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The HorseBook Blog

Tips, guides, and insights for modern horse management

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Farrier Record Keeping for a Whole Book of Horses (2026 Guide)

What a farrier record should capture for every horse in the book — visit date, trim or shoes, who did the work, cost per head, and the next cycle date. A guide to equine record keeping for hoof care across a full string, and the point where the paper book gives out.

11 min read
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HorseBook vs. BreedWise: Which Is Right for You? (2026)

An honest, side-by-side look at HorseBook and BreedWise — a free offline breeding logbook and a full operation record system. Who each one is built for, what they cost, and the difference that decides it.

10 min read
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Mare Compatibility Notes: The Part of the Stallion Book That Lives in Your Head

Every stallion owner keeps a mental list of which mares cross well with their stud — and which ones they'd pass on. HorseBook's mare compatibility notes put that list in the stallion book: a card per mare with a rating, the cross history, temperament and genetic notes, and your recommend-or-pass call.

3 min read
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A Mare's Season in HorseBook: Heat Checks to a Foal on the Ground

How HorseBook keeps a mare's whole breeding season — heat cycles, the cover, pregnancy checks with the ultrasound photos attached, progesterone courses, the foaling window on your calendar, and the foal's own record when it's over. On every plan, iPhone and web.

4 min read
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What's New in HorseBook: The Summer Catch-Up (1.1.6 through 1.1.11)

Six HorseBook updates shipped since the last roundup: the Breeder plan and the full stallion book, deeper mare and foaling records, one-tap Done on reminders, real push notifications for the morning digest, and a long list of everyday fixes. Here's the tour.

5 min read
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Horse Vaccination Record Apps: Where to Keep Shots, Coggins, and Vet History (2026)

Looking for a horse vaccination record app? An honest comparison of the ways to keep your horse's shot records, Coggins, and vet history — horse-specific apps, compliance tools, and free pet trackers — from the folks who make one of them.

12 min read
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Foal Registration Paperwork: The Breeder Side, Start to Finish (2026 Guide)

The paperwork chain that turns a foal you bred into a registered horse — the stallion breeding report, mare ownership at foaling, foal photos and markings, the DNA parentage kit, and filing before the deadline. A record-keeping guide for breeders. Updated for 2026.

11 min read
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Introducing the Breeder Plan: Booking Bookkeeping for Stallion Owners

The Breeder plan is the stallion side of HorseBook — the full stallion book (bookings, collections, shipments, the season summary) plus a billing toolkit: fee schedules with deposit and balance parts, your own payment links, one-tap mark-paid, and read-only invoices you share with mare owners. It never touches your money. Here's what it does and who it's for.

6 min read
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The Stallion Book: What to Keep on File Every Breeding Season (2026 Guide)

A record-keeping guide for stallion owners — the mare book, breeding contracts, the collection and shipment log, deposit and balance bookkeeping per booking, live foal guarantee tracking, and the end-of-season report to your registry. Updated for 2026.

10 min read
How to Keep a Barn Farrier Schedule for Multiple Horses
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How to Keep a Barn Farrier Schedule for Multiple Horses

When the farrier trims a whole string on one visit, tracking it horse-by-horse is backwards. Here's how to keep a single farrier schedule for a group of horses — one date, one reminder, one 'done' — instead of juggling a wall calendar and a dozen phone alarms.

5 min read
Horse Brand Inspection Paperwork, State by State (2026 Guide)
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Horse Brand Inspection Paperwork, State by State (2026 Guide)

Which states require a horse brand inspection, when you need one, what it costs, and the lifetime travel permit that saves you from doing it over and over. A plain-English, state-by-state guide for western horse owners and haulers.

14 min read
What Documents You Need for a Horse Insurance Claim
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What Documents You Need for a Horse Insurance Claim

When you have to file a mortality or major-medical claim on a horse, the paperwork you kept beforehand decides how it goes. Here's the documentation insurers typically ask for — and how to have it ready before you need it.

6 min read
How to Make a Horse Sale Packet (Printable Records for a Buyer)
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How to Make a Horse Sale Packet (Printable Records for a Buyer)

A serious buyer wants to see the horse's history — vaccines, Coggins, breeding, the works. Here's how to hand them one clean printout instead of a shoebox of paper, straight from the records you've already been keeping.

