A farmstay can be an enjoyable experience for kids and adults alike. Depending on the nature of farms, some specialize in rearing sheep and chickens, while others have cattle, horses, calves and goats. A farmstay provides an abundance of learning activities and memorable hands-on opportunities.

Things to Do at the Farm

You stay can include :

1. Feeding and caring for animals

2. Learning about breeding horses

3. Planting and harvesting organic vegetables

4. Gathering the horses

5. Milking the cows and collecting eggs

6. Feeding out the hay

7. Riding on a tractor

8. Shifting stock

9. Watching sheep dogs at work

10. Learning about haymaking and sheep shearing

11. Making country wines and jam from wild berries

12. Making wild craft from berries, teas, mushrooms, dyes

Other Activities at the Farm

Besides enjoying activities at the farm, your hosts may offer a drive around the farm with a visit to view the animals reared. Your host may also bring you for a farm walk. Some hosts are likely to organize sidetrips for you, guided tours or other fun activities such as scuba diving, trekking, forest walks etc. There are also hosts who are keen to conduct workshops on fun with wool or other simple crafts with materials gathered around the farm.

Accommodation

Depending on the farm, you may be entitled to fully self-contained cottages where you can cook your own meals, while others include a hearty farm breakfast for you. Some farmstays allow you pitch your own tents and have a camping experience. You may wish to find out the facilities and amenities available at the farm. Different rooms may have different bed configurations. Not all rooms come with ensuite facilities; you may have to share the bathroom with other guests. Usually, your hosts will have a check-in time. They may not be able to accommodate early arrivals as they may have to spend the day preparing for your stay. Farmstays do have their own cancellation policy; some require 14 days notice.

Things to Bring

You should pack your shoes and clothes according to the activities of the farm such as bushwalking, horse riding. You may wish to bring along your sunblock, insect repellent, camera, hat and sunglasses.

Things to Note

1. As many of the farms are located in the mountain regions away from the city, it is best to find out how you can get there. Find out from the hosts if they can offer you a pick up or drop off service.

2. You may wish to note if there are any restrictions on pets.

3. Not all farmstays are suitable for children. Do find out their child policy.

4. Take note of the types of animals reared at the farm if your kids are likely to be sensitive to some animals.

5. Find out if there are special activities for the kids.

6. Some farmstays do offer long stay or child discounts.

7. Don’t forget to bring a little gift to thank your hosts for their warm and kind hospitality.

Have a blessed and wonderful vacation.

Is it fact or fiction that only ragweed causes hayfever? Ragweed occurs naturally in several species that grow across the United States. Ragweed pollen can be detected in the air from the middle of July, peaking in early September, and continue high until the first hard frost when the ground freezes. Ragweed is far from being the only culprit that triggers hay fever.

Fact: Pollens from various grasses and trees also play a part in this. Pollen is the plant equivalent of sperm in the animal kingdom. Since pollen is carried by the wind, some of it lands where it can fertilize other plants.

Fact: Weeds generally pollinate in the late summer and fall, trees in the late winter and spring and grasses in the late spring, going into summer.

Fact: Seventy-five percent of the people who suffer from hayfever are allergic to ragweed. Not only is ragweed an irritant, but the pollens from birch, alder, hazel, hornbeam and horse chestnut trees, cause distress. Grasses, such as rye and timothy also release allergenic pollens into the air, along with nettles, members of the sorrel family and the dock family. While this may not be true for everyone, people who are allergic to ragweed pollen may also be allergic to chamomile tea, sunflower seeds, and bananas.

Fact: Mold spores also contribute to the discomfort people experience with hayfever. Allergic reactions to windblown spore are most common from midsummer to early fall. Though basements and other damp rooms in the house can also harbor mold, and be decidedly uncomfortable for anyone who is sensitive to it. Investing in an air filtration system benefits everyone in your home, not just the person who experiences hayfever symptoms.

Fact: Pollen levels tend to be at their highest in the morning, and at their lowest immediately after a rainstorm, as the rain tends to wash the pollens into the ground. If it is possible to wait till late in the morning to leave the house, it is often better to do so. Those times after a good rainstorm, when the air has been washed clean, may be good times to take your walks. Many people have found that wearing Millipore face masks to be helpful when they go outside. Keeping windows in your home and car closed and relying on air conditioners and air filtration systems to keep the air fresh is generally a must, if you are allergic to those pollens.

Fact: Clothes can pick up pollens from the air when they are hung outside on a line to dry. This may cause needless irritation to the person who suffers from these allergies.

