MIDDLETON PLACE EQUESTRIAN CENTER
  • Home
  • Book your ride
  • Trail Ride Info
  • Horse Shows
  • Contact Us
  • Ship-Ins

Middleton Place Equestrian Center Blog

Deep Cleaning Your Barn

5/19/2020

7 Comments

 
Picture
Due to the current state of things, you may or may or may not have been able to get a start on your barn's spring cleaning. Since the Lowcountry is starting to open up again, it is the perfect time to get started! 

Hello Lowcountry friends and fellow horse lovers! We are so excited because it looks like we will see you back in our barns and back on our trials sooner than many of us thought possible. With that becoming a reality more and more every day, we have started on our barns and stables deep cleaning and have continued to follow safety guidelines to keep our employees safe. We also want to make sure that when you come and visit us again, you'll stay healthy and safe too! Since we are digging into the deep cleaning of our barns and stables and are continuing to sanitize everything, we wanted to share some tips and suggestions on how to give your barn the best deep clean possible! 

If you are are a farmer or a horse owner, deep cleaning and disinfecting has always been apart of your cleaning schedule. Horses are so susceptible to bacteria and germs that are found on all surfaces in a barn and anything they can come in contact with, that it is always important to keep up with a consistent cleaning schedule. When this pandemic set in, the need to clean and sanitize was nothing new to us! Regularly disinfecting your barns and stables have always been important to help with the care and health of your horses. It has always helped with keeping your horses and employees healthy. But, with the world in the state that it is, it's more important than ever. As many of you know, this is hard work. It takes time, and a lot of extra elbow grease to do it well. But it is always worth it. 

When you get started, it's important to move your horses away from the area that you will be cleaning, and relocate them until you're finished. Also, it is important to remove their bedding from their stalls to maximize the deep clean. When cleaning with soap, detergent, and disinfectants of any kind, make sure that you choose based on how it could affect your farm, your animals, and yourself. Always wear the proper clothing and safety gear to keep yourself safe when using chemicals of any kind. 
  • As you're getting started, it's important to remember that you are cleaning more than just your barn and stables. You need to make sure to clean the barn walls, doors, paddocks, fences, and gates. You need to make sure to clean and pay attention to any tools, equipment, farm equipment, vehicles, trailers, down to the very last horse toy. Make sure to go through this process consistently to help avoid the spread of any sickness in your horses, to keep your employees safe, and to help keep the current pandemic away from your farm. 
  • Move any equipment out of the barn and stables that could potentially block the surface space of the barn itself from getting a full deep clean. Move these items outside and to another location where they can be cleaned and disinfected at a different time. 
  • Muck out all of the stables as you normally would, paying extra attention to get everything out. This can be a good time to get rid of all the bedding in your horse's stall. 
  • Now it's time to get out your power washer! Start in the back of your barn and work your way forwards. Start at the top of the walls/ceilings and work your way down to the floor. Push the dirty water towards the drains in your barn. 
  • If your barn has dirt flooring, along with moving or getting rid of your horse's bedding, remove the top layer of dirt as best you can. Go down a few inches if possible. 
  • Once this process has been finished, to help with bacteria coming back due to the use of hard or well water, or possibly using too high of pressure with your power wash, it's time to scrub your stables down. This might seem tedious, but it is very important. 
  • Scrub all of the stables surfaces with water and detergent, and spend the time to rinse everything thoroughly. 
  • Allow the stables to completely dry out. Opening the barn doors and windows will help with this, along with the use of fans. It is very important to let everything dry. This can be the longest part of the process. 
  • Once this has been completed, create a solution of 10% bleach and 90% water and spray each stall with it. Once that has been done, clean each stall and the rest of the barn with the proper disinfectants of your choice. This process allows more bacteria to be cleaned away before the disinfectant is applied. The disinfectant will then be able to kill even more germs. 
  • Make sure you are disinfecting everything from their toys to their feed buckets! While the barn is drying or has been disinfected and is drying, it is the perfect time to work on the barn's accessories and these other objects that need a deep clean just like the barn. Make sure they are cleaned and disinfected before you put them back into the clean barn. 
  • A second round of disinfectant spray doesn't hurt! 

