Jack
September 30, 2009
Jack
Can you believe that it’s already fall? Here in the Ohio farm-lands we are starting to see the winds blow, the leaves changing color and the days getting darker earlier!
Yesterday was one of those beautiful partly cloudy warm fall days. The shadows seem to be different now. it makes everything look a bit more like its time to get “tucked in” before the snow flies. It was Sunday, a day to rest and take time to be with my horses. So much to do, yet one day that I could choose to just take a break that was so badly needed.
When I think about all of the horses that we have had in the past, it’s such a mix. Our barn, located on RAMM RD would be full of large hunter jumpers, a few ponies and our beloved draft. Boarding horses would come in and be passage, western and trail horses. At one time we had a horse named “Kangaroo”, lovingly – ‘Roo’ that belonged to a family whose girls rode the hunter jumper circuit. Roo was a light cream and white Paint that jumped from pasture to pasture just because he could! We never knew what pasture Roo would be in, it always was a surprise! Another horse was named Solar, he was a high level dressage horse that was semi-retired. His owner would do pishages and other high level dressage moves that were amazing. One day one of the ‘boarders’ said that they found a horse that would be great for one of us…he was a black quarter horse with white socks, at nearly 16 hands.
I had recently lost my horse that I loved and had ridden for years. This black horse just did not ‘do it for me’. So my father-in-law decided he liked the horse and started to ride him…This horse was out of a racing quarter horse named “Go Man Go”…so you guessed it…the match was not made in heaven! The “black” horse, after a bit of time, ‘became ours’ because my father-in -law stopped coming to the barn to ride. The horse had no name….he was a black horse that was spooky all the time, but once you got a saddle on him, he looked beautiful, could go on a ride alone, not calling or acting up, and he had the smallest ‘parade trot’ which just always made me laugh. We assumed that something had happened to him, as we could never get ‘the Black horse” to let us touch the top of his head. He would jump in the air and start going backwards…Well after many, many hours of touching his ears quickly, he finally let me begin to touch his poll. You can only imagine what it was like to bridle this horse!
Finally, I earned his trust enough to let me touch him between his ears. Then we started the “head down” que. I would put the slightest amount of pressure on his head, saying “Head down” and the second that he flinched a bit, I moved my hand and praised him. We did this, it seemed, like forever! More and more ‘the Black” horse put his head down. That horse walked in and out of the barn with his head down, put his head down for his bridle…He was the best with the head down que! Our office had a humble beginning, we started in a ‘dog kennel’ right next to the barn on Ramm Rd . This was a big move up from the dining room table and the basement. As we hired in people to work with our family (these people were friends) they became attached to the horses in the barn. For some reason the name “the Black horse”, did not sit well with them…They started to call him “Black Jack” and the name caught on….The black horse officially became, to me, “Jack’. Jack saw a lot of action in our barn. He saw the transformation from old traditional broken, repaired-re-repaired fence to our beautiful Ramm Flex Fence. He saw boarders increase to a waiting list because we could not take in more than the 26 horses (and we only had 16 stalls)! He watched them come and go for over 8 years.
Then we moved to a new house. He saw a small open barn turn into a real barn with six RAMM portable stalls and stall mats over a concrete floor (not to mention the 3 reindeer that shared the barn and lived in a round pen with stall mats on the floor!). It became a comfortable temporary barn until the ‘other’ barn could be built. That open barn was the beginning of what would become the ‘RAMM Research and Development’ farm. More than six years ago Jack saw the construction of the ‘barn of our dreams’. He would now live in a 12 stall barn with 2 grooming areas, a feed room, hay room, and tack room totally built with RAMM custom stalls, Thuro-bed stall mat systems, automatic waters, windows in each stall with RAMM window grills, Ramm dutch doors with a custom interior, inside mesh half door, and Orion lighting! Jack thought he had really moved up in the world, so did the other horses and the 2 miniature Jerusalem donkeys! The reindeer had a new ‘barn home’ facing the beautiful Ramm 5.25″, 4 rail white flex fence pasture. All animals could see each other!