4 min read
HorseBook on Android: No App Store, Because the Web App Is the App
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HorseBook on Android: No App Store, Because the Web App Is the App

There's no HorseBook app in the Play Store, and that's on purpose. This week the web app got good enough on a phone to be the real thing: add it to your Android home screen, turn on morning reminders, and keep every horse record in your pocket. Here's how to set it up.

7 min read
Lost Your Horse's Registration Papers? How to Replace Them
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Lost Your Horse's Registration Papers? How to Replace Them

Registration papers get lost in a move, a barn fire, or a shoebox nobody can find. Here's how to request a duplicate from the major breed registries — and how to make sure you never have to do it again.

6 min read
How to Keep Records for a Horse You Don't Own
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How to Keep Records for a Horse You Don't Own

Boarders, half-leases, a client's mare in for the season — plenty of the horses you keep records on aren't yours. Here's how to track a horse you don't own without your list pretending it belongs to you, and keep the real owner's info attached to it.

4 min read
Care Plans: Schedule the Farrier for the Whole Group, Not One Horse at a Time
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Care Plans: Schedule the Farrier for the Whole Group, Not One Horse at a Time

The farrier comes on one day and trims eight horses. So why would you schedule that eight times? HorseBook's care plans put a whole group of horses on one recurring schedule — farrier, deworming, dental — with one reminder and one 'done' when the visit happens.

5 min read
How HorseBook Tells You What's Due: The Morning Reminder
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How HorseBook Tells You What's Due: The Morning Reminder

A records app only helps if it reminds you before the deadline, not after. Here's how HorseBook's morning reminder works — a once-a-day summary of what's due, on your phone or in your inbox, and nothing on the days there's nothing to do.

5 min read
Riding & Training Logs: Keeping a Record of the Work, Not Just the Vet Bills
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Riding & Training Logs: Keeping a Record of the Work, Not Just the Vet Bills

Most horse apps track the paperwork. HorseBook also tracks the work — every ride, lesson, and groundwork session, logged in about twenty seconds, with an on-device voice memo option and a plain-English summary of how much a horse has actually been doing.

5 min read
What's New in HorseBook 1.1.5: Locations, Outside Horses, Archiving, and Herd Reports
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What's New in HorseBook 1.1.5: Locations, Outside Horses, Archiving, and Herd Reports

HorseBook 1.1.5 adds the stuff you need once you're past a couple of horses at one barn: farm locations, tracking horses you don't own, archiving the ones that sell, and PDF herd reports and sale packets. Here's what landed and how to use it.

8 min read
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The Best Way to Scan and Organize Your Horse Papers (2026)

Stop retyping vet bills and digging for Coggins papers. Here is how to scan your horse documents — registration, vet bills, Coggins, health certificates — into one organized place, and how AI can fill in the record for you.

6 min read
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Best Apps for Tracking Mare Breeding Cycles & Foaling (2026)

What horse breeders actually need to track — heat cycles, breeding dates, pregnancy checks, and foaling — and an honest look at the apps that help, from full breeding suites to single-purpose trackers.

7 min read
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The Best Horse Record Keeping Apps for 2026 (Honest Comparison)

An honest map of the horse record keeping apps for 2026 — what each one is actually built for, who it fits, and what it costs, from the folks who make one of them.

9 min read
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What's the Best Way to Keep Track of Horse Records? (2026 Guide)

A plain-English guide to horse record keeping — what to track, paper vs. spreadsheet vs. app, and how to keep equine records current without a pile of data entry.

5 min read
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Coggins vs. Health Certificate: What's the Difference? (2026)

A Coggins test and a health certificate are not the same thing — and for most interstate travel you need both. Here's what each one is, how long it lasts, and when you need it.

7 min read
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HorseBook vs. Barncat: Which Is Right for You? (2026)

An honest, side-by-side look at HorseBook and Barncat — two owner-first iPhone apps that take very different approaches to keeping a horse. Here is which one fits you.

7 min read
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HorseBook vs. CRIO: Which Is Right for You? (2026)

An honest, side-by-side look at HorseBook and CRIO Online — who each one is built for, what they cost, and the differences that decide it for most people.

8 min read
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HorseBook vs. Equilab: Which Is Right for You? (2026)

An honest look at HorseBook and Equilab — two apps that solve different problems. One tracks your rides; the other keeps your horse's records. Here's which you need.

