BarnManager Horse Health Series: Understanding Equine Ulcers
April 20, 2023| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Equine ulcers are a common concern for horse owners. In order to effectively treat and prevent equine ulcers, it is important for owners, managers, riders, and grooms to understand the types, symptoms, and causes. Keep reading to find out more about equine ulcers courtesy of Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, FL.

What are equine ulcers?

Equine ulcers are sores that form on the stomach lining of a horse. They can be broken down into three categories: gastric ulcer disease of the squamous mucosa, gastric ulceration of the glandular mucosa, and colon ulcers of the right dorsal colon.

Equine gastric ulcer disease of the squamous mucosa refers to ulcers found on the stomach’s inner lining and are mainly caused by exposure to stomach acid. This type of ulcer is often seen in performance horses due to exercise and abdominal pressure.

Gastric ulceration of the glandular mucosa is often found on the stomach lining around the pyloric region closer to the intestines. Ulcers found here are typically caused by stress.

Similarly, the last type of equine ulcer, which is found in the colon, is also mainly due to stress.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of equine ulcers often do not present the same way in every horse. The signs can also range from mild to severe. A few major symptoms to look for are poor appetite, attitude changes, decreased performance, poor body condition, and weight loss.

How do veterinarians diagnose equine ulcers?

Photo courtesy of Palm Beach Equine Clinic

There are a variety of diagnostic tools that veterinarians use for equine ulcers. One option is a Succeed test which is a fecal test that helps indicate the presence of ulcers. Another option is to perform a gastroscopy to see the stomach where both forms of gastric ulcers are found. Ultrasound is the primary diagnostic tool to look for thickening of the right dorsal colon wall indicating ulceration in the colon. Basic bloodwork to determine total albumin, a protein made by the liver, also helps indicate more severe cases of colon ulcers.

How are equine ulcers treated?

Since each type of equine ulcer has a different underlying cause, the treatment is different. Omeprazole paste is a common treatment option for equine ulcers. Veterinarians may use this in conjunction with other medications depending on the type of ulcer. For horses that have ulcers of the squamous mucosa it is common to add a dose of sucralfate before meals to the horse’s treatment plan. If the horse has ulcers in the glandular and pyloric region of the stomach, misoprostol and prostaglandin analog is used. For ulcers of the right dorsal colon, sucralfate is used as a coating agent while misoprostol is used as a treatment.

How can they be prevented?

In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can also help horses recover from equine ulcers and prevent them from reoccurring. Providing a more stress-free environment or allowing the horse to have downtime after competition can help. Also, turnout and giving your horse grazing time are extremely important for horses that are prone to ulcers.

Ulcers are a common problem in performance horses due to stress and constant exercise. Understanding the basics of ulcers will make it easier for you to quickly identify them and help prevent them for a happier, healthier horse. For a more in-depth explanation of equine ulcers, click HERE to read the full article from Palm Beach Equine Clinic.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Keeping Your Stable Safe & Secure During Competitions
April 7, 2023| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

by US Equestrian Communications Department

With show season moving into full swing in many parts of the country, it’s important as a barn owner, stable manager, or exhibitor that you remain vigilant and prioritize safety and security in your stabling area, particularly at a competition. Unintended contamination, trespassing, and stealing are all behaviors or outcomes that can occur if your stables aren’t protected and secure. We’re providing a few tips and recommendations on how to ensure your stable and the horses in your care stay safe at a competition.

Tips & Recommendations

  • You are responsible for your stable and the horses in your care at a competition. Ensure that your staff and clients understand best security protocols and practices and are educated in keeping the stabling area safe and secure. Be conscious of how you are monitoring your stabling area, both during the day and after hours.
    • Safety and security measures should or can include stall and tack room cameras, locks on medicine cabinets, securing tack and equipment, and closing trunks when unattended–all simple ways of protecting your property and your horses.
    • Lock stable doors when they’re not in use to prevent trespassing or unwanted access/entry by others.

