In the long run, taking good care of the equipment for your barn and horses will save you time and money.
The basics of daily HORSE care:
Start by investing in products that work well for you and your horse. Wash your re-usable products (like brushes and curry combs) regularly and store them in a dry, covered place. Keep track of your liquid inventory (like shampoos, fly sprays, ointments, and creams) so that you don’t run out.
| Then use these products to groom your horse regularly. While you are bathing and grooming your horse, pay close attention to its body. Is there any heat or swelling anywhere? Is the back more sensitive than usual? Are there any rashes, or is there any hair loss? Know your horses’ bodies as well as you know your own, and address any abnormalities promptly. |
 Daily Grooming and Inspection |
The basics of daily EQUIPMENT care:
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Use products that effectively clean and condition your tack, horse boots, and other equipment. Clean your tack after every use, and check other equipment regularly. |
Inspect while you clean. Is the stitching getting frayed on part of the bridle? Is the elastic on the girth starting to tear? Is a bandage getting too thin? Is the Velcro on a boot too weak? Pay close attention to these details and you will prevent accidents from happening, and also save yourself money in the long run.
Keep your other tools and equipment clean and dry. Clean your wheelbarrows and buckets regularly, and replace pitchforks and brooms as they become used-up and ineffective. Keep smaller hardware items like studs, snaps, screw-eyes, and other items clean, organized, and easily accessible. Invest in a shelving or drawer system to stay organized and to keep all of your tools and equipment sheltered.
Keep a health care SCHEDULE!
Some elements of horse care are predictable. You can plan for many routine health events like vaccinations, deworming, dental visits, and shoeing. Put your horses on a regular schedule for those appointments. You can also plan for therapeutic procedures like massage, chiropractor, acupuncture, icing, and performance enhancing procedures like joint injections.
It’s easy to keep track of equine health appointments and dates by using stable management software like Stable Secretary, which also provides you with alerts and reminders. It’s important to record these services and procedures so that you have a complete health history for each of your horses at your fingertips for whenever you need one.
Other basics? Leave a comment with other ideas to keep your horses and your equipment in GREAT condition!
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My daughter has always really wanted a horse to take care of and I think it’s a great idea for her to learn some discipline and how to care for something. So, this holiday season we will bring a new horse onto our property for her to care for and learn how to ride. I’ll be sure to teach her that while she is grooming the horse, she needs to inspect it for any signs of illness.
It made sense when you said that a schedule should be kept for important horse activities like health visits. Additionally, it’s a good idea to keep a schedule for the needed maintenance of the stable itself to ensure it stays clean. This will include activities like changing out the sawdust used for equine bedding in stables.
It was really helpful when you talked about how it is important to put horses on a regular schedule for medical appointments. When you are planning to purchase horses, it seems like it would be important to find a veterinarian that specializes in large animals. A large animal veterinarian will be able to help you take care of your horses.