Fact: Washing your hands and face frequently may seem pointless when you are trying to protect yourself from air-born pollens and pollutants, but it does help. When you wash your hands regularly, you are less likely to rub pollens into your eyes, which are also sensitive to allergens. Washing your face helps to get rid of any build-up around your eyes and nose.

Fact: Some people have found that applying a thin coat of Vaseline around their eyes and nostrils helps prevent pollens from entering there as easily. And some people have found that wearing wrap-around sunglasses when they are outside also helps to protect their eyes.

Fact: There are nasal sprays and antihistamines to help relieve the symptoms. Over the counter medications are not as strong as the prescription meds, and they are more likely to cause drowsiness than the prescription medications.

Fact: Skin sensitivity or scratch testing is the most accurate way to test for allergic reactions. There is no cure for the common allergies, but allergy shots that help accustom the body’s immune system to the pollens are often helpful.

Springtime. A collective sigh of relief goes up around the country as horses can spend more time turned out. But beware. With the surge of grass growth comes an increased risk of laminitis.

Acute laminitis should be treated as an emergency. Within only a few hours the disease can cause permanent damage to the feet. So, if you think your pony has laminitis, ring the vet straight away. The sooner treatment can be started, the better the chance of limiting the damage.

What are the signs of acute laminitis? Often the first indication is that the pony spends more time standing still in the field. He is reluctant to move, often leaning backwards to take his weight of his front feet.

Obviously it is much better to prevent your pony getting laminitis in the first place. Recently the mechanisms behind pasture -associated laminitis have become a little clearer. But the full story is still not completely understood.

The main culprits appear to be fructans, large carbohydrate molecules used by the grass for storing energy. Horses can not digest fructans. So they pass into the hindgut unchanged, where they are rapidly fermented by bacteria. The gut contents become more acidic, disturbing the balance of bacteria and micro-organisms.

Bacteria that can survive under the acidic conditions increase dramatically in number; those that cannot, die. Potent chemicals are released, which may trigger the laminitis.

So, to reduce the risk of laminitis it is important to limit the intake of fructans. The fructan content of the pasture is influenced by factors such as the amount of sunlight, temperature and stage of growth. Fructans are found in significantly greater amounts in the stem than in the leaves. The amount of fructans present in the grass also varies during the day. Generally there is less at night and early in the morning.

Certain grasses, such as timothy, tend to have larger fructan molecules. These may be fermented more slowly in the hindgut and so may be safer than other grasses.

Some horses and ponies are more susceptible than others to the condition. One pony may be able to gorge himself without developing lamintis; another may go down with the disease at the first taste of grass. Recent research has found a way of identifying those ponies that are likely to develop laminitis. All that is needed is the pony’s condition score, and a simple blood sample. Ask your vet for details (or see http://www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk/plms.htm). There is also some convincing evidence that ponies with laminitis are more likely to come from mares that have themselves had laminitis.

Identifying susceptible ponies allows them to be managed with special care. This may reduce the risk of them developing laminitis.

So what can you do to reduce the risk of laminitis?

Restrict grazing in spring and autumn when the fructan and water soluble carbohydrate levels are high.

Turn horses onto pasture late at night and bring them in before mid-morning, so they are grazing when the fructan content is likely to be lowest.

If you can, choose pasture that is regularly grazed or cut (the grass stems tend to have high fructan content) and contains species such as timothy that produce lower levels of fructans.

Don’t use stubble grazing (i.e. after it has been cut for hay) - because the stems are likely to have a high fructan content.

Don’t turn horses onto pasture that has been exposed to frost and bright sunlight. (The sunlight produces energy, which the grass cannot use for growth because of the cold, and so it is stored as fructan).

Consider using a muzzle to prevent the pony eating too much. Or, if you really cannot control the grass intake any other way, keep the pony in the stable and feed hay with a vitamin/mineral supplement.

Remember that it is so much better to take steps now to prevent laminitis occurring, than to have to treat your horse or pony for this painful disease.

Kissimmee is near Orlando and many people stay there to save money on a trip to Disney World. The area has much more to offer, in addition to affordable accommodations. A Kissimmee guide will help you enjoy all this area has to offer. There are many attractions and opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities and interact with nature.

A Kissimmee Guide to the Great Outdoors

The beautiful climate in Florida allows for outdoor activities all year long. Fishing is a popular activity in this area. Lake Kissimmee is a 35,000 acre lake. This lake is the largest on the Kissimmee River. Lake restoration was done in 1996. The restoration created a better spawning ground and increased the quality of the fishing. Large mouth bass is a popular fish in this lake. There are tournaments held here each year and fish as large as twenty pounds have taken the top prize.

Kissimmee’s Great Outdoor Days are held each year in late October. A three day fishing tournament, the Lake Toho Pro Am is held at this time of year. This is a weekend event with music, activities and other entertainment. The festival is a free event that offers many fun activities for the whole family, even members who don’t enjoy fishing.

