Sassy The School Horse asked:


Does anyone know any good horse property for sale sites?
what do you mean cobra when you say
…”not limited to such a small offering”

BLAINE

David G. Petten asked:


There are many different types of horse supplies and equipment that can be purchased for a number of reasons and uses. When you go to make your purchased, you will be faced with a wide variety of options, so knowing what you need before hand is very important. This can be especially relevant if you are planning to spend a lot of money on your horse equipment, and it can definitely turn quite costly. Still, even with all the options available to you, you may find yourself wishing to purchase horse supplies and equipment that will meet your vast equine needs, and this is where custom horse equipment can serve you well.

Whether you are planning to ride your horse on your own property, on frequent trail rides, or enter the beautiful creature in horse shows, you will need many different supplies. There are a variety of companies that will customize this equipment just to fit your needs. They may also be good resources from which to seek advice if you are unsure of your exact equipment needs. For example, if you are planning to ride your horse often, you will want to be sure you have the right saddle. Your saddle should be comfortable for both you and the horse, and there are many different types from which to choose.

If you are a new horse owner, it would probably be a good idea to read as much information as you can about owning a caring for a horse, as well as riding it. You may also consider joining a local trail riders’ organization if you plan to mingle with other horse lovers. There, you will find beginners as well as advanced riders, along with people who have raised horses for a good number of years.

If you are seeking customized horse equipment, the first place you should check in your particular area. It may be better to do this, especially at first, so that your needs can be more easily met without having to keep sending equipment back if it doesn’t meet your specifications. This also gives you an opportunity to get advice right there on the spot, and can also help those customizing your equipment to get to know you and your horse better.

Once you have become a more experienced rider, and know what you need in terms of equipment, there are many online companies who specialize in customized horse equipment. There, you will find an array of bits, saddles, bridals and so much more, and can easily prepare you and your horse for a horse show. You will find everything you need right at your fingertips.



CLAY

Michael Patrick asked:


There are many reasons why horse breeders should invest in quality portable hidden security cameras both inside and outside of their barns. Horses no matter what their breed are incredibly valuable animals. Although there are no legal slaughterhouses open in America for horses, there are still people who buy and sell horse meat. A horse can mean thousands of dollars on the hoof whether dead or alive.

Human Nature

And they are also very docile animals, making them ( sadly ) a target for people who like to be cruel to animals.

“The use of video surveillance is continuing to increase in the country and many people are fitting their homes and businesses with security camera systems to record everything that happens in and around their home”

As a human being, you have probably made your share of enemies of the years ( it occurs to everybody ). You can’t take the chance that a sicko from your past won’t take their anger with you out on your pregnant mare or champion stallion. Hidden security cameras can not only help protect your horses, but helps to prosecute any intruder.

Foaling Season

The most normative reason horse breeders need hidden security cameras is when foaling season comes around.

“Even many professional thieves will shy away from a home or business that shows indications the property is being observed with a security camera”

Although most female animals ( including people ) have little trouble giving birth to their babies, mares are the great exception. And there seems to be an unwritten rule that the more valuable the mare, the more likely she is going to have trouble giving birth.

Domestic horses descend from wild prey animals that always had to worry about predators lurking around. Mares till retain this nature by preferring to give birth in the wee hours of the early morning.

“In addition to installing a security camera for their home or business, many are supplementing their surveillance systems with dummy cameras”

It used to be that you had to camp out in the foaling barn any time a mare was due and check on them every hour in order to make sure everything was alright. This made for many sleepless nights.

And pregnant mares can be very puzzled as to why there is suddenly a human sleeping in the barn with them, especially if this is their first foal. It is thought mares can purposefully delay foaling for some time if they think that they are in any danger. The presence of a person in the barn can cause mares to delay giving birth as long as possible.

“In addition to having a security camera installed, the placement of the camera is equally important”

A hidden security camera takes care of this. Sure, you still have to get up every hour or so to check on the visual feed from the hidden security camera, but at least you don’t have to sleep in the barn. This can help you not only get some rest, but help relax the mare and make for a smoother delivery of the precious foal.



DEWITT

Lydia K Kelly asked:


What to Look for When Buying a Farm

If you are looking to buy a farm there is a good chance that you have seen many old-style bank barns. Some are in excellent shape, others are barely standing. When your goal is to keep horses in that barn, it is important that you know what to look for.

Going in the Door

When looking at a bank barn, you need to start from the first place you go in, the door. Many bank barns have only small doorways, better suited to small animals like goats or sheep. When considering a barn for equine use, you need to make sure that the main doorway is at least 4′ wide. The doorframes should be high enough that a horse can easily pass under it without having to drop its head excessively.

