Winterize Your Barn

As the winter months fast approach, now is a good time to start thinking about preparing your barn and/or horse stables for winter. If started now, you can break up the necessary tasks so as not to burden yourself with a rushed or incomplete job. Maintaining your barn will provide your horses with a safe and healthy environment, while keeping it practical and organized for yourself.

Barn and Tack Room

Let’s face it; barns seem to always accumulate unwanted debris. This is not only unsightly, but becomes a hazard to your horses and provides areas for unwanted critters to nest during cold weather.

Start by going through and disposing of all trash, being sure to get rid of anything loose on the floor. Baling twine especially seems to accumulate in places it shouldn’t, and can be ingested by a horse browsing for loose hay.

Storage

Hooks, shelving, and saddle racks can be either homemade or purchased, and are invaluable for effective organization of your equestrian equipment. Storing the large items on shelves, while the smaller items used daily can be arranged on hooks for orderliness while still being convenient to get too. Tack trunks and containers are also a very effective means of storage, while providing a convenient way of separating each horse’s equipment. Storage containers can be found relatively inexpensive, and come in various sizes and shapes.

• Shelving – perfect for storing blankets, tarps, and other large, bulky objects.
• Hooks – perfect for lead ropes, halters and frequently used tools such as shovels, rakes, pitchforks and other barn tools.
• Tack trunks, and containers – perfect to help organize your tack and supplies in a centralized location. You can buy durable containers at local home-improvement and discount stores, or order equestrian-friendly systems that take into consideration special tack and tool storage needs. They are available in many styles, sizes and colors. Clear plastic containers are especially handy because you can see the contents with a quick glance. Lesson tack and boarders’ tack can be stored in separate locations. With lesson tack being labeled with the correct horse’s name. A wheeled cart works great for organizing brushes and other small grooming supplies.

Products & Supplies

• Horse grooming and fly-control products – get rid of any empty containers.
• Equine first aid and medical supplies – Now is a good time to get rid of any expired or empty medications and restock. Also take into account that some medications will freeze during cold weather, which could make them ineffective, so be sure these types of medications are stored in appropriate locations, store in the house if necessary.
• Supply of sand – Sand is an effective means to breakdown ice and increase traction for your horses during the winter months.

Cobwebs and Dust

One of the most difficult things to do in a barn filled with horses is keep it clean. Cobwebs and dust also create fire hazards. The use of brooms, mops, and vacuums can be used to easily dislodge and remove cobwebs.

A hose with a spray nozzle or a leaf blower can be used to dislodge those hard-to-reach cobwebs.

Cobwebs and dust can also cloud barn windows and accumlate on light fixtures, making your barn darker and dingier than it needs to be. Clean windows and dust lighting fixtures, allowing the light to shine through.

Barn Pests

Rodents and birds are common barn nuisances, but you can take steps to eliminate or reduce their presence. Barn cats are a traditional means of assistance to reduce rodent populations.

Feed and supplements should be kept in rodent-proof containers: Metal or plastic trash cans and heavy-duty plastic containers work well and are inexpensive. Clean up spilled grain immediately to help keep pests at bay.

Check your barn for the presence of bird nests, and remove if necessary. To discourage future bird nesting, you can place netting around the barn rafters, commercial repellents are also effective. The use of plastic owls and snakes placed throughout the barn are relatively effective at “tricking” birds and rodents, helping to reduce their numbers in your barn.

Wiring, Hinges and Mats

Check electrical wires for damage, wires and extension cords with exposed wires through the insulation should be replaced.

Check the hinges and running tracks of your barn and stall doors, and gates for rust and debris. Make sure they’re in working condition, and clean and oil them if necessary.

Remove any barn aisle or stall mats and clean with water and soap. Be sure to remove any debris that may have accumulated under your barn aisle or stall mats. In stalls, be sure to check for level footing and eliminate urine spots that may have developed over time. The use of lime or commercial stall deodorizers are effective on urine spots.

Do you have a routine maintenance practice for your barn or stalls during the winter? Let us know!

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