Spring Cleaning and Your Horse Barn

Years ago I worked on a farm that boarded horses
and what I remember most is that my favorite
season for riding was Spring and like most
things around the farm each season had its own
chores. Winter chores, like storing hay meant
cold weather is coming. Spring chores on the
other hand meant warm weather and green
pastures. Those spring chores are what we are
going to touch on in this article.

Let's start with the barn exterior and the roof.
Depending on where you live winter can be pretty
brutal. Look the roof over carefully inside and
out. From the outside, do you see any missing or
loose shingles? If it is a metal roof, are there
any rust spots or large dents. Is there any
debris on the roof that could fall? From The
underside of the roof look for alterations in
color, stains or mold. All are signs of a leak.
This is also a good time to get any cobwebs or
spiders that may be up in the rafters. While you
have the ladder out one of the last things to
check while on the roof is the gutters if any.
Now is the time to clean and inspect the gutters
for your horse barn. Scoop out leaves and flush
down spouts with a pressure washer or garden
hose. Check the screws at all connections and
brackets and patch any leaks. If you live around
trees you may want to look in to a gutter guard
or shield.

Still on the exterior do a critical walk around.
Check the exterior siding for cracks or loose
boards or siding. Check windows and doors for
loose glass and hardware. As you walk around
take notice of the drainage around your horse
barn. Look for spots with standing water or
spots that have been churned up by the horses.
Check around the barn itself and make sure any
water is draining away from the barn.

Now is also the time to move the pile. If you
live in a climate like I did where the snow gets
deep it is all you can do to push the manure out
of the barn. For that reason the pile usually
ends up not too far from the barn. With rains
and upcoming summer heat an unpleasant situation
can develop so it is best to deal with it now and
use it fertilize your spring gardens and
pastures. Last but not least is fencing. Look
for loose posts, sagging wires, loose or broken
insulators. Look for loose hardware or nails and
when done with the repairs sweep the area with a
strong magnet to get any nails or wire bits the
horse can step on. If you are using an electric
fence check and tighten the fence insulators,
check or change batteries on remote fence units.
Also trim back any grass or weeds that can
contact the electric fence.

Seems like a lot of work but you knew that when
you got the horse. It also means many warm sunny
days enjoying your horse and knowing your barn is
in good shape.


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Carolina Storage Solutions was founded in 2008
and has sold and delivered HUNDREDS of modular
Horse barns and storage buildings to satisfied
customers in North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia
and Tennessee We opened our doors on this
motto: "Treat others the way we want to be
treated". http://deliveredbarnsandsheds.com


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