Every new year brings with it lofty promises to ourselves that we’re going to make all these big changes to our lives and truly become our dream selves. People generally make big decisions at the start of a new year or a new month, since the idea is that it makes it easier to track progress. When considering your horsey new year’s resolutions though, it’s important to remember brain science. 

When we set big goals for ourselves, we’re less likely to follow through on them, which is why so many new year’s resolutions get abandoned part way through January. While there’s nothing wrong with having a big goal in mind, setting smaller goals that can be achieved without much more effort all at once will make you far more likely to achieve that big goal, since they’re much less intimidating and easier to get yourself to work towards. 

Setting horsey new year’s resolutions is no different. Here are some horsey new year’s resolutions to consider that are easy to maintain and that will help you reach your long-term goals!

#1. Spend More Quality Time With Your Horse

While riding is certainly quality time, sometimes it can be tempting to breeze through the grooming and tacking process in order to get into the saddle as soon as possible, and then to simply put your horse away when you’re done. A horsey new year’s resolution to consider is spending some more quality time with your horse, be that spending more time grooming, taking some extra moment to cuddle, hanging out with them in the pasture or their stall, or even just going to the stables to give them pets and treats on days where you don’t ride. Both you and your horse will feel more bonded and appreciative of each other the more quality time you spend together. 

#2. Try A New Discipline

We all have our favored disciplines. Some of us are staunchly Western riders, others have never been out of an English saddle. This new year, maybe try out a new discipline when you get the chance to. You’ll learn more about horses, maybe some new riding techniques, and an increased respect for all the other ways people ride and what these amazing horses can do. 

If you stick to Western pleasure, maybe test out an English discipline or another Western style. If you’re a jumper, maybe give dressage or another English or Western discipline a go. You don’t need to take it on, but simply testing it out can be very beneficial, since it will boost your confidence and give you a better understanding of riding as a whole. 

#3. Up Your Fitness Levels

There’s no doubt that riding is a sport. The more fit you are and the stronger your core is, the easier riding will be – for both you and your horse. You don’t need to hit the gym every day, but even just adding a mini ab workout into your daily routine can help you be a better rider.

#4. Add Another Ride Or Two To Your Weekly Schedule

If you want to ride more, a horsey new year’s resolution many people strive to is to try to ride 5-6 days a week. While admirable, if you don’t ride much and you have a busy schedule, this can be a hard adjustment to make, though it is doable if you have a lot of self-discipline and the time for it. Rather than telling yourself that you’re going to ride six days out of the week if you currently ride one or two days a week, striving to ride just one or two times more will be far more attainable and easier to maintain in the long run. 

#5. Be Open To Learning

We’re constantly learning about horses. The best riders and trainers are the ones who acknowledge that you’ll never know everything. A horsey new year’s resolution to consider is to be open to any learning opportunities you come across, such as new methods or health considerations. You may be surprised at what a new piece of knowledge can do for you and your horse!

#6. Check Your Horse’s Diet

Just like people, dietary needs vary from horse to horse. What’s good for one horse can be bad for another. Alfalfa can be a fantastic choice for some horses, but cause others to get hot or to gain weight. You may consult with your vet about your horse’s diet to ensure that you’re giving them the best possible nutrition. One thing that is consistent across all horses though is the need for constant access to clean fresh water. If you don’t have an automatic waterer, you may consider installing one, to keep your horse happy and hydrated. 

#7. Be More Grateful

When we’re making horsey new year’s resolutions, it can be easy to focus on all the things we’re not and all the things we and our horses need to improve on. While striving for improvement is always good, it’s equally important to be grateful for what we have. A fantastic horsey new year’s resolution to make is simply to be more grateful that you have the opportunity to be around horses, to ride, for all your horse does for you, for your barn, for so many things. There’s always someone who wishes they had what you do. Gratitude is an excellent practice for every part of our lives. 

#8. Acknowledge Your And Your Horse’s Progress

As mentioned in the previous point, we can get stuck on how far we need to go without taking a moment to acknowledge how far you’ve come. A horsey new year’s resolution to consider is to be more mindful of you and your horse’s progress. Be proud of how you’ve progressed as a rider, how your horse has learned! Celebrating your successes will make improvement so much easier, when you acknowledge just how you’ve improved every step of the way.

