Property and Facilities

Riding Arenas and Training Yards

February 2019

An all-weather surfaced area for training and exercising horses can be very useful, many would say essential on a horse property. It all depends on what you do with your horses. Here are some considerations and tips to help you decide and plan a suitable arena or training yard for your situation. They should be seen as a guide, because you will also need advice from local earthworks experts. Planning

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Fence

February 2019

From a practical and safety point of view, boundary and internal fencing are the most obvious structures that require attention when laying out your property to meet the needs of your horses (and potentially other animals). When you start exploring what type of fencing you should consider for your property you will find that fences are much like horse supplements... There are hundreds of different options you could choose from! And, just like supplements, some of those fences are totally not suited or required for your horses.

Too Much Grass? Not Enough? Here's How to Manage

December 2018

If you graze horses in Australia you will be used to living that old saying... “it never rains but it pours”. While some areas are still experiencing the effects of a devastating drought, in past few weeks, rain has been falling heavily in more coastal regions, sparking the grass into life. After going through a long dry period, the plants will be very high in sugars and starches until they have time to recover properly. Horses will desperately gorge on the available green pick and this is when many cases of laminitis occur. Here are the grazing tips that will help you manage.

Grass Farming in the Snowy Mountains

November 2018

All over the world, more and more horse owners are embracing the principles taught by Jane and Stuart Myers through their Equiculture Responsible Horse Owners Resource, successfully implementing them in their own properties and situations.

Safer Fencing: Quick Guide

November 2018

Good safe fences are essential on a horse property. As well as helping to keep horses secured within its boundaries, fences protect certain areas and maintain boundaries between a property and neighbours or a property and public roads. Good fences also reduce the chance of accidents. They help you sleep at night knowing that your animals are safely confined on the property. Good fences are also aesthetically pleasing and increase the value of the property. Fence types

A Grass Farmers Best Kept Secret: The Equicentral System

October 2018

If you still think managing your horses and your land responsibly is difficult and expensive hard work, think again! All over the world, more and more horse owners are embracing the principles taught by Jane and Stuart Myers through their Equiculture Responsible Horse Owners Resource, successfully implementing them in their own properties and situations.

Grass Farmers: Managing Horse Properties in Drought

August 2018

During drought, fibre, essential for horses, becomes very expensive and difficult to obtain. All you can do in very dry conditions is damage control. Any improvements to your land need to take place during the good times to ensure your land is better able to handle the drought and will make a better recovery when the drought breaks. When it’s dry... Dry conditions are often coupled with hot weather or drying winds that increasingly dehydrate the plants so they shatter and eventually die if grazing animals are allowed to overgraze them during this time.

July Grass Farmers: When in Drought...

July 2018

With much of eastern Australia experiencing drought, in this issue, we bring you the inspiring story of grass farmer Karen Budds, who together with her partner, Scott Hug, has been able to turn the negative of a situation that we cannot control into a positive action plan that will see them, their land and their horses weather this difficult time. This is Karen’s story

Increasing Vegetation on Horse Properties: Part 2

June 2018

Horse properties should be biodiverse havens containing many different species of vegetation other than pasture. You should aim to grow herbs, succulents, bushes and trees in as many areas as possible for the huge benefits they provide. As well as for your horses, this has the added bonus of transforming your horse property into an environmental asset. In this article, Jane and Stuart Myers explain the benefits, and give practical advice on placement and plant selection.