Best Horse Farms

While ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats can be bitten by mosquitoes, it's the horses on the farm that have the greater threat of disease from these insects. A great incentive for mosquito control arrived in the U.S. in 1999 in the form of West...

Be sure to use polymer-coated wires or wires woven into polymer tape or rope. If you're planning on adding horses to the ever-expanding list of animals on your farm, you've probably discovered that building a fence for your farm horses isn't a simple...

They don't have many disadvantages, but the ones they do have need to be taken into consideration. Harnesses: Different farming goals may require different harnesses. In Draft Horses and Mules: Harnessing Equine Power for Farm & Show (Storey, 2008), authors...

If the child is already taking lessons: Consider getting a lease or a partial-lease of a horse. Many people with children in their lives carry the image of a puppy under the Christmas tree wearing a floppy, red bow.

A lighter pair will help save your strength. Once you've got the trees cleared, you might think that the job is done, but unfortunately, that's not the case. When this happens, it's time to bring in heavy machinery! A regular lawnmower or a hand-pushed...

Comfrey Comfrey is a prolific and useful perennial plant. Sudangrass Sudangrass is an excellent cover crop because it's fast-growing and produces ample organic matter for the soil.

On my farm, the boundaries are clearly marked by mature trees (and also by rock piles left over from clearing the fields), so finding the original edges of the fields is the easy part.

If it's too hot, add a little cold water until it is the right temperature.In regions were winter stays very cold for months on end, shelter is very important. We stay inside, or bundle up to brave the elements, but our pets and livestock need some assistance...

Every certifier is a little different, but in my experience they all respect the certification of the Organic Materials Review Institute or those that meet the National Organic Program standards.

Plugging into an inlet, which allows electricity to bypass the breakers and prevents wires from overheating, can also damage sensitive appliances and the house's electricity. It's always a good idea to keep a generator on your farm in the case of an emergency,...

Along with the body, another fine tool that serves us dutifully is the brain. Working with horses will probably require protective boots and long pants. Harvesting pinons in the high desert necessitates more sun protection than foraging for mushrooms...

What recourse does the horse owner have if he does take action? Good! Boarding is a necessary service and a grand way for horsey folk to earn a part-time living. To quash escapes or injuries, safe fences are a must: stout plank, pipe, anti-climb woven...

Whether you plant an acre in a day or in a year is up to you. The slope is home to coneflowers, autumn sedum, phlox and rudbeckia. Changes can be made as quickly or slowly as it fits your situation and your comfort level.

However, when you consider the benefits they offer your health—allowing you to stretch and twist and build up muscle—they offer more than environmental sustainability; they might be your ticket to an overall healthier lifestyle.

In case you're not familiar with this tool, a staple gun (such as this one ) is a small, handheld device that operates in a way similar to an ordinary household stapler, except that a staple gun is significantly more powerful.

With the bumpers in place, the panels fit perfectly over the pipe, and when lowered to the surface of the workbench below, they're held securely in place. Instead of permanent hinges, I opted for hanging a pipe that would retain the panels, yet allow...

Before you make the investment in an anvil, consider possible uses. << More Shop Talk >> Tags anvil , blacksmith , farm tools , Jim Ruen For those who are intrigued by the idea of having their own working anvil , there are multiple other options, including...

Make sure replacement parts, especially seals and gaskets, are available, and follow directions when storing extras to maintain their flexibility. If possible, try the sprayer before you buy it.

From pruning branches to removing sapling trees and even cutting up the smaller sections of fallen trees, my pruning loppers have served me well by cutting literally thousands and thousands of trees and branches, helping me keep my farm looking manicured...

Keep your eyes safe and never walk off without your goggles. If you have trees on your farm—or better yet, a wooded area on the edge of your fields—you might be amazed at how rapidly you can upgrade the appearance of your trees by pruning off their...

Brent makes a really good point on quality. Brent pointed out that tool-buying decisions should include buying the best-quality tools you can afford. As I look ahead, a really high-quality hand saw looks increasingly worthwhile.

On windy days I've used a digging bar (which is very heavy) as a “paperweight” to keep tarps from blowing away. Allow me to explain. Snow is surprisingly heavy, particularly when it's wet from melting on a warm day.

Whereas small wheels are more likely to slip or get caught up in rough terrain, a large wheel is easier to properly maneuver in tricky conditions. On my farm, one unusual item left behind by the previous owner (or perhaps by a couple of previous owners)...

The wires are thick—they're multiple wires twisted together—and I wouldn't dare try to cut through them with wire cutters. In essence, wire cutters and bolt cutters have similar purposes—they're both designed to cut through metal.

I know I will buy other new tools, like the sabre saw I recently picked up, but they will be tools I need at the time. What was I doing? I am a rough-cut tool guy, not a fine-cabinet maker or post-and-beam builder! I nail and screw and glue things together...

It seemed to be defying the laws of gravity and the rules of physics. Because of the uneven nature of the slope, there were spots where the ground fell away beneath the bottom wire.

A typical aerator is a rolling device with a row of specially designed spikes that rotate and penetrate the soil as the machine travels across your yard. If you take pride in your lawn and want to keep it as healthy and vibrant as possible , you might...