Mud Season Hacks for Horse Owners - The 10-Minute Tack-Up

In this episode of the Horse Radio Network's 10-Minute Tack-Up, hosts Alex Beckstead and Julia Naberlon tackle the seasonal challenge of mud in horse ownership, particularly relevant during late winter and early spring transitions. Drawing from their personal experiences—Alex’s 15 years managing horses in the Kentucky and Ohio Valley region, and Julia’s current struggle with unusually heavy rainfall in Florida—they share practical, often humorous, strategies for managing muddy paddocks, trails, and barn areas. The conversation covers both quick fixes like using sand, wood chips, and rubber mats, as well as long-term solutions such as installing crushed gravel bases, interlocking plastic mud grids, and French drains. They also discuss the importance of horse safety, warning against black walnut wood chips due to the risk of founder, and offer creative, low-effort hacks like using dedicated mud towels, hosing horses down daily, and even stashing multiple pairs of waterproof boots around the farm. The hosts emphasize that while some solutions require significant labor and investment, others are simple behavioral or grooming adjustments that can make a big difference in daily horse care during mud season.