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!"
Chants of “War Eagle” were heard from end to end of the White Oak cross-country course as the overnight leaders and defending champions from Auburn University tore between the red and white flags Saturday to remain atop the leaderboard of the 2023 Intercollegiate Eventing Championship at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).
The last three years have been a time of great change throughout the country for homes, businesses and industries. Rising costs of living, shrinking of assistance and changes in demographics have affected so much of our world, and that includes the equine industry. However, not all of the changes are easy to identify. This is why the American Horse Council (AHC), together with the U.S. Equestrian Federation, has kicked off what could be one of the biggest studies in more than 50 years with the 2023 National Economic Impact Study (EIS) for the equine industry.
Twenty-three teams from 13 colleges and universities have traveled far and wide for the seventh annual USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
If you have been involved at a higher level with the USEA, you probably recognize the names of the two ladies that spearhead all of the efforts of the USEA’s Programs, Partnerships, and Marketing department: Kate Lokey, Director of Programs and Marketing, and Kaleigh Collett, Marketing Coordinator, but a new member of this team has also joined the USEA staff in Heather Johnson, Programs and Inventory Assistant. If you have considered advertising with the USEA or are involved in the USEA’s Young Event Horse, Emerging Athletes U21, New Event Horse, Adult Riders, Young Riders, Classic Series, or Grooms programs, you probably have or most likely will interact with one of these staff members.