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It's hard to believe that it is the end of August – signaling that Summer is close to an end. In most parts of the country, we are experiencing cooler mornings and evenings.
Can you feel the crisp autumn air slowly replacing the warm summer breeze? As summer winds down, it's essential to prepare your barn for the cooler season ahead. A seasonal transition means new considerations for maintaining the health and happiness of your horses. Here, we delve into essential steps to ensure a smooth transition into autumn, keeping the safety and comfort of your equine companions in mind.
1 – Tidy Up Your Tack & Equipment
Ensure all your equipment is organized and properly stored to avoid damages during the colder months.
As the days shorten and temperatures drop, we recommend to begin storing your summer gear away. This means it's time to put away fly masks and send them, with other sheets, to a blanketing service for washing and repair. It's also time to consider swapping in sheets and winter blankets into your farm's storage. This way, blankets are cleaned, repaired, and ready for that first cold night.
2 – Inspect Your Feed Room & Secure It
Protect your feed from pests and ensure its quality throughout the season.
As equestrians, we understand the importance of creating a space where feed won’t spoil. Furthermore, a great feed room will ensure that pests don't have easy access to food.
Chilly fall evenings are often a cue for rodents to look for extra food. Before you know, a horse barn’s feed room can be an ideal outlet for rodent. For this reason, we recommend to clean up your feed room to help reduce the risk of rodents and insects. Sweep up spilled feed that will attract your unwanted guest.
Inspect your storage containers to make sure the lids seal tight. We recommend metal trash cans or metal bins instead of plastic bins that can be chewed through by rodents. Lastly, if you store hay in your feed room, use pallets that allow for better air circulation.
3 – Conduct a Deep Clean for Your Horse Stalls
A clean stall is vital for the health and happiness of your horses, especially after the summer.
Clean horse stall go a long way in any season, but it is even more important to thoroughly clean after a long Summer. Remove bedding from the summer and early fall. Use agricultural lime or stall drying products to dry any wet spots. Clean and remove all dangerous cobwebs, debris, and general clutter. Double check all electrical appliances (i.e. fans, heaters, etc) of any flammable buildup.
4 – Eliminate Harmful Drafts
Check the structural integrity of your barn to avoid any harmful drafts during the cooler days.
Ventilation is essential for a horse’s overall health and specifically lung health. However, large drafts can be dangerous in temperature regulation. For older barns, we recommend to check every nook and cranny in your barn's structure. This means to check Barn End Doors and Barn Windows to cover any holes that let in too much air. Replace any broken Barn Doors, Barn Windows, Dutch Doors, or faulty door latches.
5 – Inspect Electrical Components & Ensure Electrical Safety
Regular inspections can prevent potential hazards and maintain a safe environment for your horses.
No matter the age (or condition) of your barn, we recommend to schedule inspections on your wiring and electrical outlets. The late-Summer and early-Fall period is a good time to check indoor and outdoor lights and bulbs. This helps ensure visibility around the farm as the days shorten. A thorough inspection includes the clearing of dust, debris, and cobwebs. Replace any blown bulbs and check wires for fraying.
We also recommend to outfit your barn with battery-powered (or solar powered) flashlights to provide safe access to your barn during power outages. Please note that all outlets or frayed wiring should be immediately repaired by a licensed professional.
We hope these tips will assist you in making your barn autumn-ready and ensure the well-being of your equine companions. What are your go-to strategies for preparing your barn for fall? Let us know in the comments below or contact us for more tailored advice and solutions.
Do you have any questions on this post or simply need help with your barn project? You can reach us at sales@americanstalls.com or a call at (855) 957-8255. Alternatively, you can also complete a Contact Us Form.
The Ralph Rogan Equine Performance Evaluation Arena at Ohio State University marks a groundbreaking development in equine healthcare. With the addition of custom-built sliding stalls and barn doors from American Stalls, this state-of-the-art facility helps clinicians diagnose and treat performance issues with precision while ensuring horses receive world-class care.