Like we mentioned above, keeping a barn and its horse stalls clean and disinfected takes time and serious work. But, the horse's health and the health of your employees is worth that time. Also know that when you are getting ready to head back out on our trails and to visit our horses again, a deep clean like this has always been normal for us. It is nothing new. It is something that we take very seriously. We have been and will continue to apply these ideas to helmets, saddles, and any other riding gear that is used by our guests and visitors. Remember, once we do get back to normal we offer the best horseback riding in Charleston, the best horse trail riding in Charleston, and more. During this break, take the time to visit all of the pages of our website, and enjoy learning more about Middleton trail rides! We will see you soon!

7 Comments

A Horse of Your Very Own

10/18/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Owning a horse of your very own can be a very special experience and a lifetime goal. Before you decide to take this very large step, make sure you know everything that goes into the process of researching, buying, and owning a horse. 

For many, a dream come true is owning your very own horse. Believe us, we understand that. But, it's not just beautiful fall days filled with glorious rides through your favorite fields and feeding them a few lumps of sugar. There is so much that goes into the purchasing, owning, and caring of a horse. As much as we support the decision, we stress that it's not for everyone. Please take the time to consider this blog as you are deciding to or thinking about buying your very first horse. 

Think about it this way. Treat buying a horse like you would any big investment. You must take the time to research, understand the strategies of buying a horse and talk with those who have had serious experiences of their own when buying horses. You don't want to make the mistake of buying a horse that's wrong for you, get frustrated, and then give up on the horse and the dream of owning one. As much as you love them, buying a horse isn't the correct path for everyone. It's a huge emotional, time-consuming, and expensive commitment. 
The Book Work 
  • Be very honest with yourself when it comes to how you will be using your horse and the temperament you will need. Don't take on the challenge of overcoming a wild steed or a young hothead that you can't control. Be honest in the amount of time you can invest in spending with, caring for, training, and riding the horse. These are beautiful living creatures that need constant care. Understand the cost of owning a horse, beyond the purchasing price. Will you have a stable and pastures of your own with all the amenities, staff, veterinarian care, and safety precautions that the horse will need? Will you board the horse? What about the care there and the training they offer? Never go over your budget or underestimate what the horse will cost you. Remember, this is a decision that could stick with you for 10, 20, or even 30 years. Only when you can meet all of these and your requirements should you buy a horse. 
Stick With The Pros
  • If it's your first time buying a horse or even if you're still new to the game, put yourself under the tutelage of an experienced horse person and bring them along with you. Bring them with you when you're looking, when you think you've found the right horse, and when you've made the final choice and are buying. Never buy a horse without seeing it and inspecting it first, and never buy a horse online. The experienced horse person can check the horse over and look for things and see things that you might not know or recognize to look for. They can ask more questions and even some you might not know to ask yet. They can shield you and help you deal with an unpleasant or overly aggressive seller. They can also watch you with a very keen eye as you take the horse for a test ride. They can see if the horse is the best fit for you and if you are the best fit for the horse. 
Do Your Homework 
  • You don't just need to check the paperwork, lineage, passport, veterinarian documents, and the personality of the horse, you need to do just as much extensive research on the seller of the horse too. Ask around in groups of prominent owners and sellers of horses, do research on Google, and try to connect with others who have worked with your potential seller in the past. It's easy to be charmed by a convincing seller and get wrapped up in any fabrication that they can weave. You want to make sure their reputation is accurate and one you can depend on. This way you know that what they have to say about your horse is accurate and that they've treated it well. Also, do your research so you know if you're buying at the appropriate price! 

We love horses, we love owning horses, and we love caring for horses. But we know the work that goes into this every day. We want you to share this magic with us, but be prepared to face the realities too. If it's not quite time for you to own a horse, you know the best place to horseback in South Carolina! Right here at Middleton Equestrian Center! We can't wait to see you on your next ride! 

