Stable Procedures
At 7:00 am, stable chores begin with the horses getting hay and water supplies checked and replenished, as well as individualized concentrate feeding. Each horse is separated for concentrate feeding and inspected for injuries, lost shoes, or any other concerns. During this time, the horses may have a blanket change if the weather warrants it. If the weather is poor, the horses will enjoy their breakfast in their stalls. If it is nice out, the horses eat outside.
After morning feeding, stalls are cleaned, bedding added if necessary, and the aisles raked. If the horses are in, the water buckets will be refilled. If the horses are out, the water tanks and automatic waterers will be checked and refilled if necessary. Every week from spring to fall, the outdoor water tanks and automatic waterers and are scrubbed clean.
In the evening, chores start at 4:00 pm, consisting of feeding, refilling water, and cleaning stalls.
It is important that horses have immediate access to clean drinking water at all times, so we take great care to make sure that the tanks and buckets are clean and filled. Tanks and buckets are inspected twice daily for cleanliness as well as for functional heaters in the winter months.
Stalls are cleaned a minimum of twice daily when the horses are in, and horses have about 3 inches of bedding.
Every morning and evening, the horses are checked for obvious injuries, missing or broken blanket straps, loose or lost shoes, or anything else that seems uncharacteristic for that particular horse. Immediate concerns will be brought to the attention of the horse’s owner.
The arenas are maintained regularly for the comfort of our horses and riders.