Hill Crest Farm LLC

01/20/2025

Due to the forecasted snowstorm, we are rescheduling our Winter Wonderland Wedding Showcase — the new date is Sunday, February 2nd from 5 – 7pm! We will honor existing tickets from the January 19th date. We can’t wait to see you then! ✨

01/20/2025

Very Cold 🥶 but Beautiful morning.

01/18/2025

We had a spectator today watching lessons until he got too comfortable and fell asleep in a purse: 💗🥰

01/18/2025

It only took 2 years for Rave to not be afraid of the donkeys 🫏
As soon as Rave would see them walking into the barn he would run to the back of his stall and shake and now today he is very interested in seeing them.

01/04/2025

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/22/2024

12/19/2024

Hill Crest Farm in Germansville, Pa is seeking part-time help Friday PM Saturday and Sunday Am shift. A few other shift are also available. Must be 18 years of age or older. Have reliable transportation! This candidate must be self-motivated and be able to work independently, reliable, trustworthy and honest. Must have good communication skills and be a team player. Horse experience is a plus but not necessary.

Duties include but are not limited to feeding, blanketing, haying fields, turnout, stalls, hay, water, putting shavings in stalls, sweeping.

Possible riding opportunities for the right candidate. Potential to work off lesson or board.

Pay will be discussed at interview.

If interested please text or call is 484-221-0363.

12/07/2024

Donkeys are not horses, and they do not have the water shedding hair function that horses do.

Remember, they are adapted to desert life.

Because of this, they need a shelter, etc to stay dry, or they run a very high risk of developing pneumonia.

Trees and shrubs are really not an adequate shelter for these creatures like they might be for horses.

You need to know, a donkey is a very stoic creature. Often you won't see them shivering, even though they are down right miserable.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/phys.org/news/2017-11-donkeys-winter-horses.amp

https://forum.chronofhorse.com/t/new-vet-study-donkeys-need-more-protection-from-winter-than-horses/439901

12/06/2024