Organizing your barn:
OK, so not that our barns are all the fanciest , but having a well kept barn can really keep you in a motivated, positive, and professional mood. The problem is that having a clean and organized barn is pretty impossible when you have it full of furry, slobbery, sweaty beasts that have a never ending supply of dirt radiating off them in all directions.... Or when you have a tack hoarding addiction ( guilty).... Hopefully I can give you some of my ideas to having a nice orderly barn. I'll try to post another part of this little series as soon as I can!
Tip 1: Schedules, Lists, Charts... Everywhere
If you can write it on a dry erase board, do it!Having nice, neat, visible charts is very helpful to you as a barn manager or a boarder. Yes, I understand in the age of smart phones and tablets that there is an app for that, but as we all know technology doesn't always comply! Some things that could be written on boards: feed schedules, emergency contact numbers, turnout schedules,or even possibly a riding schedule if you have multiple horses.
Feed charts are definitely a must have. If something happens to the main caretaker of the horses, it needs to be at least relatively easy for somebody to step in and at be able to correctly feed the horses. If a sub comes in and gives all your horses the wrong feed, there is a heightened risk of digestive upset or even a severe colic if feed is extremely altered. As riders, we like to avoid the " c word" as best we can, so something as simple as feed chart. Just get a dry erase board and some markers and your all set! Be sure to list down the volume and type of feed each horse gets as well as any supplements or medication. In certain circumstances, some directions might be helpful too. For example: if your horses are pastured, you might want to list the order in which to feed them to avoid somebody being run away from their food. Also be sure to list different types of hay if there are multiple kinds at your barn. The great thing about using a dry erase board vs. a piece of paper taped to the wall is that you can easily make changes if a horse's diet changes. Also looks much neater and professional
Next on the list of importance would be an Emergency Contact Board. When there is an emergency, whether it be a horse or person is injured, a horse is behaving oddly, or any other unforeseen circumstances, everyone needs to be able to contact somebody for help. Some people prefer to have each owner's number on their horse's stall, but I like having a big board with everyone's on it. Especially in a large barn with lots of stalls. I'd include each owner's number, the barn manager, local vet's number, farrier's number, and the barn hand's number if you have them at your barn. Might be smart to put everyone in your contacts on your phone, but the chart will still be very helpful for less regular visitors.
Kind of goes along with the feed chart swing, but having the turnout schedule on it's own board is also very helpful. Also eliminates confusion in the daily swing too. Once you pass 15 horses, it can be kind of hard to remember who goes where goes when goes what. Make sure to note what time and which paddock each horse is going to.
Lastly, having a riding schedule can really come in handy and quite frankly, put you in that " professional mood". If you have multiple horses to ride, it might be necessary to help you remember. If you only have one horse, however, it still has it's advantages. Planning a week ahead in advanced helps you make sure to get in all the rides and training you need around whatever small excuse for a social life you have as a rider. It's also easier to resist unnecessarily canceling a ride when you have a set PLAN for that day. Also really helps you put a structure to your training program which helps you evaluate your progression. I know I make 10X more progress when I plan my week rather than when I wing it .
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