Minnesota Horse Council

08/22/2025

It's MN State Fair Time. Come visit the Aisle of Breeds in the Horse Barn sponsored by the MN Horse Council and MN Horse Expo. A huge thank you to the horse exhibitors who shared their horses on the Aisle of Breeds including Gary Wagenaar and his donkeys, Susan Munson brought her Clydesdales, Judy Jensen provided a Saddlebred and Karen Clark brought a miniature horse and Appaloosa. A shout out to the volunteers who worked the Aisle of Breeds as well answering questions and talking about the MN Horse Council and MN Horse Expo. A great first day. Be sure to come and check out what breeds are at the Aisle of Breeds throughout the State Fair!

07/30/2025

Here is an event you may want to check out.

07/29/2025

Good advice for equine owners following the storms the last few days.

⛈🐴🌾 After the Storm – Pasture Safety Reminder

The past few days have brought some intense storms across Minnesota—strong winds, heavy rain, and even hail in some areas. While cleaning up, don’t forget to give your horse pastures a thorough check.

Here are a few things to watch for when scouting your pasture:

🌳 Downed or damaged tree limbs. Wilted (not fresh) maple leaves are toxic to horses if they eat 1.5 to 3 pounds of wilted leaves per 1,000 pounds of bodyweight.
🚧 Broken or loose fencing that may cause injury or allow horses to escape.
⚠️ Debris like roofing material, trash, or other loose objects that blew in.
🌧 Floodwaters (actively flowing) or standing water (pooling). Keep horses out of these areas until they dry and you can safely assess fence lines and remove any debris that was underwater.

Floodwater may bring potential contaminants, and affected pastures will need further management.
▪️ Let the soil dry completely or wait at least two weeks after floodwaters have receded—whichever is longer—before turning horses out.
▪️ Mow flood-affected pastures to 3–4 inches and let the cut forage decompose.
▪️ Allow plants to regrow to 6–8 inches before returning horses to graze.

07/20/2025

Mounted Eagles recently received and assembled the bleachers that MN Horse Council providing partial funding for! They will be using these bleachers for the first time on Saturday July 19 for a Fun show which will be held with Jack Pine Stables in Akeley.

07/15/2025

National I Love Horses Day is celebrated on July 15, 2025. This day is dedicated to recognizing and appreciating the beauty and significance of horses in human history and culture. It encourages people to show love for these majestic animals and promote their care and protection.

07/10/2025

Happy Farrier Week! Very hard working individuals who provide a huge service to the equine industry.

A HUGE thank you to all of the hard working Farriers out there. We wish you all a Happy National Farriers Week!

07/08/2025

Aisle of Breeds Volunteers Needed

Volunteer for a 3 1/2 hour shift in the horse barn at the Aisle of Breeds table, talking to people about horses and promoting the MN Horse Expo and MN Horse Council. We'll give you the info you need. Shifts are 8:30-12 noon, noon- 3:30, and 3:30-7PM.

Need 2 people for most shifts. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy the Fair!

Call Trina at 612-729-7798 to sign up!

07/08/2025

MHC Booth at the Buffalo Rodeo in June.

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July!

06/15/2025

Happy Father's Day, everyone.

06/03/2025

Important information for the current weather in MN.

🔥 Wildfire Smoke & Horse Health 🐴💨

As wildfire season heats up, so does the risk of poor air quality — not just for us, but for our horses too. Smoke from wildfires can irritate a horse's respiratory system and cause fatigue, coughing, difficulty breathing, etc.

You can monitor air quality at www.airnow.gov. During periods of poor air quality, you can protect your horse by:
🐎 Limiting exercise
💧 Providing fresh water
💦 Controlling dust such as watering dry lots and soaking or feeding dust-free hay
🕰 Allowing time for recovery: airway damage from wildfire smoke takes 4 to 6 weeks to heal after air quality returns to normal.

05/29/2025

Check out your pastures and areas around your horse for this.