Newsdate: February 13, 2025, 11:30 am
Location: GILROY, California

While no one likes to think of injuries and death when thinking about horses and barns, agricultural enterprises, including equestrian-related facilities and farms, are among the most hazardous workplaces.

A place for everything and everything in its place contributes to barn safety.

The thought, time, effort, and resources you put into good barn housekeeping and emphasizing barn and farm safety will not only save you money, but will result in more.
© 2008 by Alexia Khruscheva New window.

Most injuries on farms and around barns occur during a regular day's work. By being aware of risks involved in daily life around the barn and stable, you can prevent many accidents from happening and by doing so prevent injuries to both people and horses.

Having a safe barn requires looking at safety with regard to both human and horse dangers. In general, confined spaces are problematic for horses. When you combine multiple animals and people in a barn setting, the dangers rise exponentially. Taking your time to think about and plan for safety will result in less injury and reduced liability.

Farming and ranching ranks 6th in terms of dangerous occupations, principally because of the dangers associated with use of powerful machinery and equipment and a lack of attention to good housekeeping.

Tractors, three-wheelers and other transport vehicles are often used casually in the barn and farm setting without considering the fact that they can be dangerous and possibly lethal if used improperly or as toys for fun and entertainment. A responsible owner will make sure everyone that uses machinery and equipment including transport vehicles uses common sense and is well versed in how the piece of equipment operates, how to keep all equipment in good repair, and the importance of making safety a priority at all times.

Common sense should be used whenever working with machinery and vehicles. All machinery and vehicles should have regular safety checks. Horse trailers should be kept clean and in good repair, and safety procedures should be in place for both loading and unloading horses. Tractors, three-wheelers, and other small transport vehicles should be ridden and used only by those with the respect and know-how to safely operate the equipment.

Barnyard clutter

Many accidents occur when equipment is left where a horse or person can trip and fall. Tripping over objects that have been left lying around or becoming impaled on a piece of wire or a pitch fork carelessly discarded on the floor or in an unexpected area can cause serious injury.

One absolute rule in every barn should be to put all equipment back where it belongs as soon as it is no longer being used. Anything from a dropped horse shoe to a piece of wire fencing carelessly thrown against a wall, can cause more damage than can be imagined. Both humans and horses may get caught or hurt themselves on equipment, objects, or tack that is carelessly left in inappropriate places.

Many barn injuries are the result of falls or of slipping on wet surfaces. The most common barn injury, other than an injury inflicted by a horse, is a fall from the hay loft or another high place.

Care should always be taken when climbing into or out of hay lofts, as well as when lowering bales of hay or other materials from high storage areas. Unstable structures, including ladders and railings, should be removed or repaired.

Unstable pieces of equipment allowed to remain in the horse area, or slippery or uneven floors are a close second. Anything, from a dropped horseshoe to a piece of fencing wire carelessly thrown against a wall, can cause more damage to horse or human than can be imagined.

For horses, metal horseshoes on slick concrete are a recipe for a fall. Ask the cement contractor for a textured (brushed) surface or better still, use rubber stall mats.

12 house-keeping tips for barn safety

    1.    Clear out all clutter, debris, and trash, both inside and outside
    2.    Keep your barn clean: dust, cobwebs, oily rags, etc. are fire hazards
    3.    Store hay and combustibles in a separate building or area
    4.    Install industrial heat and carbon monoxide detectors with a loud external siren or alarm
    5.    Check all electrical wiring regularly and don't use extension cords
    6.    Ban smoking in and around your barn
    7.    Keep grooming and wash stalls clean, well-drained, and located in an open area to prevent wet, slippery floors. Keep watering troughs and lines in good repair
    8.    Ensure floors provide non-slip footing and be kept dry
    9.    Provide at least a 50-foot firebreak around your barn
    10.    Keep a halter and lead rope on every stall door
    11.    Post phone numbers of your veterinarian, fire department, and other emergency services in an accessible and visible place
    12.    Ask your fire department to do a walk-through of your barn and point out any corrective measures that should be taken.

A word to the wise about human behavior around horses

• Only experienced handlers should enter horse stalls
• If you are a visitor, ask for permission before entering the barn or touching animals
• Never touch or pet horses unexpectedly
• Never run or make loud noises around horses
• All children in the barn area should be accompanied by an adult
• No toys, bicycles, strollers, or other equipment should be permitted in barn aisles
• Stay out of hay lofts and off farm machinery unless you are experienced and such activity is part of your job

The thought, time, effort, and resources you put into good barn housekeeping and emphasizing barn and farm safety will not only save you money, but will provide a pleasant day-to-day setting for you and your horse as you work and play together.