Stable Management

farm freebies Managing a barn or stable is no easy task, but we hope to make it simpler. Here you will find tips and advice on all aspects of stable management, from turn-out procedures to feeding, to handling sick horses.

How to Name Your Barn

After talking about serious subjects over the last couple weeks, I thought we’d jump the tracks a little and talk about something more fun: Naming your barn! It’s a decision you’ll have to live with for quite some time, so it takes serious thought. The name of your horse business is the first impression you [...]

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When You’re Away: Leaving the Barn in Good Hands

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All horse business owners need a break once in a while, and you can’t be at the barn every single day of the year. Whether you’re taking a much-needed vacation or traveling to horse shows, it helps to have a strategy for leaving the barn in good hands.

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You Tell Me: Responding to Criticism

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We talked earlier in the week about clients who don’t listen, and a couple weeks ago we discussed client criticism. Now I want to know how you deal with the latter issue.

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You Tell Me: What’s Your Cribbing Solution?

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Why don’t we get back to basics a bit here at RIU? I’m curious about your solution to the time-worn issue of cribbing. It affects barns new and old, regardless of discipline or philosophy, and sometimes it runs rampant.

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The Cost of a Sick or Injured Horse

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Veterinary check-ups, regular visits with the farrier, health-related supplements—they all cost money. Keeping a barn full of horses in tip-top shape could easily bankrupt a cash-poor horse business owner.

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Reducing Employee Turnover in the Horse Business

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It takes a lot of work to find reliable employees in the horse business. You’ve got to advertise, review applications, interview prospects, and make what you hope is an informed decision. And if you have high employee turnover, you encounter this monstrous task more frequently than you’d like.

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You Tell Me:
Music in the Barn?

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Sometimes it helps to get a little frivilous. We horse business owners like to kick up our heels now and again, and how can you kick up your heels without music? I’m curious about your daily barn ritual.

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Maximizing Barn Space

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Today we have a question from Betsy in Michigan, who wants to know:

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Horse Job Spotlight: Stable Manager

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A stable manager, or barn manager, is responsible for the well-being of the horses housed at a particular equestrian facility. He or she takes care of day-to-day operations, troubleshooting problems and providing customer service.

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Create a Statement of
Horse Boarding Standards

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If someone were to ask you about your horse boarding standards, you could probably rattle off a long list of rules you enforce and products you use to ensure the safety and well-being of your equine clients. But have you actually written a statement of horse boarding standards?

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Hours of Operation in the Horse Business

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When you need to buy something early Sunday morning and you aren’t familiar with the store at which you want to purchase it, what do you do? I don’t know about you, but I locate that store’s web site or find its phone number in the Yellow Pages so I can inquire about their hours of operation.

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What To Do When a
Horse Gets Loose

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It happens more often than horse business owners care to admit. Someone gets careless with a lead rope or a faulty cross-tie comes unclipped. However it happens, the first order of business when a horse gets loose is to keep everyone safe.

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Are Your Stalls Really Clean?

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Dirty stalls are a major pet peeve of mine. Our horses work really hard for us, and they don’t deserve to stand in urine and feces. Seriously.

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7 Ways to Spruce Up the Barn

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No one wants to look at overgrown lawns, out-of-control bushes, peeling paint, or broken fencing. Neglecting the aesthetic aspects of your barn will turn away prospective clients and give current clients a reason to look elsewhere.

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Top 20 Amenities for Horse Farms

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The types of amenities a horse farm should provide depends on the clients that horse business serves. Clients who compete on a regular basis and ride expensive horses require different amenities from clients who trail ride every once in a while and consider their horses pets.

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7 Things Stable Managers
Should Never Say

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1“Feeding can wait.” Horses require consistency in their feeding schedules. If they are fed too late or too early, the resulting irritation can cause colic and a host of other problems. When you’re managing a stable, make sure feeding schedules are a top priority.

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You Tell Me: Automatic Waterers or Water Buckets?

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So You Tell Me: Which do you prefer in the barn, automatic waterers or water buckets? And why?

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Full Board Versus Partial Board
for the Horse Business

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Diversification is the name of the game in the horse business. The more options you can offer potential clients, the better your chances of scoring new customers. One example of this is offering both full board and partial board.

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Space-Savers for Barn Storage

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There never seems to be enough space. By the time you’ve got everything labeled and put away, there’s another crop of junk that needs a home. So how do you make room for barn storage?

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Do Your Employees Care?

I mean, really care? Are they concerned about the fate of your horse business? Do they put forth the maximum effort in their quest for extraordinary results?

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5 Barn Safety Tips You
Can’t Survive Without

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Use these important barn safety tips to keep your stable in order and maintain the security of your horses as well as your clients and their visitors.

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How Often Should You
Clean Stalls?

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It’s a relatively small decision, but it makes a big difference to your horse business. How often should you clean stalls?

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Whose Job Is It?

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In order for a stable to function, there must be organization among employees. Read on to learn how to assign jobs and create job descriptions in the horse business.

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The Green Horse Farm

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What makes a horse farm green? And how should horse business owners protect their environment while running an equestrian facility? Put in your two cents and learn something while you’re at it.

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Managing Stable Employees

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How you manage your stable employees will determine your productivity, efficiency and reputation. These stable management techniques will help you keep your employees in line.

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Why You Must Have
an Indoor Arena

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Considering the installation of an indoor arena at your farm? It’s more important than you might think. Don’t put it off for these reasons.

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Screening Applicants in the
Horse Boarding Business

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Review these tips for screening boarders who might be moving into your barn. This will protect your horse boarding business and ensure a smooth transition.

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The Worst Mistake in the
Horse Boarding Business

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What is the worst mistake you can make in the horse boarding business? And how can you avoid it? This tip will help you maintain the integrity of your business.

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On Whips and Spurs

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All horse business owners have a position on whips, spurs and other artificial aids. Learn how to develop a policy for your business.

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Lesson Horse Wellness Check-Ups

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Learn to evaluate your lesson horses on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Checking for problems will protect your beloved school horses as well as your investment.

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Organize the Barn

Clean, declutter and organize the barn for greater productivity and renewed dedication. You’ll feel better about your horse business and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can find what you need.

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How to Stop Theft at the Barn

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Everyone pays for barn theft, and preventative techniques can save both money and your reputation. Follow these tips to keep your employees, clients and possessions safe from thieves.

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