News
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,...
Do Horses Need Companions? Why Horses Can't Live Alone
On a farm as full as Running Springs, nobody is ever lonely, and that's completely on purpose. Watching my horses groom each other over the fence, nap nose-to-tail in the...
The Process of Giving Birth in Horses: 3 Foaling Stages
I have sat more foal watches than I can count at Running Springs, and I have watched, filmed, and helped with many births. Foaling is my favorite time of year...
Signs of a Healthy Foal Birth: The First Hours
I have watched a lot of foals take their first wobbly steps at Running Springs, and it never once stops being magical, or a little nerve-wracking. Knowing exactly what "normal"...
Horse Labor Symptoms: Signs Your Mare Is About to Foal
After enough foaling seasons at Running Springs, I have learned to read the little tells, the pacing, the sweat breaking out on the flanks, the way a mare keeps turning...
What Is a Quarter Horse Breed? Origins, Traits & Uses
Every horse in my barn at Running Springs is a registered American Quarter Horse, from our cornerstone stallion VS Code Red to the foals we breed, raise, show, and sell...
Pregnancy in Mares: A Complete Guide from Running Springs
After almost a decade of breeding AQHA Quarter Horses, embryo transfers, ICSI work, and watching every one of my mares carry, I want to give you the full picture in...
Horse Mane 101: Care, Pulling, and Braiding at Running Springs
 I show AQHA all-around and pull, braid, and grow out manes on our own horses at Running Springs every season, so everything here comes from years of actually doing...
What Do Horses Eat? A Beginner's Guide to Feeding
Hi y'all, Katie Van Slyke here, and if there's one question I get asked more than almost any other, it's what do horses eat. Between our broodmares, the new foals, and...
Signs of a Pregnant Mare: How to Tell If a Horse Is Pregnant
I run a Quarter Horse breeding program at Running Springs, and after confirming, tracking, and foaling out mares across many seasons, I have learned the hard way that a mare's...
How to Groom a Horse: Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide
Hi y'all, Katie Van Slyke here! Grooming a horse is one of the very first things you'll learn at the barn, and honestly, it never stops being one of my...
Do Female Highland Cows Have Horns? Male vs. Female Differences Explained
I run a herd of 8 miniature Highland cattle at Running Springs. Everything in this article is sourced from breed authorities or comes from first-hand experience raising and watching them...
How Long Is a Mare Pregnant? Horse Gestation Guide
I run a working Quarter Horse breeding program at Running Springs, where I track every one of my pregnant mares from breeding all the way to foaling, season after season....
How Big Do Mini Highland Cows Get? Size Chart, Weight, and What to Know Before You Buy
I run a herd of 8 miniature Highland cattle at Running Springs, including Poppy, Petunia, and the rest of the "P" crew. Every measurement and recommendation here is sourced or...