Regardless of the size of your facility or how many horses you have, running a barn is a task of great responsibility. When it comes to riding and keeping horses, accidents and injuries are not uncommon, and tragedy can sometimes strike. One of your top priorities should be to keep
everyone safe. Establishing barn rules will help to ensure the safety of riders, horses and boarders.
Horses should be respected for the big animals they are. Everyone should be taught to be sure that the horse has time to adjust to new people coming into the barn or stable area. Barn rules can include behavior you expect from people (e.g., to wear a helmet) or state which behaviors are prohibited (e.g., not to smoke on the property). For obvious reasons, no running, shouting or playing should be allowed in the stable or barn areas. Protect yourself, your horses and your guests by printing out and posting these guidelines in your
barn for visitors.
General Barn Safety
Horse owners need to have strict rules in place for anyone coming to visit them and their horses. Not only will effective rules prevent possible accidents, but they will also make the visitors’ time with a horse more enjoyable.
Barn Entrance and Aisle
Creating a healthy and safe barn environment is a number one priority for all horse lovers. After all, having horses is inherently dangerous so we want to make things as safe as possible. So when it comes to building the right barn for your horses, consider every detail – especially your
aisle. This means that you need to think long and hard about every decision that impacts your horses’ health and safety… and yours as well!
Such high-traffic areas must be wide enough so the horseman and the horse can pass through freely. Make sure the aisles are decluttered so there’s nothing to trip over. Provide a secure environment for you and your companion. As for the aisle width, it should be at least 12 feet
wide to fit two equines and handlers. There should be enough space to move and turn around.
You will also need some area to dodge away in case the horse kicks. The barn height is another crucial step to consider. The ceiling must be high enough to deal with a rearing horse. This will prevent the animal from striking its head. While installing the light bulbs, make sure your horses cannot reach them. You can also set protective cages on the bulbs to prevent them from breaking. Providing enough lighting is especially important when cleaning, grooming, and clipping.
The floor in the barn should be non-slip so the horses and handlers will not slide and fall down. Texturized concrete, which incorporates coarse particles for extra traction, and stall mats placed over slicker surfaces are more cost effective but provide clean durable surfaces. Dirt and stone-dust floors are cheap and safe, but both require maintenance to keep them smooth and dust-free. Rubber pavers and interlocking mats will maintain their shape while offering your barn plenty of traction during wet and dry conditions.
Visibility is also key in the barn – both during the day and nighttime. For this reason, we always recommend agriculturally-rated LED lights along your barn’s aisleway. If you are designing a new barn, tall ceilings, skylights, ample side and overhead lights are all a must. This added
sunlight of skylights not only improves visibility, but also promotes a healthy and clean environment. Inform the riders that mounting horses is not allowed in the barn. Turn the equine out from the facility first before mounting.
Barn Stalls
Providing a safe environment in the stalls is crucial, especially if your equine spends most of its time there. Here are some safety measures to follow in the horse stalls. The size of the horse and the amount of time the horse spends in the stall help determine stall size. Larger horses require more square footage than do smaller ponies to be able to turn around, lie down, and get up comfortably. A 12-foot x 12-foot stall is the standard recommendation for a 1,000-pound horse. Many stables are successful with stalls slightly smaller than this, but walls less than 10 feet in length are not recommended. Generally, the stall wall length is 1 1/2 times the horse’s length. The more time a horse spends in a stall or the more active it is determines if a larger stall size is justified. A divider between two standard stalls may be removed to allow more
space for a mare and foal or a stall-bound horse.
The stall doors can be sliding or swinging. Sliding doors feature easy access, but swinging doors are a more common option. Consider outward swinging doors as they provide more area for stall movement. Inward swinging doors may limit the space for a horse and a handler.
Install door latches that work for horses – meaning they should have no sharp edges. The latches must be secure enough to keep the door closed so the animal will not escape. Do not forget to check the air quality on a regular basis. Urine-soaked bedding and excessive dust could lead to respiratory health issues. Thus, daily stall cleaning is a must. Look for horse-friendly cleaning products to disinfect the facility.
One of the most time-consuming activities of the day, stall cleaning, is a necessary part of barn management. If your horse spends time inside, then be prepared to scoop manure on a daily basis. Check the walls for rusty or loose nails. The same goes for broken boards and mesh. If you notice a potential safety hazard in the stall, fix it immediately.
Barn Maintenance
Caring for a horse is a big responsibility and requires a lot of work and diligence. To do it correctly, there are specific tasks you must perform every day. While these tasks should not take a lot of time to perform, it is crucial that they be done consistently. One way to make sure you
get everything done is to make a complete list of all your equine responsibilities and create a schedule according to which things must be done every day, once a week, once a month and periodically.
Feeding, cleaning, grooming and barn maintenance chores are all part of the day-to-day care of horses. Your horses’ health and well-being will be at risk if you decide to skip these. By completing them on a regular basis, your barn will be a safe spot for your horse to rest and eat
comfortably. Most barn chores are fun because we get to spend more time with our horses. But some of the daily tasks are less glamorous than others, like dumping feces and scrubbing out algae filled water troughs.
Frequent sweeping is absolutely needed and remove the feed leftovers to prevent rodents. These troublemakers could spread diseases and damage the equipment. In addition to rodents, you must deal with bird droppings and nests.
Check if your tools and tack are in safe areas so they cannot hurt handlers and horses. Anything that is sharp or protrudes could catch on equipment or injure a passing horse or person. Stall door latches must retract completely as a projecting latch can cause a serious wound to a passing horse or person. A latch that locks in the fully open position and in the fully shut position is safer than one that can accidentally slip open. Good options are a pin latch that leaves the door opening free of exposed hardware as well as a finger latch, an excellent feature on some custom and prefabricated stalls. For sliding doors, gravity latches are an option. They are covered by the door when it is open and drop automatically to secure the door when it is shut.
