Stable Management
Stable management incorporates all the different parts of looking after horses, including feeding them, mucking out stalls, and maintaining the property. The goal is to make sure that the animals are safe, healthy, clean, warm, and dry. Stable management includes both daily chores and tasks that need to be completed less frequently, such as once a week.
Daily Chores for Looking After Horses
Daily Chores for Looking After Horses
- check horses at least twice a day for illness, injury, and general well-being
- clean horses' hooves and check for bruising, cracks, or loose horse shoes
- clean and refill water buckets or check water supply in automatic waterers
- feed horses hay and/or grain in the morning and evening
- prepare grain for the next day
- sweep barn aisles and ensure that there are no loose objects
- muck out stalls in the morning and evening (remove horse manure and urine spots)
- remove soiled or wet bedding and replace with fresh bedding
- turn horses out for at least 30 minutes of exercise
- check that the grazing area is free of dangers, including poisonous plants
- rotate horses in paddocks if necessary
- groom horses (ideally at least a little every day)
- during the summer: spray horses with fly spray or insect repellent in the morning and evening
- check horse blankets if applicable
Horse Feed and Water
- clean horses' hooves and check for bruising, cracks, or loose horse shoes
- clean and refill water buckets or check water supply in automatic waterers
- feed horses hay and/or grain in the morning and evening
- prepare grain for the next day
- sweep barn aisles and ensure that there are no loose objects
- muck out stalls in the morning and evening (remove horse manure and urine spots)
- remove soiled or wet bedding and replace with fresh bedding
- turn horses out for at least 30 minutes of exercise
- check that the grazing area is free of dangers, including poisonous plants
- rotate horses in paddocks if necessary
- groom horses (ideally at least a little every day)
- during the summer: spray horses with fly spray or insect repellent in the morning and evening
- check horse blankets if applicable
Horse Feed and Water
When they're inside a stable, horses can eat out of a manger (a long open box for feeding animals) to prevent hay from getting dirty on the floor. A wall-mounted rack or hay net is not ideal since the horse eats at an unnatural angle, with its head pointing up. Horses living outside may need hay in the winter since grass's nutritional value decreases during the winter.
It's best to feed stabled horses twice a day instead of giving them constant access to food. In nature, horses spend most of their day grazing, so they don't regulate how much feed they eat.
Horses need access to fresh, clean drinking water, in either a hanging bucket or a device that dispenses water automatically. If possible, the water should be heated in the winter to prevent ice from forming. Both buckets and the bowls for automatic waterers need to be cleaned regularly.
Weekly Tasks for Looking After Horses
It's best to feed stabled horses twice a day instead of giving them constant access to food. In nature, horses spend most of their day grazing, so they don't regulate how much feed they eat.
Horses need access to fresh, clean drinking water, in either a hanging bucket or a device that dispenses water automatically. If possible, the water should be heated in the winter to prevent ice from forming. Both buckets and the bowls for automatic waterers need to be cleaned regularly.
Weekly Tasks for Looking After Horses
- check supplies of food and bedding
- check levels of minerals and salt
- clean manure from paddocks to reduce the number of flies
- check fences for broken or loose parts
- clean water troughs and feed buckets to prevent build-up
- clean and condition leather tack
- run blankets and saddle pads through the laundry
- make sure that stable is safe and clean
- bathe horses
- clip horses if necessary
- exercise horses for longer several times a week
Bathing Horses
Bathing horses is not part of everyday grooming, but it does help remove the accumulated dirt and sweat. The appropriate frequency for bathing a horse varies depending on the type of activities that it does. A racehorse, for example, gets sweaty and needs more-frequent bathing.
If you're bathing a horse often, such as every day, it's best to only use water. Shampoo strips a horse's natural oils, although it's fine to use occasionally.
It's important to dry horses well after every bath to prevent bacterial and fungal infections. Flick off the water with a rubber-sided squeegee, then towel the horse's fetlocks and heels.
