A2ZedEquine

12/02/2024

https://madbarn.ca/shop/?ref=4366

19/11/2023

24/09/2023

16/08/2023

🦄❤️💜

06/08/2023

This is the hard truth of the horse world!

Full Board Isn't Full Service

A friend asked me to write this a while ago..and I have been thinking on it for several months. So here is a go.

Full board Isn't full board. The average boarding farm with anywhere from 5 to 40 boarders is so much work. Just the daily grind of getting up, feeding, haying, checking water takes up a significant amount of time. Stalls, another massive chunk, then repeat pm feed.

Then you want the boarding farm to do blankets ( something I refuse to do. I worked for a QH trainer in the 90s and spent hrs every morning and night reblanketing all the horses under lights ...cured me ) , meds, you want night check. You want their weight and physical appearance monitored through their blankets.

Now all the extras : tackroom swept, aisle perfect, walls hosed down, no rodents, cobwebs , working washrack with drain that never clogs...

Then perfectly manacured fields , mowed, fertilized, weedwacking. Fences repairs etc....

Board or bored...when your horse is in the stall more for inclement weather , you need to get there to exercise it and prevent colic ( motion is lotion for guts and joints ! ). Full board doesnt cover checking every single inch of the horse ( though most of us do take a quick look, i have trained myself to look at all 4 legs both side every day ) for bumps, bruises, shoes with sprung heels , mysterious fungus that appears on its flank. Owners need to be present, take responsibility for their own horse, make coming out to groom that retired horse on a schedule....and always always be accessible for emergencies.

When you see something needs done, just do it instead of complaining about it. We have all seen the posts about the costs of boarding and basically, if you are paying less than $1000/ month, someone is subsidizing your board. So pick up a rake, a broom, be present. Run a hose, scrub the tub. Triple check your horse. Check on the horse whose owner is ill ( with their permission ) . Leave things better than they were.
Many barns have a person or 2 that randomly helps with some stalls....I guarantee you the barn owner appreciates that person. I used to have a students father who would clean many stalls while his daughter rode. I know I'll never forget him.

Holidays....most barns have 1 of 2 ways of thinking. 1. Don't come out at all. 2. If you do come out, plan to help with feeding, haying, watering turnout and stalls. I can speak from personal experience...I havent had a holiday off since pre 2001 except for 1 Christmas, an exceptional student did all the work as my gift. I'll never forget that act of kindness. Nurses get double time for major holidays ( and still get to take off a day for Christmas , heck even the local convenience store pays double or time and half on major holidays) , barn owners get nothing, most of the time not even a thank you... I recall a colleague who boarded horses ( and of course taught lessons, trained horses, sold horses and ran shows because boarding doesnt pay the bills ) saying one day she realized her life was like the movie Ground Hog Day....and that she has done the same thing every morning every night for decades. Her farm went up for sale and she now boards her own horses.

Education. Do you know what horses diseases are, understand deworming, know what ailments to watch out for. When should the vet be called ? Can you wrap legs properly, handle an abscess, recognize fungus, spot a colic ? If not, pick up a book, watch some videos. Horse ownership means you love horses and you want to know everything about them.

Anyway...full care isn't day care you drop your "kid " off too and never pick them up from again. Be present. Your horse will appreciate the attention and the barn owner will feel relief that you are watching out for your horse.

3/27/23 update. 212,000 views. 1400 shares. And I have gotten a few nasty comments. I cannot understand the nastiness . Bringing awareness is a good thing. If it doesnt apply to you , then move on. Every barn has boundaries. Apparently some people are mad that I wont do blankets...not sure why, as none of them board with me ! Boundaries are made out of clarity and self respect. Every barn , I hope , has rules and boundaries ! Best wishes to all . Horses are my first and longest love.

( This post was made to bring awareness. At least in my area, boarding barns are becoming fewer to non existent. If we want them to stay, we must change . I have seen mostly positivity come from this...i particularly loved the person who shared it and wrote " I go a bit the other way . I try to help in some way every day that I am at the barn "
I , of course, want all the horses in my care to have good, healthy lives too. I would like to think we all do. )

21/07/2023

If you’re planning on an Ontario staycation and want to get your horsey fix this summer check out Fort Garry Stables run by a good friend of mine!

02/06/2023

The outside rein is the most underused and poorly understood of all the aids, and here’s why.

17/05/2023

10/05/2023

Information for every horse owner to know!

Here's a list of 10 things Veterinarians want you to know about Banamine. How to use it, how NOT to use it, whether you can stack it with other medications, different options as far as how to administer it, some of the risks involved in giving Banamine to your horse, and more. 10 things veterinarian...

04/02/2023

27/01/2023

31/08/2022

Looking for rental or trailering on a few dates this month all trips are short and we would be there all day!
Trailer must be ramp load and wb size! All horses are excellent or decent loaders.
🌟September 1st 1 horse from mount Albert to goodwood
🌟September 10th uxbridge fair5/6 horses
🌟September 14th Sunderland fair 5 horses?
🌟September 18th Pickering horse centre 2/3 horses

17/07/2022

Welcome to the fam 🥰

19/06/2022

30/05/2022

24/05/2022

Long shot iso!!!
I have an injury and am unable to take care of my barn in goodwood fully by myself for at least 6-8 weeks.
I am in search of someone who wants to work off some riding time/lessons assisting me for a few hours during the week with turnout and stalls (10 or less as they are starting to stay out overnight) I unfortunately cannot afford to pay fully but can provide lessons or riding time for a longer period (whole summer etc)
I have horses ranging from beginner types to advanced all have EXCELLENT manners but some are young so sometimes can be excited.
I also have a horse with showing possible for the right candidate on the A’s or eventing circuit. (He has scope for 1.30m plus and requires a more experienced and confident rider)
And a super fancy large pony jumper!
Please pm me for details or to apply!
Thank you!

01/05/2022

Happy 7th birthday to our Ted!

01/05/2022

Kevin who is a new addition to the fam is also looking for a part board!
Kevin is 7 and aspires to do the jumpers like his brother Tj!
Pm for more details!

01/05/2022

Congratulations to on her upgrade part board to roo! Super excited to see this pair progress! .equestrian

01/05/2022

My lovely “fatman” aka rileigh in a then to now. 4 years to almost 24 💕 is now available for part board to any rider looking for wtc, cross rails and hacking. Safe enough for anyone 3 months to 100 years. He is a lovely riding partner available with tack for part board at our facility in goodwood.
Message for more details!

28/02/2022

Rise and shine! We love seeing all our horses snoozing when we start our day! Did you know that when your horse lies down to sleep they get a better sleep than if they are standing, also it means your horse is comfortable with his or her environment.