Continue reading on US Equestrian.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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BarnManager’s Spring Checklist
March 30, 2023| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Spring is a favorite time of year for many equestrians, especially those who spend the winter in a colder climate. Before the season is in full bloom, complete these tasks to help ensure a successful rest of the year. Continue reading to learn about BarnManager’s spring checklist.

Finalize Your Summer Show Plans

The early spring is a great time to nail down your barn’s summer show schedule. There are numerous steps in finalizing a show schedule, especially if your barn plans to travel a lot. First, create a list of events with your employees and send it to clients for their input on which shows work with their schedule. Begin this task early so clients have time to confirm which shows they want to attend. Once you have a solid list of who is going to each event, start working on filling out entries, coordinating shipping, and booking hotels. Entries are often due at least a month in advance, and sometimes hotel rooms can be hard to find. Starting this process ahead of time will prevent the challenges of making last-minute arrangements.
(Did you know? Users can add their show schedule to BarnManager’s calendar feature and share it with all clients and employees.)

Schedule Vaccines

Many farms vaccinate horses in the spring and fall. When scheduling a time to set up vaccinations with your vet, it is important to consider your upcoming schedule. For example, horses need a couple of days between being vaccinated and shipping or competing. Planning ahead and talking with your veterinarians about the best time to give vaccines based on your upcoming show schedule is crucial.

Take on Spring Cleaning Jobs

Everyone knows spring is the perfect time to deep clean your barn. Consider doing tasks such as cleaning all brushes, re-organizing your tack room and feed room, washing and storing winter blankets, and scrubbing dirty equipment. It is also a good time to walk through your paddocks to see how they weathered the snow, ice, and mud. Be sure to check for broken boards, dangerous-looking gates, giant rocks, or large holes.

Click HERE to read about spring cleaning jobs that are often overlooked.

Go Through Paperwork

As a new show season approaches, take time to double-check that all of your record-keeping is correct. Make sure all paperwork is up to date and in the correct spot. Take note of any missing or old documents that need to be updated for the upcoming show season. For example, if you notice that certain horses need new Coggins papers, make a list and schedule the vet before they expire.

In addition to paperwork, also make sure all checklists for routine barn chores and packing for horse shows are up to date. If you received a new horse during the winter, make sure their equipment is included in the packing list. Similarly, while you were spring cleaning you may have thought of another task to add to the daily chore list for employees. Although these lists don’t change drastically, taking a moment to ensure they are correct will help make the rest of the season run smoothly for everyone.
(Did you know? BarnManager allows users to upload documents and organize paperwork for easy access. Users can also create and edit checklists that can be shared with all employees.)

Although things can start to get busy in the spring, it is also a great time tackle a few important tasks so you are ready to take on the rest of the year.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Tips for Walking a Jumper Course To Win
March 23, 2023| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Jumper courses ask technical questions of horse and rider at every level in order to achieve a clear round. Winning requires even more precision, so a solid plan developed in the course walk is essential. BarnManager spoke with U.S. Olympic silver medalist and international grand prix rider Peter Leone to learn how he walks to win. Read Peter’s general course walking tips in our first part of the blog HERE.

 Be Prepared

It is important for the rider and their trainer to have an honest conversation about where the horse and rider are in their development process before adding the pressure and nuance of riding to win. For any rider, the first step is being comfortable with the fundamentals of riding a jumper course. The rider should have an understanding of their horse’s stride length and be able to lengthen and shorten their horse’s stride while maintaining balance and without losing their position. They also should be able to ride an exact track to and from each obstacle.

Similarly, the horse has to understand how to jump different types of obstacles – verticals, oxers, and liverpools, for example. They also have to be comfortable when presented with a variety of obstacles in succession – like in a combination, a direct line, or a bending line. Of course, riding to win isn’t something that should be done all at once. It is a gradual process of introducing horse and rider to different course challenges before putting it all together.

We only learn and improve by pushing beyond what we already know. You can’t be afraid to try to apply what you learned from the course walk to your ride. You have to have confidence in what you walk.