There should be at least two entrances, one for regular use, and one in case of emergency. Once you pass through the doorway there needs to be adequate space for the horse to enter safely, and move into the aisle to get to his stall.

Check the Ceiling

Far too many horses have been hurt or killed by hitting their heads on a too low ceiling. Many old bank barns have low ceilings that are not suited to horses. Others have a decent ceiling, but have beams that drop excessively low. You need at least a 7′ ceiling in a barn, preferably 8′ or more. That gives the horses plenty of head room and decreases the risk of injury to the poll.

Look at the Floor

Many bank barns have cement floors. This isn’t too bad if the floor is even, but often it consists of many raised sections, and even places with no cement at all. These irregular floors are not safe for horses. You will need to break out the cement so that the floor is level throughout the barn. This is a lot of work, and involves laying a new floor once the cement is gone.

Where Will Your Horse Stay?

Many old bank barns were built with animals other than horses in mind. Some will have cattle stanchions, while others will have stalls that are too large or too small for the average horse. Consider that you may need to tear out what is currently in the barn, and replace it with stalls that are better suited to your animals.

A Solid Foundation

As the years pass, bank barns sometimes lose stability. The old stone walls begin to lean or sag. Sometimes the damage is minor and will last many years before needing repair. Other times the damage is such that the wall may collapse without warning. If you plan to use the barn for any length of time, it is essential to choose a barn that has a solid foundation. If there is some degree of damage, it is worth having an expert assess it so you know how much it would cost to repair.

Above the Head

Finally, you need to investigate the hay loft. Check that the ladder or stairwell to the loft is solid and secure. The loft itself should have strong floorboards that can support your hay without risk of breaking. While most bank barns will have some loose boards, there should not be excessive gaps in the sides of the loft. If you plan to store hay up there it is important that it be protected from the elements.

Don’t Settle

The barn is your horse’s safe haven in times of foul weather. It is essential that the barn not only be comfortable, but also that it is safe and secure. It is not worth compromising on the structure of a barn just to get a deal on a property. The costs of repair and maintenance will quickly outstrip the savings you get on the sale price.



DARIUS

Neil Ebsworth asked:


Property markets on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca have seen sales stall in recent weeks as the value of the Euro has effectively wiped out price savings made in Euros during the recent market correction.

Property markets across Europe are waiting for action from the European Central Bank, (ECB) following moves by the Federal Reserve in the United States to cut interest rates for third time. The move by the Fed which is directly related to the property crisis in the US has seen the US currency weaken even further against the Euro and sterling, following no reciprocal action by either the Bank of England or the ECB.

Whilst moves by the Fed are independent and some would say that indicators in the Euro zone economy are not yet reflecting as large a slowdown as seen in the US, the strength of the Euro against all major currencies is having a knock on effect causing higher energy prices as well as stifling a property market that could do with a little help to stop into sliding into collapse.

The effect of the stronger Euro can be most dramatically seen in the Spanish Property market which has been struggling to keep its head above water for nearly three years. Following a sustained period of growth up until 2004/5, the market initially saw a correction in prices as rising interest rates started to dry up demand. With the recent strength of the Euro in the past couple of months, this price correction has all but been wiped out for the largest market for buyers, the British, who now are also beginning to feel the fallout from the credit squeeze which originated in the US, but whose effect was witnessed by the collape of the Northern Rock Bank and a slowdown in the domestic property market.

Whether the ECB will act during its meeting in April is yet to be seen. It has in the past been slower to react to market indicators than other central banks. Part of the reason for this has been the diversity of economies that it is trying to control. It is difficult to set monetary policy in the Euro zone without having different results from different member states. Unfortunately the members of the Euro economies are not necessarily all on the same economic path and the ECB may have to wait until recessionary pressures across the whole zone are clearer, before it finally acts.

This was always seen as one of the downsides to the Euro when it was first set up. The convergence of the economic indicators necessary to join the currency was no guarantee that the members economies would stay on the same path. Mobility of labour being just one of the factors that would hinder the economic parity across the region. This hampers any decision making by the central bank as it tries to stay politically neutral when making fiscal policy. Any policy that has a negative effect on one members economy over another could be seen to have been made under political pressure or bias.

The result is that, by the time the bank has enough indicators in its favour to make a decision to act that will not anger some of its members, it may well be a case of the stimulus door having been shut after the recessionary horse has bolted. Whether the current situation turns out to be such a case will only be determined retrospectively. In the meantime, property markets across the Spanish Costas must hope that the general indicators of a slowdown catch up with the feeling all to evident in their industry now.



FREDDIE

Martin Connor asked:


You can really expect the best when you buy ski property in Bulgaria - with Bansko being one of the more attractive offers on the table. With its snow capped mountains, a skiing season that is more than four months long at a time, a summer enticing holiday makers with hot natural springs in neighbouring village of Banya and a whole host of activities like horse riding ensure a year round calendar of unforgettable experiences in this beautiful location tucked away under the Pirin Mountain.

