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Horses are an expensive hobby (read The Real Cost of Owning a Horse to see how much I spend on my horses each month). No matter what percentage of my budget my horses use, I am happy I have them. They keep me sane, they keep me active, and most important, they keep me grounded in reality.  I spent 16 years in Montana where wages were low and cost of living was high, so I became an expert at finding ways outside of my regular job to fund my horse habit. These three side hustles are the most lucrative ways I boost my income.

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Valentine’s Day is just a week away. When it comes to gifts, I tend to prefer practical over romantic, and something for my horse habit is always appreciated. Here are eight Valentine’s Day gift ideas for the equestrian in your life.

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The groundhog says that this year will see an early spring, so that means that riding season starts soon! If your horse has had the winter off, he may need some supplements with his feed along with the Eight Week Plan to Condition Your Horse to get back to his best riding condition. These are the four supplements your horse needs to look and feel his best this spring.

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My high-energy farm dogs crave routine. Lefty, my one-year-old heeler, and Sadie, my 12-year-old Australian Shepherd, are both very smart, and if we get off our routine, they are prone to anxiety. (See How to Live with High-Energy Farm Dogs Without Losing Your Mind for all of my tricks for keeping them mentally and physically stimulated – and myself sane!) Rylee, my six-year-old Dalmatian, is more laid back, but she participates in our evening routine too.

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At my Tucson horse boarding facility, I can ride year-round, but I spent 16 years in the frozen white North of Montana, and I know how excited I was to start riding again after the snow was off the ground (in April…or May…or June). While it’s tempting to jump right into event-specific training, after a long break your horse needs conditioning to reach his peak fitness level, whether you are competing or riding for pleasure. Taking the time to properly condition your horse is your best prevention against injuries and creates a fit, willing partner for your riding season (bonus: you get fit as well!)
 
This is the fitness plan I used each Spring with my horses for eight weeks before we start working on the skills we need in the show ring.

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When Okie was younger, she was a very easy keeper. Now, she is 19 and I notice that she cannot maintain her body weight on her old diet. She does not quite fall into the “hard keeper” category yet, but her dietary needs have definitely changed.
 
Feeding a hard keeper is very different than feeding the easy keeper. Every horse is an individual and needs his diet tailored to his specific needs, but these guidelines will help you create a plan to get your horse back to a healthy weight.

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Are you ready to change your life and uplevel your business in just 30 days?
 
This year, I’m putting a huge focus on IMPLEMENTATION at High Plains Arena.   
 
We live in a world with so much information right at our fingertips.  
 
Almost anything we need to know is literally a few clicks away...right? 

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My two mares have middle-of-the-road metabolisms. They are not easy keepers, but they maintain good body condition with quality hay and grain. My Tucson horse boarding facility recently welcomed a new boarder who definitely falls into the easy keeper category, so his owner and I are coming up with a nutrition plan that will help him lose the extra weight while getting fit and healthy.
 
Feeding any easy keeper is very different than feeding a hard keeper. If you have an easy keeper, these tips will help your horse lose the extra weight while meeting his protein, mineral, and vitamin requirements for optimal health.

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I rarely set New Year’s resolutions, but every year I make a vision board so that I have a visual representation of what I want my life to look like one year from now. I am a very visual person, and I’ve found that a vision board really keeps me on track, heading towards my ideal lifestyle.
 
This year my vision board is geared more towards my business, but you can also use one to set your riding goals for the next 12 months. These are the steps I use to create my vision board. I print out two copies and keep one in the front page of my Live Whale Planner, and the other on the wall above my desk.

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Once you understand the basics of working from home, if you decide that telecommuting is for you, the next challenge is finding a legitimate job. I have worked from home since February 2016 for several companies. Finding a legitimate job is hard, but not impossible. Here’s how to avoid the scams and find a job that suits your equestrian lifestyle.