Stall and Stable: Ideas for Happy Horsekeeping – Details, episodes & analysis

In this final episode of the Stall and Stable Show, Helena shares her purpose for wrapping up the podcast with a reading of her graduate school application essay, lots of thank yous, and one last interesting conversation with Stacy from Triple Crown Nutrition. 

Remember, all of the previous Stall and Stable episodes will remain available for download - some for free, others through the Stall and Stable FULL BOARD subscription on Apple Podcasts. 

Many thanks to our wonderful sponsor, AMERICAN STALLS, for making this show possible, and for leading the way in quality and service in the equine industry!

Wendy Murdoch comes back to the show to talk about how equine behavior, environment, and biomechanics work to settle an anxious horse. How does gravity play a role in a confident horse? And what would you do if you were dragged to a bougie party and then dumped by your date? Listen in to this super interesting discussion with one of the industry's most knowledgeable and experienced professionals in biomechanics and behavior!

This episode is brought to you by AMERICAN STALLS, makers of luxury stall components and accessories.

We have a powerhouse episode this week, featuring our monthly Triple Crown Nutrition Spotlight, where we answer questions submitted by listeners about how to best feed their horses. Plus, an exclusive audio excerpt from the life-changing book, HORSE BRAIN, HUMAN BRAIN-The Neuroscience of Horsemanship, by Janet Jones, PhD. 

Yes, listeners, feeding your horse can be fun! And, if you have ever asked yourself, "Why does my horse do that?", you will be so relieved to know that science has some very helpful answers for you... so listen in! 

This episode is possible with the support of AMERICAN STALLS, makers of premium quality stall accessories and components. 

When you finally get your horses home, there is no other feeling like it. Looking out your window and seeing your favorite creatures enjoying life under your care is one of THE most gratifying experiences for a horse lover. 

But there’s a flip side. Happy Horsekeeping isn’t as easy as it sometimes seems. While we can design our barns, yards, and turnout to keep our horses safe, feed them the best hay and grains, and provide a low-stress environment for them, there are times when that’s still not enough. Listen in!

There’s a wonderful surge in horse adoptions this year. Many rescue horses, however, are in poor condition, and that leaves adopters struggling to nurture their horses back to good physical and mental health. Our guest in this episode is Dr. Stacey Boswell, an equine veterinarian whose new book, The Ultimate Guide to Horses in Need, covers the most common issues facing rescued horses, and how we, as caregivers, can best support their return to good health. Listen in!

We're having a conversation about stall doors today. If you're a barn geek like us, every design element in a barn is meaningful, but perhaps none so much as doors, which can be used dozens of times a day. Doors need to be safe, efficient, functionally compatible with your barn's workflow, and of course, handsome.

Join Helena and guest, Nick Thornton of Lucas Equine, as they chat about what goes into choosing the right stall doors for a barn. Whether you're building new or ready to replace what you have, it's an interesting conversation about what kind of thoughts go into this important barn component. Listen in!

What’s so great about boarding? Lots of things, actually! 

Helena chats with return guest, Terry Golson, of the Cooperative Horse today, about Terry's recent move to a new boarding barn that has turned out to be quite the surprise for her and her American Paint Horse, Tonka.

"Terry is one of my favorite people to talk with because she’s not just a horse lover, she’s also an animal behavior expert who’s done amazing things with her own horse, as well as her clients’ horses."

Join Helena and Terry as they explore why boarding can be the ideal situation for some horse owners. Listen in!

In today’s episode, we revisit a favorite book of ours; The Compassionate Equestrian. The book describes 25 principles that compassionate equestrians use as a guide to create healthy and productive relationships with their horses.

As we circle back to the principles of compassion when we work with our horses, this episode’s conversation digs deeper into the concept of reducing drama with your horse (and your barnmates) by checking in with yourself and your ego. Ooooh, listen in! 

In another installment of "Siouxsie and the Solitary Witch", Helena catches listeners up on the first year (and canter!) with her OTTB mare, Siouxsie.

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One of the hardest things to overcome when you work by yourself, and you're a bit of an overachiever, is to stop second-guessing yourself. And lemme tell ya, a Thoroughbred in your back yard will most certainly give you reason to second-guess yourself!

In today’s episode, Helena talks about how one middle-aged mom and backyard horse owner is faring as she works on bringing along a green OTTB mare in the midst of a pandemic. From inside the mare’s stall, to the life that revolves around the little stable just outside the kitchen window. Listen in! 

#BlackLivesMatter means the black community deserves to be heard, embraced, and celebrated, especially in the horse world. We are Equestrians first, whether we’re bay or gray shouldn’t matter, and yet it does. Still.

In an effort to move the dial of racism down to zero, Helena talks with two smart, young women who know a thing or two about horses, podcasting, and grace. Abriana and Caitlin from the Young Black Equestrians podcast explain the origins of their show, what frustrates them as black horse people, and how white people can start to pick up some of the slack and start advocating for our fellow horsemen and women of color. Listen in!