In episode 2 of Stall and Stable West, Tara Tibbetts talks about how her barn setup in north Texas is a multi-tasking, home barn that can accommodate much of what horses need. From stalls that are big enough for her show hunter princess Coco, to run-outs that are ideal for rehab (did you know that horse’s often hurt themselves?) and fencing that has proven safe and effective in the region for decades. Get to know Tara better, how her background influences the way she keeps her horses, and perhaps some inspiration for your own backyard barn. Listen in!
“I’d rather get something of super high quality done in a day with a few horses than a little bit done with a lot of horses.”
The way we keep horses is changing. As technology and research discover more things about horses that help us humans understand their needs better, our farms, barns, and methods need to shift a bit in order to leverage this new information so we keep our horses happy and sound far longer than in another time in history.
Positive reinforcement training is more than just shaping behaviors – it’s rooted in the principle that our work with horses must center around what is best for the horse. Today’s guest is Jessie Hillegas, warmblood breeder, R+ trainer, and owner of Edgewood Stable in Williamsport, PA. Jessie is also a driving force behind Shawna Karrasch Equine – the gold standard in positive reinforcement training for horses. Helena and Jessie talk about how Jessie keeps her high-level horses safe and happy while still ensuring their innate needs as horses are met. Listen in!
Investing in your farm is usually a multi-step process that often happens after your business has been up and running for a while. But finding the cash reserves to buy that manure spreader, run-in sheds for your pastures, upgrade your fencing, or install new footing in your arena, is a real challenge for most small business owners. That’s where #microloans come in. Today’s guest is financing expert and Stall and Stable consultant, Buck Harris. Buck and Helena explain the SBA’s microloan program, the pros and cons of the program, and what these loans are best used for. Think footing, fencing, equipment, marketing, and even staff…so listen in!!
America is a BIG country. Keeping horses in New England is not the same as keeping horses in Texas or California, or Montana. There are best practices and baselines wherever you live, of course, but we’d be silly not to talk about ideas for happy horsekeeping in specific areas of this big country of ours. So, we’re adding a new series called Stall and Stable West, featuring Horse Radio Network host, foxhunter, hunter/jumper competitor, and horsekeeper extraordinaire, Tara Tibbets. Listen in to find out what this series is all about and perhaps learn a thing or two about horsekeeping in the West!
The topic of value in a boarding barn has been coming up a lot lately. What makes a place worth a certain amount and, outside of the cost to the proprietor, what should influence what one charges for board? Beauty is the eye of the beholder, of course, but there are certain, definable features that make boarding facilities attractive to horse owners. In this episode, Helena talks with pro rider, 3* eventer, and business owner, Bevin O’Reilly Dugan, proprietor of O’Reilly Equestrian in southern VT. Bevin and Helena discuss features of boarding barns that provide the most value. Listen in!
