Barn Besties

05/29/2026

Barn Besties had an amazing time at the Midwest Horse Fair meeting the talented Renegade Drill Team all the way from Ohio! 🤠🐴

These incredible riders brought speed, precision, teamwork, and nonstop energy to the arena as they competed in the “Thrill of the Drill” competition! This exciting event showcases synchronized riding patterns, horsemanship, music, and teamwork between horse and rider — and the Renegade Drill Team absolutely impressed the crowd! ❤️

Thank you, Renegade Drill Team, for sharing your passion, talent, and dedication with all of us at Midwest Horse Fair!

🎥 Check out the video here:
https://youtu.be/7mAlsylXFBc?si=8I7NrWxj4vXmLaif

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05/28/2026

✨ Barn Besties had the chance to meet Karla Kegley and her stunning stallion, He’s Good as Gold, at the Midwest Horse Fair! ✨

This golden boy definitely turned heads and stole hearts! 💛🐴 We loved getting to chat horses, admire this beautiful stallion, and enjoy all the amazing moments the fair had to offer.

Have you ever met a horse that made you stop in your tracks? 👀✨

🎥 Check out the video here:
https://youtu.be/2OmCwbES82c?si=Knnx-Rf94jzHjJ7t

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05/27/2026

At Midwest Horse Fair, Barn Besties chatted with Amber from spalding-labs.com all about Fly Predators® and natural fly control! 🪰🐴

Let’s talk flies!
How do YOU control flies on your farm? Fly spray? Traps? Fans? Fly sheets? Fly Predators?

Barn Besties highly recommend Fly Predators® for helping reduce fly populations naturally before they hatch! Spalding Labs uses beneficial insects that target pest flies as part of an integrated pest management program.

🎥 Watch our interview here:
https://youtu.be/gdJ0uWNPrl4?si=R-k2_Ohr7VwAZj2J

05/27/2026

Any ideas on how to git rid of these scrubs on my fence line??? What do all of you do to maintain your fence lines?

05/26/2026

🐴✨ Barn Besties meet the Red Rock Riders at the Midwest Horse Fair! ✨🐴

Precision, speed, teamwork, and incredible horsemanship — the Red Rock Riders brought the energy to the arena! 🔥 Watching these talented riders and horses work together was absolutely amazing.

The Barn Besties had so much fun getting to know this incredible drill team and sharing their passion for horses with all of you! ❤️

Check out the video here:
https://youtu.be/K6L6_mKb_PM?si=cepYgAO9zyj4zo99

Have you ever watched a drill team perform live? 👇

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05/26/2026

Do you have barn hours? What are you policies?

Barn staff and trainers understand your desire to want to spend as much time as possible with your horse, April Bilodeau writes. While some barns may have open hours and you may come and go as you please, others may choose to implement barn hours, and for good reason.

You may not think it makes a big difference to come to the barn a half hour earlier than its set “open” time, but consider these few points before pulling up the driveway a little early next time.

Safety: While it may be quiet and peaceful to ride outside of barn hours, a major reason for barns to have set times for riding is to make sure that someone is on property while riders are riding. If something were to happen, whether it be your horse getting loose or you take a fall, who would be able to help you?

Structured Schedules: Most farms have set feeding times, turnout times, a whole daily schedule that the horses get accustomed to. Arriving early may cause anxiety or confusion in horses that expect to be fed upon someone arriving at the barn. Leaving late may disrupt night check schedules by not providing barn management to check on horses at the appropriate time should a horse have to eat late or be cooled out late.

Privacy: Many farm owners live on property, meaning their backyard is a constant flow of people coming and going to visit their horses. It’s important to respect the privacy of the farm owner by visiting during barn hours. Just think how you would be feel about someone being in your backyard at 6am, or 8pm!

If your farm has barn hours that don’t work for your schedule, talk to your trainer, barn manager, or farm owner. Chances are, they are open to being flexible on some days to accommodate your schedule, but in this case it’s better to ask for permission than forgiveness!

📎 Save and share this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2023/05/29/respecting-the-rules-barn-hours/
📸 © Kate Selig

05/25/2026

The Barn Besties chat with Katie of Horse Power Healing Center! 🐴❤️

Check out the video:
https://youtu.be/Nz8z5QSvors?si=XvQnCbRCdDY3HXtI

Horse Power Healing Center began as a dream shared by Linda and Wendy Konichek, who wanted to bring the joy and healing power of horses to those who may not otherwise have access. In 2009, Wendy returned to Eagle, Wisconsin, to help make that dream a reality. Alongside Jodi Olenski, they built the foundation for what would become a place of healing, hope, and growth. The center officially became a non-profit in 2010.

Today, Horse Power Healing Center continues its mission through therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities that create meaningful, life-changing experiences for so many in the community.

One incredible program is Horses for Heroes — dedicated to supporting veterans through connection, healing, and time spent with horses in a welcoming, judgment-free environment on their beautiful 80-acre family-owned farm. 🇺🇸🐎

Join us in supporting this amazing organization by donating, volunteering, or attending one of their events!

Learn more here:
https://www.horsepowerhealingcenter.org/

At Horse Power Healing Center, we are dedicated to empowering individuals through the profound connection with horses. Our vision is to provide a safe and supportive environment where people can heal, hope, and grow. Through our equine-assisted programs, we aim to enhance emotional well-being, build...

05/22/2026

Hay nets… let’s talk about them! 🐴

Who loves them? Who hates them? Why? 👀

Do you use hay nets at your barn? What does your setup look like? Stall nets? Round bale nets? Slow feeders in the paddock?

The Barn Besties met Brian from DIY Slow Feed Hay Nets at the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison! Brian and his wife create DIY hay feeder kits that you can customize for your own farm setup, supplying the hardware you need to build feeders specific to your horses and facility.

Check out the video and hear more about slow feeding and hay net setups! 🎥

https://youtu.be/SK8MHsQP0n4?si=bVm9lY2skpsTYl49

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05/21/2026

This is for equine professionals! What do you want from your business?

Less stress and fewer difficult people to manage

A barn/business that feels rewarding again instead of draining

Financial stability without carrying everything alone

More appreciation for the work you put in

Time to breathe and enjoy horses again

To feel excited instead of exhausted

Sometimes when people keep asking “Should I quit?” or “What do I actually want?” it’s less about wanting to disappear and more about wanting the pressure to stop.

A useful question is:
“If everything worked exactly the way I wanted for one year, what would my days look like?”

Not the title. Not the image. The actual day:

Who’s around?
How many clients?
What kind of students?
What horses?
What hours?
What problems disappear?
What work still feels worth doing?

That answer usually points toward what you actually want — whether that means rebuilding differently, scaling back, changing roles, or walking away from parts that are burning you out.

And it’s okay if the answer right now is simply:
“I want peace.”