I don't know how many of you are from the Northeast, but it's been raining here in Maine all month. Really. The weatherman says that out of the 30 days in June, it has rained 24 of them. We are all water-logged. The pastures are swamps, the riding arena is under water, mud everywhere, even the horses are agitated. And it doesn't look good for the start of July. Our riding season started in June, but the riders have only ridden a couple of times. Our children's day camp is starting

Yes, I too know the feeling. I also lease, but Annie and I have been together so long she may as well be mine. I work at the barn she's at, so I get to see her 5-6 days a week, but I only get to ride when the weather is nice and it's been raining for 3 weeks with only a day or two break! It's driving me (and the horses) nuts, we just got rid of the snow (I'm in Maine) and I still can't ride!

I also agree with everyone about your mare. I would listen to your vet before the barn manager. Some people think horses should be heavier so they look "healthy" when in fact, adding weight unneccesarily could lead to health issues in the future. As for the hay stretcher, we use it at the barn I work at. We use it mainly in the winter where the horses aren't getting pasture like they do in the summer. We only have 2 horses that get it year-round, Spicey who is 40 years old (acts 10

Is there anything more relaxing than drinking your coffee on the porch and watching the horses do their horsey-things in the pasture? I could sit there for hours just watching them graze and play. But then I guess nothing would ever get done!! I love this time of year. Since most of the horses are out now (when it isn't raining) there are less stalls to clean and more time to just enjoy life on a horse farm! Our riding season didn't get off good, it's been raining here and some of our

Event Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009 The last Saturday in September. Come watch over 100 riders from all over the state of Maine compete for ribbons and braggin' rights! Events include English and Western Equitation, Trail and Horsemanship, and our new events, Barrel Racing and Team Relay. This is our 12th year and it gets bigger and better every year! The show kicks off and 9 a.m. with the Parade of Athletes and Torch Lighting Ceremony.

I don't believe there is such a thing as untrainable. With enough patience and love you can find success. Maybe the trainer has a different method of training or maybe he just gave up, I don't know, but I wouldn't just give up yet. I also don't think him being gelded at 12 is the problem. We actually have a gelding at our barn, Chance, who was also gelded at 12 and he's the most "bomb-proof" horse we have. I swear we could put a baby on him, and we take him to Special

Well another riding season has started and it's alot busier at the farm! We started last Monday with our Olympic riders. We have switched a few horses too. We "trade" our older, retired horses with friends with younger horses whose owners want them to be used. Saturday we got Blossom back. She is a small pony mule that we use in our children's day camp. The kids absolutley adore her( as does everybody else!) and she brings laughter to all every time she brays! As I said, we've

Annie

Annie and I headin' out for a ride

I agree that proper fencing could have prevented your horse from getting out, but for the biting, it could be a one time thing, especially if she has never done it before. I don't know what kind of barn your horse is at, but we never ever allow kids to go into the pastures to catch horses, not even their own, because anything could happen and we don't want anyone getting hurt. You said that your horse may be going into heat, has she shown any bad behavior before? We have 2 mares that are