With the coming of spring, horse owners everywhere have a few annoying issues to deal with. Aside from frisky horses out in the paddock and the perpetual and seemingly endless mud problem, an equestrian’s springtime headache can often times be brought on by the sudden onset of moisture related fungus and skin conditions in their horses. Horse skin conditions, just like skin conditions in people, can be caused by a number of variables. For this blog, we’ll stick to the facts on one problem bacteria: Dermatophilus Congolensis. Dermatophilus is the official name for a skin bacteria we horse people know... continue reading

We’ve all been there. You walk through a friend’s barn or someone else’s boarding facility and you spot that ingenious #BarnLifeHack that is so brilliant you don’t know why you hadn’t thought of it yourself. Sometimes the best barn hacks are right under our noses, and we didn’t even know we needed them. That’s where our #BarnLifeHack contest brings all those great ideas right to you! Keeping the stable running smoothly is already a chore, why not incorporate ideas and tips to up your stable game? If we decide you’ve got the best barn hack, we’ve got loot for you.... continue reading

While most of us are still trying to keep waterers from freezing, horses warm and well fed, and the ground in our paddocks from turning into a sloppy mess, breeders are considering foaling season. If you’re a seasoned horse breeder, preparing for foaling season is easy. Knowing what to expect when you’re expecting makes the whole scenario much less daunting. If you’re new to foaling out a mare, raising a foal can be a mind-boggling experience, so we’re here to give you a few tips to navigate the waters! Foaling Kits - What do I really need? Having the tools... continue reading

Winter should be in full swing in your neck of the woods. If there’s no snow on the ground, you’ve probably at least had the pleasure of breaking a frozen water bucket or two. Life around the barn moves a little bit slower and takes just a bit longer when the cold really sets in. We here at Lighthoof want to make sure your winter months are as comfortable as possible. We’ve got some tips and the answers to a few questions to help keep your horses cozy this cold season. When to blanket your horse?  The age old question... continue reading

If you’re a barn or stable owner that sees the hard frozen temperatures in winter and dreads the inevitable spring thaw, now is a great time to consider ways to manage your soil and footing options. Barnyard mud quickly turns into a hazard as temperatures drop, but it also presents itself as even more of a problem come spring. Knowing how to manage the melt as the frozen ground and any leftover snow trickle off when the temps heat up can be a daunting task.   You may be in an area of the country that hasn’t yet gotten cold... continue reading

As the holidays grow nearer, if you haven’t already decked the halls with festive baubles and garland, now’s the time! Christmas barn decorations are a great way to bring the festive season to your favorite place, but when deciding just what types of decorations you want to use, it’s good to have a refresher on safety. As every equestrian knows, the most lavish and colorful Christmas stall ideas are irresistible to our four-legged friends, with their propensity for chewing, pulling, playing with, and completely destroying dangly or fun stall hangings… any of which can cause physical harm such as broken... continue reading

In our previous installments we gave you some great ideas on what to look for when you’re trying to clean up the mud on your property. Risk factors, soil composition, maintenance were all discussed, along with taking a look at what type of use and activity your various footing types and property areas are seeing. With so many factors to juggle, sometimes it’s easy to focus on one problem as it presents itself, and not address the issue in its entirety. Drainage and Ground Stability Go Hand-in-Hand When it comes to mud management, you have to address two key points,... continue reading

It’s a dream of almost every equestrian: bringing your horses home. Whether you’ve already done so, and want to improve your property, or you’re getting ready to build a new facility, we have some thoughts to consider as you build your list of “must haves” and “want to haves”. If your property is in an area that experiences a cold winter, there are many things to add to your list when it comes to stable winterization. Building a barn that can hold up to a harsh winter, as well as the hot temperatures of summer or significant amounts of rainfall... continue reading

Soil erosion is common on horse farms. Walk around your farm and you’ll probably see tell-tale collapsing of soil on hillsides and ledges. During a hard rain, is the water running down your hills dark and muddy? This is a sign of soil erosion as well. Erosion carries off the upper layers of your soil, which are rich in nutrients. Stripped soil is less productive and less nutritious for your horses. When soil washes downhill, it usually ends up in streams, rivers, and lakes. This changes the water, ruining the environment for plant and animal life. It has a destructive... continue reading

Many of us have tried laying outdoor fabric under our paddock footing to try and prevent mud. Keeping horses is quite an expense and anywhere we can save a dollar or two, we’re tempted! So when someone suggests just laying landscaping fabric, plastic sheeting, or some other geotextile under new paddock footing, we want this to be a good option! Unfortunately, the truth is that fabric under your paddock footing is not a long-term solution for keeping mud away. And it can create dangers for your horse as well. Fabric alone doesn’t provide firm structure for your footing. Horses have... continue reading

It’s easy to to figure out how many Lighthoof panels you need to make a mud-free area for your horse. Each Lighthoof panel expands to 6’x12’, covering 72 square feet of ground. Don’t worry if your paddock dimensions don’t fit an exact number of whole panels. Fortunately, you can cut Lighthoof panels with a sharp pair of scissors to fit any space.  For example, suppose you have a 30’x30’ paddock. That’s 5 panels wide by 2 ½ panels long. For this paddock you would buy 13 Lighthoof panels. You’d lay 12 full panels in the paddock as shown above. You’d... continue reading

In last month’s Monthly Mud FAQs, we addressed some risk factors that the discerning farm owner should be aware of. Now that you’ve got a handle on the risks, we’re here to help you find solutions to mud management that will save you time, money and frustration going forward. Footing We gave you some insight on the best footings for your farm and arenas last month, and it’s worthwhile to do some research into what type of footing is best for your farm. Many factors can come into play here: the type of soil/sand you have as a base, the... continue reading

A common misconception in the horse world is the idea that mud problems are solved by using a paddock footing material that is permeable or “drains through.” Of course it would be lovely if wetness simply vanished into the ground beneath our horses’ hooves. Unfortunately, the reality is that this is simply never the case for a number of reasons. Over time horse hair, hay scraps, and manure particles ll the gaps in permeable footing. Any material that can compact WILL compact in a high hoof traffic area, removing any drain holes from your system. Any material that won’t compact (drain rock, pea gravel,... continue reading