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7 Barn Hazards In the winter, it’s likely your horse will be spending more time indoors than he does in warmer months. Is your barn safe for your horse? Inspect it with this checklist of potential hazards in hand. If you spot a hazard, fix it right away.
you can do: Store hay away from your horse, preferably in a separate, well-ventilated building. Keep hay on pallets to keep it safe from ground moisture. Stack bales on their sides, and leave spaces between bales to promote air circulation, which ■ Sharp protrusions in stalls. helps keep the bales dry. If you Sharp protrusions—such as don’t have a separate building, nails, splinters, or sharp edges make a “floor” with pallets, on a broken plastic manger—can stack the hay, and cover just the scrape, puncture, or lacerate top two-thirds of the stack with your horse. Your horse’s eyes tarps so air will circulate. are particularly at risk, because ■ Electrical wiring and cords. they’re so large and prominent. An exposed electrical cord can What you can do: Visually scan electrocute your horse or cause stall walls, then run your hands a barn fire. What you can do: over all surfaces, including feedEnclose your permanent wirers, waterers, and feed buckets ing in PVC conduit. (Stay away to detect rough or sharp areas. from metal conduit—your barn’s Check the walls and ceiling. Rehumidity will lead to corromove splinters, and replace any sion, which increases the risk of broken boards. Replace broken electrical-system failure, which mangers and waterers. If you can cause a fire or electrocute find sharp nails, pull them out or your horse.) Use extension cords whack them in. only when absolutely necessary, ■ Unsecured feed. Rodents and and then use only heavy-duty birds can contaminate feed with models designed for outdoor urine and feces, which can make use. Be careful with fans and your horse ill. Mice might also water heaters, and use conduit chew on the insulation around to protect these cords, too. Avoid any accessible wiring, which can heat lamps, which can start a cause a barn fire. What you can fire. Don’t overload your circuits. do: Keep pellets and grain inside Use as few electric appliances as heavy metal containers; rodents possible, and disconnect those and equines can chew through not in use. even the strongest plastic. Look ■ Uncovered stall lights. If your for secure, locking lids. horse rears in a stall with an ■ Improper hay and bedding unprotected light, he could come storage. Hay and bedding dust down in a shower of glass. What interfere with your horse’s you can do: Cover overhead lights breathing and can harm his in wire or metal mesh cages. respiratory system. Hay and bedConsider using only plastic-coatding are also fire hazards. What ed safety bulbs. Check that the
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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Is your barn safe for your horse? Inspect it with this checklist of potential hazards in hand.
bulbs are the correct wattage. ■ Cobwebs and dust. Cobwebs are dangerous because they’re flammable, and they trap dust, bits of hay/straw, and particles of bedding—more fire hazards. What you can do: Add dusting and cobweb removal to your daily barn-cleaning routine. A long-handled feather duster is ideal for dusting light fixtures; a light broom is useful for stall grilles, walls, and corners. ■ Fuel and chemicals. Many products you use in and around your barn are toxic to your horse if ingested; they can also damage his respiratory system if they mix with the air inside your barn. “Fuel” refers to gasoline, kerosene, oil, and gas-and-oil mixes used in motorized equipment. “Chemicals” include fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, and paint. What you can do: Correctly store fuel and chemicals. Store combustible materials at least 50 feet from your barn. When you spruce up your barn’s interior, use fire-retardant latex paint. — Jessica Jahiel, PhD
Winter 2022
