December 2008

The Seattle Times is reporting that skyrocketing hay costs and the economic downturn is causing horse owners - and their horses - a great deal of trouble.

The cost of hay has increased as much as 60 percent in some parts of the country this year. According to an article published last summer by the Tri-City Herald in Washington State, the amount of acreage devoted to growing hay has dropped 11 percent since 2003. Read more

I know I promised to write about rainrot, and we've all been breathless with anticipation—but with the Puget Sound area cold-snap this weekend, I thought we'd postpone that discussion for a day or so, and talk a bit about cold-weather horse management, instead. There are a number of things you can do to keep you and your horse happier and healthier when the temperature drops. Read more

Yesterday evening, fifteen horses died in a fire at a boarding stable here in Washington state. Fire investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire.

The specter of a barn fire looms over every horse owner - as it should. It's not uncommon for a barn to burn to the ground in the space of a few minutes. In cases where the structure remains intact, horses can die quickly from smoke inhalation. Read more

Let's face it. Horses are glorious fun in the summer, when they've shed out sleek and glossy, and daylight lasts for hours after you get home from work. The warm weather and sunny afternoons and evenings make it a pleasure to spend time with your horse, in the arena or out on the trails.

In the winter, though, when you wake up, clean stalls, feed, and go to work, all before the sun is all the way up? Less fun. And when you come home in the dark, then feed, and clean that stall yet again? Way less fun, still. Read more