Blanket racks and other stall-front fixtures should have rounded edges. Sturdy hooks made of hard rubber are great for hanging halters and lead ropes. Use closed eyehooks and double-ended snaps to hang water and feed buckets rather than open hooks. Better yet, install any of the
rounded bucket brackets on the market. Remember, the bucket itself can be a hazard, as the horse can cut himself or tear out mane on the ends of the metal bail (handle).
Typical hose racks stick out eight inches or more and have sharp metal edges. Options include rounded holders made of tough plastic self-coiling hoses, caddies that retract the hose and can be rolled out of the way, and brackets that coil the hose close to the wall over a larger area.
Fire Safety
As horse owners, we know that the risk of fire is great and terrifying. Preparing horses for a wildfire or barn fire evacuation requires an additional level of planning, preparedness and practice. Having an evacuation plan and practicing that plan increases the potential that your
horses will be able to leave safely if the time ever arrives.
If you have a barn filled with horses, it is essential that you understand how fires start and how to deal with them. But the single most important thing is to be vigilant at all times. Preventing barn fires and being well-prepared to deal with a fire can mean the difference between life and death for your horses. It also allows you and your family to safely leave in a timely manner.
If you store flammable materials in the barn, there is a risk of a fire emergency. Here are essential fire safety tips to prevent barn fire and injuries.
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- No smoking!
- Keep the barn clear of cobwebs
- Keep combustible material out of the barn
- Check electrical wiring frequently. Check for faulty wiring and fix it immediately
- Use anti-chew extension cords and keep them away from horses. Do not use cords with
splices - Do not overload electrical outlets. The number chords plugged in should be equal to the
amount of wall outlet plugs, no more. - Do not leave running devices unattended
- Do not leave gas devices unattended
- Keep a first-aid kit for horses and humans and hang a poster with their location
- Install fire extinguishers near each exit. Make sure they are up to date. Learn about their
types and how to use them properly. - Provide easy access to the water supply outside the barn so the firefighters can reach
them easily. - Post emergency phone numbers
- Post the facility’s physical address and contacts to notify about your location.
- Post an emergency plan.
Additional Safety Tips
Horses are beautiful animals that make great workers, riding partners, and loving companions. One of the most amazing things about them is that, although they are incredibly strong and powerful, they are gentle creatures by nature. That being said, it is important to remember that a horse is capable of serious damage and injury if they’re put in a frightening or uncomfortable situation.
The good news is that if you follow these safety rules below, you’ll be able to work and build a relationship with any horse safely and successfully!
1.) Use Breakaway Crossties
Crossties can be dangerous if a horse panics and is not able to break the ties. Make sure that your crossties have safety snaps or easy-break ties.
2.) Keep Hay and Shavings Away From the Main Barn Whenever Possible
While it may not be realistic for many barn setups, keeping hay and shavings in a separate, dry location away from the horses and close to fire extinguishers.
3.) Dust and Remove Cobwebs Regularly
Much like hay and shavings, dust and cobwebs can act like kindling in the case of a barn fire. Routine dusting can prevent fire from spreading quickly should tragedy ever strike.
4.) Keep First Aid Kits on Hand for Both Horses and Humans
Accidents inevitably happen, but having first aid kits on hand can help you reduce risks and address issues quickly.
5.) Have a Landline Phone In Your Barn
Cell service can often be disrupted and signal in a barn can be non-existent or spotty. For safety reasons, it is a good idea to maintain a landline at your barn.
6.) Check Your Electrical
To prevent electrical risks, make sure that all outlets and switches are recessed with protective covers to keep dust out. If you have conventional light bulbs or light strips, have cages over them for protection.
7.) Keep Barn Aisles Clean and Clear
Debris, clutter and disorganization can spook your horse, increase the risk of injury and lead to other safety hazards. As you embark on your barn cleaning and maintenance, organization should be a regular part of the routine.
8.) Lock Up Any Potentially Hazardous Materials
Any such materials (medications, fly sprays, and cleaning supplies) should be kept locked and out of access by children or pets who could use or swallow them.
9.) Make Needed Repairs Immediately
If you notice a loose fence board, a faulty latch, a protruding nail, or any other potential hazard, act on it quickly, rather than waiting for it to become a larger issue – even if the repair seems like something that could be overlooked for a time.
10.) Post Barn Rules, Emergency Contacts, and Emergency Instructions
All rules should be clearly posted for employees and visitors. It is also advisable to include a list of emergency contacts and instructions in a place where those needing such instructions can easily locate them.
The Castlebrook Difference
Choosing between a stable or barn ultimately comes down to what the purpose of your structure is. If your main concern is the housing of multiple horses, a stable may be your best option. However, if you are looking for a space where you can store equipment as well as house a horse or two, a horse barn will likely be the better choice for your property.
Castlebrook’s barns have a warm, inviting look which adds to the beauty and value of your property. All Castlebrook barns, round pens and round pen covers and designed and manufactured on site at Castlebrook’s facility. That is why we can provide you almost limitless choice of sizes and styles. Castlebrook can manufacture a barn, round pen and cover to suit your exact needs.
Castlebrook never misses a ship date. We are so confident in our on-time guarantee that we are willing to guarantee it — in writing! Castlebrook understands how important it is for your project to go as smoothly as possible. This begins with your structure shipping on the date we’ve promised. Castlebrook knows of absolutely no other barn company offering this guarantee.
Where other companies disappoint, Castlebrook guarantees to be on time, every time!
Please contact our professional team today at 1-800-52-BARNS. We gladly accommodate Saturday appointments.
