Xhalt Equestrian Center Inc

03/10/2025

💪🐴🤠

03/08/2025

02/14/2025

Please note, there are updates on this post on our page. If you would like the whole picture, the first addresses folks questions and the second is the amazing response from Farm Innovators. Worth the time to read.

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So scary!

The ups and downs and daily challenges of life on a working farm certainly keep us on our toes.

It goes without saying that there are daily twists and turns when it comes to running a sanctuary, especially in Winter, but the other morning we certainly did not expect to find this. Oh boy! We are sooooo lucky!

Frigid Northern New England temperatures mean frozen water buckets even in the barn (an absolute no for animal health) and so, like so many other farms, we have long used heated flatback buckets to provide our Rescues the “warm” water the need to stay hydrated. We have never had even the hint of a problem, even in my many years of farm chores long before Tomten - that is until this.

Known for keeping water ice-free during below zero conditions, these buckets have a built in thermostat, a hidden heater (it is in the walls of the bucket) and a storage area for the cord (we run the cord out of the stall through a hole to a plug that sits directly on the other side of the wall).

Of course, we are well aware they are plugged in and we check the plugs constantly as well as handle and get our eyes on the buckets regularly when anyone is in the stalls. These buckets are dumped daily, not to mention they are topped off several times a day and if anything looks off they are immediately replaced. But in this case, there was nothing to see until morning when we walked in the barn. Thankfully, the bucket had been topped at night check and we suspect the water is what led to a charred wall and not a full out barn fire. Thank goodness! Likewise our outlet did its job and shut itself off as well as flipping the circuit breaker for the entire aisle. Phew.

Wren, who was in that stall is thankfully fine although I am certain, a little leary of her bucket now and as for us, we’ll we are just sighing with relief and we are all so ready for Spring.

Update- our electrician has been here and our outlets are fine, up to code and worked as they should.

01/12/2025

SENSORY HAIRS

The FEI has determined that any measures to trim or shave off a horse's sensory hairs, including whiskers, eyelashes and the hairs of the inner ear, is not permitted and shall lead to an elimination of the combination for the competition's duration.

Sensory hairs are of extreme importance for proprioception for the horse. They aid the horse's ability to judge distance and navigate in the dark. It has been shown that trimming or shaving these hairs leads to increased susceptibility to injury.

12/13/2024

Did you know horseback riding burns calories? (Yes, even when you’re just holding on for dear life during a trot!)
This calorie chart breaks it down...
✔️ Walking your horse? That’s cardio.
✔️ Trotting? Burn, baby, burn.
✔️ Barn chores? Hello, CrossFit with hay bales.

Find out just how fit horses can make you—because who needs a gym when you’ve got a 1,000-pound personal trainer or a few!
sunshinehorses.org

10/22/2024

PSA: Just A Reminder To Remove The Halter off your horse when put out to pasture or stall or use a break away halter. Halters can snag on Horse Shoes and many other things like Stock fencing too!
***🛑Not my image🛑***

06/03/2024

NexHA™ (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution is FDA approved as bioequivalent to Legend® intravenous injection at an affordable price.

05/28/2024

Our first day open will be this Wednesday 11am to 5pm! We cannot wait to welcome you into our new space!

04/26/2024

Crossing the Bridge.

I stood beside your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying; you found it hard to sleep.

I whinnied to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you. I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was with you at my grave today; you tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you, that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you toward the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I put my head against you, nickered and said, "It's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.

It's possible for me to be so near you every day.
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."

You sat there very quietly, then smiled; I think you knew.
In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll gallop across to greet you, and we'll stand there side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there's so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out...then come home to be with me.

