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Blog By Nikki Alvin-Smith

The appeal of a historic style barn with a shiny copper cupola, a horsey weathervane atop and the traditional board and batten siding is a beloved sight to most horse owners. When it comes time for a new barn build it is surprising how much traditional barn features are embraced, despite all the new siding and ventilation options available on the market.

How did board and batten begin anyway? Board and batten...

Blog By Nikki Alvin-Smith

Donkeys, mules and ‘mini’ versions of all things equine make wonderful pets and are extremely popular. These wee beasties can thrive with a simple set up such as a small pasture with a run-in shed and supply of fresh water, grass and/or hay.  But there are times when a horse barn would like to provide a mini horse haven for both equus and their human caregivers.

Just because your horse size is a scaled down...

Blog By Nikki Alvin-Smith

Your dream has been realized and your new barn purchase has gone smoothly. The crew just left after promptly assembling your splendid modular barn and setting everything fair, in readiness for your new horse to arrive. It is an exciting time and you await your horse’s arrival with keen anticipation.

Here is a recipe to successfully introduce your new horse to his new barn. You want everything to go as smoothly as possible. The early days of your relationship with your new horse is the perfect time to build a solid foundation of...

Blog By Emma Bishop

Many homeowners are spending more time in the outdoor areas of their home and property. Outdoor living is becoming a major selling point for many households as people want to enjoy nature while in the comfort of their backyard. Making your outdoor living space accessible and relaxing during every season is essential to creating an area that will work all year long. Check out the benefits of these outdoor patio structures and ways to extend your patio season year-round:

Add a Pergola

Creating a barrier between...

Blog By Nikki Alvin-Smith

As most of us are under some budget constraints when it comes to barn building there are many good reasons and great places you can cut costs in design of your new stabling project.

However, there are many areas where cutting costs can result in much heartache down the road. Here are a few areas where you should not compromise. There is no point in saving dollars now to spend...

Blog By Nikki Alvin-Smith

When you think about adding a residential or commercial dog kennel to your property you are probably thinking about having a safe and secure place for your canines to reside while you are elsewhere. That’s a smart move, not just for their safety but also for the safety of your neighbors’ pets and livestock.

In today’s litigious world,...

Blog By Nikki Alvin-Smith

Growing up as a horse mad child in England I certainly spent an inordinate amount of time in stable yards and around horses. We called our equine abodes stables not stalls, and more times than not these were built of brick and mortar. The traditional stable had a Dutch door, and the yard usually comprised of a line of stables all of the same size with a feed or storage room tagged on the end. Sometimes the stables were set in a square with a courtyard in the middle and sometimes they were set in an L-shape.

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Blog By Nikki Alvin-Smith

Here are a few tips on how to map out your farm and the location of the various buildings, to provide the best usability of your horse farm.

Clean Slate

If you haven’t purchased the land and you have the means to pick an ideal site, then hunt down a square or rectangular piece of property, with a decent amount of road frontage for visibility if you plan a business. Look at soil types....

Blog By Nikki Alvin-Smith

Sometimes when you start a journey you know the destination you have in mind but need help reaching it.  And that help may require asking complete strangers for help.  Trusting that they will guide you to the right place.

Many years ago, I was visiting Denmark with a friend on the hunt for her next dressage horse. While I had much experience with taking clients to the huge elite Oldenburg and Hanoverian auctions and to renowned horse breeders’ farms in Germany to buy horses, this was my first visit to Denmark. I must say I love...