This Sunday was a beautiful day. I knew that all the horses were fed and out in pasture. I weighed ‘take the day off, or go out and ride’. As life would have it, I made the right choice I decided to take the day off. Sometime during Sunday Jack went to the farthest end of the clover and grass pasture and laid down one last time. Jack never had needed a vet, and as for Sunday, well it was just his time to go. He lived a long good life. I can’t imagine what would have happened to him if he would have gotten into the wrong hands – but he didn’t. He lived his life with us. With all of our horses and ponies, the donkeys, as well as the boarders.
There are so many memories that we make in having our horses! I am thankful to have had that ‘black horse’; Jack will always be a special to me, as well as our family and our ‘friends’ that work with us at RAMM.
Flex Fence Photogallery
September 8, 2009
RAMM Horse Fencing and Stalls Presents: Lynn Palm and her 2009 Ride Well Clinic, Aug 28-30 in Bryan, Ohio
July 1, 2009
RAMM Horse Fencing and Stalls Presents: Lynn Palm’s 2009 Ride Well Clinic, to be held in Bryan, Ohio at the RAMM Equestrian Research and Development Farm on August 28th-30th, 2009.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
9445 NW 60th Ave.
Ocala, FL 34482
352.629.3310 Phone
352.629.3470 Fax
generalinfo@lynnpalm.com
LYNN PALM AND PALM PARTNERSHIP TRAINING ANNOUNCE 2009 “RIDE WELL CLINIC TOUR”
OCALA, FLORIDA (April 30, 2009) – Palm Partnership Training proudly announces the 2009 “RIDE WELL CLINIC TOUR” coming to an area near you! Join Lynn Palm and Cyril Pittion-Rossillon to take your riding to a new level! Beginner, Youth, Amateur, Pleasure Rider or National Champion! The RIDE WELL CLINICS are a great value for everyone. With a minimum of 18 hours of instruction over 3 days, these clinics are an affordable way to train with two of the best educators in the industry!
Lynn Palm and Cyril Pittion-Rossillon will personally evaluate each rider’s skills, horse’s level of training and proper tack fit. Smaller groups will be formed within the clinic according to each participant’s skill level. Small groups will rotate between riding sessions and lecture to give each rider a thorough understanding of the lessons. Clinic participants will learn common sense-achievable, humane, dressage principles for all breeds of horses and all rider disciplines. Lynn and Cyril will follow their successful training methods-improve the horse by improving the rider.
Three of the “RIDE WELL” clinics have been selected for a special 4 day session to include a “Show & Tell Horse Show/Clinic.” The “Show & Tell” Horse Show/Clinic will offer competitive events including Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Hunt Seat Equitation and is open to all breeds. Participants in the competitive events will be judged for score and receive valuable feedback from the judges including show ring strategies and training tips. Participants will have opportunities to “Ask the Judge” and have several chances to win great prizes in excess of $1000! “Show and Tell” is open to the public and to all clinic participants.
Participant enrollment is limited to guarantee personalized instruction. Participants must be able to walk, trot, canter and young and green horses are welcome. Spectators are welcome at all Ride Well Clinic locations. For more information on the Ride Well Clinics, enrollment and spectator advance ticket specials go to: www.lynnpalm.com
2009 RIDE WELL CLINIC Tour Dates
May 23-25 Fountain, CO
July 16-19 Bessemer, MI
July 30-August 2 Bowdoinham, Maine
August 14-16 Ferndale, CA
August 20-23 Dousman, WI
October 2-4 Jamestown, TN
October 9-11 Valley Lee, MD
About Lynn Palm
Palm’s career highlights include 2007 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Horsewoman of the Year, a record four AQHA Superhorse wins, AQHA Female Equestrian of the Year by the Women’s Athletic Association, named one of the top United States clinicians by Horse & Rider magazine, over 34 AQHA World and Reserve World Champions, over 50 bridleless dressage exhibitions at events including the National Horse Show, 1989 World Cup and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, and World Cup. Palm and Cyril Pittion-Rossillon are co-founders of three horse industry companies: Palm Partnership Training, Women LUV Horses, and Alliance Saddlery USA.