04/22/2024

🐎 AN OPEN MESSAGE TO COMPETITORS FROM SHOW FACILITY MANAGEMENT ON BIOSECURITY PROTOCOLS 🐎

We recently finished (successfully) our first schooling show since the EHV quarantine period ended, and wanted to share some thoughts on the mixed reactions to our new protocols; highlights of those changes are:

💉Updated Shot Requirements
🌡️2 x per Day Temperature Checks with posted USEF logs
📃 More strict requirements for records and health certificates for out-of-state competitors

Most were, and have been, very supportive despite a few extra steps. We greatly appreciate you! Some had to be pressured or threatened to get them to comply. The question is, "why?" Ignorance is bliss until it's not, and the situation is worse than it had to be. With each challenge we face at the farm, we do our best to get better and learn for the next one.

These are the responses we get, usually to temp checks:
📌My horse is young/doesn't like it-Good. An opportunity to get him used to it.
📌It takes a while-Good. An opportunity for your team to work together and share the work to make the show safer, quickly.
📌 "X" Facility isn't making us do this-Good. We'll be safer here... until you come back from there.

This is what the new normal looks like⬇️, and we hope you'll embrace it for the sake of the community despite some additional steps. At the end of the day, if you're dishonest on your temp logs and hide an illness or warning signs intentionally, we may not know or find out right away, but someone does, and that's not a great example and it's a risk to others.

The reality is that, sometimes... people want biosecurity until it's time to do biosecurity things. Please don't make show management need to be the biosecurity police.

‼️ Now, if these measures do identify a fever... it's important that we normalize a calm and rational response to the situation, because we all know that there are many causes of fever in horses-abscesses, infections, other inflammation, respiratory illness, etc. If show management initiates a stop movement order to investigate, remain calm and wait for more information.

If you're not familiar with the new protocol details, please review them on our website; the 🔗 is in the comments!

We understand that new things take time for people to learn and get used to; all we ask is that you are patient, understanding, and flexible in helping us make this transition to ensure a safer show ecosystem! We are grateful for Lake Erie College School of Equine Studies, Stone Gate Farm, and World Equestrian Center for being aligned with us in these efforts and protocols.

🏆All that said, we look forward to a great show weekend this week, with the CVF A-Rated series end show, 25-28 April! 🏆

03/20/2024

Question:

Our pastures are greening up and with an early thaw in Minnesota, we've been considering letting the horses out to graze. Is there any reason that we shouldn't start grazing in March?

Answer:

March is too early to begin grazing in Minnesota. While tempting, you should wait until the pasture ground is firm and grasses reach a height between 6 and 8 inches before you begin acclimating your horses to grazing. Additionally, you'll want to remove horses from pastures to allow regrowth when grass heights average 3 to 4 inches. Grazing pastures too soon can damage plants and leave pastures sparse come spring and summer.

In the Upper Midwest, many pastures contain a mixture of cool-season grasses. During the growing season, these grasses store carbohydrates in the lower 3 inches of their stems. They use these carbohydrates for energy to support growth in the spring and regrowth throughout the grazing season. Cool-season grasses may begin growing as soil temperatures exceed 32 degrees F. Therefore, the green in your pasture could be new growth. As the grasses continue to grow, they rely heavily on their energy stores (carbohydrates) to put out two to three blades. Once these blades fully develop, they can capture sunlight to create new energy for the plant and rely less on stored energy in the roots.

Grazing pastures too soon can disrupt the growing process. A horse's incisors allow them to bite and tear grass stems close to the ground. As they graze stems lower than 3 inches, the horse eats away the grass's energy stores. They may also pull the grass out by the roots and trample new growth. As a result, the grass may struggle to grow or even die, making your pasture less productive. Waiting to graze until grasses are 6 to 8 inches tall will help set your pasture up for long-term success this grazing season and into the future.

Photo credit: Storyblocks

03/11/2024

Almost all horses have been infected with the virus and have no serious side effects. It is currently unknown what causes some infected horses to develop the serious neurological forms that may be fatal.

01/19/2024

With temperatures being so treacherously cold, Kelly Rowley decided her horses would have to stay inside her home.

01/19/2024

USDF gold medalist Barbro Ask-Upmark explains how unlocking your wrists can create softer contact