August 2023 Issue

Page 16 August 2023 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Cold weather is coming, and a timber frame barn can be an affordable option for stabling your horses. For a custom barn combining top quality materials, high quality construction, attention to detail and a customer-first attitude, look to Double S Construction. The compa- ny, based in New Providence, south- ern Lancaster County, PAhas built custom barns, arenas and garages for numerous happy customers . Double S Construction also builds run-in sheds and barns connected to fencing and pastures. This makes it easy for the horse because he can easily find shelter from the elements and happily go out to graze on pasture on his own! Double S’s professionals start with a pencil sketch, incor- porating your thoughts and ideas into the stable of your dreams. From there plans progress to blueprints. In addition to con- structing your new building, Dou- This Fall, Build a Custom Pole Building from Double S Construction ble S Construction will do the foundation and pour the concrete slab as well. Because timber frame barns can be made in a variety of sizes, you'll have room for multiple stalls and tack rooms. Awide vari- ety of customizable options means you'll be able to care for your four- legged friends in a comfortable and user-friendly environment. Wish you could exercise your horse in any type of weather? With an indoor barn riding arena, you'll have plenty of room to work your horse, rain or shine. Their custom buildings offer plenty of design flexibility in addition to many customizable features. Stop wasting rainy days. Imagine a new riding arena and timber frame barn with Double S Construction today. Double S Construction builds every building like it was their own. For a free estimate visit double-s-construction.com or phone (717) 823-1693. By Joy Beam Yoder, King’s AgriSeeds Tall fescue, often saddled with a negative connotation, deserves a second chance as a premiere equine hay. Tall Fescue is known widely for a low-cost old variety named Kentucky 31. A fungus, called an endophyte, that lives within the plant causes miscarriages in mares and decreased weight gain in cattle. Although Kentucky 31 is still sold on the market, plant- ing it is highly cautioned against despite its appealing low price. However, other tall fescues are safe for horses while offering many benefits for hay produc- tion. New varieties are endophyte free tall fescues with no fungus counterpart. There are also tall fescues with beneficial, or ‘friend- ly’, endophytes. This means that the endophyte fungus provides all of the benefits, including drought and heat tolerance as well as Is Tall Fescue Still Bad for Horses? overall hardiness, while having no negative side effects to horses or cattle. This is a huge benefit for hay producers as they will see higher yields and greater longevity. This advantage can lead to a greater sup- ply of hay on the market and great- er market stability which is also an advantage for the hay buyer. There are many safe tall fescues on the market, however, it is still good to knowwhat you are buying. There can be a large difference in texture and palatability between tall fescues. Some are soft leafed while some are coarser. Rest assured though that if your hay comes from seed sourced fromKing’sAgri- Seeds, the hay is safe for horses. King’sAgriSeeds does not carry any harmful tall fescues. In fact, a num- ber of the tall fescues in the King’s AgriSeeds lineup are currently being used for horse hay production with great customer satisfaction. If you haven’t yet tried tall fescue hay, give it a try. You may be surprised at what your horse tells you!