Congratulations as a new horse owner! However, don’t take it lightly. Owning a horse is a gratifying experience, but it comes with responsibilities, too. You must look after your beloved equine safety and, most importantly, maintain the horse barn for its healthy living space. Horses are lifelong companions with an average lifespan of 25 to 30 years. So, regular upkeep and timely grooming are a necessity.
Here Are Helpful Horse Barn Care Advice For First-Time Horse Owners
1. Keep Fresh Air Circulation
Proper ventilation will allow airflow in the barn. You can install ceiling fans (at least 12 ft. of clearance), floor fans, exhaust fans, and passive vents to reduce humidity and moisture build-up. Individual vents would be a better option if you have more than one horse.
Leave your barn’s doors open to allow fresh air during the daytime. To prevent ammonia build-up, regularly clean the stall. Let’s see how you can clean them.
2. Keep Stalls Clean
Cleaning muck will prevent bacteria growth and disease development. You can use pitchfork to remove manure. Pine wood shaving is a good option to soak up any wet spot while removing mucking.
Another great product is a stall freshener (dry & granulated item) that you can sprinkle around bedding to absorb and eliminate foul smell. Broom away sawdust from the feeding area and use a rake to remove any remaining stuff.
2.1 Daily Task
The daily task has to do more with cleaning, such as cleaning stalls, filling the water troughs and automatic water feeders, replacing hay & feed with new ones, and finally, cleaning the alley and feeding station.
2.2 Weekly Task
On a weekly basis, clean the water trough and feeder, examine stalls for any fungus built up, and remove manure or any obstacle that can hurt horses from paddocks.
2.3 Other Tasks
Ensure security features such as fire alarms, sprinklers, locks, fences, etc., work fine. Deep clean the entire barn to remove cobwebs, nests, and food items lying in the corner that might attract other animals.
2.4 General
Ensure the barn aisle is swept on a daily basis, cross-tie areas are neat & clean, and there are no items lying on the floor randomly that might startle the horse.
3. Tidy Tack Room
Declutter! Remove all items that do not belong to a horse barn, which is broken or beyond repair, and stuff that you do not need anymore. Dust walls, remove cobwebs, and sweep the floor to remove any debris. If you keep storage boxes or containers, label them to find items easily.
For easy access, you can install shelves, racks, hooks, and cabinets to keep items. Keep saddles covered to prevent dust build-up. Check mold built up regularly. Install exhaust fans to let fresh airflow.
Store saddles correctly on a saddle stand. Improper saddle shape can hurt a horse’s back. You can also cover the saddle to keep dust and mites away. A dehumidifier can help maintain the leather saddle’s lifespan.
4. Maintain Food Supply
The horse must eat roughly 1 to 2% of their body weight daily. Store food in a metal container with a secure lid to prevent other animals from stealing share from it. Keep hay bales at a safe height and properly to prevent any unwanted avalanche.
Installing an automatic water bowl that can provide water when horses are thirsty without waiting for you to come and fill their bowl is best. The storage place should be free from rodents and moisture and must be dry.
Tip: you can rotate hay stock to prevent mold build-up.
5. Check Lighting
The horse barn must be well-lit. Replace burnt-out bulb with new one. Proper lighting helps prevent any accidents and promotes the safety of your equine.
6. Pest Control
It is normal for rodents to seek out for food and bedding. That’s why it is important to keep rotating hay bales, keep a tight lid on the grains container, and store it off the ground. If there is rat or mouse infestation in the horse barn, use a snap trap or cage trap to catch them.
Note: Avoid toxic bait, as horses might chew on them accidentally.
7. Check Fences & Gates
Examine fences to see if there is any loose part. If you find any board, post, or rail damaged, repair them promptly. Check nails, hinges, and gates. You can oil them if they are squeaking or hard to open. Make sure that fencing and gates are secured to prevent horses from escaping and injuring themselves.
8. Inspect Roof
Roofs can build up dirt and debris with time. Examine the roof for any leakage, rusting, or damage. Clean and check gutters and downspouts, especially before the rainy or winter seasons arrive. Water built up on the roof can cause structural damage.
In case you are wondering if you can get a minimum maintenance roof, opt for steel barns. It is easy to clean a horse metal barn roof with a garden hose or a pressure washer and then let it air dry. You can even install corrugated vertical metal panels for minimal upkeep.
9. Choose The Right Barn Type, Style, And Size
A horse’s minimum stall size recommendation is 10 x 10 or 12 x 12 (for taller breeds). Shed row barns are affordable and can keep multiple horses in the same place. And you know the best part? You can opt for a metal barn with a removal end wall. If, in the future, you need more stalls, you can add more length to your metal barn.
This is a cost-effective method to shelter horses. Standard shed sizes are 12 x 20, 12 x 40, 12 x 72, 30 x 40, 36 x 60, etc. The exact size will vary with needs like need of feed storage, tack, room, area for bathing & grooming, etc.
Considering All This
Getting a custom metal barn designed by a professional and experienced steel builder for a long-lasting and robust structure is best. Ensure your horse’s comfort inside the stall, and ensure there is enough space to maneuver, sit, stand, and a window to reach out for free air.