0 Comments

It's Back in the Saddle (Again!)

9/22/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
One of the most important pieces you'll ever buy when owning a horse is its saddle. But with so many different types of riding, what saddle is right for you? 

When it comes to buying a saddle, it should never be something that you scrimp on. It is an item worth investing in since you'll possibly be spending a lot of time in it and it is a huge part of your safety while riding. But it can be daunting when it comes to buying a saddle knowing and deciding which one is the right one for you. The normal range you'll find on a basic saddle is between $100 and $500, but once it comes to custom saddles and custom needs, it could easily dip into the thousands. But when it comes to comfort and your safety, sometimes adding those extra zeros is worth it. Originally, a horse was ridden without a saddle, which was called bareback riding. Did you know the Chinese were the ones to invent the saddle? 

When you are in the market of buying a saddle, it needs to be fit to your shape, size, and style of riding you plan on doing. Have a saddle master inspect the horse you'll be using the saddle for too. The saddle master will need to know what disciplines the horse will be doing from general riding, to hunting, competition, and so on. There are so many options out there, but we hope this helps you narrow down your options! 
  • General Purpose Saddle
    • This type of saddle is perfect for a beginner or intermediate rider. It can be used for various types of riding and helps a new rider balance well in the saddle. You will find these on farms where they offer trail rides and also at riding schools. These saddles can accommodate so many different people and different levels of knowledge. 
 
  • Kids Saddle 
    • These saddles are used for young children riding small ponies. They are a very lightweight saddle and allows a young rider to be balanced in the seat and stay balanced. This saddle offers a handle they can easily grab onto and use for balance. These saddles are also made to fit a wide range of ponies. 
 
  • Australian Stock Saddle
    • This saddle is one of the most popular saddles for riders that spend a lot of time in the saddle and plan on doing all kinds of disciplines. It has a deeper seat, with a higher pommel that comes with a horn. It also has extra padding for the knees too. There is padding under the seat and an additional form of safety with an over girt strap. It comes with long ions to support your legs and feet which is perfect for long trail rides, too. 

There are Western saddles, which are used by actual cowboys. There are sidesaddles which were designed to keep women ladylike while riding in the middle ages. Other saddles include dressing saddles, jumping saddles, hunting saddles, and racing saddles. There are also certain saddles made specifically for long hours in the saddle and are a little more expensive than your basic saddles. Some of these include the Abetta Saddle, the Allegheny Mountain Trail Saddle, and the Tex Tan Saddle. 

We promise that it is worth the time to research your saddle and taking the time to find the perfect fit. You should invest just as much time researching a saddle as you would a car, a house, and anything that would keep you safe and comfortable. The next time you visit us for a day of trail riding, ask your trail leader about the styles and types of saddles found in our barns. They will be impressed with your knowledge of what you learned here today! 
1 Comment

What Makes a Stable

9/2/2019

5 Comments

 
Picture
When you come to visit us at Middleton to enjoy our beautiful land, take a ride on one of our majestic horses, and to enjoy the beauty of the Lowcountry have you ever wondered what makes up a perfect horse stable? 

We pride ourselves on having the best horses in the Lowcountry and the best trails to enjoy the Lowcountry in a unique and beautiful way. But we are also very proud of the stables that our incredible employees that keep our stables immaculate and our horses happy and healthy. But have you ever thought what exactly you need to keep a stable functioning and up to everyday work? Some of these items might not surprise you, but some of them just might! 

A lot of what you need to have a functioning horse stable is very practical and might already be found around the house. A lot of it is inexpensive and will make life a lot easier. The current collection of items in your stable will keep you organized, help keep a cleaner barn, and keep you and your horses safe. Our employees make it look so easy!  