About Cyril Pittion-Rossillon
Pittion-Rossillon’s career comes to Royal Palm Ranch from Paris, France, where he earned his Riding Master Degree from the French National Equestrian School. His extensive background and experience as a professional equestrian offers an effective and unequaled complement to the equestrian programs offered at Palm Partnership Training. Pittion-Rossillon’s teaching accomplishments include: Instructor for six years at Brimborion Equestrian Center, the largest equestrian center in Paris, Co-Founder and Director of School for Training Young Professionals for the First Degree of Riding Instructor, Youth and Amateur coach for AQHA & AHSA competition.
Want to see a great Lynn Palm photo gallery? Visit Smugmug today!
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Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Sundays, 8/7c on ABC
RAMM Horse Fencing and Stalls was chosen last season (Season 5; Episode 18) by the producers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, on ABC, to provide Flex Fencing for a family in Cullen, Virginia. Michael & Jean Lucas and their sons purchased land to preserve the site of one of the most famous Civil War battlefields – The Battle of High Bridge. Michael, who serves in the National Guard, was unfortunately deployed to Iraq before their dream home could be completed.
RAMM Horse Fencing & Stalls was honored to step in and help the Lucas Family realize their dream. It was important to Michael and Jean that everything be as authentic as possible to tie-in with their property and their new Civil War museum.
For this reason, RAMMs 5.25″ Brown Flex Fence was installed. “I like the security and strength of the fence and from a distance, it really looks like a wood board fence. It is very eye-catching: we receive a lot of compliments about it,” says Michael.
From HORSE BARN BUILDER – A Supplement to Rural Builder
An article featuring comments from our company president, Debbie Disbrow.
Come and get it!April 28, 2009
by Mark Ward Sr. and Laura Glass
While many horse barn builders construct only the shell of the building, with a little more effort — and by cultivating relationships with knowledgeable suppliers — builders can boost profits and customer satisfaction by providing basic equipment and accessories.
Among these are stall fronts and dividers, flooring and fencing, feeders and waterers. Each requires at least a basic appreciation of equine physiognomy and psychology, along with knowledge of how to integrate the equipment into a safe and well-run operation.
For example, fresh water is essential to a horse’s health. “So installing automatic waterers can be a good option,” notes Rocky Gilreath, owner of Rockin J Horse Stalls in Mannford, Okla. “But you must follow the applicable electrical codes. And you should provide a way to monitor water consumption since you don’t want the horse to get too much water too fast.”
Similarly, numerous equipment options are available for feeding horses. But no matter what system is chosen, relates Dan Fehringer, co-owner of HayDay LLC in Hayden, Idaho, “When you position the feeders, be aware that horses are designed to eat with their heads down. With hayracks that force horses to eat with their heads up, dust and particles can more easily get into eyes and cause respiratory issues. And dental problems can result because teeth wear will be crooked.”
After talking with horse owners to identify their needs, builders can enhance customers’ satisfaction by ensuring the right equipment is chosen. In turn, that translates into more referrals and more business.
“Familiarizing your customers with equipment options is essential and allows you to show them why quality products aren’t necessarily the fanciest,” advises Debbie Disbrow, president of RAMM Fencing in Swanton, Ohio, which makes a full line of equine products.
Gilreath agrees that taking time to educate customers is profitable for both parties. By encouraging clients not to cut corners, builders can avoid costly call-backs and lost referrals.
“And the owners will realize,” he says, “that shortcuts on quality and safety may save some money initially, but they’ll lose it once they’ve paid the vet.”
Horse barn builders who also offer to provide equipment can benefit from a win-win proposition. Customers are better served, Fehringer believes, “because they end up with a good system, while at the same time builders increase their profit. You get a discount on the products and can also charge for installation, thus helping your bottom line.”
