Top 10 Hazards in Your Barn

Top 10 Hazards in Your Barn

Whinny’s Wisdoms

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

Hey everybody, it’s your ever-observant barn mouse Whinny here! We all know how accident-prone horses can be (unlike cats and mice, which Tony used to assure me are far superior species in that regard). Therefore, it’s important to be on the lookout for potential hazards that may lurk within and around the barn. Let’s take a look at the top 10 common hazards in most barns, and find some ways to create a safer environment for your horse.

  1. Non-Breakaway Halters

Non-breakaway halters, often made of nylon, might seem sturdy, but they pose a significant risk if your horses get caught in a situation which can cause them to get stuck in the halter, leading to injuries or worse. Opt for breakaway halters that release under pressure, ensuring your horse’s safety in unforeseen circumstances. Most of the time the breakaway piece is an area of the halter that is leather that easily breaks under excess pressure. This is especially critical when hauling in a trailer.

  1. Cobwebs

   Cobwebs may add a spooky charm to a barn, but they can compromise your horse’s respiratory health, as well as pose a fire hazard. Regularly check and clean your barn to prevent the buildup of cobwebs to lower your risk.

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  1. Clutter

   A cluttered barn is a hazard zone waiting to happen. Aisleways with pitchforks, shovels and equipment can become dangerous, especially if a horse spooks and hits, kicks or becomes tangled amongst it. Take the time to organize and declutter the barn space, creating a safer and more efficient environment for everyone.

  1. Too Many Extension Cords

   Electrical mishaps are a real concern in barns with excessive extension cords. Invest in proper wiring and limit the use of extension cords. This simple step can significantly reduce the risk of electrical fire hazards in the barn.

  1. Water Bucket Clips

   Double-ended snaps and where the handle hooks to the water bucket are a common cause of eyelid lacerations. Horses love to rub and itch on these buckets and accidentally get caught and pull back and hurt themself in the process. Any easy fix to this problem is to make sure all double-ended snaps are facing the wall and wrapping bucket hooks with electrical tape.

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  1. Feed Storage

   Proper horse feed storage is important for maintaining the nutritional quality and safety of your horse’s diet. Storing feed in a cool, dry place is essential to prevent mold growth and the development of mycotoxins, which can be harmful to horses. Store feed in clean containers with well-sealed lids to prevent rodent and insect contamination. Additionally, storing feed off the ground and away from direct sunlight helps preserve its nutritional value.

  1. Fencing (Barbed wire and Lack of Top Boards)

   Barbed wire is not easily seen by horses and poses a severe threat to their safety. The sharp, pointed edges can cause significant injuries, from cuts and scrapes to massive lacerations. Similarly, wire fencing without a top board can let a horse accidentally run into or get caught up in the fencing. It’s crucial to utilize alternatives like smooth, visible fencing options that prioritize both containment and the well-being of our equine companions. Electricity is always a good accessory to quality fencing!       

  1. Nails in Boards

   Regularly inspecting fencing and stalls for loose nails is a paramount aspect of equine care, crucial for preventing potential lacerations and injuries. This simple yet essential practice not only safeguards the physical well-being of our equine companions but also contributes to fostering a secure and comfortable environment within the barn where your horse feels safe, rather than stressed about being around things that hurt.

  1. Blanket Clips

   Although we are lucky here in Florida and only need blankets occasionally, we need to be mindful when clipping blankets that they are clipped towards the horse. As we have mentioned previously, as wonderful as horses are, they are accident-prone and can get themselves in precarious situations unless we are vigilant. Occasionally when clips are outward, they will snap closed on other objects, like haynets, bucket handles or stall doors. This is followed by a moment of panic, which often has an injury on its heels. Why can’t horses be more like mice?

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  1. Pest Control

   Pests such as flies, rodents, and insects not only irritate horses but can also pose health risks and compromise the cleanliness of the environment. Implementing a comprehensive pest control program involves regular cleaning of manure, proper waste disposal, and the use of insecticides or traps strategically placed to target specific pests. Be mindful that some physical and edible traps can pose risks to cats and dogs on the property. This is going to sound weird coming from a barn mouse, but bear with me: An environmentally friendly rodent eliminator and deterrent are spayed and neutered cats!  Cats are natural predators, particularly adept at controlling rodent populations that might otherwise pose a threat to the barn’s hygiene and the well-being of horses. By spaying and neutering the cats, their focus remains on pest control rather than breeding, fostering a stable and efficient population.

Creating a safe environment in your barn requires diligence and attention to detail. By addressing these top 10 hazards, you’re not only safeguarding your horse but also fostering a space where everyone can thrive. Regular maintenance and proactive measures are the keys to ensuring a secure and happy haven for you and your horses.

Until next week!

~Whinny

P.S. Have you subscribed to my blog? You can do that by scrolling down to the big purple box just below and entering your email address. I’ll email you my blog every week, and then you won’t miss an episode! It’s that easy!

Whinny’s Wisdoms is the official blog of Whinny the Clinic Mouse at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. If you liked this blog, please subscribe below, and share it with your friends on social media! For more information, please call us at (352) 472-1620, visit our website at SpringhillEquine.com, or follow us on Facebook!

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Housing Livestock Species

Housing Livestock Species

Whinny’s Wisdoms

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

Hi there, Whinny here! I may be small, but I know a thing or two about living quarters, being nimble enough to explore them and all. If you’re new to horses or livestock you may not know how they want to live. Housing seems like a simple thing, but who lives with who and how much space they have can be really important. In this article, I’ll share some tips and tricks for creating a cozy and comfortable home for your large animals. So grab a piece of cheese and settle in, because we’re about to get started!

