If you’re a horse owner who has dealt with sweet itch, then you’ll know that there’s nothing sweet about it! Sweet itch, technically known as seasonal recurrent dermatitis, is an allergic reaction to the Culicoides biting midge or “no-see-um” gnats.…
“Toothless Wonder” is my 24-year-old horse Riker’s new nickname after having all 12 of his front incisors removed in 2017. Riker suffered from a relatively new condition known as EOTRH (Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis). This is a very…
Recently I was given the amazing opportunity to attend the Carl Hester clinic at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine, which was hosted by the New England Dressage Association (NEDA). SmartPak received a pair of tickets to the event since…
The last thing that any of us want to hear as horse owners is that our beloved animals need to have surgery. In some instances, it is an emergency situation, such as a colic surgery, in which case there is…
Sometimes we can all use a vacation, and as I recently learned, that can go for our horses too! Over the past few months, my mare Luna has been acting uncharacteristically grumpy and spooky. While she has always been a…
As a longtime SmartPak employee, I am fortunate to get to see so many new, unique and innovative products- by far the hardest part is not buying them all! Below I’ve put together a few of my favorite new products…
As a resident New Englander, we are a pretty hardy bunch, and with the good fortune of having an indoor arena, I usually find myself riding in most of the winter weather, including snow and ice. But my horse has…
Recently, my horse Riker celebrated his 23rd birthday. Now I have to admit, in the nearly 20 years I’ve owned him, I’ve never made a huge deal about birthdays. In fact, I’ve occasionally forgotten to celebrate the day. This year,…
Like many riders, I have numerous favorite horse show memories, but there is one that stands out clearly as both the most humorous and the most memorable. It was August 1996, and my horse Riker and I were competing in…
Respiratory issues can be difficult to diagnose, treat, and manage, but with the right plan you can help your horse breathe easier. In this blog I’ll share my top tips for keeping your horse’s respiratory system healthy and managing issues.…
Let’s face it- moving is rarely fun! And just like for you, moving can be really stressful on your horse. For those of us that board, and even those that keep their horses at home, moving is likely to be…
As any horse owner who has dealt with them can attest to, stifle issues can be tough to diagnose, treat, and manage. In the blog below, I’ll share my top tips for what has helped my horse Luna stay comfortable…
Like many riders, I have to balance barn time with an otherwise full schedule, and it isn’t always easy! Most of us have to manage riding, family, work, and other responsibilities, and it can be challenging to find the time…
I’m not sure about you, but any time I get some extra cash, it’s hard not to spend it all on new gear! While I did set aside some of my tax refund this year for boring things like credit…
Staff Member: Kerri Vuolo Department: Marketing Horse: Riker, 20-year old Appendix Quarter Horse Discipline: Trail Riding I started riding at the age of 10, and by the time I turned 11 I convinced my parents to purchase my first horse,…
