BarnBiz n’ Bits

English Road in Chino Hills is a hidden horse haven with a new boarding and training facility in the “neigh-borhood.”

As the name implies, Rancho de Felicidad is a “ranch of happiness,” say owners Suzanne & Mike Vlietstra. “Our ‘horse parents’ come here for the best part of their day . . . an escape from life’s pressures to just relax, ride and unwind.”

A long-time equestrian, Suzanne and her family purchased the property two years ago and immediately began renovations. “When I was a kid, my mom and I would drive down English Road and admire the farms . . . but we always liked this place the best. I’ve been dreaming about living here since I was twelve years old,” she says with a smile. “Be careful what you wish for!”

Every part of this five-acre horse ranch has been refreshed and improved. The ranch’s original barns were given extensive remodels creating a perfect sanctuary not often found in commercial facilities.

Comforts for both horse and owner were the foremost concern when construction planning began. With hot water wash racks, fly systems, and thick mats in every stall, the horses contentment, safety and well-being were given scrutinizing priority.

Grooming areas with adjacent tack rooms were given innovative detail with specially designed saddle and bridle racks creating space for any boarder’s inventory of equipment!

“We’ve learned from my lifetime of horsin’ around,” explains Suzanne. “We live here – this is our home too, so we want to keep things tidy, attractive and functional.”

With its bubbling fountain and meticulously maintained landscape, the “Courtyard Barn” was designed with the professional trainer and clientele in mind. With its private ambience, this facility is extremely attractive to those seeking a palatial training and boarding experience.

Distinctive amenities include 12’ and 16’ stalls, a private trainer’s office, tack room and grooming areas. Triple crown footing makes the dressage court and large jumping arena - complete with four courses of jumps - the perfect setting for the most serious of competitors. Lounging pen, hot walker and tree-shaded turn-outs provide added convenience for both horse and rider.

Currently the “Courtyard Barn” is available for a reputable trainer desiring a clean, safe, quiet and professional facility for their existing business.

Interested parties may learn more about this unique opportunity by visiting the Rancho de Felicidad website at www.rdefinc.com, or call 951-316-0063.

“When our family bought the ranch in 2006, I immediately contacted FCP to start getting ideas on how to refurbish and remodel the horse facilities.  Although we were on a very tight budget, FCP was able to provide the barns and equipment we needed to upgrade and improve the property.

“FCP used patience and expertise in matching new barn pieces to replace damaged panels in the original barns that were more than 30 years old. FCP’s experience and ingenuity made our ranch of today a possibility – I don’t think any other barn builder could have provided the quality, design, know-how, and construction of all the odd things we needed.

“Two years later, our improvements are already proving they were a sound investment because our barns are strong and look great with minimal wear-and-tear. There are cheaper barns and there are companies that will promise more for less, but FCP truly delivered for Rancho de Felicidad.”

~  Suzanne & Mike Vlietstra

So you are thinking of adding a horse to your family - an equine companion to care for and ride.  Before you bring your new horse home, you need to know how to take care of him.  Here we will fill you in on the basics of equine health, including how to prevent illness and when to call the vet.

Shelter – Proper Horse Housing

You’re probably not surprised to hear that housing a horse is a lot more complicated than housing a cat or dog.  Horses are big animals that have very specific needs.  And they also live outside, so keeping them in the bedroom is out of the question.

If you’re lucky enough to have your own horse property, your horse can live where you do.  If not, you need to keep him at a boarding facility.  Both of these options require careful thought. A boarding stable is a commercial establishment that provides housing and limited care for a monthly fee. Some also offer horse owners additional horse care, such as exercising or blanketing their horses. Boarding does offer some advantages.  You get to be with knowledgeable horse owners that will offer a social life with other horse people.  Some boarding facilities offer on-site trainers and instructors.

When choosing a boarding facility, look for safe and sturdy accommodations. Visit the site to evaluate the surroundings and the type of corrals, shed row barn or housing offered. Make sure that the current boarders’ horses have fresh water and the stalls are maintained. Some facilities offer round-the-clock security and veterinarian care.