There are many reasons for you to buy ski property in Bansko. The property market is just only maturing, means your investments will only seek to sear in the next few years. Already in recent times, the value of land has went up ten times from initial prices per square meter. Contract company Yulen - responsible for the ski resorts in Pirin Mountain has pumped in millions of dollars into renovating and improving the resort facilities to something beyond world class. A new gondola lift was recently installed as well, meaning a short ten minute ride up the scenic mountains to your skiing location. No snow? This Bulgarian exclusive enclave are experts at snow making with a range of machines which means pistes in excellent conditions.

Bansko is nestled between the Pirin, Rila and Rhodope Mountain ranges and is a world register of natural heritage. This means you get a wide array of skiing locations, with the two major ones being Chalin Valog and Shiligarnika, located within differing heights of the mountain ranges - the highest being 2, 500 m above sea level. The town itself is an attraction by its own measure, with more than 100 cultural monuments, decorated houses, ancient fortresses within the expanding regions and rivers of Bansko. Be dazzled by buildings like the Holy Trinity Church, that boasts a thirty metre high bell tower and clock as well as intricate wood carvings.

There are also no short of amenities and facilities within and around Bansko. The busy city of Sofia is just 2 hours away, with its airport - but a Bansko airport is in the works as well, meaning accessibility and convenience for travellers alike. There are a whole host of taverns, pubs, entertainment outlets, shopping arcades and medical facilities within Bansko town, nearby villages and outlying cities. English is one of the main languages spoken all around, with staff and people well versed in the language.

Bansko is a holiday makers dream and when you stay there, it seems there is never enough time to enjoy the region and what it has to offer. From golf clubs, resorts, spas, skiing to even regular festivals like the Bansko Jazz Fest held every August, each is just another anchor to make anyone stay longer. It is something out of the ordinary, a jewel in Eastern Europe that offers its grandeurs for the fraction of the cost of places like France, Italy and Greece. This is why more and more people are buying property i this pictorial location, an achievement of sight , sound and feel - a promise that you can expect the best when you buy ski property in Bulgaria.



ADRIAN

Alley!! asked:


i live in Milton New York and i need to know if im allowed to have a pony on my property. Or do i need a permit!?

BARNEY

Beth Guide asked:


It is important to monitor your horses weight regularly, especially if he is prone to weight loss. A good way to monitor weight gain or loss is with a weigh tape that can be purchased at most local tack shops or feed stores. If you use this tape at the same time each week, it will be about 90% accurate and will let you know if there is any potential health problems with your horse with weight loss being a symptom. There is also a way to monitor weight called a weighbridge that your horse can walk up on to get an accurate weight, however these are not owned by most people as they are very expensive and for the most part, only the large horse breeders can afford to install them. Either way, just know that there are several ways you can monitor weight and then act accordingly.

When a horse looses weight, he looses his fat first and then the muscle tone. In this way he is just like humans. Usually a horse has a good amount of fat in reserve that he has stored during the warm summer months to prepare for the long lean winters where food is scarce. As with many animals, it is inherent in their nature of the horse to store this fat. Usually, its more than enough fat to get them through the winter. Unfortunatily, by the time weight loss can be seen by the human eye on a horse, there has been a significant loss of weight already, so it is important to keep track of any changes before it can be seen.

One way to put some weight back on your horse is to feed him special conditioning cubes or feed. There are many varieties on the market such that can do the trick for your horse. You should see results fairly quickly in as soon as two weeks in most cases.

Feed more grain than your horses usual portion. Grain can be very fattening to your horse but you have to be careful as to the protein content. Use a feed that is higher in fiber and lower in starch as this reduces the chances of your horse exhibiting bad behavior from his over abundance of energy caused from the high protein content. More protein and energy intake builds weight. Low energy feeds can be fed from 1kg to 6 kg without your horse going thru the roof with energy.

If you have your horses on property that is not conditioned for good coastal hay or other good forms of hay, offer more bailed hay during the day to provide extra roughage and nutrients. Of course fresh grass is much better, but the hay will still provide what is called, gut fill. Gut fill will create heat from the process of fermentation in digestion. Try to stay away from large round bales as they can develop mold and are not suitable for horses. Round bales are usually only acceptable for cows and other farm animals such as donkey’s. The horses can walk in the hay which is not clean. Over all, square bales are preferred.

Lastly, consult your veterinarian if you are unsure how to best feed your horse to get your horse back to the proper weight for optimal health. If nothing else, a veterinarian can suggest a good nutritionist that will guide you to the proper diet and supplements for your horses overall good health.



CASEY