General Housing Principles

Large animals like horses, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, and pigs (oh my!) need plenty of space to move around and exercise. Make sure your pastures, stalls, or whatever area they live in are large enough to accommodate your animals comfortably. These areas should also be kept clean. It’s fairly obvious that stalls need to be cleaned (Tony says they’re basically just giant litter boxes), but paddocks and pastures often need to be cleaned of excess manure too. Plus, it’s really important to walk your property often looking for stuff that shouldn’t be there like trash, metal scraps, roofing nails, and bailing twine.

Every animal needs access to fresh, clean water at all times. Make sure you’re regularly (daily is ideal) dumping, scrubbing, and refilling buckets and water troughs. Horses and livestock need shelter from the elements, including sun, wind, rain, and snow (I’ve never experienced that last one but I hear it’s extra chilly!). This can be in the form of stalls, run-in sheds, or sometimes really nice tree cover is enough.

Every place is a little different, and the needs of your animals may vary depending on the climate, terrain, and other factors. Our doctors and technicians here are always happy to chat about the best management plan for your individual situation when we’re there seeing your crew. Let’s get into some specifics for the different species now!

Horses

The amount of space required for horses depends on a variety of factors, including the size of the animal, the breed, and the level of activity. In general, horses need enough space to move around, lie down, and access food and water. For horses that are kept in stalls, the recommended stall size is around 12 feet by 12 feet, although larger stalls may be needed for larger horses.

For horses that are kept in pastures, the recommended amount of space is typically around 1-2 acres per horse, but many appreciate more than that. Horses also need access to shelter, such as a barn or run-in shed, to protect them from the elements (and house their mousey friends). It’s very important to keep horses in a clean and well-ventilated environment to prevent the spread of disease. If you’re building a barn, always consider air flow and drainage. My docs made a video about barn design that you’ll enjoy, so I’ll put a link in my P.S. at the end.

Cattle

Most cattle are comfortable living outside most of the time as long as they have shade and protection from the elements. For beef type cattle in a production setting, the recommended amount of space is around 250-500 square feet per animal, depending on the size of the animal. For dairy type cattle on a working farm, the recommended amount of space is around 100-150 square feet per animal. For pet cows, generally 1-2 acres per cow is most comfortable.

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If you are going to house cattle on your property and you expect to get any vet care ever (especially from our team here), it is *required* that you have handling facilities. Cows are really big! I know I’m a mouse, but even compared to you humans they are large and dangerous. While pet cows may allow you to pet them for food or scritches, when our doctors come at them with needles and stethoscopes they often end up at the other side of however many acres they have. The best plan for facilities involves a chute or head catch that are in a location the cattle can be directed into. These facilities can be part of the cows normal life and you can practice pushing them through on days when they aren’t needed so it becomes routine.

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Sheep and Goats

Sheep and goats are great pets! The most ideal situation is for them to have both barn space and pasture space. They can definitely be kept together, but they are handled a bit differently, so it may be easier to keep sheep with sheep and goats with goats. Barn space should allow for at least 20 square feet per animal and pasture space should provide at least 300 square feet of usable space for each animal.

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It’s important to provide a variety of surfaces for sheep and goats. Goats especially absolutely love to climb, so if you can get them a boulder, stump, log, or other elevated surface to play on they will appreciate it. Both sheep and goats benefit from having textured ground such as gravel or roofing tiles in a commonly used area of the pasture to help wear down their feet in between hoof trims. Sheep tend to stay where they are put if they are left alone, but goats are always looking to go on an adventure. They require tall fencing that has only small gaps (no horse horizontal board fencing!) and is well reinforced.  

Whinny Wisdom: If you throw water at a fence and it makes it through, so will a determined goat! 

Camelids

Camelids that are kept as pets generally include llamas and alpacas. Yes, these are different critters! Llamas tend to be larger, have a longer nose, be more independent, and more commonly don’t need no drama. Alpacas are smaller and flightier with a much softer fiber. Camelids as a group technically includes old world camelids such as dromedaries and bactrians, however they should really not be kept as pets, so we won’t talk anymore about them.

Llamas and alpacas have similar space requirements. When they are kept in a barn, they require at least 50-60 square feet per animal. Their pastures should provide around 200-400 square feet per animal. Many times they are kept out all the time, and it’s a good rule to have no more than 5-10 llamas and alpacas per acre of land. If you plan to breed your camelids or will have intact animals, eventually you will need a total of four separate pastures: one for females, one for weanlings, one for young males, and one for adult males.

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Alpacas and llamas really shouldn’t be housed with other animals. You can, but most of the other animals I’ve discussed here have vastly different nutrition requirements to camelids, which would mean they couldn’t be fed together. This isn’t a nutrition article, but remember that all-stock feed is good for no stock you need. The larger large animals like cattle and horses can easily injure camelids which can put a major damper on them living together.

Pigs

Pigs can be popular farm animals and pets, but can present some unique challenges. They are pretty smart, just like your mouse here, and can often be great escape artists. For pigs that are kept in pastures, the recommended amount of space is around 200-300 square feet per animal. Pigs can be kept in a barn for part of the day but absolutely need access to the outdoors for a chunk of the day so they can root in the dirt, roll in the mud, and do other fun piggy things.

Well, that’s all! Thanks for learning about your animals’ house from a mouse! If you have any questions drop a comment or ask one of our veterinarians the next time they’re out seeing your animals. Cheese you next week!

~ Whinny

P.S. Here’s a link to that Barn Design Video I mentioned. My docs have a ton of great video content over on our YouTube Channel, so make sure you check it out!

Whinny’s Wisdoms is the official blog of Whinny the Clinic Mouse at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. If you liked this blog, please subscribe below, and share it with your friends on social media! For more information, please call us at (352) 472-1620, visit our website at SpringhillEquine.com, or follow us on Facebook!

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