7 min read
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HorseBook vs. equineGenie: Which Is Right for You? (2026)

An honest, side-by-side look at HorseBook and equineGenie — who each one is built for, how they run, what they cost, and the big difference that decides it for most people.

8 min read
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HorseBook vs. EquiTrace: Which Is Right for You? (2026)

An honest look at HorseBook and EquiTrace — two apps aimed at different jobs. One is horse-ID and health tech for farms and vets; the other keeps an owner or breeder’s records. Here is which you need.

7 min read
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HorseBook vs. My Cheval: Which Is Right for You? (2026)

An honest, side-by-side look at HorseBook and My Cheval — who each one is built for, what they cost, and the differences that decide it for most people.

7 min read
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HorseBook vs. Stable Secretary: Which Is Right for You? (2026)

An honest, side-by-side look at HorseBook and Stable Secretary — who each one is built for, what they cost, and the one big difference that decides it for most people.

6 min read
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How Long Should You Keep Horse Records? (2026 Guide)

Which horse records to keep for life, which to keep for a few years, and which you can let go. A plain-English retention guide for owners, breeders, and barns.

6 min read
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Horse Emergency Preparedness: Documents That Get Your Horse Back (2026 Guide)

What paperwork and records you need prepared before an emergency — evacuation documents, proof of ownership, identification photos, and why digital backups matter more than you think. Updated for 2026.

8 min read
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Foaling Records and Mare Tracking: Breeding to Birth (2026 Guide)

A practical guide to mare reproductive tracking — heat cycles, pregnancy monitoring, foaling records, neonatal care documentation, and the details experienced breeders wish they had recorded from the start. Updated for 2026.

11 min read
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Horse Breeding Documentation: What to Record at Every Stage (2026 Guide)

A practical guide to breeding records — heat cycles, ultrasounds, breeding dates, semen evaluation, stallion contracts, foaling records, and registry requirements. Updated for 2026.

10 min read
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Horse Registration by Breed: Side-by-Side Registry Comparison (2026 Guide)

Compare registration requirements, fees, DNA rules, and transfer processes across AQHA, APHA, Jockey Club, Appaloosa, Arabian, and other major breed registries. Updated for 2026.

9 min read
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Horse Show Document Checklist by Discipline (2026 Guide)

Every document you need for horse shows and competitions — Coggins, health certificates, vaccination records, USEF/FEI/AQHA/APHA requirements, and brand inspections. Updated for 2026.

7 min read
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Horse Vaccination Schedule: Core & Risk-Based Vaccines by Age (2026 Guide)

The complete guide to equine vaccinations — AAEP core and risk-based vaccines, foal schedules, competition requirements, deworming, and how to keep it all organized. Updated for 2026.

10 min read
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How to Organize Horse Health Records (A Complete Guide)

Learn how to organize your horse's health records, from vaccination histories to farrier schedules. Practical tips for keeping everything accessible when you need it most.

6 min read
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Welcome to the HorseBook Blog

Introducing the HorseBook blog — your new go-to resource for horse management tips, record-keeping best practices, and product updates.

2 min read
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What Does It Really Cost to Own a Horse in 2026?

A breakdown of actual horse ownership costs — board, feed, vet, farrier, and the expenses nobody warns you about. Real numbers from real horse owners.

6 min read
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Digital vs. Paper Horse Records: Which Is Right for Your Barn?

An honest comparison of paper binders, spreadsheets, and horse record apps. Pros, cons, and when to make the switch to digital.

7 min read
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Equine Veterinary Records: What to Track and Why It Matters (2026 Guide)

A practical guide to the veterinary records every horse owner should keep — what to track for each category, why specific details matter, and how to make the records actually useful. Updated for 2026.

10 min read
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Buying or Selling a Horse: Every Document You Need (2026 Guide)

The complete checklist of paperwork for buying or selling a horse — bill of sale, registration transfer, pre-purchase exam, Coggins, health records, and what most people forget. Updated for 2026.

12 min read
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Interstate Horse Transport Documents: State-by-State Requirements (2026 Guide)

Every document you need to haul horses across state lines — health certificates, Coggins, brand inspections, entry permits, and a state-by-state quick reference table. Updated for 2026.

13 min read
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Coggins Test: What It Is, Cost, Validity by State (2026 Guide)

What a Coggins test is, why your horse needs one, how much it costs, how long results are valid by state, and what to do if you lose your paperwork. Updated for 2026.

11 min read