Count Us Into Your Horsey New Year’s Resolutions

Bar Bar A wants to help you stick with your horsey new year’s resolutions by providing your horse with fresh, clean water all year round. Our automatic waterers won’t freeze in winter or get too hot in the summer, ensuring that your horse always has access to the water they need. To learn more about our automatic waterers and how they can benefit your horse, contact us today!

When winter rolls around, many people who own outdoor animals fret about their wellbeing, llamas being no exception. While it’s natural and good to want to help your llama in winter, it may put you at ease to know that llamas are well-suited to winter weather and that many livestock animals prefer being outside to being locked in a barn. Llamas have very warm, thick coats, naturally, so they can enjoy the snow in comfort. But you want to ensure that you are doing everything in your power to help your llama in winter. 

A healthy, well-cared for llama is a happy llama! Here are some of the ways you can help your llama in winter, to ensure that they stay happy and healthy.

#1. Give Them Shelter

Just because llamas like being outside doesn’t mean they couldn’t benefit from having a shelter to retreat to when they wish it. A great way to help your llama in the winter – and all year round – is to give them a shelter. A barn or a shelter gives them somewhere to get out of the wind and snow and other elements, making them more comfortable. Llamas like to know where they can ‘escape’ from a building, so try to only close the windows and doors of your barn where the snow blows from.

#2. Add A Layer Of Bedding

Adding an additional layer of bedding to your barn will increase the comfort and make it easier for you to clean. 

#3. Give Them Grassy Hay And Grain

An absolute must when you help your llama in winter is giving them grassy hay and grain. You don’t want to give them any moldy hay, as this could make them sick. You may also want to help your llama in winter by giving them a ration of grain, since there is likely not going to be grass for them to graze on. You want to be careful with the grain in order to avoid any choking situations. You may also consider giving your llama beet pulp or cracked corn or pellets of alfalfa. 

Every llama is different, and what works for one may not work for another. If you have any questions or concerns about your llama’s diet, contact your local vet, and they’ll be able to give you personalized advice for your llama.

#4. Offer A Salt Block

Llamas can’t stick their tongues out to lick a salt block like a horse can, but they do enjoy ‘gumming’ on salt blocks in order to get their daily salt intake in. To help your llama in the winter, offering a salt black along with a mineral mix will ensure that they can meet their daily intake.

#5. Consider A Coat

Most llamas are fine being out in the snow without a coat, but this isn’t the cause for all. If your llama is old or frail or sick or young, one way you can help your llama in winter is through providing them with a coat. Llamas who don’t have a lot of body fat are susceptible to the cold even if they have a naturally thick, woolly coat. For some llamas, coats are a necessity in the winter, while for others, they are fine without them. 

If you have any questions about whether or not your llama needs or could benefit from a coat this winter, contact your local vet and they’ll be able to advise you on the best course of action for you.

#6. Ensure They Have Clean Water

Hydration is essential for everyone, and llamas are no exception. A key way to help your llama in winter is to ensure that they always have access to fresh, clean water. Eating snow won’t keep your llama hydrated, and if water freezes over or is too cold, it can be difficult for them to stay hydrated. Investing in an automatic waterer, like Bar Bar A’s llama waterer, will ensure that your llama has water whenever they need it, so that you can rest assured your llama has access to good water at all times.

Help Your Llama In Winter With Automatic Waterers

Bar Bar A has llama waterers to keep your llama happy and healthy and hydrated all year round. We know how essential clean water is for your llama, and how difficult it can be to make sure that your llama stays hydrated when water freezes over or when it’s difficult for llamas to figure out how to use an automatic waterer. Our llama automatic waterers are easy for llamas to learn how to use and ensure that your llama has access to clean water at a comfortable temperature all year long. To learn more about our automatic waterers, please contact us at Bar Bar A today!

It’s quite common for horse owners to reduce their horse’s exercise during the winter months. With how it is cold and there can be snow and wet, many horse owners opt for turning their horse out instead and return to their exercise routines in the spring. Exercising your horse shouldn’t stop just because the temperature drops, though. 

