Barn Management
Loads of good articles about some common, and some uncommon, barn management issues.
Plan ahead for less panic
Crispy grass happens, you can be prepared.
Mind your P’s and Q’s
For mind and body
Your horse’s skin and respiratory system will thank you.
They must be able to drink, and sometimes eat hay, too.
Make mucking stalls easier with these tips! From how to position your wheelbarrow, tips for stall mucking tools, and bedding ideas.
93 of the easiest and most helpful barn hacks around. For the equestrian, for horse grooming, barn managment, for horse shows, and even barn hacks for medicating your horse.
Time to clean and disinfect the barn and all of it’s contents – including the leather tack!
A handy list of common barn chores to be done daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.
The many reasons why you should walk and inspect your horse’s pastures!
Some easy things to do for making your horse grooming time much safer in the cross ties.
Some basic types of insurance to carry if you are a horse owner.
Some handy tips for getting your horse’s dry lot ready for winter. Make sure there’s drainage, and food and water are easy to deliver and keep out of mud.
How to easily stay ahead of arena maintenance with a few tips.
How to deal with holes in your horse’s pasture. Pasture holes are a hazard to horses, but you can get rid of them and help stop them from coming back.
Some types of shavings to be used for horse bedding are dangerous, such as black walnut shavings. Other types are less ideal, such as cedar when used indoors.
Ideas on how you can make your horse barn a little safer from a fire.
Just in case you want to save one of your horse’s shoes, I give you some easy things to do to get the rust off and preserve the shoe.
Easy things to check for before you head out on your horse for a ride in the snow. Make sure the footing is safe, your horse is fit, and there are no hidden dangers!
Should your horse eat frosty grass? Is there a colic risk? What about laminitis? Will he get a brain freeze?
Some reasons why, and why not, to add fish to your horse’s trough. It might help with cleaning up algae, and it might more chores.
Easy tips to keep the horse and manure and barn smells out of your car! Mostly…
Tips for keeping your horse safe when decorating the barn for the holidays. No need to get a Vet bill or a visit from the Fire Department.
Ideas on how you can safely transition your horse to grass pasture, and some things to consider as you do.
How to create a budget for your horse habit! Dig deep with a downloadable spreadsheet that you can tailor to your horse’s needs.
Ideas on how you can get your horse’s stuff – tack, supplies, and everything else, organized at the barn.
Tips for keeping your horse’s blankets tidy and mostly clean in the winter. Diligent brushing and careful storage can lengthen the time between horse blanket washings.
It’s fine to borrow a few things from home to use on your horses.
Simple things to consider before you ride your horse, such as the safety of your riding ring! How’s the footing, the lighting, the ventilation?
Options for cleaning the aisle in your horse barn include denial, the broom, and a leaf blower. Which is best for your horse’s lungs?
How you can use zeolites at the barn and home to control odors, soak up ammonia, eliminate pet smells, and more!
Tips for making your horse super comfortable at a horse show. No stress allowed!
A handy list of things that are poisonous to cats, and that your barn cats might get into!
You can use zeolites at the barn to help gain traction on icy or slippery surfaces.
A fabulous listicle of all the reasons you and your horse need an insta-hot kettle at the barn.
Ideas on why you might want to bank the shavings in your horse stall up against the walls.
Ideas on how your horse’s grooming area can be as safe as possible – if you use cross ties or not!
Why you might want to feed your horse his hay first, then his grain. Helps with digestion.
An intro into two types of horse pasture grasses – the cool season and the warm season grasses. Also, how they differ in NSC values.
Learn more about frozen ground, it’s dangers, and what you can do about it. Keep your horse safe from slipping, concussion, bruises, and more that can result from frozen ground.
Some ideas on how to make cold weather chores and horseback riding much more comfortable!
Some things you might find in your horse’s hay – from bugs to animals to weeds. Some fine, some really not fine.
Your new horse needs some stuff – a team, grooming supplies, and medical records in order. Here’s a handy checklist to make sure your unicorn is all set when he arrives!
Keep a box or two of baking soda around to help you clean up the barn.
Behind the scenes of how hay is made. Get to know the mower conditioner, the tedder, and the baling machine.
Simple ways to see if your horse’s stall has it out for your horse. Think of it as how to bubble wrap his stall.
There’s one way to clean up mice and rat droppings at the barn – and it better not be with a broom!
A few ideas on how you may be able to use fewer shavings for your horse – and save some money in the process!
