BarnBiz n’ Bits

Proudly Owned by Bill and Nan Bensyl

FCP congratulates Bill and Nan Bensyl on their new farm and custom FCP barn! Having just been completed, the barn is home to a full stable of Arabian mares and their foals.

Blue Star Farm is located on five acres in the beautiful equestrian community of La Cresta in Murrieta, California. Blue Star Farm is named to honor Bill’s dad and his five brothers, all of whom served in the military during World War II. During this time, his Grandmother had six blue stars in her living room window as recognition of her sacrifice as a mother and wife to the war effort. What is especially wonderful is the fact that all six went to war and all six returned safely home.

Having recently retired, Bill and Nan are fulfilling their dream of owning and riding the beautiful Arabians that grace their farm.

With a Tuscan influence, Blue Star Farm boasts a magnificent setting. The enchanting stable with custom tile roof and heavy wood beam arbors provides an inviting ambience to its old world charm. The European architecture continues inside with nine elegant stalls. A lavish tack room complete with laundry, bathroom, and office space is located between the foaling stalls with peek windows for watching the foals as they miraculously come into the world. Utility areas and an apartment compliment the myriad of details found in this spectacular barn.

Bill’s relationship with FCP is evident in his review: “FCP was very helpful on the design, and extremely effective in adjusting to changes as they came up. They maintained a high sense of quality from start to finish and remained true to the overall vision of our project. With the mares settled in their new home, we are delighted that everything works so well. The addition of three new foals confirmed our new barn’s potential.”

FCP is proud and honored to have been a partner in the development of Blue Star Farm. Our staff wishes Bill and Nan continued success and happiness with their Arabian horse farm!

To create the barn of your dreams, contact the professionals at FCP to design your facility, from concept to completion.

Chef Louie’s Hors(e)d’Oeuvres

Sweet Feed Yummies

Ingredients:

• 5 Cups Sweet Feed
• 3 Cups Molasses
• ½ Cup Flour
• 2 Grated Apple
• 2 Grated Carrots
• ¼ Cup Brown Sugar
• Confectionery Sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, except confectioner’s sugar.
Form into 1-1/2 inch balls and press flat onto a greased cookie sheet.
Bake 15 – 30 minutes. Let cool and sprinkle with sugar.
Serve immediately!

Bon Appetite’
Chef Louie’s feature recipe is proudly brought to you courtesy of June Evers ~ Author of “The Original Book of Horse Treats” – Horse Hollow Press

When your day
Seems out of balance
And so many things go wrong…
When people fight around you
And the clock drags on so long…
When most folks act like children,
And fill you with remorse,
Go out into your pasture…
Wrap your arms around your horse.
His gentle breath enfolds you,
As he watches with those eyes
He may not have a PhD,
But he is oh, so wise!
His head rests on your shoulder…
You embrace him good and tight;
He puts your world in balance,
And makes it seem all right.
Your tears will soon stop flowing,
The tension will be eased.
The nonsense has been lifted,
You are quiet and at peace.
So when you need some balance
From the stresses in your day…
The best therapy you can seek…
Is out there eating hay!

Author Unknown

“A pony is a childhood dream. A horse is an adulthood treasure.”

___

“He knows when you’re happy.
He knows when you’re comfortable.
He knows when you’re confident.
And he always knows when you have carrots.”

___

“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.”

___

“The way to heaven is on horseback.”

___

“When your horse follows you without being asked,
when he rubs his head on yours,
and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine…
you know you are loved.”

For all the innovations the 21st Century has produced, the world of photography has seen unprecedented advancements for those of us deemed as “technically challenged.”

Gone are the days of flash bulbs, film canisters, and the drive-thru “PhotoMat.” Once a great disappointment, bad lighting and dreaded red-eye is now quickly removed by your ten year old who can master a mouse with precision hand!

Capturing those priceless moments have become automated and flawless. With today’s digital cameras and editing software we amateur “MOMtographers” are turning out some incredible photos of our most precious subjects… our kids!

BarnBiz”N”Bits is looking to showcase your talents with our latest column to the newsletter called “Kid Corral.” Each issue will highlight selected photos with all entries eligible for our year end Kid Corral photo contest.

Contest Rules:
Eligible photo must contain kids and animals!
With each photo submission, please include:

• Your Name
• Your Address, Phone Number & Email
• Child’s Name, Pet’s Name, Breed Info
• Brief Photo Caption or Description

Email all entries to the address below with “Kid Corral” in the subject line. Please make sure your attachment is in JPG format. You may submit a different photo each month, so keep your cameras clicking! Selected photos may be used in FCP advertisements that promote our photo contest. Submission of any photo is viewed as authorization to use as such. Deadline for final entries will be accepted no later than September 30, 2008.