Some lucky owners will get to keep their new companion at home. If that is the case for you, there are several things to consider. Continuing your equine education is beneficial for both you and your horse. The type of enclosure to purchase is a major decision and you should do your homework. The space available and weather conditions in your area are factors. You will also need a place to exercise your horse such as an arena or round pen.

Horse Care – Dealing with hunger and thirst

A steady supply of food is very important to a horse, probably even more important than it is to humans.  Nature designed the horse to spend the majority of his time chewing, swallowing and digesting. The equine digestive system is meant to be constantly on the go and to process vast quantities of fibrous foods.

What you feed your horse and how often you feed him plays a big part in determining your horse’s physical and psychological health. In the horse world, many people debate about the best feed to give a horse. The reason for the confusion probably lies in the fact that individual horses have different nutritional requirements. Several factors determine your horse’s diet such as where and how the horse lives, the age of the horse, what kind of work the horse does, and the horse’s own physiological make-up. The best person to guide you on this is your veterinarian. Your horse needs water – lots of it – to stay alive and to ensure a healthy digestive system. You can water your horse either with an automatic waterer set up in the horse’s stall, a large bucket that you can fill several times a day or a trough that holds enough water for a day or two.

What does a former school teacher have in common with racehorses? A fan of horse racing and a love for racehorses – that’s Grace Belcuore, the founder of California Equine Retirement Foundation (CERF). CERF was born in September of 1986 and the foundation’s goal is a simple one – give former racehorses a happy place to retire, or find them a new job and new life. Making this work has been the challenge for Grace and the people who have joined her noble cause.

Grace is pictured with Handsome One after finishing an Equine Expression. Equine Expression prints are original art works by the resident horses. Each one includes a copy of their race record, a picture of the horse with the painting and a clipping of their tail or mane. The prints are used as fundraisers throughout the year.

A challenge, yes, but not without rewards. Since its inception, CERF has “rehabilitated” more than 300 thoroughbreds and today runs at maximum capacity with some 70 to 75 resident horses. CERF supports its resident horses on public and private donations, and is unique in that 100% of the money donated to the organization goes directly for the horses’ support.

Grace has been a long time friend of FCP. Over the years, FCP has been involved in CERF expansions with mare motels, freestanding shelters, pasture shelters, pipe corrals, stall mats and feeders – making CERF a happy home for ex-racehorses.

If there is any doubt about Grace’s love for what she does, visit with her for just a few moments and you will see in her eyes and hear from her heart how she cares for each of her residents. When she bid farewell to Bedouin, an 18-year resident of CERF, Grace spoke of the “love, the trust and the friendship that I was blessed to have with Bedouin. His loss is extremely personal to me. I must thank Bed, as I called him, for the 18 years he was one of us here at CERF and for the 25 years God put him on this earth to delight and please his fans, as he came down that stretch from behind to cross that finish line in front – ahead of everyone – in racing, in retirement and in life.”

CERF’s resident horses enjoy leisure and companionship at the ranch’s facility in Winchester, California. Visit their website at www.cerfhorses.org.

The old adage ”no feet, no horse” and “shoeing is a necessary evil” have been declared for generations by the horse-owning public. It is not expected that all horse owners will or should trim and shoe their horse’s feet. This all too often is a neglected part of horse care. Clean hooves help prevent common ailments such as thrush. A basic understanding ofhow to evaluate and care for your horse’s hooves is important.

One of the most basic parts of horse hoof care is cleaning (picking) out manure, mud and stones from your horse’s hooves. This is especially important during the winter months, when packed mud and snow in your horse’s hooves make it uncomfortable for your horse to walk. Keep your horse’s feet as clean and dry as possible. The flooring of your barn stall should not be damp. Also, the paddock area should have proper drainage to minimize the amount of time your horse stands in water or mud. Continuous contact with wet conditions will promote rapid drying of the hooves and may cause them to crack and chip.

Trimming will prevent sand cracks and breaking off of the hoof wall, which often results in lameness. Trimming provides balance so that a horse moves consistently and at its best. Horses should receive routine hoof care every 4 to 8 weeks.   Regular hoof care means a safer horse to ride, both to the rider and the horse.