Plenty of water
According to Gilreath, water for a horse is just as important— if not more important — than feed. “Under no circumstance should a horse be allowed to run out of water,” he points out, “but neither should a horse take on too much water all at once.”
Automatic waterers have become a popular equipment option, especially as the equine market comes to be dominated by hobbyists. Owners who at last decide to board their own horses want to maximize time for riding and minimize the time required for maintenance. But, cautions Gilreath, not all automatic waterers are alike.
“There are a lot of products that perform well,” he observes, “but it might be smart to recommend one with a meter, so the owner can see how the horse has been drinking. If the horse isn’t drinking then you know it’s sick.”
Disbrow agrees that “a horse’s water is as important as its feed — and sometimes more important in the hot season.” But she explains that customers may have different equipment preferences, depending on their needs.
Establishing priorities
“Do the customers want water in front of the horse at all times? Do they need to see how much the horse drinks? If they want to use buckets, where in the stall should the buckets be mounted? And do they want a door for the water bucket?” are some of the concerns Disbrow raises.
Even as hot weather needs must be considered, so can frozen water be an issue for customers in cold climates. “In the winter, heated equipment makes watering easier and saves the owners time and energy,” Disbrow explains. “An insulated bucket is strong and durable and will keep water from freezing.”
If automatic waterers are installed, she adds, “Follow manufacturer instructions to the letter, especially in frost-prone areas. If the lines aren’t insulated properly, it’s a big headache for the owners. And any lines to the waterers must be completely covered so that the horse can’t get to anything electrical.”
Another tip is to provide individual controls in each stall. “It costs a little extra, but customers will be really upset if all the waterers go down at once,” Disbrow says.
Even when customers like to water their horses outside, automatic waterers are still an option. “Make sure there’s at least a spigot for watering horses out in the pasture,” she states, “and depending on the size of the pasture, you can install faucets or automatic waterers.”
In choosing among automatic waterers, Disbrow continues, “Ask the manufacturer if the bowl can be removed and therefore easily cleaned. Do your homework. Major brands are good. But there are other quality brands that offer excellent products, without having to pay for a big name.”
‘Feed little, feed often’
Watering and feeding do not occur in isolation. Instead, the two are related. Horses are grazing animals. Drinking and eating in moderation, a little at a time, is better for their health.
“The best advice I’ve heard came from a book written around 1898: ‘Feed little; feed often,’” says Fehringer. “And when horses are frequently fed, they’re encouraged to drink more water.”
The advice is based on the horse’s digestive system. “They have very small stomachs in proportion to their bodies, so that their stomachs aren’t designed to hold a lot of food,” explains Fehringer. “And unlike humans who have gallbladders, horses have digestive juices constantly flowing into their stomachs.”
Because equine digestion is geared to grazing, Fehringer notes, horses’ stomachs are typically empty about two hours after eating. Thus if horses are fed just twice a day, they tend to quickly consume large quantities of food. But then their systems cannot properly utilize the nutrients.
“That’s one reasons why 70 to 90 percent of horses have stomach ulcers,” he observes, “and why horses will pace, wheeze and chew on their stalls.”
The need for horses to feed frequently, and the desire of many owners to minimize maintenance, can put animals at risk. For that reason, HayDay co-owners Dan and Ed Fehringer developed the Stable Grazer automatic hay feeder. The two men came up with the idea in 1999, applied for a patent in 2003, and introduced the product two years later.
The battery-powered unit can feed grain or hay to a horse up to six times daily on a timed schedule, and must be refilled about every other day. An optional attachment can dispense feeding supplements. Although the feeder is designed to be part of a stall system, the unit can also be installed on outdoor fences.
“We came up with the idea out of necessity,” admits Dan Fehringer. “Ed and I had another business at the time. But we have horses of our own and were spending a lot of time to properly feed them.” As it turned out, Stable Grazer was well received by other horse enthusiasts who shared the same problem. The Fehringers sold their other business in 2003 and plunged full-time into the new venture.