Kmortensen @fcpbuildings.com / Subject Line: Kid Corral

Before the show season and summer travel fun gets into full swing, now is the best time to do your horse trailer yearly safety check and service. These vital maintenance procedures will ensure your trailer is in optimal condition to afford safe hauling for your precious cargo!  Here are some tips to prepare your trailer for the upcoming season.

Regular Maintenance Checks

• Tires should be adequately inflated and show no signs of dry rot cracks. Don’t forget the spare!
• Jacks, safety triangles or reflectors should be in good working order.  Never store ignitable flares in trailer compartments due to fire potential.
• Floorboards should not be rotted or in weak condition. Replace any board that is of “questionable” nature.  Mats should be lifted after each use and the floor swept or hosed out. Let area dry completely before re-installing matting.
• Check for any screws, bolts or nails that may have worked loose and are protruding from the inside of trailer. Retighten or replace as required.
• Make sure all quick release functions are not frozen.
• All lights (marker, tail, brake, directional & interior) should be working and bright.  Replace bulbs and lens covers as required.
• Hitch welds, safety chain welds and snaps should be in good repair.
• Grease hitch ball as needed.
• Wheel chocks should be in good condition and available any time the trailer is unhitched from the tow vehicle.
• Before loading your horse make sure wasps or other creatures have not made home inside.

Yearly Maintenance Checks

• Inspect frame for cracks and wires for loose connections and frayed coverings.
• Repair or replace rotted or rusted metal.
• Grease all hinges, springs, etc.
• Inspect ramp hinges and springs for weakness and cracks.
• Wheels should be pulled and bearings checked and repacked.
• Inspect spring shackles for wear.
• Inspect brakes and emergency break-away cable, pin and control box.

Helpful Travel Tips

• Make sure both horse and human first aid kits are fully stocked.
• Carry extra halters, lead ropes, water buckets and hay bags.Horses traveling across state line require a recent health certificate and may require proof of certain vaccinations depending on destination.  Check with your veterinarian for more specific information.

A list of stable accommodations  is available in the Nationwide Overnight Stabling Directory and Equine Vacation Guide at www.overnightstabling.com .

For additional equine travel safety tips, visit the USRider Web site.
For a complete line of RV covers suitable for any size horse trailer storage, contact the sales professionals at FCP Buildings, Inc.

Today’s horse owners are facing ever increasing costs in the day to day maintenance of their four legged friends.  With apparent shortages of wood shavings, bedding prices have reached an all time high.  Leaving most barn and stable owners with a pondering thought: What else can we use?

Barn Biz ‘n Bits recently had the great fortune to meet with Mr. Ross McArthur, fellow horseman, business entrepreneur and inventor of the patented bedding system, Perma Stall Plus.  Read what he has to say about a most amazing new product revolutionizing the horse keeping industry.

Perma Stall Plus

If the cost of shavings and the ever rising cost of manure removal have you looking at ways to rethink your bedding system, Perma Stall Plus is something you may wish to consider. Ross McArthur’s patented system offers horse keepers a full service bedding program that is getting rave reviews from many users.

After owning his own stable in Toronto and riding and competing in Europe in show jumping, Ross worked with a chemist to formulate a specialized coating to treat rice hulls creating a new bedding product. He has specially treated the rice hulls with anti-bacterial drying agents and coagulants to create soft bedding that absorbs and eliminates odor without requiring huge amounts of bedding to be stripped from the stall. Many users have reduced their waste removal costs dramatically.

Ross is the first to admit that his product is not for everyone. He personally oversees the installation of the product and trains the owners and workers on how to clean the stalls and how to maintain them. Farriers that care for horses on the product have been pleased with how hooves improve after only a few months in the new bedding. The urine is quickly dissipated from the treated product and damp, wet smelly areas are virtually eliminated. The bedding is quite soft and horses that normally have hock sores or other skin problems show much improvement sleeping on the Perma Stall Plus.

Once the bedding is installed, the need to add more is usually minimal. Depending on the horse and its routine, Perma Stall Plus may only need to be added once a week or every few weeks. Ross is very watchful over the maintenance of the product. He reviews his customer’s horse barns and works closely with those who clean the stalls. Twice daily cleaning is recommended to keep the stall or pen at its best.

Dove Hollow Dressage Center of Olivenhain and Anderson Farm of Rancho Santa Fe are huge fans and extremely pleased with Perma Stall Plus. For more information call Ross McArthur 760-274-4325 or see his website.