Flies are a familiar seasonal frustration, but for horses, they’re more than just a nuisance—they can lead to constant tail swishing, foot stomping, head tossing, and skin twitching. Beyond being irritating, flying insects such as gnats, midges, mosquitoes, horse flies, deer flies, black flies, face flies, and stable flies pose real threats to equine health by causing skin conditions and transmitting serious diseases.

Across the globe, people are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact, and for horse owners, this includes making their barns more sustainable. Going green doesn’t just help the planet—it can also lead to significant cost savings, whether you’re outfitting an eco-friendly barn or simply making small, impactful changes.

As property values increase and everyday equine management expenses go up, keeping horses on your own property is becoming more costly. All across Canada, horse and property owners are undertaking myriad activities to make money from their farms and acreages without operating commercial boarding stables or becoming professional coaches. While every potentially money-making activity has benefits and drawbacks depending on the property’s size, layout, and infrastructure, as well as the owner’s interests and talents, there are many options for creating additional income. By implementing a few of the 24 innovative ideas summarized below, owners can start earning additional income from their property to help pay the bills.

Are you considering the best way to create the perfect barn to house your horses? Should you construct an entirely new building, or make over an existing structure? There are pros and cons to each option depending on your particular situation, but in many cases even a radical renovation may be preferable to the stress, expense, and time commitment of a new construction project.