MAINTAIN TO SUSTAIN

Keep your equine investments in tip top condition to prevent unforseen costs

As you will be aware nothing in the Equine World comes without a hefty price tag, when you add together the costs of feed, bedding, vet’s bills, rugs, yard equipment…… the list goes on it will all cost a small fortune. Intentions are a wonderful thing, its very human to put off until tomorrow what you should get done today and before you know it there’s a mammoth task ahead as everything needs to be done at the same time.

Maintenance is so essential to keep your equine builds and space up together not only to ensure we don’t have the time consuming job of doing everything all at once but your, stables, arena , horses outside space will all have been an expensive purchase to start with so the upkeep is essential for your investment.

Stables

To ensure that your stable remains in tip top condition it’s important to keep it clean. A regular clean of your stable is a major part of not just maintaining the health of your horses, but also the life of your stable structure. Wooden and timber stables will show signs of rot and mould if it is moist or damp. Cleaning regularly will reduce damage caused by outdoor elements such as rain, frost or heat. Weather conditions will impact the structure of your stables especially hot summers followed by harsh winters, this can cause swelling and shrinking in wooden structures which may lead to cracks or leaks, minor repair can be quickly rectified with minimal cost, if left then this could lead to major repairs and bigger problems further down the line.

Horses should be safe and secure at all times so its advisable to ensure that all stable doors are in working order and that all kick bolts are fitted safely and can be used effectively making sure that wear and tear hasn’t caused any rusty parts to hang loose. If rubber matting is used on your stable floor, then over time it can wear with curling corners and worn patches especially if your horse has a favourite spot to stand. The worn parts can be removed and replaced with new so that your horse doesn’t trip.

Barn roofs keep your hooved friends (and everything that comes with them) safe from the elements, so it’s important to perform routine maintenance checks to ensure they’re in working condition.

 Clear tree debris away after storms to prevent mould and insects from making a home.

 Prune nearby trees and remove nearby dead or damaged trees to prevent fall-ins.

 If you notice a shingle flapping in the breeze, fix it right away to prevent further issues.

 Check the fasteners to prevent pieces of roof from flying away in inclement weather.

Arenas

A horse arena is a great addition to your property, simply because it can provide hours of fun for both you and your horses but how will you maintain your arena to make sure it stays as new for a long time?

Maintenance tips can vary depending on the local conditions and factors, such as daily use, footing material, and your riding style. Here are some general tips.

Raking Your Horse Arena

Occasionally, you’ll need to rake your arena to make sure it stays smooth and uniform. Most horse arena owners need to do this about 2-3 times a week, but it all depends on how much you actually use the arena.

Perform Sand Maintenance

Over time, sand and additives will compact and lose their properties, so you will need to replace the top layer. This also depends on how much you use the arena, but you’ll usually have to do it every five years.

Keep An Eye On Arena Surface Levels

Your arena footing will naturally compact down over time. It might also develop some depth inconsistencies that are not visible to the naked eye, and you might not even be aware of them. That’s why we recommend a depth check every three months or so. This way, you can easily spot any level differences and make sure you even them out.

Remove Organic Matter

To keep your arena in the best shape possible, always make sure you clean the horse’s feet before entering. Removing your horse droppings or any other organic matter is necessary since leaving them in place can affect your arena’s performance.  months or so. This way, you can easily spot any level differences and make sure you even them out.

Remove Organic Matter

To keep your arena in the best shape possible, always make sure you clean the horse’s feet before entering. Removing your horse droppings or any other organic matter is necessary since leaving them in place can affect your arena’s performance.

Paddocks

Its important if you can to rest your paddocks, this can be done by rotating the use of your paddocks to allow a period of rest this gives the grass an opportunity to repair and rejuvenate. This is the perfect opportunity to carry out paddock maintenance, such as harrowing, topping off the rough areas if needed and treating weed infestation.

If you find that your fields are particularly wet, have you looked into drainage solutions a simple method of digging trenches around your perimeter to encourage drainage. The planting of trees is also an effective way to reduce excess water from your fields, not only is this an environmentally friendly way to manage your drainage but can also be utilised to provide shade for your horses. If your gateways are causing a particular muddy problem then why not look into methods of mud control such as field matting or other aggregates.

General weekend chores will ensure that your small holding stays in good working condition simple tasks such as oiling metal gates, re attaching that fallen post, sweeping the yard and clearing the area of seasonal debris will all help to maintain your equestrian investment whilst ensuring it stays a fun and pleasurable place to be.