Photo by Giana Terranova Photography

Do Your Homework

Like a talented artist, each course designer has their own style and elements they tend to favor in their course plans. Knowing your course designer for an important upcoming competition can be an advantage in your preparation. One course designer might like to build jumps off of short turns, while another might test the athletes with questions of adjustability. Knowing what to look out for and then practicing those challenges at home before the competition can lead to a pleasant sense of déjà vu when walking and riding the course.

Have a Plan

Remember that even when walking to win, knowing the format of the class is still very important. For example, in a class where faults are converted to seconds on your overall time, you might want to take more risk. In a class where you need to qualify for a jump-off, riding the first round cleanly is paramount. There’s also the case where you have a class that takes back only the top 10 riders for a jump-off, in which case a clear round might not be good enough if it’s not quick enough. I always tell myself and my students that when riding a first-round track, to think of it as a speed round where you want to place between fifth and tenth, so you aim to be efficient. Keeping all of this in mind when you walk will help you make the best plan.

Smooth Is Fast

Photo courtesy of Peter Leone

The smoother rides are almost always the fastest. Walking a track that allows the jumps to come up out of stride, without interrupting the horse’s pace or direction, is much faster than a more reckless ride with control difficulties.

When you walk to win, try to find and walk the most direct lines between jumps. Sometimes that means jumping an obstacle on an angle to line up the next jump. Another way to be faster than your competition is to make a tighter turn on landing. You also have to judge where there is opportunity to make turns inside other obstacles or arena decorations. In some cases, it can be faster to go around so that you can keep a forward pace instead of losing time in an abrupt turn.

Be sure to take a look at the most difficult parts of the course for you and your horse in your entrance. This will maximize your chances of answering those difficult jumping questions. Because you and your horse will have already seen and felt these challenges in your entrance, you can be as smooth as possible in your execution.

Take the jump material into account. Even though you are trying to be as quick and efficient as possible in order to win, you have to be sensible about the risks you take. A tall, airy, delicate fence requires more balance and consideration than a more impressive oxer which you can ride at more aggressively.

You also have to consider your horse’s tendencies. Many of today’s courses have lines built on fractional striding. A line might walk six-and-a-half strides, or seven-and-three-quarters strides, or four-and-two-thirds strides. That forces the rider to make a decision. If you have a bending line to the right and your horse has a tendency to drift right, then you might walk the leave-out striding. If your horse bulges to the left, then you might have to plan for the extra stride. These questions challenge the rider to make the smoothest, and therefore fastest, plan to suit their individual horse.

Practice, Practice, Practice

It is so, so important to practice walking courses. When you walk, formulate your own thoughts on how the course should ride, and then watch how it actually rides. Combine what you walked and what you watched to find the best plan for your horse to win.

When I compete in a grand prix, even if I have a pole down in the first round, I still stay to watch the jump-off. I think about what I walked to win the class, and then see what ends up winning. Nowadays, the footing at most of these competitions is so excellent, that horses are able to open up to 18’ strides instead of the typical 12’ or 14’ stride. I am often surprised and impressed to see riders leaving out more strides than I thought was possible when I originally walked. Practicing walking to win, particularly with jump-offs, and watching classes gives you more knowledge and better preparation for when you are riding to win yourself.

There is so much to learn from walking a jumper course and watching the class. Practicing this skill and coming up with your own effective plan can help you and your horse achieve the best results.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Tips From the Pros: Buying a Farm with Martha W. Jolicoeur
March 19, 2023| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Deciding to buy your own farm is a decision not to be taken lightly. Understanding the process and knowing what properties will align with your needs are crucial factors to consider. BarnManager spoke with Martha W. Jolicoeur, one of the top-ranked real estate agents catering exclusively to equestrian clientele in Wellington, FL, to learn from her experience and expertise.

What are some important first steps a person should take when they decide to start looking for a farm?

When you start the process of looking for a farm you want to make sure you know what your budget is, especially when looking at equestrian properties. It’s important to hire a realtor you trust who comes recommended and specializes in horse farms.

What’s the first thing you look for when you walk into a farm, and what are a few other important qualities or features to look for?

As always in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. Other features or qualities depend on what the buyer is looking for. For example, if you’re in Florida seasonally, you may need less land than if you’re here for a longer period of time. When looking at equestrian properties, it is important to remember that the maintenance of a property in Florida during the summer months is more than what is required in the winter; it rains every day in the summer, and everything grows really quickly.

