News
Miniature Cow Care: What It Really Takes Day to Day
Miniature cow care comes down to five things: real pasture and a dry, three-sided shelter, fencing that's sturdy rather than tall, a forage-first diet of grass and hay, at least...
Fluffy Cow Breeds Explained, From Highlands to Belties
Hi y'all, Katie Van Slyke here! Few animals on the internet have melted more hearts than the fluffy cow breeds taking over everyone's feeds. From our own mini Highland girls...
When to Worm Horses: How We Do It at Running Springs
Most adult horses are dewormed twice a year, once in spring after the last frost and once in fall before the first frost. But the smarter modern approach is to...
Congress vs AQHA World Show: What’s the Difference?
The Congress and the AQHA World Show are not the same event. The All American Quarter Horse Congress is run by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association in Columbus, Ohio, and...
AQHA All-Around Classes: How the Scoring Actually Works
An AQHA all-around class isn't one specific class at all. "All-around" is the title AQHA gives to the horse-and-exhibitor team that racks up the most points across several different classes...
What to Wear to the Quarter Horse Congress: My Outfit Guide
I have been sharing my outfit of the day from the 2026 All American Quarter Horse Congress on my Facebook page, with Day 1 through Day 4 posted so far....
What Is the AQHA Congress? From a Champion Breeder
The All American Quarter Horse Congress, usually just called "the Congress" or "horse Congress," is a month-long Quarter Horse show held every fall at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus,...
Aged Horse Care: A Guide to Keeping Senior Horses Healthy
An aged horse is usually one that's 15 years or older. As horses get older, their teeth wear down, their joints get stiff, and their bodies handle food and weather...
Paddock vs Pasture vs Dry Lot: What's the Difference?
A pasture is a large, grassy grazing area that feeds your animals with live vegetation. A paddock is a smaller enclosed field used for exercise, short turnout, or dividing a...
What Does Progeny Mean in Horses?
In horse breeding, progeny means offspring. A horse's progeny are the sons and daughters it has produced, whether the parent is a stallion or a mare. Breeders look at those...
AQHA Rules Explained: A Beginner-Friendly Guide
AQHA rules are the official guidelines set by the American Quarter Horse Association that govern how Quarter Horses are shown, bred, and registered. They exist to keep competition fair and...
Horse Show Packing List: What I Actually Bring
A solid horse show packing list breaks into four buckets: rider attire, horse tack, grooming and stable supplies, and show-day essentials. Pack your paperwork first, your Coggins certificate, health papers,...
How to Tie & Load a Horse in a Trailer Safely
To tie a horse in a trailer, always load your horse first and close the butt bar or rear door before you ever attach their head. Then secure them with...
Canter vs Gallop: What's the Difference?
I've watched my stallion First Thingz First, Denver, work a clean three-beat lope all the way to Reserve 3-Year-Old Pleasure Versatility Champion at the 2024 AQHA World Show, and the...
What Is a Horse Paddock and Why Is It Important?
We have paddocks all over Running Springs, and turning horses out in them is part of my day, every day. So when I explain what a paddock is, I am...
What Is a Horse Turnout? A Simple Guide to Turning a Horse Out
Turnout is the rhythm my whole farm runs on. With the size of the herd at Running Springs, getting horses out to graze and stretch every day isn't a nice-to-have,...