Many of us horse owners keep our horses at our own homes. Safety is always the number one priority for any horse owner. A barn safety check will help to ensure your horses’ safety. This checklist can also be used by boarders to evaluate a barn that horses may be kept at.
- Aisles should be clear of tack, debris, feed, etc. There should be a specific place for all items that may clutter aisles. An ideal aisle width is at least eight feet wide. This leaves enough room for a handler to turn a horse around, or for two horses to pass each other without crowding.
- Ceilings should be around nine feet or higher. This will be high enough to avoid contact with a rearing horse’s head.
- Floors should have a non-slip surface. Dirt flooring is the least expensive way to do this. If you decide to pour concrete for your flooring, use texturized concrete. This is another safe and inexpensive option.
- Stall doors should swing outward rather than inward. Doors that swing inward can become a hazard for a handler trying to exit when a horse is eager to come out. Sliding stall doors on rollers are the safest options.
- Light fixtures should be mounted high enough where horses cannot reach them. If they can be reached, they should be encased in a sturdy wire cage.
- Repairs should be made to barns or fences immediately. The barn owner should check barns and fences often to avoid any accidents.
A barn safety checklist is very simple and can be done by anyone. Follow this short list to best ensure your horses’ safety.
For more information of barn safety checks, visit: http://horseandrider.com/article/barnsafety_042005-13009