Clipping and Blanketing Horses
It's possible to clip horses' hair in different patterns to prevent them from getting too sweaty when they exercise. Although the summer would seem like the most logical time for clipping, horse owners sometimes clip in the winter too. Sweat moves from the horse's skin outward and can cause it to catch a chill in cold temperatures.
To help horses stay warm in the winter or protect them in bad weather, their owners may cover them with a horse blanket. There are different weights of blanket (light, medium, and heavy) to suit different types of coats and environments.
If the blanket fits well, you should be able to slide a hand under the blanket and up the horse's shoulder. Horse blankets can get damp, so it's important to check them daily and change them if they're wet. Horses may only wear blankets some of the time, such as overnight.
Keeping Horses in a Barn
- check levels of minerals and salt
- clean manure from paddocks to reduce the number of flies
- check fences for broken or loose parts
- clean water troughs and feed buckets to prevent build-up
- clean and condition leather tack
- run blankets and saddle pads through the laundry
- make sure that stable is safe and clean
- bathe horses
- clip horses if necessary
- exercise horses for longer several times a week
Bathing Horses
Bathing horses is not part of everyday grooming, but it does help remove the accumulated dirt and sweat. The appropriate frequency for bathing a horse varies depending on the type of activities that it does. A racehorse, for example, gets sweaty and needs more-frequent bathing.
If you're bathing a horse often, such as every day, it's best to only use water. Shampoo strips a horse's natural oils, although it's fine to use occasionally.
It's important to dry horses well after every bath to prevent bacterial and fungal infections. Flick off the water with a rubber-sided squeegee, then towel the horse's fetlocks and heels.
Clipping and Blanketing Horses
It's possible to clip horses' hair in different patterns to prevent them from getting too sweaty when they exercise. Although the summer would seem like the most logical time for clipping, horse owners sometimes clip in the winter too. Sweat moves from the horse's skin outward and can cause it to catch a chill in cold temperatures.
To help horses stay warm in the winter or protect them in bad weather, their owners may cover them with a horse blanket. There are different weights of blanket (light, medium, and heavy) to suit different types of coats and environments.
If the blanket fits well, you should be able to slide a hand under the blanket and up the horse's shoulder. Horse blankets can get damp, so it's important to check them daily and change them if they're wet. Horses may only wear blankets some of the time, such as overnight.
Keeping Horses in a Barn
Many horses spend at least some of their time in a barn. Keeping them inside ensures that they stay clean and safe. It also allows their owners to more easily monitor and control their diet and water intake.
There are several requirements that must be met for indoor living spaces for horses, and several possible risks with keeping them inside. To ensure that horses get enough exercise and don't get too bored, it's important to take them outside for exercise if possible. There are also boredom breakers for stabled horses, such as dangling carrots on a string.
Barn Requirements:
- stalls with sturdy walls and enough space for horses to move around and lie down
- swinging or sliding stall doors with strong latches
- containers for horse feed and water
- aisles or alleyways that are wide enough for horses to pass each other
- concrete, paver, or stone floor (with drains in stalls) or sandy floor
- storage for horse feed, bedding, and tack
- good ventilation
- no sharp objects sticking out or dangling light fixtures
- high ceilings so that horses will not hit their heads
- good lighting with light switches out of the reach of horses
- safe, rodent- and moisture-proof electrical wiring and outlets
- light bulbs that are appropriate for outdoor use and have safety cages
- windows covered with mesh or grill
There are several requirements that must be met for indoor living spaces for horses, and several possible risks with keeping them inside. To ensure that horses get enough exercise and don't get too bored, it's important to take them outside for exercise if possible. There are also boredom breakers for stabled horses, such as dangling carrots on a string.
