Good horsemanship habits don't always have to be expensive. In fact, some of the best barn hacks don't even require a trip to the tack store. From buying sponges in the automobile section of your nearest superstore to using ketchup as a tool to help whiten the tails on a gray horse, there are tons of ways you can up your horsemanship game on a budget without sacrificing the quality of care for your horse. We asked the USEA membership to chime in with their favorite barn hacks and you did not disappoint. Check out some of the suggestions below!
Marilu J: "Spray pine oil mixed with some water all around your stall walls, it keeps flies out."
Polly G: "Using all synthetic brushes so that you can throw them in a bleach bath to clean them without having to worry about ruining them. Good for large programs where you need to avoid cross-contamination when a horse gets fungus."
Jenny L: "Epona Tiger Tongue grooming tool is the best thing ever for speed grooming/tacking/post care. It’s a cheat I actually feel a little guilty using!"
Haily B: "Dryer sheets for static! Rub [the horse] down with them to help prevent those nasty shocks in the dry winter months."
Margaret M: "For horse shows one of my favorites is to buy two pop up hampers and set them up outside my trailer dressing room. One is for dirty horse laundry and one is for dirty rider laundry. It makes unpacking at home a lot easier!"
Addi M: "Skin so soft, rubbing alcohol and a little witch hazel takes out sweat marks instantly!"
Morgan M: "Vaseline in the corners of the horse's mouth works the same as bit butter to keep cracks away!"
The coveted Spirit Award, which originated from the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship and quickly became as important as the competition itself, will be returning this year with double the excitement at the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships! With the two program championships merging for the first time, the organizing team at Stable View is committed to making the weekend an unforgettable experience for these middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. Separate Spirit Contests will be offered for each program , and Stable View has generously donated perpetual trophies for the two contest champions. The 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Championships will be held at the Stable View Local Charities H.T. on May 4-5, 2024 in Aiken, SC. Click here to learn more and prepare to enter on opening day tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19!
Sometimes all it takes is a little luck on your side to make your dreams come true. We recently asked our USEA membership to share why they feel so lucky to be partnered with the horses they compete with, and we received over 100 heartwarming stories! We compiled some of our favorites below in celebration of today’s luck-themed holiday.
With Paris Olympic team selection this summer as a big goal, Liz Halliday headed out onto Ian Stark’s CCI4*-S cross-country course today at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International hoping to make the time with Miks Master C and show off a smooth round. After leading the division from day 1’s dressage on a 22.5, Halliday was able to accomplish both things and win aboard Ocala Horse Properties’ and Deborah Palmer’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF).
The standings after today’s CCI4*-S show jumping at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International shuffled with 14 double-clear rounds out of 35 to start, but Liz Halliday stayed right where she was at the top of the leaderboard aboard Miks Master C.