BarnBiz n’ Bits

Money Saving Horse Tips

We have all felt the sting of the economy and our pets are no exception. FCP would like to give you a few money saving tips on how you can save a little “hay” and still provide quality care for your four-legged loved ones.

• Buy in bulk. Buying in large quantities can save you money on hay and grain. Just make sure you have the proper storage to ensure freshness. Also enlist a friend to split the cost, ensuring the best price for larger purchases.
• If your are boarding, check with your boarder to see if they would consider trading “chores” for a discount.
• Take good care of your equipment. Cleaning and storing tack and accessories properly can add years to your equipment’s life.
• When equipment needs to be replaced, consider consignment stores. Good-quality equipment can be found at great prices. And don’t be afraid to haggle or barter. You may have something worth trading for.
• Preventive health care. Buying quality food, exercising, and basic health care such as regular checkups and good hygiene go a long way. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” are good words to live by. Pet insurance can also pay off in the long run. Check with your vet for self-treatment options.

Beware of poisonous plants that will harm your horses when ingested. Recognizing poisonous plants and trees and then taking steps to prevent horses from eating them is high priority.

Surprisingly, poisonous plants don’t taste very good. But for some horses, it is very tempting. Older horses know to leave such plants as yew and oleander alone, but the young ones are very curious and it gets the best of them. Horses receiving adequate nutrition and plenty of good-quality forage will not voluntarily eat poisonous plants.

Oleander                       Yew

According to veterinary toxicologists, the most deadly plants are the yew bush and oleander. Yews are ornamental evergreen shrubs that are very toxic at all times of the year. Oleander is extremely toxic to horses even in small amounts. Once it is swallowed, nothing will save the horse. A laxative may help purge the plant from the system and some medications may help with symptoms, but death is usually the outcome. In some cases, death will occur in as little as 8 hours. Symptoms are colic, diarrhea, sweating, trouble breathing, and lack of coordination.

Equine poisoning is a completely preventable occurrence. Never trim yew bushes or oleanders and toss the clippings over the corral fencing to horses or other livestock. These dangerous plants should not be planted near your barn or pasture. If your pasture is maintained regularly, there is no risk of poisoning. A good point to remember is “if a horse is fed well enough, then he probably won’t have an appetite for it.”

Want to own the “cutest” barn on the block? Call FCP now to purchase the barn that was on display at the 2009 Equine Affaire.

1-800-807-2276

For Sale: FCP's Display Barn from Equine Affaire

FCP is the official barn manufacturer of the 9th annual Equine Affaire January 29 thru February 1 at the Fairplex in Pomona.

This year’s premiere equestrian gathering offers opportunities to learn, shop and network with horse enthusiasts from a wide variety of disciplines.

Clinics, Seminars & Demonstrations

Plan to attend one of the many world-class educational programs presented by the nation’s leading trainers, coaches and competitors.

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Trade Show

Enjoy shopping in six exhibit halls with the foremost equine related retailers presenting a wide array of products from riding apparel, grooming supplies, gifts, tack, farm equipment and horse trailers!

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Breed Pavilion

Informational exhibits showcase horse breeds with a rotating cast of selected stallions, mares and geldings.  Association representatives perform scheduled demonstrations, spotlights and in-hand presentations throughout the four day event.

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Arabian Horse Association Youth Pavilion

For the horse-crazy kid of all ages the Arabian Horse Youth pavilion displays a Celebrity Horse Showcase and plenty of fun activities for the kids!

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Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Race

With the same competition as seen on RFD-TV cheer on your favorite horse and rider team as they contend for cash and prizes in a timed obstacle course!

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For detailed information and event schedules log onto www.equineaffaire.com. We hope you’ll stop by the FCP “Little Red Barn” display for event specials and an enlightening look at our innovations in equine housing.   Be sure to enter the FCP raffle for your chance to win a Freestanding Pasture Shelter!

Experience The Nation’s Premiere Equestrian Gathering

Equine Affaire
Fairplex Pomona
January 29 – February 1, 2009

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.