Time to double up on chores and make sure the horse barn and farm are ready for winter!
Tips on getting rid of damp areas, mold and mildew smell in your barn!
Sometimes you can poach your horse stuff for the dog, your cow stuff for your horse, and your barn stuff for the cat!
What to store in the horse barn fridge and freezer!
How to battle poison ivy around the barn, and also maybe goats.
Horses are expensive – but you can save some dollars here and there! Ideas to get you rolling.
Getting back to basics – clean your horse’s stall the best way with the best tools!
Sometimes you can combine errands and get a lot of your horse shopping done at the grocery store. Many barn supplies, like cleaning supplies, are more affordable at the grocery store.
No horse wants to lick ice to get water. Help your dude out by using tried and true tested bucket warming techniques.
Ideas on how to bust your horse’s boredom when the winter days are full of bad weather and limited turn out!
I’m not a fan of creepy crawlies anyway, but the barn is no place for cobwebs and spiders!
A touchy subject, but one that can be handled with care and anonymity. Learn how you can report illegal substances in show horses!
I will stop at nothing to make the case for having a goat. Turns out, they are great companions and pasture cleaner-uppers, too.
Some great reasons to use compressed hay bales and hay cubes for your horse!
Why your horse should (or should not) eat with a bit in his mouth!
Ideas on what makes a good feed store for your horse, versus one that is “meh”.
You will need more than a map to cross state lines with your horse! Get a coggins and a travel certificate as well before you hit the road.
Ideas on why fly traps may be great for your horse barn, and how to make your own fly traps!
Sometimes you are stuck at the barn overnight – some ideas on how to make the best of it!
The scoop on acorns, horses, and what to do if your horse binge eats a bunch of acorns.
What you can do about bird nests in the barn, and why you may want to consider discouraging birds from living in the barn! There is a risk of some disease being passed from bird to horse if bird dropping land in your horse’s feed.
Guidelines for when to isolate a horse from the rest of the barn and pastures.
What’s the deal with chickens and horses? Can they be buddies at the barn?
Some ideas on what to put on the barn’s bulletin board! For fun, for safety, for emergencies.
The basics about NSC values, high laminitis risk horses, and grazing your horse in pasture!
Some stuff to think about when you are stripping your horse’s stall. Get ready for a workout!
Why wheat bran mashes can be good, and not so good for horses!
Why I love, and don’t love, the grass horse paddock.
Should you bring your horses in during really bad weather? Like ice and snow and sub-zero temperatures?
Why your horse will thank you for wetting his pellets and grains before you feed!
How You (and Your Veterinarian) can decide if your horse’s wound needs to be covered.
How to be practical and safe at the same time when it comes to sharing horses supplies and tack at the barn!
No horse wants to eat fuzzy or moldy food – how to make sure your horse grains and feed stay fresh!
Keep yourself cool and safe from heat related illnesses while you work at the barn!
Ideas on how you can make your horses safer during a lightning storm.
Some horses, and some farms, can greatly benefit from a dry lot or sacrifice lot turnout for horses.
What to consider when you are thinking of retiring your horse!
A brief summary of why horses kept outside in paddocks or pastures have it best!
How you can stretch your dollars and have your hay deliveries last longer by reducing wasted hay at the barn!
Some ideas on how to create an emergency plan at the barn – for people!
Why it’s important for all horses to learn to live in stalls!
How you can introduce your horse to a herd living situation!
Top tips for creating a safe area for your farrier to work on your horse!
Great options for outdoor bedding for your horse’s run, attached to the barn.
Ideas on how to give your horse oral medications via syringe without him leaping into the next county.
The pros and cons of both automatic waterers and water buckets for your horse.
Is your horse a picky eater? Here’s how to narrow down some reasons, and a few ideas to entice your horse to eat.
Handy checklist of questions to ask a potential new barn for your horse!
Five common barn safety violations that take seconds to remedy – be safe and keep your horses safe!
When faced with a horse that would rather not be caught, it’s time to retrain your horse! The uncatchable horse doesn’t typically run out of being spooked or panicked, but instead being untrained.
Ideas to help your hard keeper horse stay plump this winter!
Ideas on how to catch a panicked horse. The horse brain often goes into fight or flight mode, understanding the flight mode can help you safely catch a panicking horse.
How to make your horse’s hay dunking habit a bit cleaner and less time consuming for you!
Some ideas on how to best clean your horse;s water trough, and keep it clean and critter free for your horse!