Nearby Conservation Village is a great place for kids to learn the importance of conserving our lakes and rivers. There is a stocked pond where children can enjoy fishing. During the Outdoor Days Festival, there are cardboard boat races where the whole family can participate in creating cardboard boats and racing them. During the festival, a classic car show is held. Central Florida car club members exhibit their vehicles. This is open to the public free of charge.

If you want to enjoy nature on your trip, consider visiting the Everglades. You can take an airboat ride to see wildlife up close. Tours are available for a half hour or hour. You will see native plants and wildlife, including alligators on these tours. Bring your camera to get some great pictures of the gators.

Kissimmee Guide to Attractions

If you love gators, consider visiting Gatorland during your stay in Kissimmee. This is a very popular attraction in this area. The park is home to alligators, crocodiles, reptiles and a variety of bird species. There is a 2000 foot boardwalk, where you can walk through the swamp and get a closer look at wildlife. There are alligator nurseries and breeding areas where you will learn about these amazing creatures.

Reptile World is another attraction where your family can see and learn about reptiles. This is the largest exhibit of reptiles in the state. There are shows with snake handlers. During the show, the handler demonstrates extracting venom from cobras and rattlesnakes.

Green Meadows Farm is a great place to spend some quiet and relaxing time with your children. The kids will love learning about the animals and interacting with them. The farm is home to over 300 animals. There is an interactive tour, where every child gets a chance to milk a cow. The farm also offers pony rides and hay rides for guests.

If you love riding horses, consider visiting Horse World Stables. There are 750 acres with trails for riders of every skill level. Guests also get the opportunity to feed and pet the animals in the stables. A game of volleyball or horseshoes will add to the fun of your visit to Horse World. A picnic area is available for you to enjoy a picnic lunch outside.

the first thing that you need is money, then land with good enough hay meadows to even bother with, then a big enough tractor to operate a baler, a baler, rake, sickle (or cutter). A truck, or truck and trailer to haul the hay to barn, or other storage location. truck with trailer to haul horses.

other than that, I do not know… I do not know how to get your name out there, but I would suggest promoting your horses (depending on what type you have) at rodeos, let a good barrel racer use one of your horses for their competition…. I hear that good barrel racing horses can go for pretty good $$$

Several years ago we decided to enter into a free lease agreement with a woman who advertised that her aged horse was bombproof and suitable for an “absolute beginner” This suited us because we were absolute beginners and we wanted an affordable and safe way for our daughter, who was horse crazy, to learn about horses. It seemed perfect. A requirement of the agreement was that he was to be left stabled where he was, so, as we had no where to put a horse anyway it seemed like a perfect situation.
We went over to see the horse and he was beautiful…we fell in love with him (as his crafty owner no doubt knew we would) A deal was made. She threw in the bait and reeled us in good and proper. To begin with it seemed fair enough that we buy the hay…after all our daughter would be learning a lot of valuable information from this experience. As time went by, we were informed that we would have to pay for the dentist and farrier as well (we did)
We were by now, willing to do anything to continue our relationship with this beautiful old ex racehorse. Especially seeing as it wouldn’t be too long before our daughter was able to ride him…well…as soon as he was over his temporary lameness that was. In the mean time, my daughter got to work tirelessly cleaning up after the old fellow (and his owner’s other two horses as well). I know you are probably thinking things like “idiots” “suckers” etc. however, please understand that as beginners we weren’t aware that this wasn’t how it was meant to be. We thought that we owed her a debt of gratitude. We wanted to be a part of the horse world SO much but had neither the funds nor the dwelling nor the experience to even entertain the idea, so we just did what she wanted and for a long time even looked up to her for her knowledge and experience.
As agreed, we were buying the hay (she told us it was $15.00 a bale) We always gave her the money and she picked up the hay. What we didn’t know was that we were also supplying the hay for her other 2 horses as well. She was charging us $15.00 a bale and buying it for $5.00 a bale. Keep in mind that this “free lease” was now costing us around $60.00 per week as she was also charging us $30.00 for stabling (we found out that she had a deal with the property owner and she got a discount because she had 3 horses stabled there…stabling for 3 horses was costing her $30.00 per week…yep we were paying for all her horses…AGAIN.
One morning she called our house to inform us that the hinges on the horse’s stable needed replacing and (like the fools we really were at the time) we went down to the local rural supplies barn and bought lovely strong hinges (another $40.00) and then my husband fitted them. Meanwhile our daughter was still cleaning up poo, cleaning the stables, changing the water daily and still no riding.
We started to become a little suspicious when she wouldn’t allow us to bring anyone to see our horse. She became very insistent that we did not have any conversations with the stable owner either (This was because he didn’t know that we were leasing the horse in the first place…if he did she would not have had her discount on stabling any more) We weren’t allowed to visit at all unless she was present.
Then we decided to buy the hay ourselves one day and discovered what she was doing. It wasn’t long before we had her whole little scam worked out and found out that she’d done it before…in fact she did it all the time. As soon as the victims found out what she was up to and dumped her…she went fishing for a new sucker. Needless to say we learned a harsh lesson and were left feeling ripped off and red faced. As there was no written contract (another mistake) we weren’t obliged to continue and we didn’t.
Looking back on it, several years later and now owning 2 horses of our own, I feel very embarrassed to admit that we were so gullible, but while ever there are inexperienced people out there who are blinded by “horse love” and sly conniving people who are willing to take advantage of them to suit their own needs…I guarantee we won’t be the last. Just take heed, make sure you are aware of all the rules and what will be expected of you AND GET IT IN WRITING. Don’t get caught like us because honestly, there are many people willing to rip you off if you are willing to let them.

