Last week's rain and warmer temperatures deserted us yesterday in favor of some light snow,❄️ wind, and high temps in the 40s. It. Was. Not. Pleasant! I guess considering it's nearly the end of November, I can't really complain!

I'm having a great time writing weekly posts for Aging Horsewomen International over on Facebook. The longer versions are on my blog, as usual.

Information about my new course and how to become a beta tester will be in next week's newsletter - you'll be able to take the course for 90% off the regular price - in exchange, I'll be looking for honest feedback and testimonials (if you liked the course). I'm still on track to launch in January, but Ive changed the title to reflect the focus of most of the lessons: Calming Anxiety in the Barn and Beyond.

Next week's newsletter will also have a coupon for The Horsey Life Planner - both printable and digital formats will be 25% off. Grab it while it's on sale and you'll be ready to roll when 2025 gets here!

This week's post is How to Make the Most of a Half-Hour at the Barn. Especially with the shorter daylight hours and the impending holidays, (and the mud... let's not forget the mud...)we don't always get as much time with our horses as we'd like. Having a routine that hits all the important things can make your half-hour more productive and leave you feeling less guilty about not spending two hours at the barn...

I hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving (for those of you in the US). I look forward to "seeing" you all next week!

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Best,

Penny

How to Make the Most of a Half-Hour at the Barn

If you’re like me, guilt is one of your superpowers – and owning horses sure gives us enough to feel guilty about!

When we’re busy, having a quick horse-care routine can mean the difference between feeling accomplished versus feeling like a horrible horse owner.

Worrying is another one of my superpowers. Doing my 5-point check in the morning means I can take care of the basics and know my horses are OK, and it only takes about a half-hour.

My 5-Step Checklist:

1. Health
2. Water
3. Safety
4. Feed
5. Comfort

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1. Health

I start with a quick visual check.

Overall – Make sure nothing obvious catches your eye like blood or swelling. Sometimes something just seems “off”. If he doesn’t seem right – keep an eye on him or call your vet for advice. Eyes, ears, and nostrils – Make sure the horse has no discharge, swelling, or injury Legs – Run your hands down his legs to check for heat or swelling. Clean his hooves and check for heat, wounds, stones lodged in his shoe, etc.

2. Clean water

Horses need access to clean water. Horses often drink less in cold weather, especially if your trough or buckets freeze.

Heaters for troughs and buckets are available, but floating a ball or a half-full plastic jug (with the lid on) is an easy and free way to help prevent ice.

Break the ice if any develops, then use a kitchen strainer to scoop the ice out and delay the water refreezing.

In the summer, water gets scummy quickly. Dump and scrub your buckets and troughs regularly. And if you leave your hose in the trough, give that a good wipe as well – it can get scummy, too.

Horses also seem fond of pooping in their water and feed buckets, hang an extra so he still has a clean one.

3. Do a sfety check

A quick scan of your fencing and stall can alert you to broken boards, protruding nails, or other hazards. If your horse is blanketed, make sure buckles and leg straps are fastened properly. If he’s turned out in a halter, use one that’s leather or has a break-away so he can get free if he catches it on something.

Keep hay strings in one place – empty feed sacks work well. They’re useful but can be a hazard if left lying around.

4. Feed

Along with a clean feed dish, be sure his feed and hay are fresh, and if you use a haynet, make sure it's hung high enough that he can't get a foot in it.

5. Comfort

If your horse stalled, pick it out if you don’t have time for a full mucking. Make sure he has enough bedding to enjoy his afternoon nap, and that he has fresh air but no drafts.

Now that you’ve taken care of your horse’s basic needs for the day, you know he’s safe and happy. And that’s the best feeling any horsewoman can have!

If you'd like to get a free copy of this simple checklist, click the link below.

Hit reply and share your thoughts! And remember, you can catch all of my posts on my website, thehorseylife.com.

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