Another important feature people who have experience working at a horse farm often look for is the ability to see the paddocks from the barn. Also, walkers are currently an important feature for many buyers. A farm that has a covered walker, or room to install one, is highly desirable.

Are there any features you consider to be absolute dealbreakers?

Anything that would be dangerous to the animals is a dealbreaker. Everything should be in a good state of repair. For example, there should be no nails sticking out in the stabling or fencing. If you’re selling, make sure the fencing is painted and looks nice because fencing is important and makes a strong first impression. For the barn itself, you want neutral colors. A barn that is painted in darker colors often looks dated which is a turn-off.

Are there certain features that are often overlooked but important when looking to purchase a farm?

Drainage is an essential feature for any barn. Also, having shade for the horses in the paddocks is often overlooked but is so important. It is a good idea to consider the direction of the barn and if it catches the wind. Having a breeze blowing through a barn aisle in the summer months is a great quality. Specific to barns in warmer climates, understand that rubber pavers do not do well in the sun. Many people are now using a poured rubber instead, which is easy to clean. You want to look for a surface that is attractive and can stand the test of time. If there is light footing in the ring, you don’t want a dark aisle surface that immediately shows the sand when you come into the barn.

Although shopping for an equestrian property is an exciting experience, it is also a large investment. In order to find a property that will best suit your needs, it is important to do your homework and to work with a knowledgeable realtor who understands the nuances of the market.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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BarnManager Q&A With: Ally Bradley
March 9, 2023| | in category BarnManager Q&A No comments yet

BarnManager Q&A With: Ally Bradley

Ally Bradley, show groom for Catherine Tyree, a young professional show jumping athlete based out of Wellington, FL

What are three things that are always in your ring bag and why?

My ring bag is a small tack room, to be honest. It of course comes with the usuals, but I will not go anywhere without a stud tree, Advil, or my spare rope halter. All three have proven to be useful on the days that make you say, “Well that wasn’t supposed to happen…”

Photo courtesy of Ally Bradley

What’s something you learned early in your career that has stuck with you?

Early in my career, I was working for Neil Jones while Mavis Spencer was still riding for him. Mavis taught me that there are many ways to do something correctly as long as you keep good horsemanship in mind. There is no one true path to success with horses. You have to leave room for error and stay empathetic with both the horses and humans around you. There has to be a space for differences in styles and personalities. Nothing in the barn belongs in a “box.”

Who inspires you the most in the industry and why?

My industry inspiration would be my childhood trainer, Kathy Slack, who is really more like my mom. When she started her career in horses, it was more of a side gig to teach a few lessons and enjoy her own horses while she worked as a nurse. She bought a small building with land and built the stalls inside the structure herself. Before you know it, she went from two horses to five to 10. Now, 25 years later, between two separate business operations, she oversees 80+ horses and countless riders and students. She does this all while being an incredible mom, instructor, philanthropist, and mentor. Kathy is the coolest person and the one who inspired me to go to Wellington and start grooming. I am grateful to her for everything she has done for me through the years.

What is your best tip for staying organized during a busy show day?

Photo by Lauren White Media

When the days get busy and you start going fast, the best thing you can do is have a clear plan from the get-go. Communication is also important. If everyone is on one page from the moment you feed the horses in the morning to the moment you feed in the afternoon, it makes for an enjoyable experience. If the plan falls apart during the day, it is also important to have a reliable and flexible team of people working with you. I consider myself really lucky to work with the team of people I do. I am quite close and work very seamlessly with my rider Catherine Tyree and my coworker Alex Weinman. We keep it all together by creating a plan every night and sticking to it the best we can. While we are very serious about show jumping, we are also always laughing and having fun. It is extremely important to me to be on a team of people I enjoy working with. If it’s not fun, why do it?

What is one horse show you have never been to but would love to attend?

I have yet to attend Spruce Meadows, and I am dying to get up there. It is such an iconic venue, and I hope to experience it soon.