“When feed is knocked out of a conventional container, the horse will eat off the floor and ingest sand along with the feed. That’s a common cause of colic,” Fehringer points out. Thus he argues that, although an automatic feeder costs more upfront than conventional feeders, the unit will “more than pay for itself the first time you avoid having to treat your horse for colic.”
Putting feeders in their place
While Fehringer recommends that feeders be positioned so that horses can eat naturally with their heads down, Rockin J’s Gilreath adds, “Keep feeders separate, at least 12 feet apart in most cases. And to avoid injury to a horse, the feeders shouldn’t be too high or too low.”
For her part, Disbrow adds, “Feeders not only need to be mounted at the correct height, but should also be the right size for the given situation.”
Water and feed “both need to be hung on the wall in such a way as to ensure the horse can’t get its foot or head caught between the feeder and the wall. There should be plenty of room on either side of it. And be sure no nails or screws protrude. If horses can find anything, it’s bound to be something sharp.”
A good procedure, Disbrow continues, is to “check the height of the stall when it’s complete, and then adjust the feeder according to height of the horse when it’s in the stall. Make sure the horse isn’t leaning up to try to eat. Ask owners about the heights of each horse because they may have ponies, miniature horses or even just small horses.” Professional trainers, she adds, are often willing to provide individual advice to builders and owners about feeding options.
Though it may cost the customer extra, there is another placement option. “The feeder can be mounted to a door, instead of a wall, so that the owner can feed the horse from outside the stall,” Disbrow says. “Because they never have to walk into the stall, it saves time. But if you’re installing a bucket door, make sure the holder is secure so the horse can’t knock off the bucket.”
In many — if not most — cases the best course may be putting a feed room in the facility. Owners can then avoid the risk of overfeeding, Disbrow explains, by keeping feed locked behind closed doors and inaccessible to horses.
Gilreath points out that proper storage is as important as disposing of old feed. “Rodents, such as possums, can carry different diseases. So the feed must be kept as clean as possible,” he says. Feed in the feed room should be covered and kept in sealed containers to keep out pests.
“And if there’s no door to keep out possums,” adds Disbrow, “they can get into the hay and create major problems. The horse can get EPM (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis), a dangerous disease that affects the immune system.”
Another option a builder can suggest to the customer, says Disbrow, “is to place grain bins at an angle, with handles and lids.” If a hay room is built, she continues, “Make sure there is proper ventilation, so there’s no risk of fire and mold.”
Safety considerations extend to the design of the feeders themselves. “You don’t want sharp edges and corners, or hangers that horses can get hung up in,” says Gilreath. Plastic and steel can be durable materials for feeders, he suggests. And their safety is further enhanced when feeders are taken off the wall once a week to be inspected, cleaned and disinfected.
In the end, Disbrow cautions, “The biggest mistakes happen when a builder doesn’t talk with the customers to find exactly what they need. You can’t return a product that is installed and used if, by chance, you purchased the wrong one. So talk to customers before you install anything. It shows the owners how conscientious you are.”
Feeding and watering are so important, says Disbrow, these functions should be incorporated into the barn design rather than added later after the shell is constructed. “It’s much easier for the customer,” she asserts, “and often more profitable for the builder, when you complete the whole job.”
Horse stall systems and other top quality equine products from RAMM will complete any barn. Whether a professional or hobby farm, Nobleman Horse Stalls are sure to add beauty and elegance to any facility. This designer stall system is our most elegant and prestigious. The European flare on this horse stall makes it one of our most popular systems, and customization is our specialty! Our stall designing team will work with you to offer suggestions and answer questions about your project. Each designer stall is built to your specifications and made custom for your horse.
The Nobleman horse stall offers sophistication as well as functionality. These horse stalls are constructed with heavy-duty steel, which is a RAMM standard. When working on stall designing, consider a few factors in your decision-making: Do you need your stalls to be freestanding or will you have support posts? Would you like the door of the horse stall to be on the end or in the center? What finish is best for you? Also remember to think ahead and plan for what might be down the road when planning your horse stall systems.
