How to Avoid Common Accidents in a Horse Barn or Turnout

Horses are large and powerful animals, but they are also very delicate in their own ways. Anticipating possible threats to your horse's health and safety is the most important responsibility you are faced with as an equestrian. Look for those seemingly insignificant things around the barn that potentially pose a danger to the animals around you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A keen eye
• A budget for supplies and repairs

Assess Your Surroundings

1. The most common cause of careless injuries is the presence of broken pieces of equipment that are allowed to remain in the horse's area. Anything from a thrown horseshoe to a tattered stretch of fencing can wreak more damage than you might imagine. In direct opposition to their natural instincts, our horses live within the confines humans create for them. That means that their massive bodies are expected to safely maneuver in our human-scaled enclosures that can sometimes prove difficult to navigate. Cuts, scratches and sores appear under even the best conditions.

2. Remove anything with a sharp or rough edge, structural deformities that protrude from the walls or flooring and loose ropes or chains that are easily snagged. You will avoid countless superficial injuries and the dangerous consequences that follow when a horse gets frightened or panicked.

3. 
   A practical latch designed to be difficult for a horse to undo.

   You will, of course, want to make sure that all of your enclosures are secure and "horse-proof." Fences, boards and boxes need to be able to withstand the weight of an animal leaning up against them, and latches or locks need to have a complex enough design that a horse could not simply undo it with their teeth. I have known many an equine escapee that has become well-practiced at unlatching his own stall door or his neighbor's.

4. The footing or bedding in a horse's space is equally important to attend to on a regular basis. Many hoof and leg injuries can result from neglect of a horse's feet and the condition of the ground on which she stands all day everyday. Thrush (fungal infection which rots the hoof) is a common affliction in many barns, and thrives on damp material that gets embedded in the concave base of the hoof. The hooves collect wet shavings, turf, soil and feces on a daily basis, and should be cleaned out frequently.

5. Any areas through which your horse treads can be littered with pebbles, wood bits or other debris that can become wedged in the soft underside of the hoof, and cause significant pain and bruising if left unattended. Lastly, be aware of areas which become soft or muddy in wet conditions, as these not only breed foot-rot but could cause a horse to slip or sprain his ankles or legs. As horses need to remain standing even while asleep, leg injuries usually promise a difficult and lengthy recovery.

6. All tack and necessary equipment in the area needs to have a designated area that can be closed off when not in use. A separate tack room, closet or even a trunk will keep your tools in good condition and prevent the possibility of your horse getting into mischief when you walk away. This includes the use of lead ropes and halters that accompany your horse to the stall or turnout, as a horse can easily can easily snag her halter or tangle herself in a rope and hurt herself in her panic. If you feel you need to leave a halter on her, make sure that the buckle is fed all the way through the closure so that there is no chance of your horse rubbing it loose.