When you are getting ready to build or create your own horse stable avoid getting stressed and think about categorizing what you need into four different categories. 
  1. Horse Barn and Stable Supplies 
  2. Horse Arena Supplies OR Trail Riding Supplies 
  3. Horse Staff Supplies 
  4. Tack Room Supplies 


The list of items below is what we recommend you always have around, especially if you are a first-time stable owner! 

1. Contact List 
Make sure you have all of your important contacts where you can find them. This includes your Veterinarian, back up Veterinarian, Equine Dentist, Farrier (someone who trims and shoes horses' hooves), transport in case of an accident, and all the numbers of your employees. Also, having a list of handy places that deliver food to your area doesn't hurt either. Caring for horses and their well being means long hours, and you will need to eat too! 

2. Mini Fridge 
This might sound weird, but it's not used for what you think. A lot of medication and supplements that your horses might and will be taking throughout their lifetime need to be stored in a refrigerator. Keeping it on hand and close to your horses is best. 

3. Coffee Grinder
Again, this isn't used for what you think. Your horses might have issues swallowing large pills or supplements. You can grind them in the coffee grinder and add the powder to your horse's food or water. You can also turn the powder into a paste and use a syringe to put it into your horse's mouth. 

4. Basic Medical Supplies 
Even if you aren't a vet or have a vet on staff, it is always important to have basic medical supplies and equipment on hand. Accidents happen and sickness can occur. A vet might not be readily available or close if your barn is in a very rural place. As you are stocking your barn in preparation check in with your veterinarian for the best suggestions for your store of supplies. 

5. Hand Sanitizer 
This can be more beneficial than soap and water. It can be readily available and carried on your person no matter what a day at the barn could bring. From the birth of foals to trail rides, your hands will be clean. 

6. Baby Wipes
Everyone who owns or keeps a horse strives to keep them clean, groomed, and show ready. But try as anyone might, horses get dirty. Keep these on hand to wipe out basic dirt and gunk from your horse's eyes, muzzles, nostrils, ears and for touch-ups all over their bodies. 

7. Wide Barn Aisles
This architectural choice isn't just for you and the horses to use but also for tractors and vehicles to get in and out of the barn. Also, have large entrance doors into the horse's stalls ready to handle whatever mood the horse might be in when transporting them on or off these vehicles. 

8, Non-Slip Floors 
This is a safety precaution for you, all barn employees, and those visiting the barn. Never have standing water around your horses either! 

9. A Well-Stocked and Well prepared Tack Room 
A Tack Room is something that every stable should have. This room will store all of the "stuff" you will use to care for the horses that aren't already needed in their stalls. But some barns use it for storage of their trophies and other awards. 
​

10. Bedding 
This doesn't mean blankets and pillows for your horse, even though they will wear blankets during cold weather to keep them warm, they will need bedding on the floor of their stalls all year round. The most common material to use is hay and shavings but you can also use wood pellets, paper, moss, hemp, and stall mats! 

The next time you come to visit us for a ride at Middleton, take a moment to really see what makes up the stable around you and all the hard workers keeping it clean and fun for you! 
5 Comments

