Out Around the Barn

It’s no secret that alfalfa is a staple in the diet of many horses, but do you know what sets it apart from other forage? First, alfalfa has a high level of protein, which is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass. Alfalfa also boasts large quantities of fiber, which is essential for digestion. It also has immense volumes of calcium and other nutrients, so you have to be careful that your horse isn’t getting too much of what he needs.

For horses that don’t have alfalfa as part of their daily diet, you can purchase alfalfa supplements. These products contain the same nutritional value as the hay in a small, easy to administer cube. This allows your horse to get the proper amount of nutrients without excess waste.

Joint pain and inflammation is a constant concern for all horses and their owners. The main cause of most joint problems is the joint fluid. In a healthy horse, the joint fluid will be thick in order to provide lubrication and promote cartilage health. When a horse lacks the necessary antioxidants, however, the fluid will thin and joint problems will ensue.

Joint problems typically arise when training first begins or the horse’s workouts are particularly rigorous. Exercise creates free radicals in the body, and without the proper antioxidants, they will wreak havoc on the horse. In order to combat these negative effects and maintain your horse’s health, it is imperative to augment their diet with horse joint supplements.

In order to get the most out of your cattle and livestock, it is crucial to give them the proper cattle supplements. With so many products on the market today, it can be difficult to know what your animals really need. A good rule of thumb is to go with supplements that are made with all-natural ingredients.

All living creatures benefit from the same basic vitamins and minerals; so many cattle supplements will contain things that you are familiar with. Top products will have calcium, magnesium and other basic minerals. Also look for a combination of A, B, D and E vitamins in your supplements.

Even though you may have dreamed of having a pony as a kid, and now you want to get your own kid a pony, take some time to consider just what your about to get into. First of all, ponies need lots of land to run around on; they also need someone to spend a couple hours per day caring for them; and they need dozens of supplies to be properly cared for. The following list highlights all the small horse supplies you should plan to have when getting a pony:

For leading/riding:

~lead ropes
~halters
~bridle with reins and bit and chin strap or curb chain
~saddle and pad with girth
~tack box with brushes, hoof pick, curry comb, mane/tail comb

For feeding/watering:

~water bucket for in the barn
~water trough for the field
~ground feeder for grain
~salt block (very important!) keep it in his field near his water
~hay (when the grass is depleted or when he is kept in the barn)
~grain
~horse supplements

For washing him:

~mane and tail shampoo and conditioner
~large sponge or plastic curry
~sweat scraper or squeegee

There are a lot of other products you can get, but these are the most basic and will get the job done.

When I was growing up my mom always kept horses, so I was accustomed to the stable atmosphere. Although my mom owned many horses throughout my childhood, my favorite was Denero. From the time I was about three years old I would go to the barn with my mom a few times a week to ride Denero, feed him, and give him his equine vitamins.

One of the best memories I have was going on long trail rides through northern California. Fortunately for me, Denero was a gentle horse and didn’t have a propensity to buck or leave the trail like many of the other horses. Naturally, I was devastated when we moved further north and were forced to sell Denero, but we still keep his portraits around the house to maintain his memory.