Easy steps to fold horse blankets for a polished look down the barn aisle.
Ideas for creating a minimal shavings barn by using fewer shavings.
Easy steps to train your horse to be still and calm during injections.
Some tips on tracking and planning for your horse’s health needs.
Tips and ideas for making a safe wash rack in your barn for your horse!
How you can maximize safety around the gates on your horse property!
How horse owners can help alleviate the stress and panic that often occurs when horses hear and see fireworks.
Some ideas on how you can slow down the crazy fast eating horse, for his own safety!
Ways you can reduce the population of mosquitos at the horse barn. Mosquitos carry many diseases, including some that are deadly to horses.
Ideas on how to make your horse less likely to go from “peaceful turnout” to “going to take out the fence”. Tips on how to make turnout safer for your horse!
Some easy ways to assure your horse turnout paddocks are safe for your horse!
Some basic and extra information that you may want to include on your horse’s stall card.
The scoop on rattlesnake behaviors, and how horse owners can prevent and treat rattlesnake bites.
Good techniques for horse owners to use when storing grains and supplements.
The basics of a good run in shelter for your horses!
The basics of shipping fever in horses – the causes, how to prevent shipping fever, and how to spot shipping fever in horses.
How horse owners can battle the fire ant to keep their horses safe and pastures clear. No one wants a pile of stinging fire ants in their pasture!
The scoop on treats for horses – what’s safe, what’s questionable, and what’s never OK to feed.
The deep litter bedding system for a horse owner is a stall cleaning system that can save time and hassle, not to mention shavings.
Tips for Grooms on getting rid of the ammonia smell in their horse’s stalls.
Tips and tricks for keeping dehydration at bay! Learn to entice your horse to drink more.
A handy checklist for the horse owner of all the things your caretaker needs to know while you are gone for vacation.
Some ideas on how you can keep your grooming supplies and horse items more ideally stored at the barn!
Dehydration in the winter can be prevented, with some easy tips and some understanding about how horses like to drink.
Some things to do and get together before winter rolls around. Have your rig, your barn, your horses ready!
The hows and whys about feeding hay – what works best for horses!
Horses that weave can often be helped with a few handy tricks and tips, including a mirror!
To protect your “stuff” and tack at the barn, you have some options for locks.
How you can protect your barn and fencing from a horse that habitually kicks.
Tips and techniques for pill crushing, to make medicating your horse easier!
How you might be able to reduce the chance that your horse gets cast in his stall.
How horse owners can identify their horses, and what it takes to prove ownership.
How horse owners and barn owners can organize an evacuation plan before one is needed!
Some proven techniques for cleaning your horse’s stall walls – even the crusty manure, food, and snot.
Should you leave the stall doors open or closed when the stall is empty?
How to set up your horse’s show stall for a weekend (or longer) of grooming fun at a horse show.
What’s under your horse’s bedding? Mats, dirt, concrete, mattresses? Lots of options for your horse’s stall.
The why’s and how’s of soaking hay.
Flies can be miserable – tolerable – or under control at the barn. You have many options to help your horse stay relatively fly free this summer.
At some point, you will need to mange your horse’s nutrition. A great resource for creating the best diet for your horse is an Equine Nutritionist!
Mud is a major pain in the butt, here are some of the ways that you can minimize that hassle around the barn.
Finally! Spring!! Here’s a list of extra chores to tackle before the hot weather comes!
How to properly dispose of your horse’s expired medications and sharps. Needles and syringes need to be placed in sharps containers.
This is often a battle of wills – here are some tips to make medicating your horse a bit easier!
Sometimes, you run the risk of a virus or other infection going through your barn. Here are some guidelines for creating a safer place for all horses.
Have a horse that wants to tear the barn down? One bolt at a time? Be glad he doesn’t have hands.
The basics about coprophagia and pica in horses and what you can do about it. Manure eating and fence chewing are two examples.
How much grain is too much grain at one meal for your horse? Tips from an Equine Nutritionist about how much grain or feed your horse should get at each meal.
The use of artificial lights to control hair coat length in horses might be right for your barn, or not.
Some basic guidelines for storing hay for your horse. Keep it off the ground, well ventilated, and dry.
Here are some ways to prevent cribbing horses from destroying your barn!
How to control mice and rodents at the barn. It’s much more than getting a cat, it starts with good barn management!
Bedding choices for your horse’s stall – what do you like? Rice Hulls, Shavings, Straw?
Pro Equine Grooms – The Many Uses of Baling Twine