    Author

    Middleton Place Team

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019

    Categories

    All
    2026
    Adopting A Horse
    American Quarter Horse
    Anna Sewell
    Authentic
    Barn
    Barn Care
    Belmont Stakes
    Belmont Stakes 2020
    Best Horseback Riding In Charleston
    Best Horseback Trails In Charleston
    Best Horse Trail Riding In Charleston
    Bits
    Black Beauty
    Blessing Of The Hounds
    Boarding Your Horse
    Board Your Horse At Middleton Place Equestrian Center
    Board Your Horse With Middleton Place Equestrian Center
    Bob Baffert
    Buffalo Bill Cody
    Burmese
    Buying A Horse
    Caring For Your Horses In The Winter
    Caring For Your Horse's Mane
    Caring For Your Horse's Tail
    Chariot Racing
    Charleston
    Christmas And Your Horse
    Chuckwagon Racing
    Clean Your Barn
    Cold Weather Care
    Corolla Wild Horses
    Covid 19
    Cowboy Mounted Shooting
    Deep Clean Your Barn
    Dennis And Cindy Thompson
    Derby
    Ecosystem
    Equestrian Sports
    Famous Horse Races
    Famous Horses
    Feed Bags
    Fox Hunting
    Green Energy
    Gypsy Vanner
    Gypsy Vanner Horse
    Halters
    Hippogriff
    Historic Horseback Riding Trails
    Historic Trail Ride
    Historic Trail Rides
    History Of Sidesaddle
    History Of The American Quarter Horse
    Holidays
    Holidays And Horses
    Hong Kong Derby
    Horse
    Horse Adoption
    Horse Agility
    Horseback Charleston
    Horseback Riding
    Horseback Riding Charleston South Carolina
    Horseback Riding In Charleston
    Horseback Riding Safety
    Horseback Riding South Carolina
    Horseback Riding Trail
    Horseback Trail
    Horse Boarding
    Horse Boarding In South Carolina
    Horse Boarding South Carolina
    Horse Care
    Horse Facts
    Horse History
    Horse In Winter
    Horse Knowledge
    Horse Mane
    Horse Ownership
    Horse Pulling
    Horse Racing
    Horses
    Horses And Thanksgiving
    Horses And Thanksgiving 2020
    Horses At Middleton Place Equestrian Center
    Horses In The Wintertime
    Horses In Winter
    Horse Sports
    Horse Supplies
    Horse Tail
    Horse Tracks
    Horse Trail Charleston
    Horse Trail Ride Charleston
    Horse Trail Rides Charleston
    Horse Trail Riding Charleston
    Horse Trainging
    Hurricane
    Hurricane Prep
    Hurricane Preparedness
    Jousting
    Keeneland Race Course
    Kentucky Derby 2020
    Know Your Horse
    Lexington Race Track
    Mane
    Man O' War
    Marguerite Henry
    Meydan UAE
    Middleton Place Equestrian Center
    Middleton Place Horses
    Middleton Trail Rides
    Misty Of Chincoteague
    Mounted Horseback Archery
    Movie Horses
    Mr. Ed
    Mythical Horses
    National Pony Express
    Natural Disaster
    Nature
    North Carolina
    Owning A Horse
    Pandemic
    Pegasus
    Preakness Stakes
    Preakness Stakes 2020
    Quarter Horse
    Quarter Mile Run Horse
    Queen Elizabeth
    Race
    Racing Victoria
    Renewable Energy
    Research Your Horse
    Resources
    Riding Horses In Charleston
    Riding Horses In Charleston South Carolina
    Riding Sidesaddle
    Roy Rogers
    Saddle
    Saddle Bags
    Sanitizing Your Barn
    SC
    Scurry Driving
    Seabiscut
    Seattle Slew
    Secretariat
    Sidesaddle
    Sidesaddle Riding
    South Carolina
    Stable
    Stable Care
    Steeplechase
    Steven Farley
    Sunland Park
    Tack Room
    Tail
    Thankful For Our Horses
    Thanksgiving 2020
    Thanksgiving With Your Horses
    The Black Stallion
    The Dubai World Cup
    The Grand National
    The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society
    The Kentucky Derby
    The Louisiana Derby
    The Outerbanks
    The Pony Express
    Tiz The Law
    Trail Rides Charleston
    Trail Riding Etiquette
    Trigger The Horse
    Triple Crown
    TV Horses
    Types Of Saddle
    Unicorns
    Walter Farley
    Why We Are Thankful For Our Horses
    Why We Love Horses
    Wild West
    Wild West Shows
    Winter For Horses
    Year Of The Horse
    Zodiac

    RSS Feed

4280 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414
​middletonplaceequestriancenter@outlook.com
​
843-735-0709
Please also visit: Middleton Place  | The Inn at Middleton Place 
Picture
Site powered by MadeSimply
  • Home
  • Book your ride
  • Trail Ride Info
  • Horse Shows
  • Contact Us
  • Ship-Ins