Inside the Equestrian Property

In this episode of Inside the Equestrian Property, Lindsay Hunter sits down with Kelly Munro, Founder and CEO of Light Equine Innovations, creators of Lighthoof, to talk about why mud is more than a drainage problem—and how stable footing can support equine welfare, protect propertyinvestments, and create safer all-weather turnout.

What we cover:

• Why drainage alone doesn’t solve mud—and how hoof pressure, soil saturation, and the “plunger effect” create unstable footing

• The connection between footing and equine welfare, from hoof and joint health to traction, movement, stress, and a horse’s sense of safety

• Why architects, builders, and owners should consider mud management during the initial design and construction process rather than treating it as a future maintenance problem

• How to identify and prioritize high-traffic problem areas, including stall runs, gates, shelters, feeders, and water areas, without necessarily stabilizing an entire property

• Designing outdoor spaces around the way horses actually live—including all-weather turnout, pasture rotation, dry lots, and the importance of giving horses safe footing

About Kelly Munro:

Kelly Munro is the Founder and CEO of Light Equine Innovations, creators of Lighthoof, a geocell mud management product designed and patented specificallyfor horses. Kelly brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience in equine facility management, along with certifications in mud and manure control and paddock design. Since launching Lighthoof in 2012, she has helped horse owners across the country create safe, attractive, mud-free paddocks, stall runs, and gate areas.

Connect with Kelly Munro:

Website: www.lighthoof.com

Instagram: @lightequine

Facebook: /lighthoof

Inside the Equestrian Property is the podcast for everyone who touches an equestrian property — the architects, designers, builders, landscape architects, realtors, manufacturers, and vendors who shape these spaces, andthe owners who live and work in them. Hosted by Lindsay Hunter, founder of Luxury Equestrian Network and equestrian interior designer with over 20 years of experience.

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🌐Join the Luxury Equestrian Network at www.luxuryequestriannetwork.com — the community for everyone who touches an equestrian property.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this conversation is a recommendation or endorsement of any product, service, or company. Always do your own research and due diligence before hiring anyone or making decisions about your property.

For decades, horses have largely been fed according to human schedules—two or three meals a day—despite being biologically designed to consume forage throughout much of the day. In this episode of Inside the Equestrian Property, Lindsay Hunter sits down with Nordic AutoFeed co-Founder Ashton Shura to explore what happens when we rethink feeding as part of the design and management of the equestrian property itself. The conversation looks at how feeding frequency and forage access can affect equine health, including ulcers, colic, metabolic health, stress, and performance—but also horse behavior. When horses spend long periods without forage, boredom and frustration can show up as chewing, pawing, kicking, weaving, and other behaviors that can take a toll not only on the horse, but on the barn around them. For owners investing significantly in custom stalls, fencing, flooring, stall mattresses, and other premium materials, designing around natural equine behavior may also help protect that investment. We also discuss how automated feeding technology can support more natural feeding patterns without replacing good horsemanship, and why feeding systems should be considered during the earliest stages of barn planning rather than added as an afterthought.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. Why traditional feeding schedules don't necessarily align with equine biology

2. The relationship between forage access, ulcers, colic, metabolic health, and performance

3. How feeding practices can influence boredom, stress, chewing, pawing, and other destructive behaviors

4. The connection between horse welfare and protecting stalls, fencing, flooring, and other barn materials

5. Common misconceptions about slow feeding and automated forage systems

6. How technology can support—not replace—good horsemanship

7. What architects, builders, barn designers, and owners should consider when incorporating feeding systems into a new facility

8. Electrical and power requirements and what should be planned during construction

9. Retrofitting automated feeding systems into existing barns

10. Backup systems and considerations for power outages

11. How better feeding management can affect labor, staffing, and the day-to-day operation of a property

12. What Nordic AutoFeed believes the next generation of equestrian facilities should be planning for today

Connect with Ashton Shura:

Website: www.nordicautofeed.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nordicautofeed

Inside the Equestrian Property explores the decisions, expertise, and specialized knowledge behind creating environments where horses and humans can thrive. Through conversations with leading equestrian brands and professionals, we look beyond how these properties appear to understand how they should function—and how thoughtful design can support better equine welfare. The show is hosted by Lindsay Hunter, founder of Luxury Equestrian Network, the community built around the idea that every professional and every property owner deserves access to the best minds in the equestrian property space — and that the conversation that makes your next project easier might be one episode away.

In this episode of Inside the Equestrian Property, Lindsay Hunter sits down with Drake Ambrosino at New Energy Works Timber frames, to talk about what goes into designing, fabricating, and raising custom timber frame structures for equestrian properties — and what property owners, architects, and builders need to know before they start.

What we cover:

1. How timber frame construction is tailored to equestrian facilities, from stall spacing and post loads to the unique demands of housing live animals

2. Why budget conversations need to happen at the very beginning of a project — and what goes wrong when they don't

3. Wood species selection for equestrian builds: the tradeoffs between Douglas fir, oak, pine, and reclaimed timber, and why the "less expensive" choice sometimes costs more

4. How New Energy Works handles fire-rated timber construction for high-fire areas, including treatment options and engineering for structural integrity during an emergency

5. The full production timeline from design through fabrication, shipping, and raising — and what builders need to have ready before the crew arrives

Drake Ambrosino has been in construction since 1995 and has spent the last 17 years in design and sales at New Energy Works Timberframes, an employee-owned company founded in 1982 that designs, fabricates, and raises custom timber frame structures nationwide. With facilities in Farmington, New York and Portland, Oregon, New Energy Works serves projects ranging from backyard pergolas to major commercial buildings — and everything in between, including custom equestrian barns and arenas.

Connect with Drake Ambrosino:

Website: www.newenergyworks.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: www.instagram.com/newenergyworks

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drake-ambrosino-15425b2/

Inside the Equestrian Property is the podcast for everyone who touches an equestrian property — the architects, designers, builders, landscape architects, realtors, manufacturers, and vendors who shape these spaces, and the owners who live and work in them. Hosted by Lindsay Hunter, founder of Luxury Equestrian Network and equestrian interior designer with over 20 years of experience.