Call on RAMM for your designer stalls; our expert craftsman and professional team are excited to help you get started. Please call us at 1-800-434-8456 for more information and a free estimate on designer horse stalls and other fine equine products. Visit our resource center at our website at www.rammfence.com for ideas or testimonials for the designer horse stalls, FAQ’s, or a free product catalog.
See our 2008-2009 Digital Edition of Our Catalog Online!
April 21, 2009
A poll from RAMM Horse Fencing and Stalls
March 31, 2009
A bit about RAMM…
March 31, 2009
RAMM offers comprehensive selections of horse stalls, horse fencing systems and equine products for your farm and barn. Rest assured, we only use the finest quality materials and detailed craftsmanship to ensure our horse stalls are stronger and more durable than the competition.
We carry a variety of horse fencing systems to fit nearly every need and budget from the high tensile wire Flex-Fence, flexible rail fencing, electric fences, Rigid PVC, Non-Climb and Wire Mesh fences. We also offer a wide selection of farm and barn products such as horse stall mats, round pens and accessories.
Browse our extensive website, check out our quality equine products, plan your barn and farm project, build a customized horse stall, or just read through our helpful resource center. The fence and stall experts at RAMM can offer assistance in your search for a particular equine product as well as installation questions too; just give them a call at 1.800.434.8456.
Four Ways to Get Ready for Spring ~ From My Farm to Yours
In Ohio, we have had our share of snow this year! I know that spring will be here soon because the birds have started to sing their full songs and my chickens have started to lay again! The snow comes and the sun melts it into the lifeless looking grass. Soon all of those puddles of mud and pastures will be turning lush and green. That’s when I know its high time to get busy and evaluate pastures, fence lines, gates, water areas and out-door sheds.
1. Walk or ride your fence lines – I know that this is a subject that I have talked about before, however, it is worth addressing again. After seeing many accidents that could have been avoided, this takes the number one slot of things to check on before spring weather approaches. Our horses spend most of their time in their pastures. It is their natural home, and I feel that too many of us forget this. We can spend our money on all the latest gadgets for our horses, the newest boots and accessories, but without safer and big enough pastures, we hurt our best investment, our horses well being. Ride or walk you fence lines and look for any protruding nails, screws, or loose brackets. If you have wood fence be very sure all rails meet end to end, and do not extend outward (this would be the place where your horse is getting cut, and you could not figure out where it happened). If you have PVC, be sure that all rails are in the routings and be sure that your electric is working to full capacity. Take a note book along and jot down notes of what material you may need to do any repairs. Also take a hammer, small crow bar, and extra nails for quick repairs, if needed. Using some bright plastic tape at repair spots will help save time in re-finding the spot that needs repair. If you see any high traffic areas where your horses are starting to push or lean on your fence, (maybe they found the grass is good on the other side, or a tree that has grown large enough to reach the leaves) take measures to stop the abuse. Consider cutting natural boundary lines far enough away from a leaning (average size) 1200 lb horse, perhaps consider adding more rails to that area (coated wire, or 1″ flex), or the use of electric.
Lastly, is the size of your pasture large enough to let your horse get the exercise that is needed? Is it large enough to handle regular grazing? If not, you may want to consider cross fencing to use one area as a dry lot and allow the other area to rest. Damp wet ground can turn into a rutted, muddy mess from happy horses that smell “spring” in the air! Cross fencing with rotational grazing can help to save your needed pastures. Additionally, as the ground dries out, you can knock down manure piles and help to prevent worm problems in the resting pasture. The best option may be to build an additional pasture with an isle between your pastures. The isle helps to eliminate the wear on a common fence line (cross fence), and makes turnout easier with ornery horses!