Photo by Lauren White Media

Mares, geldings, or stallions? Why?

I am just a horse person. I don’t really have a favorite. I fall in love with the personality of the horse before anything else!

If you were a horse, what would you be and why?

If I was a horse, I would hands down be a naughty school pony who lived to be 100 years old.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Must-Watch Live Streams in March and April
March 3, 2023| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

March and April promise an exciting lineup of competitions to enjoy. Keep reading to find out where to watch some of the top jumping, eventing, and dressage competitions for the next two months.

Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field: March 3-4, 2023

Kick off the 2023 eventing show season with Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field taking place at the Aiken Horse Park Foundation in Aiken, SC. Watch top athletes such as William Fox-Pitt, Will Faudree, Phillip Dutton, Liz Halliday-Sharp, Boyd Martin, and Doug Payne compete.

Where to watch: Horse & Country

Desert Circuit Week IV: March 14-19, 2023

Enjoy hunter, jumper, and equitation competition from the Desert International Horse Park in La Quinta, CA. Week IV of the circuit features four-star show jumping classes as well as World Championship Hunter Rider competition.

Where to watch: ClipMyHorse.TV

Live Oak International: March 16-19, 2023

Live Oak International in Ocala, FL, is the largest international level combined driving and show jumping competition in the country. The highlight show jumping class of the week will be the $222,600 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala presented by Lugano Diamonds. This will be the final qualifier for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League.

Where to watch: ClipMyHorse.TV

Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI: March 16-19, 2023

The Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial will take place at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, NC. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this horse show will feature four-star, three-star, two-star, and one-star eventing competition.

Where to watch: Horse & Country

Saut Hermès: March 17-19, 2023

Saut Hermès takes place at the breathtaking Grand Palais Éphémère overlooking the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The event highlights five-star and Under 25 show jumping competition. On Saturday, March 18, viewers can watch Le Saut Hermès CSI5* and the Prix du 24 Faubourg CSI5*. Saut Hermès will come to an end on Sunday, March 19, with the Grand Prix Hermès CSI5*.

Where to watch: Horse & Country

Rolex Grand Prix CSI5* at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF): April 1, 2023

The highlight show jumping event of WEF is the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI5* taking place during the final week of the circuit at Wellington International, in Wellington, FL. The class will be held on Saturday evening under the lights in the International Arena.

Where to watch: Wellington International

FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023: April 4-8, 2023

The FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023 will take place at the CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, NE. The world’s best Jumping, Dressage, and Vaulting horse-and-rider combinations will be in attendance and vying for top championship titles.

Where to watch: ClipMyHorse.TV

Longines Global Champions Tours (LGCT) Miami Beach: April 12-15, 2023

Enjoy high-level show jumping with a beautiful backdrop of the ocean. LGCT Miami Beach features five-star, two-star, and Global Champions League competition in Miami, FL.

Where to watch: GCTV

World Equestrian Center – Ocala April Dressage CDI3*: April 13-16, 2023

Enjoy top-caliber dressage competition at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in Ocala, FL. The horse show will include three-star competition as well as USEF/USDF-rated classes.

Where to watch: ClipMyHorse.TV

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Tips for Building a Course at Home
February 23, 2023| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Setting a course in your home ring is no easy task. To do it well, this skill requires planning and practice. Keep reading for tips from BarnManager on how to successfully set a course at your farm.

Know Your Ring

An important part of coming up with a course is understanding the size and shape of your ring. For example, you will build a different style of course for a long and narrow ring than you would for a square-shaped arena. It is important to acknowledge these differences so you can set a track that rides well and makes good use of the shape of your particular ring.

Consider Your Goals for Your Horse

When setting a course, think about what skills you are working on improving with your horse. Try to add those types of fences or tracks into your course so you can practice them regularly. This could be a trot jump, one stride, skinny fence off of a tight turn, or bending line on the right lead.

Find Inspiration

Course maps from previous hunter, jumper, and equitation classes or finals are often available online. Although your arena may not fit all of the jumps or allow the same number of strides in a line, pick certain interesting parts to recreate. Also, if you are at a horse show and see a course you like, take a picture of the course map to save for later.

