Have you been looking for an equestrian property for sale? Ready to settle down or are planning on retiring soon? Denver has a lot to offer horse owners. Owning a dude ranch near Denver can give you the best of both worlds. You have the benefit of being near the city with all the venues it has to offer. But then you also have a nice, stress-free place to go home to. Looking for a Denver horse property is now easier than ever with coloradohorseproperty.com, which has over 3,500 properties listed in Colorado.

Denver Horse Properties

So, you’re looking for an equestrian property for sale. One of the reasons why you are going to want to start your search in Denver is because of the Colorado Horse Council. Located in the Denver metropolitan area, the Colorado Horse Council is a grass roots organization that connects horse owners to the horse industry in Colorado. The Council boasts an annual expo, the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo. If you missed the expo this year (March 7—March 11), then don’t worry. The Council holds many events throughout the year. Their next event is in June, The Heritage Ride.

If you are not interested in expos and horse shows, then there are many parks and riding trails near the Denver area. Chatfield State Park is only thirty minutes away from Denver. Likewise, Barr Lake State Park is thirty minutes away from Denver and even closer to the Denver International Airport if you are thinking of vacationing in the area. Cherry Creek State Park is twenty to thirty minutes away from Denver. All of these parks offer great trails for horseback riding.

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