Barn Requirements:
- stalls with sturdy walls and enough space for horses to move around and lie down
- swinging or sliding stall doors with strong latches
- containers for horse feed and water
- aisles or alleyways that are wide enough for horses to pass each other
- concrete, paver, or stone floor (with drains in stalls) or sandy floor
- storage for horse feed, bedding, and tack
- good ventilation
- no sharp objects sticking out or dangling light fixtures
- high ceilings so that horses will not hit their heads
- good lighting with light switches out of the reach of horses
- safe, rodent- and moisture-proof electrical wiring and outlets
- light bulbs that are appropriate for outdoor use and have safety cages
- windows covered with mesh or grill
Possible Risks of Keeping Horses in a Barn
- coughing or inflammation of airways due to poor stable ventilation/stale air, dust, or ammonia fumes (from urine and manure)
- increased risk of leg mites and hoof problems like thrush
- increased risk of colic
- stocked-up legs (swelling in legs)
- leg injury if the horse kicks the stall walls or wears its hooves unevenly
- behavioural issues due to boredom - such as chewing walls, walking the perimeter of the stall, kicking, or biting
Keeping Horses in a Pasture
Keeping horses outside has many benefits. As herd animals, horses prefer living in a group, doing mutual grooming and playing together. It's also important for horses to get enough exercise, including for preventing stiffness and encouraging healthy blood circulation and hooves.
Keeping horses in a pasture also has its disadvantages. Among other things, horses tend to prefer some sections of grass to others. They'll eat those sections low to the ground, encouraging weed growth, and leave other sections of grass to grow long.
Pasture Requirements:
- at least 1.5 acres of turnout area per horse
- sturdy, horse-safe fencing - ideally, wooden posts and rails - could also string electric tape on posts
- central water container or water tanks that move between paddocks
- a shelter for horses to escape the cold, heat, bad weather, and flies (such as a shed, hedges, or trees)
- container for hay, possibly in a shed to keep it dry
- good grass for grazing (such as fescue grass, Bermuda grass, orchardgrass, or Kentucky bluegrass)
- regular mowing (at least 2 to 3 times per year)
- regular harrowing to spread manure piles
- possible herbicide to get rid of weeds
- soil fertilization
- reseeding for poor pasture (late August/early September or late March/early April)
Keeping horses in a pasture also has its disadvantages. Among other things, horses tend to prefer some sections of grass to others. They'll eat those sections low to the ground, encouraging weed growth, and leave other sections of grass to grow long.
Pasture Requirements:
- at least 1.5 acres of turnout area per horse
- sturdy, horse-safe fencing - ideally, wooden posts and rails - could also string electric tape on posts
- central water container or water tanks that move between paddocks
- a shelter for horses to escape the cold, heat, bad weather, and flies (such as a shed, hedges, or trees)
- container for hay, possibly in a shed to keep it dry
- good grass for grazing (such as fescue grass, Bermuda grass, orchardgrass, or Kentucky bluegrass)
- regular mowing (at least 2 to 3 times per year)
- regular harrowing to spread manure piles
- possible herbicide to get rid of weeds
- soil fertilization
- reseeding for poor pasture (late August/early September or late March/early April)
Possible Risks of Keeping Horses in a Pasture
- increased chance of parasites and flies
- potential for poisonous plants (including poison hemlock, horsetail, buttercup)
- increased chance of injury
- possible grass sickness in spring
- possible weight gain (especially among ponies)
- risk of springtime colic, laminitis, or insulin resistance if horses are not reintroduced gradually to grass
- possible bullying among the horses
- overgrazing, damaging soil and plants
Some Strategies for Limiting Overgrazing:
- strip grazing: creating a strip of paddock using electric tape and gradually moving the tape as horses eat the grass
- starvation paddock: blocking off a small section of the paddock with electric tape
- controlled intensive grazing: letting horses eat all the grass in a small area then moving them to another area
- sacrificial paddock: briefly putting horses in a paddock with hay but no grass to relieve pressure on the main pasture
- rotational grazing: rotating horses between several different paddocks
Try this worksheet to test your knowledge about stable management!
| Stable_management_worksheet.pdf |
You've now received an overview of all that's involved in looking after a group of horses, from cleaning and filling their water buckets to bathing the animals and putting them out to pasture. Stable management is a big responsibility but very rewarding as well.