Smart Planning and Design of Your Barn Pays Off in Both Dollars and Quality of Life

Most of us would agree horses are part of the family. As owners, we intend to create a building that provides health, comfort and safety for our horses. Unfortunately, we sometimes find ourselves regretting some of the decisions made in our barn and facilities investments. With some careful planning, you can avoid common mistakes and unforeseen expenses.

Plan For the Future

While a well-designed barn is more comfortable and enjoyable, it can also help lower maintenance costs, lower vet bills and add overall property value. In other words, a low-cost strategy can result in a high-maintenance property in the long run. Everyone needs an ideal barn design for their budget, and the first key to barn design is planning. Planning is as important for a two-horse barn as it is to a large equestrian facility.

Many property owners find themselves wishing they would have known then what I know now‚ before they began building. One of the most common regrets comes when the owner needs more space and has no ability to expand.

How do you make sure you plan for both today’s needs and what you anticipate years down the road? Here is a basic checklist to help:

Design Planning Checklist

Write it down.

•  Planning on paper can avoid expensive modifications and additions after the barn is built.

Ask yourself how the barn will be used.

•  Will it be used for personal pleasure only or will you board horses?

•  What is the maximum number of animals you project?
•  What kinds of horses do you have? Different breeds and sizes have different needs that impact the design.

What will you be doing with your horses?

• Think and walk through how you will spend your day with your horses.
•  How will you store tack and feed?
•  Where will you groom your horses?

Consider your own needs.

• Owner amenities such as restrooms can improve your workflow, and lounge areas can allow you to relax in comfort while you enjoy your animals.
Do you need a multi-use facility?

• You may have a need for non-equestrian storage, etc.

Visit other horse owners’ barns to see what you like and what works. While design planning can be exciting, you can do yourself a big favor by taking care of some other considerations first, like budgeting and zoning.

Budget

Financing should be a key part of the early planning to avoid wasting time on designs that will not fit the funding. FCP can design and build a structure to meet almost any current budget constraint with future expansion options.

Some helpful hints:Include permit costs, grading, turnouts, final landscaping, and utility hook-up costs in your budget plans. Always assume there will be unforeseen expenses. A good rule of thumb is to factor 10-15% of your budget for unplanned needs.

Zoning

Often overlooked in the beginning stages, you can save yourself a lot of time and trouble by researching zoning issues first. Consult local building codes and governing bodies before planning to ensure your project is within acceptable standards.

Put some time into these basic steps, and you will have fewer regrets and expenses down the road. Most importantly, you can look forward to many years of health, comfort and safety for these valued members of the family.

Chef Louie

Sam Savitt’s
Cold Winter Evening Bran Mash

On a cold winter evening, there is nothing like a hot mash. Picture this - the horses are in their stalls waiting. They seem to know what’s coming. Their knickers softly ask me to hurry. The steaming molasses mixture smells so heavenly, I could eat it myself! Knickers turn to whinnies as the delicious concoction is turned into their feeders. Then I sit on the feed bin and listen to them munch away - “greatest sound in the world.”
~ Sam Savitt

Ingredients:

4 Cups Sweet Feed
6 Cups Bran
1 Cup Molasses
Hot Water

Mix sweet feed with the bran.

Add hot water until it is the consistency of hamburger.

Then add 1 cup molasses.  Let steep for 5 to 10 minutes.

Note:  When adding grain, never feed more than you normally serve your horse!

Bon Appetit!

Chef Louie’s feature recipe is proudly brought to you courtesy of
June Evers, The Original Book of Horse Treats (Horse Hollow Press).

Of the two spoiled, barn sour geldings we owned that year, it was Red –
skittish and prone to explode even at fourteen years – who’d let me
hold to my face his own:

The massive labyrinthine caverns of the nostrils,

the broad plain up the head to the eyes.

He’d let me stroke his course chin whiskers and
take his soft meaty underlip in my hands,

press my man’s carnivorous kiss to his grass-nipping upper half of one,

just so that I could smell the long way his breath
had come from the rain and the sun,

the lungs and the heart,

from a world that meant no harm.

~ Robert Wrigley