My horse is a 17 year old quater horse mare. I ride her at least, well, it's different every day.
She's 15.3hh and there is not that much grass in the pasture, but enough where we need to start feeding her some hay.
I give her a bit of grain every late afternoon.
btw. i know my way with horses.
we were just not sure on how much hay cuz we've always fed them on grass.

My 975 pound TB in medium work gets approximately 8 flakes per day, plus 8 pounds of high fat feed.

It really depends on the horse. Give her hay in the am, when she runs out give her a little more.

i know you'll all probably terribly perplexed about what this could possibly be about… well it's about horses! XD

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Colic is one of the most common horse conditions in which you will need to call your Veterinarian. Colic is not a disease; it is a clinical sign of many possible diseases. Increasing your knowledge of this common condition of horses could save your horse’s life.

Colic means literally a pain in the abdomen. When a horse “colics,” this means that the horse is acting painful, and it appears that the pain is coming from the abdomen.

Horse colic can vary greatly in severity. Some colics will go away with just taking your horse for a walk, but other forms of colic will require surgery, and can be life threatening. So if you think your horse has colic you should contact your Veterinarian immediately.

There are many possible causes of colic in horse. One possible cause of colic could be from a changing diet. The diet could be too high in grain or maybe there is moldy hay in the feed. Another possible cause is when a segment of the horse’s intestine twists in the abdomen, this happens not infrequently in horses. Generally your Veterinarian can diagnose this by ultrasound, palpation, or by use of a stethoscope. To cure this type of colic, surgery is often required. This means you have to take your horse to the Veterinary hospital. Colic surgery in horses is very expensive costing $2,000 at a minimum. Plus the hospitalization is rather extensive too.

Some common treatments for horse colics could include products that relive the pain like analgesics called Banamine or Aspirin. Also, mineral oil is used sometimes if it is thought that extra lubrication in the intestines would help the pain pass. Sometimes in severe cases intestines can rupture which often leads to death. But with proper feeding and care you can prevent most cases of colic.

Often times when calling your Veterinarian about your horse having colic they will often advise you to not let your horse try to lay down and roll over. If they are in pain many horses will try and lay down and roll around on the ground trying to relieve the pain. It is important to prevent this as a horse can do even more damage to themselves in this condition.

A secondary problem often overlooked when horses colic is that lameness could develop. This is a disease of the feet which is also a very common problem of horses.

If you think your horse has colic you should contact your Veterinarian immediately, even if it’s late at night. When your horse has colic minutes and hours count towards finding a resolution to the problem.

Another important thing to be aware of is that some horses are more prone to colic than other ones. This is a question you should ask a horse owner if you are thinking about buying their horse.

By becoming aware of the common disease conditions in horses you can catch them earlier and provide relief earlier. If you have more questions on colic, or think your horse may have colic, be sure to contact your Veterinarian.

I do not have a horse yet; I'm trying to figure out how much money I need to feed a horse. I live in a desert, so I can't have any green pasture.

The rule of thumb for feeding horses is 1 lb of feed for every 100 lbs of body weight. The average 1000 lb trail horse should get 10 lbs of feed daily. If you are feeding exclusively hay, each flake is about 2 lbs, so about 4 flakes daily is adequate. Note if you are feeding any grain, you need to take this into account and decrease the amount of hay accordingly.
So for a week, that'd be about 28 flakes, or close to 2 full bales, depending on what type fo hay you are using and how big the bales are. Note that alfalfa hay weighs much more than grass hays by the flake so you'll need to adjust this a bit.