Horse Barn Tips: Save Time On Chores

Carry, lift, push and pull. Scrape, scoop, empty and fill. Ahh, barn chores. Wouldn't it be great if you could spend less time on barn chores and more time riding your horse? These helpful horse barn tips will help you find ways to save time and money on barn chores without sacrificing safety or cleanliness.

Stall Cleaning
The 100 Percent Solution: Reduce your stall cleaning time by 100 percent (and improve your horse's health in the process) by turning her out 24 hours a day. OK, that's not always practical. But there are other options to reduce your pitchfork time.

The Right Stuff: Get the right tools for the job. Don't cheap out on a dinky wheelbarrow or a cheap pitchfork. Consider a mechanized manure sifter that separate clean shavings from dirty, saving both time and money.

Floor Coverings: Consider stall mats or other floor coverings. Floor coverings save time and effort in two ways: they increase drainage and decrease the amount of bedding needed. They'll also protect floors and keep your horse more comfortable.

Get A System: Take a tip from professional cleaning people. Establish a cleaning routine and stick to it. Next time you're in a hotel, watch the cleaning staff. They don't walk into each room, wondering where to begin. They enter, they clean, they leave. Right down the line. It's all about efficiency. This is a horse barn tip from the experts.

Watering
The Cheap Solution: Add more water containers. This is a simple and cheap barn tip and may cut your watering time in half. As always, be sure to keep them clean.

The Less Cheap Solution: If possible, extend pipes to stalls and pastures. This requires a plumber, but it can be a major time saver.

Not Cheap At All: If you can afford it, install automatic waterers.

Feeding
The optimal feeding schedule for a horse is...all day long. Pasture grazing is his natural feeding pattern and best for his digestive well being. But not so great for your schedule. But you can cut the time it takes to feed your horse without compromising his health and happiness.

Special Delivery: Instead of running back and forth from stall to feed bin, put all feeds and supplements into a large, wheeled cart with several compartments. You be surprised how much time (and effort) this horse barn tip will save you.

Gravitational Time Saver: Stack hay bales in well-ventilated lofts with strategically located "drops" over each stall or hayrack.

Bag Lunches: Prepare meals ahead of time to reduce measuring and scooping time. When you make up the morning feeding, make lunch and dinner, too. Put it into canvas bags or buckets and hang them outside the stall.

Auto Feed: A costly option but a huge time saver. Automatic feeders can hold several days' worth of concentrates and some even hold hay. But this doesn't mean you can head to the Caribbean for a long weekend. Automatic feeders must be checked every day to be sure they aren't over or under feeding your horse.

Field Feed Concentrates: Don't bring field-kept horses in just to eat. Feed concentrates in the field. But if you do feed in the field, make sure everyone gets their fair share. Feed tubs that latch onto fences work well for this purpose. Be sure to do a daily body check during field feedings.

Maintenance
Vacuum, don't sweep. Apologies to all the broom makers out there, but brooms are a big time waster. For outdoor jobs, consider a blower. But do not use a blower anywhere near your horses; dust is not good for them.

Manage The Mess: invest in prefab shelving, racks, pegboard or cabinetry. This horse barn tip works well in your house, too. Get it off the floor!

Minimize Fence Maintenance: Synthetic fences made of PVC and other polymers is more costly than wood in the short term, but over time you'll save on maintenance and repair. Properly installed electric fencing is also a low maintenance option.

Tractor Envy: But the biggest darned tractor you can afford. As a rule, it's better to have slightly "too much" tractor than not enough, so set your minimum requirement at 20 horsepower and work up from there.

Auto-water your ring. Use a simple lawn sprinkler to water down your riding ring quickly and inexpensively and keep dust at bay. Just remember to move the sprinkler before puddles form or buy a walking sprinkler.

Grooming and Tacking
Finally. It's time to ride. Streamline your pre-ride routine and get going!

Everything But The Kitchen Sink: Get a wheeled cart with saddle racks and baskets. Load it up and everything is at your fingertips.

Vacuum Your Horse: Rather than brush your horse, vacuum him. It's faster and your horse will be cleaner. He may not immediately love this, but he will get used to it. Any good 5 gallon wet/dry vac will do. Buy a horse vac accessory kit and you've got a great system at a fraction of the cost.

Double Up: Use both hands. A tool in each hand will cut your grooming time in half. This also works when you're weeding the garden. Put that other hand to work!

Getting through your horse barn chores quickly and efficiently will leave you more time for horseback riding. And that's what it's all about, right?

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