Map Out Your Ideas

Before you start moving standards and flower boxes around, draw out your plan on a piece of paper. Even if you have a solid idea in your head, writing it down will help you visualize the entire course and ensure you have the correct number of standards and poles required. List the types of standards and fill, objects such as flower boxes, walls, or gates, you want for each jump so when it’s time to start doing the heavy lifting things will go more quickly.

Make Sure Your Jumps Match

When designing your course plan, think about the types of standards, poles, and fill you have. Try to make the standards and colored poles match in each line, similar to what you would find at a horse show. Although you may not have enough paired standards or colored rails to coordinate everywhere, it is nice to make the course as appealing as possible.

Build a Versatile Course

Most barns cater to a variety of disciplines and have a mix of riders and horses at different levels of experience. When building a course, try to include options that work for hunter, jumper, and equitation riders. Aim to create courses that can be adjusted to accommodate beginners as well as those that are more advanced. When you build a challenging course, include a few welcoming fences that are easy to make small for horse-and-rider combinations of all levels.

Include a Gymnastic

If your ring is large enough, consider adding a gymnastic line somewhere. This is a nice option that gives you the ability to mix it up so horses and riders are doing more than practicing courses. Gymnastics are an excellent way to work on straightness and adjustability. Depending on the difficulty of the gymnastic, it can be a great exercise for riders of multiple levels and disciplines.

Setting an effective course requires both planning and heavy lifting so make sure to recruit some barn friends to help!

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Tips for Bringing Your Dog to the Barn
February 9, 2023| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Many people have dogs that go everywhere with them, including the barn. If you work at a barn or plan to spend the majority of your day there it is nice to have your dog with you. Although dogs often can be seen running around freely at stables, there are rules that should be followed in order to do this safely.

Check for Barn Rules

Before you decide to bring your dog to the barn ask the owner and/or trainer about their rules for allowing dogs on the property. Do not assume you know the rules because every stable is different. Some barns do not allow dogs at all, while others will allow dogs but only on a leash. Even when the owner or trainer brings their dogs to the barn, that may not mean other people’s dogs are permitted.

Know Your Dog’s Behavior

Even if your barn allows dogs, think hard about how your pet might react in that environment. For example, consider your dog’s behavior with other animals, people, kids, and in a busy environment. If your dog gets anxious easily, is not good on a leash, or wanders off then bringing them to the barn may not be wise. Knowing how your dog may react under these conditions is important for everyone’s safety. Consider bringing your dog for a trial run on a day when you can spend time with them. Keep your dog on a leash and observe their behavior and reactions before deciding whether another visit will work. Also consider spending time reviewing basic training skills with them while you are in the barn environment.

Safety First

Even if you have a well-behaved dog, you must still take certain precautions to ensure the safety of others at the barn. For example, if someone is getting on a spooky or green horse and your dog is lying next to the arena, it may be best to move them away so they do not accidentally scare the horse. Similarly, do not let your dog roam free in or near the ring when a beginner is getting on to ride. Even the best-behaved dogs can have moments where they decide to chase after a bird or bark at a squirrel, and you do not want to be responsible for someone falling off their horse because of your dog. Remember that you are accountable if your dog spooks a horse, bites a person, or chews on a tack trunk. Although these are worst-case scenarios and many dogs successfully spend time at the barn, it is necessary to consider and understand the risks.

Also think about safety concerns for your dog when you bring them to the barn. You do not want them to get kicked by a horse or eat something poisonous. Always keep an eye on your dog, especially if they are loose, in order to prevent a dangerous situation from occurring.

Make Sure Your Dog Is Comfortable

If your dog is going to spend time at the barn be sure they are comfortable first. You may want to purchase a bed, water bowl, or pen that you can set up so they can rest and feel safe. Even if you decide you are comfortable allowing them to be loose most of the time, it is nice for your dog to have a quiet spot that is theirs, especially during times when they cannot roam free.

While spending the whole day with your horse and dog sounds ideal, it is important to acknowledge the responsibilities that come along with bringing your dog to the barn.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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