7 Tips to Help Keep Your Horses Safe During Turnout
Turnout is essential to your horse’s mental and physical health, but pasture accidents can happen. Fortunately, you can maximize your pasture safety in several ways to help reduce the chance of accidents occurring. Whether you’re designing a new pasture or want to improve the safety of an existing pasture, keep these tips in mind.
1. Carefully Position Gates
The position of your pasture gates can affect how safely you can turn horses out and bring them in. Try to locate gates in higher-lying pasture areas to avoid mud accumulation beneath the gates. Position gates so that there’s plenty of space to navigate both sides of the gate and avoid placing them in corners where other horses could congregate and potentially trap each other.
If you’re creating lanes between your pastures, make sure that you leave enough space so that you can easily navigate the gates without horses in an adjoining pasture being able to lean over and interfere with your horse.
2. Address Mud Issues
Chronically muddy pasture areas can lead to health issues, such as thrush, thrown shoes, and tendon and ligament strains or tears. You can install mud control grids to reduce standing water and mud buildup, so navigating typically muddy areas is safer for horses and humans.
These grids allow water to flow through them while keeping horses and humans up and out of the mud. Their enhanced grip helps maximize traction when wet, and the interlocking design prevents shifting to create a flat surface. These grids are highly durable and low-maintenance; installing them requires minimal site prep. They’re a cost-effective and long-term solution built to withstand heavy use.
3. Curve Fencing Corners
When planning your pasture layout, avoid creating any corners with your fencing, especially if you’ll be turning multiple horses out together. Even pasture mates who get along well can pin and kick each other in the corners while playing, and if fights break out, a horse can be seriously injured if they’re pinned into a corner.
Instead, design your fencing to create a gradual curve, preventing horses from becoming trapped in the space.
4. Check Pastures for Toxic Plants and Trees
Carefully and repeatedly check pastures for the presence of plants and trees that are toxic to horses. If you’re unsure which types of toxic plants and trees grow in your area, your local Department of Agriculture can help you determine what you need to look for.
Toxic plants and trees can pose different risks throughout the year. It’s a good idea to check for them in the spring when plants bloom, but periodically check your pastures throughout the year, too. In the fall, it’s possible that toxic leaves could blow into your pastures from an adjoining area or nearby tree line, so make a practice of monitoring the pastures year-round.
If you find anything toxic in your pastures, remove horses from the space and determine how to remove the plant or tree. Again, your local Department of Agriculture can be a valuable resource in helping you determine the best removal method and how to prevent future regrowth.
For more guidance on choosing horse-safe plants, check out our article "April Showers Bring May Flowers." It highlights beautiful, non-toxic plants that can enhance your pastures while keeping your horses safe.
5. Implement a Manure Management Plan
Manure management is a key element of maintaining your pastures. Managing manure can help keep your pasture grass healthy, reduce the risk of transmission of intestinal parasites, and reduce the presence of biting flies. Many equine facility owners choose to harrow and drag horse manure to break it up, allowing it to dry. Depending on the size of your pasture, you might choose to remove the manure, but you’ll need to do so regularly to keep up with it.
Another great option is composting horse manure. Properly composted manure can be repurposed as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for pastures, gardens, and landscaping. Composting also helps reduce waste and odor while creating an environmentally friendly way to manage manure. If you’re considering a composting system, be sure to rotate and aerate the pile for proper breakdown and to eliminate harmful pathogens.
6. Invest in Safe Fencing
Investing in safe horse fencing is one of the best ways to maximize pasture safety. At American Stalls, we’re proud to offer HDPE horse fencing, a high-quality and beautiful solution. This exceptionally durable plastic fencing is safe for your horse and won’t crack or become brittle in climates that experience extreme temperatures.
This fencing is available in two, three, four, and five-rail configurations, so you can design a pasture appropriate for your horses, whether you’re housing minis or warmbloods. The posts are also available in different lengths to correspond to your soil and climate. The rails are fixed into the posts with galvanized locking buttons, so you can easily remove them if you need to access the pasture with tractors or other equipment, keeping your pastures safe and functional.
Note: Make a habit of periodically walking and checking your pasture fences, especially after winter when the temperature changes may have damaged fencing or caused the materials to contract and expand. Over time, fences can break, boards can become loose, and other hazards can emerge.
7. Safely Hang and Install Gates
Make sure that your gates are safely hung and installed. Choose appropriately sized gates for the space so that there aren’t any large gaps between the fence and gate where your horse could get a leg stuck. Verify that gates are strong and secure, and choose gate latches that are easy to operate but horse-proof, too.
For added safety and durability, consider our Stall Gates, designed for optimal ventilation and horse comfort. Pair them with our Universal Gate Latch, which ensures secure closure while allowing for easy, one-handed operation—perfect for busy barn life.
Contact American Stalls for Your Fencing Needs
At American Stalls, we’re here to support you with all of your barn-building needs, whether you’re renovating your horse stalls or shopping for horse fencing for your pastures. Our barn-building experts can help you design your dream barn and choose the top-quality components to add a beautiful aesthetic while keeping your horses safe. Contact us today at (855) 957 8255, email us at sales@americanstalls.com to schedule a sales and design consultation or complete our inquiry form.
