It may only be fall (for now), but winter is right around the corner, and there is no better time to get your horse barn ready for the harsher weather! Remember, winter brings chilly temperatures, wind, snow, and ice, which will undoubtedly impact the health of your horses, their barn, and you.
When the snow begins to fall, do not be left out in the “cold” with never-ending projects. Get started now and save yourself the hassle later!
Check The Structural Integrity of Everything- Start by checking the structure of your setup. As you work, look for any potential problems, like rotting stall boards or stuck door latches, and make any necessary repairs. Next, check your barn’s exterior and roof for leaks, holes, and other damage. You will want to know how much weight your roof can support and be ready to remove snow from it if necessary. Check your fencing for damaged rails, rotting posts, and other necessary repairs.
Top To Bottom Clean- Before fall is over, you will want to ensure your barn gets a thorough cleaning, and not simply so things look nice. No, little things like cobwebs and dust can be the perfect place for fires to start, especially if cobwebs get caught on warming lamps or lights. Hay and bedding that is left out or messy are an open invitation for tiny critters to set up camp in your barn, and overall you want your horses to have a clean place to retreat to amid winter weather.
Look Into Ventilation- Look for significant drafts near barn doors, barn windows, and other locations and fill in any gaps that could let in too much cold air. Remember, you want to remove drafty areas while leaving spaces for fresh air to flow. Horses have huge lungs, which means proper ventilation is necessary, but you also don’t want excessive cold air getting in and driving up your heating costs.
Make Sure You Have Proper Nutrition Set Up- It’s crucial to regulate your horse’s hay intake and keep an eye out for any weight loss indications. If you keep any liquid supplements or medications in your barn, take them inside for the winter. You will also want to make sure you stock up on feed and anything else nutrient-related, just in case you get snowed in and can’t make it to the store for more.
Check Your Lighting- You never know when you might need to be at the barn after dark, which makes your barn lighting even more crucial during the winter when it gets darker earlier.
Lighting is essential for your vision when cleaning, feeding, and checking on your horse, so light up the areas outside of any entry points, the feeding areas, and the stalls themselves.
Figure Out Your Water Situation- Water is crucial for our horses at all times of the year, but especially during the colder months, as we all know. Horses tend to drink and eat less when given insufficient or only frigid water, which can result in dehydration or colic. Ensure your water sources are adequately insulated in cold weather to prevent any issues from insufficient water supplies. You can avoid the tiresome task of breaking the ice by using drinking post waterers, insulated buckets, and automatic heated waterers.
Hope For The Best, Prepare For The Worst- You can prepare as much as possible, but at some point, it is always possible for something to go wrong. Make sure you have enough hay and feed stored away to last for at least two weeks in case you get snowed in. Power outages are common, so it’s a good idea to keep a few five to ten-gallon water storage containers hidden inside where they won’t freeze in case one occurs. Additionally, you might want to consider purchasing a small generator that can supply power for the water pump or barn lights for a brief period. Ensure your first aid supplies are current, that you have access to flashlights, and that the fire extinguishers in your barn are operational.
Hopefully, these tips will help get you and your horses through the winter as efficiently as possible! As always, check out my blog for more horse-related information, or check out some recent Langley area areas of interest!
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