Why You Should Be Exercising Your Horse In Winter

There are many reasons why you should be exercising your horse in winter. Exercising your horse can help improve your horse’s circulation and distribute nutrients throughout their body. It can also work to stave off winter weight loss, because you are working to maintain their muscle mass. 

Maintaining an exercise routine in the winter months also works to direct the energy cold weather brings on into a productive, safe outlet, as opposed to shenanigans that can lead to injury. It gives your horse something to do and a routine, which keeps them from becoming bored. 

Plus, sticking to an exercise routine ensures that your horse continues to see you as a leader and that they maintain their ground manners. It also prevents the potential struggle of getting your horse back into the routine of regular exercise in the warmer months if you never stopped in the first place.

Tips For Exercising Your Horse In Winter

Dress For The Weather

The cold is a big deterrent to riders during the winter months, especially since a lot of people don’t dress for the cold. Dressing for the weather will make exercising your horse in winter a lot easier, since you won’t get so cold. If you ride English, there are insulated breeches you could invest in. If you ride Western, there are lined jeans. Regardless of your discipline, a warm sweater, jacket, gloves, and socks are a must to stave off numbness and chills. Dressing for the weather is a must for exercising your horse.

Check In With Your Farrier

Your farrier is an expert on your horse’s hooves. When it comes to winter seasons, riding and turnout could mean your horse’s hooves need altered care in order to give them the best traction possible. Your farrier will be able to advise you on any shoeing or trimming changes they recommend based on your horse and your activities in order to keep your horse as sure-footed as possible. 

Spend Extra Time Warming Up

When it’s colder, you need to allot for extra time to warm your horse up in order to prevent injury and strain. Your horse’s muscles and tendons will need extra time to warm up, so make sure you account for that when exercising your horse.

Be Prepared For A Fresh Horse

It’s no secret that colder weather leads to spiked energy levels in horses. You should be prepared to burn off some of that excess energy before getting into your work, either through lunging them or working with them until you feel like they are under control.

Don’t Overheat Your Horse

It’s okay to give your horse a workout, so long as you are mindful of the fact that getting your horse sweaty means that you need to be prepared to spend additional time cooling them down so that they don’t get sick. You don’t want to overheat your horse. Your horse sweating in the cold is no more fun than you sweating in the cold, so bear that in mind, especially with how a thick winter coat will stay sweaty a lot longer than a short summer one.

Groundwork

Even if you don’t ride, groundwork is an excellent way to keep your horse moving and to reinforce their manners. You can do simple exercises defining your personal space, practice leading them around, working on commands, do work on the lunge line, or free lunge. These will all get your horse moving, maintain their manners, and keep them seeing you as a herd leader. 

Spend Extra Time Cooling Down

During the winter months, you’ll want to spend twice as much time cooling your horse down as you usually do. This is because if you put your horse away when they’re still hot, they can get a cold, especially if they sweat. You’ll want to spend time walking them, and then after you dismount, loosen the girth, but don’t take the saddle off immediately. This is so that cold air doesn’t get to your horse’s hot muscles, which could make them cramp. 

You may decide to use a cooler to help cool them out, especially if they take a long time to cool down. You may also want to use a towel or cloth to rub sweat away. After they’ve cooled down and their coat is dry, then you can put them away. 

Groom Before And After Exercise

You want to make sure that you groom your horse both before and after exercise, especially in the winter. This is because you need to put more effort into maintaining your horse’s coat during the winter, since it is thicker, and thus is more difficult to keep clean. It takes more time to groom your horse during the winter, but taking that time is essential to prevent dirt and grime from accumulating on their coat, which can lead to issues over time. Grooming your horse both before and after exercising them will go a long way to keeping them clean and healthy. 

Keep Them Hydrated

Keeping your horse hydrated is essential, especially after exercising them. This can be a challenge in the winter months, because horses are less inclined to want to drink cold water. An automatic waterer like the kind Bar Bar A offers will keep their water at a comfortable temperature all year round, so that your horse can stay hydrated after their exercise. 

Keeping Your Horse Healthy In The Winter

Bar Bar A can help you keep your horse happy and healthy this winter with automatic waterers that provide a constant source of water. Our waterers are made to be temperate all year round, meaning that the water doesn’t overheat in summer and doesn’t freeze in winter. If you’d like to learn more about our automatic waterers, don’t hesitate to contact us today!