2. Check your gates and pass through areas Winter weather has mysterious way of “moving” some of our most perfect and leveled gates! Frost and thaw naturally create damp and frozen ground that “moves” as the weather changes. It is just a fact of nature. After some amount of time or wear, gates must be re-leveled and checked to be sure that spaces between posts are no more than aprox. 3 inches. If spaces get larger this could be a potentially dangerous spot for ponies and horses heads or legs. The problem occurs when horses push through the space, and pull back quickly from its “flight instinct”. Needless to say, neck and leg injuries can be fatal. It is our responsibility to check these areas (not to mention this can happen with stall doors as well) for the safety of our horses. Adjust “J” bolts at gate hinges for proper spacing. Also make sure that the long end of the bolt does not protrude too far out on the other side of the post. If cutting the bolt is needed consider using washers and a heavy nut to cover the remaining end of the J-bolt. Be sure that the space where your gate opens remains small. Chain closures leave room for a gate to have some movement. A good alternative is to install a gat latch the does not allow the gate to have movement. We use a two way locking gate latch which not only keeps the gate from moving, but also has a built in ledge that the gate sits on to keep it from sagging. If your gate is long and has a drastic sagging problem, you can install a gate wheel and it will help to keep the gate level. Additionally, using a fine stone screening at your walk through areas will help to keep the opening in good shape. It will also save you and your horse from walking in puddles of mud during turn-outs!
Double check “people pass through” areas as well. Make sure that posts are not leaning or have not moved. If you’re not familiar with this walk area, it is formed with 3 posts close to a barn or solid wall. Three posts are positioned in a triangle pattern allowing enough “squeeze” room for a person to walk through but not a horse. The space is wide enough that horse cannot get legs hurt in the spaces.* Beware with ponies however. I have heard and seen (with my own eyes) the magic that they posses! They seem to get out of the smallest of areas at times!
3. Check watering areas. This is an area that you should always keep an eye on throughout the year. Water is one of the most important things that your horse consumes. Especially after the winter thaw, it is good to do a close evaluation of you water station. If you have tubs and they are metal, check rusted and dented areas. Slow leaks can create a loss of water for your horse and wet areas that will attract bugs, mosquitoes, and not to mention wet soggy mud. If you have plastic tubs, check for cracking. Automatic waterers should be checked frequently for proper filling. All water containers should be cleaned, bleached, rinsed thoroughly and kept clean. If you have a big problem with horses that like to play in your water tub, consider using fine stone screenings under and around your water station. The additional use of stall mats in this area helps to eliminate frequent maintenance around the waterer.
4. Outdoor sheds and outdoor coverings. If your horses are outdoors all or most of the time, it’s important to their health to have an area where they can get out of inclement weather, wind, snow and sun. A 3 sided shed provides a place for horses to get relief form the weather. Be sure to check sheds for any areas of abuse. Split wood, broken pipe, or broken siding can be areas waiting for an accident to occur. Make repairs and you will be saving your horse from injury, not to mention a hefty vet bill. If your horses have “nested” and made large impressions in the ground, refill in those areas with dirt and consider using some sawdust or straw in nap areas. It will be more comfortable for your horse, and will help to avoid spaces under the frame of the shed. Be sure, in windy areas, that your shed has not moved….it does happen…and that the back of the shed faces the predominate wind flow direction. Also in windy areas, be sure to anchor your sheds in the ground. They can blow over. Once again this could create an accident with your horses.
Get your chores done, and be ready for the beautiful weather to come! Ride and spend time with your horse. It’s the best medicine in the world for you and your equine friend!! Be ready for spring, and have a great ride; I will talk with you next month!
Debbie Disbrow, President
RAMM Horse Fencing & Stalls
This article was written by Debbie Disbrow, president of RAMM Fencing & Stalls. Debbie has over 40 years of experience with horses and equine-related businesses. RAMM Fencing and Stalls is one of the leading farm and barn equipment providers in the equine industry. RAMM is committed to customer service, quality products and thorough follow-up. Contact Debbie directly at debbie.disbrow@rammfence.com or for more information, visit www.rammfence.com or call 1.800.434.8455.
