Like many other businesses, the horse industry has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Horse shows have been cancelled, horse businesses have had to rely on online ordering, equine nonprofits have seen a drop in donations and an increase in the need for their services and barns have struggled with allowing owners access to the barn while still complying with best practices, e.g. social distancing, to reduce the spread of this deadly virus. In addition, the distressing economic downturn and the increase in unemployment have caused many people to leave the horse industry altogether.

Now that winter is over and there is a chance of horse shows this summer, having a clean horse may have moved to the top of your “to do” list. A safe and functional wash bay is an essential element of any barn.  It can be outside or inside, though of course most would prefer inside. Here are some ideas to consider when building or upgrading your wash area.

Whether you are building a new barn or renovating an old one, the best way to get the barn you want is to remember the old adage, “form follows function.”  Before you start planning your barn, think about the following things:

It comes as no surprise that caring for horses is expensive – and one of the most expensive parts are visits from the veterinarians.  Many people try to keep the cost of vet visits and services down by organizing “shot clinics” (all participants split the cost of the barn call cost) or even doing most of the vaccinations themselves.  You can buy many of the vaccines online, but it may be more beneficial in the long run to pay the fees and let your vet vaccinate your horse.

Though in some parts of the country you may still be experiencing winter-like conditions, the calendar says Spring – warmer weather, sunnier skies….and the return of flies! There are a lot of commercial products that do an excellent job of eliminating flies in an stall or even the whole barn, but those usually contain Permethrin, a pyrethroid (synthetic) insecticide. Permethrin is highly toxic to cats and can kill them.

Unfortunately, one of the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is that most stores are either running low on stock or closing their store altogether. Thank goodness for online shopping and home delivery! From tack to grooming supplies to barn supplies, you can find a great selection online and maybe even save some money with better pricing.

One of the best ways to attract more boarders to your stable is to hire a good trainer to help your riders achieve their goals. Plus, it can add additional income to your revenue stream as trainers usually pay a percentage of their lesson fees or a flat fee for the use of your facilities.

Finding a great trainer who is a good fit for your barn can be a challenge. But most any trainer would love to work out of a barn that has the following amenities:

Over the years we have become masters of multi-tasking - watching a video while cooking dinner, answering an email while on the phone, creating tomorrow’s “to do” list while listening to your kids tell you about their day. We go through each day and each task only half there because we’re focusing on something else at the same time. And so mistakes get made, things get forgotten, feelings get hurt. All this could be eliminated by simply becoming more “mindful”.

If you watch the news or read any story in the last few weeks, you can’t help to have learned about the widespread and potentially dangerous coronavirus that is affecting every country in the world, except, at least for now, Antarctica. Coronaviruses get their name for the crown-like spikes on their surface as seen under a microscope.

 If you feed your horses grain or give them treats, chances are you have unwanted visitors coming into your barn, namely mice. There are special feeders that help keep grain in your horse’s bucket during feeding, but most horses tend to drop grain on their stall floor when eating. And that grain is a perfect way to get mice in your barn. In addition to an almost constant food supply, most barns are quiet with piles of hay to hide and keep warm in.