A Barn Rat’s To-Do List During Self-Isolation

If during this unplanned hiatus courtesy of COVID-19 you have suddenly found yourself with time on your hands and limited options for recreation and entertainment, we offer a list of suggestions to make the days, weeks and (gasp hopefully not!) months a constructive time until the world gets back to some semblance of normal.

While the current atmosphere is one of uncertainty and even fear, we can all find solace at the barn, and now is the perfect time to catch up on the day-to-day tasks that get pushed aside because of our busy lives and time-commanding jobs.

For example, now is a great time to teach your horse some simple tricks or a new skill – check out these fun suggestions from groundwork to free-jumping:

Beat the Ho-Hum Winter Doldrums with Fun Arena Activities 
Groundwork Boredom Busters

And some help in case you need a mood boost:
Avoiding the Winter Doldrums

With the dearth of horse shows it is a great time to rediscover hacking. It is good for your horse and your soul. Try not to ride alone, however – go with a buddy or a small group (spaced mindfully a ‘social’ distance apart!).

Take advantage of the peace and quiet to watch (horse) movies or read (horse books!) or paint (the barn!) or do whatever it is you do to express yourself and feed your creative side. Drink some wine. Get lots of sleep. Wash your hands. We’ll see you on the other side of this.

Around the Barn

• Professionally wash and pack up the blankets. Sometimes you can do this and switch to a lighter blanket as the days get warmer. Now is the time for blanket repairs also, and if one is damaged beyond repair, now is also the time for tack shop sales on winter blankets! I like to store my freshly-cleaned blankets in vacuum bags. This saves space and keeps the bugs and mice out. You can then re-waterproof your horse’s blankets by hanging them over a fence to apply the product.

Of course, if your horse is like this one, cleaning and storing the blankets is not your biggest problem! (photo courtesy Deirdre Keegan)

• Time to clean out the vet kit and fridges, defrost the freezers, and start the deep cleaning. Check expiration dates, declutter, and organize! Your horse’s first aid kit should be up-to-date and restocked.
• If you don’t already do this on a regular basis, take the bridles apart to clean. (If you clean daily, you can go a lot longer between take-apart cleanings.) Double-check the stitching and oil unused or rarely used tack if needed.

… and make sure all the bridles are put back together correctly!

• Knock down the cobwebs in the barn, especially around wiring and fixtures.
• Check the date on your fire extinguishers.
• Drag the arena and outdoor rings.
• Sort out your tack room; reorganize the jumble, throw out anything beyond help, and put aside tack that needs repair.
• Now is the time to deploy fly predators if you use them (depending on the climate). It’s also the time to put into action your fly control protocols. You may need to add a few more cycles if you use automatic fly control systems, or it may be time to turn the compost or have the manure pile picked up.
• Service the trailer before the shows start again. Check out the inside of your trailer as well as the outside. I prefer to do a yearly service from a professional trailer servicing company, but in between those visits, it’s always prudent to do inspections and check tire pressures.
• Is it time to put the rainwater collection bins away? Or start using them? How is your compost pile doing? Time to spread around the farm and flowerbeds?
• Spring is often muddy and mucky – perhaps in your area, this is a great time to create some trenches around horse areas to divert spring rains.
• Bust out the calendar and start to plan your summer horse shows, clinics, vacations, and all of the fun things that go along with having decent weather!
  

  Your Horse’s Health and Comfort

• Spring vaccinations. Nothing says “I love you” more than vaccinations against fatal diseases. And also non-fatal (but still horrible) diseases. Depending on your region this includes EEE, WEE, and WNV – discuss with your vet.

Give your horse some love…and some vaccines.

• Get a fecal egg count done. This gives a snapshot of some of your horse’s parasite load. It’s convenient to do at the time of vaccinations because the vet is standing right there … and it’s also likely that there’s horse manure in the vicinity.
• Your veterinarian can also do a quick check of your horse’s teeth during the vaccination visit.
• How is your shedding plan? You may want to pick up a pair of grooming gloves or a shedding blade to help. You can also consider clipping your horse in the spring. Yes, he will still shed, but the hairs will be much shorter, and the warm weather won’t be as uncomfortable.

Hint for owners of greys: Do not wear black clothes.

• Have a grazing muzzle handy. Once that spring grass comes in, the risk of laminitis can go up for some horses. Muzzles are also great for the easy keeper who gets heavier just thinking about food.
• Going hand-in-hand with the new spring grass, pay extra attention to his hooves. They may start growing a bit faster, and you will want to check them daily for heat and tenderness, the first signs of laminitis.
• Make sure your horse’s diet is appropriate. Perhaps he had extra everything in the winter to stay warm. Or perhaps he’s an easy keeper and he gained weight in the winter anyway. Dietary adjustments should always be done over weeks, and with the help of slow feeders (and an equine nutritionist) if you can make that happen.
• Check your pastures for dandelions and buttercups. These flowers are generally ignored by horses, but they can cause problems for some if ingested.
• Make adjustments to the exercise routine. Ramp up his work slowly if he had the winter off.
• Is it time for new fly gear? Fly boots, masks, and sheets are great for battling the bugs. And it’s time to stock up on fly sprays.
• What about tick prevention? I started using a spray-on tick killer from my vet that I apply about every three weeks. I found lots of dead ticks on my horse last year before they had a chance to feed. Your climate and tendency for ticks will dictate when it’s time to get going on tick control.