Category: Barn

Pre-purchase Exam

Action Point: Allow for pre-purchase exams to happen on our farm, and make sure that we always ask for one before purchasing a horse, or having a client purchase one.

Rationale: We want to check that no one purchases a horse that suffers from lameness, make health evaluations. If an owner doesn’t want an exam done then you can assume that something is wrong with the horse. This exam will just ensure that you are buying the horse that is advertised, and healthy

https://thehorse.com/124420/understanding-the-prepurchase-exam/

Steaming Hay

Action Point: Steam the hay for the horses who suffer from heaves.

Rationale: Provide square bales for the horses, and have a kettle in the barn in order to steam the hay for 30 minutes before feeding. Steaming of the hay will help to reduce the Mold and Dust that comes in the hay bales, making it easier for these horses to eat. I will steam 2 flakes in the morning and at night. We will make sure that everyone knows how to feed steamed hay, and what the protocol to prepare it.

Helmet Awareness

Action Point: Ensure that there is helmet awareness around the farm, and that everyone is using it.

Rationale: It is important that not only our horses are safe on the property, but also our riders. Demonstrating proper helmet wear, safety and necessity will decrease the chances of riders getting hurt on our property. There are a number of reasons for why riders should be wearing helmets, and Ill make sure that there is a sign put up where we keep the helmets so that everyone can see why.

https://www.troxelhelmets.com/blogs/troxel/76914947-top-10-reasons-to-wear-a-helmet

Allergies to Dust

Action Point: Understand and treat the signs of Dust Allergies in horses

Rationalle: Ensure that the signs of a hay allergy are known early on, and that everyone on the farm knows how to deal with it. We want to be sure that the signs are recognized, and steps are known about how to help the horses out. Whether or not the hay should be watered down, or spread out, or hay cubes being fed.

https://wagwalking.com/horse/condition/hay-allergy-

Hoof Health

Action Point: Plan to provide horses with hoof dressing, and keep an eye on cracks.

Rationale: We will educate everyone on the farm on good hoof care, and how to properly apply hoof dressing to the horses. Everyone will learn how to look for dangerous cracks. We will be creating a plan to incorporate regular hoof dressing measures into our horses health.

Parasite Control

Action Point: Create a personalized parasite control program for the horses on the farm.

Rational: We will develop the three-pronged approach to parasite control. We will target what parasite each horse is most affected by, we will then time our treatments accordingly. Usually deworming twice a year, and finally we will work towards limiting exposure between horses. Making sure everyone is up to date before coming to the farm, and deworming accordingly.

https://equusmagazine.com/management/easy-parasite-control

Colic Information

Action Point: Understanding the causes, signs, and symptoms of colic is extremely important especially in the spring, and fall.

Rationale: We have a mare on the farm who colics a lot for small reasons, and sometimes it comes out of nowhere. When there are boarders or workers here, it is important that they know the tips and tricks of how to handle the situation, be calm about it and know who to call.

Colic in Horses

Hoof Injuries

Action Point: Make sure that everyone understands hoof injuries and penetrations.

Rationale: Unfortunately, at our farm, it is an old working farm, and its inevitable that old pieces of nails, glass and parts of machinery will come to the surface as the horses move it around. Making sure that the people at the farm know how to spot an injury and look for a penetration is important. They need to know the safety procedures, and when to pull something out of the foot, or when to leave it and call the vet.

https://thehorse.com/118827/penetrating-injuries-in-horse-hooves/

Educational Information on Lameness

Action Point: Provide lessons on lameness, and ensure that everyone on the farm knows how to spot lameness, and what to do if it does come up.

Rationale: Sometimes lameness comes up in horses, and making sure that anyone on the farm knows how to spot it and what to do about it. If it is spotted early, whoever finds it can ensure that the horse is kept calm, and quiet and they can decide if a vet is needed or not.

https://equusmagazine.com/lameness/improve-eye-lameness-30825

Emergency Contact Information

Action Point: Have an updated Emergency contact that everyone knows about.

Rationalle: Having an updated Emergency contact list will make sure that no matter the situation, boarders and riders will have someone to contact who knows that is going on, or how to help. The list will include up to date farriers, vets, emergency vets, and those who live on the property, the emergency contact sheet will be posted in multiple places so you have access no matter what. We will want to make sure that horse halters have the horses names on them incase of an emergency.

references: https://horse-canada.com/magazine_articles/essential-guide-to-emergency-preparedness/