Letter from the Editor: We are so sorry that it has been so long since our last issue of the Broadview Buzz. The summer months around the farm are by far the busiest. We have seen a lot of horses come and go and have been busy preparing for the long winter months ahead. Please enjoy our latest update on everyone here at the farm.
Stable News: As the weather starts to turn colder and the days shorter, there are a lot of equine management factors to take into consideration. Here are a few that are on the forefront of our minds this time of year:
- Pasture Quality and Sugar Content- The below freezing nights and warm days can send grass into survival mode pretty quickly. During this time it is important to keep a close eye on your horses as they can experience digestive upset or laminitis due to the increase in sugars. Insulin resistant- type horses should be kept off pasture completely during this season to avoid serious health issues.
- Access to Water- If you haven’t installed your heated buckets or trough heaters yet, now is the time. With temps falling below freezing overnight it is important that your horses have constant access to clean, fresh, ice-free water at all times.
- To blanket or not to blanket?- No matter what your stance is on blanketing horses, now is the time to dig those blankets out of storage and come up with a plan of if and when to blanket them. Most young horses in good health and weight with access to shelter can get by without blankets. However, older horses or horses that are under weight may need to be blanketed in order to avoid losing weight. You should also increase forage to help keep your horses warm.
Training Tip of the Month: Give new horses time to settle! It takes a horse time to acclimate into a new environment and new herd. Sometimes it can take weeks, or months before a horse begins to feel truly settled and able to relax completely. When a horse first arrives at a new place, allow them time to get used to the new routine before placing too many expectations on them in the arena or on the trail. Trust us, your horse will thank you.
Rescue Horse Spotlight: We said goodbye to Grace and Sunny last month and we wish them the best of luck in their new homes!
