I think that for most of us (sorry, probably not most of you west coasters) it seems like the horses go out on a regular basis if not daily. For many that means that during the summer months the horses go out at night – typically that’s before I can get out to the barn after work.
I am guessing that as most of us are adult working amateurs this is probably a similar story for most of you. My question is does your barn have a system for asking that your horse be left in the time between general turnout and when you typically arrive to the barn? If so what is it? If not do you just catch him/her yourself?
I am genuinely intrigued. At the smaller farms I have boarded at it has been easy to just ask the BO or trainer if my horse can be left in… at bigger operations it would be really easy for the caregivers to get bogged down with texts trying to keep everyones various schedules in line.
Thanks in advance for sharing any cool methods that you have seen. Some interesting ones that I have seen are:
- white boards on the horses stalls
- laminated cards that say “in” or “out” that slip into sleeves taped on the stall door
Some things that I have brainstormed (for the made up land where I have a barn of my own):
- tags that can be placed on a hook on the horses stall or halter
- schedule on stall cards for those of us that have pretty regular schedules
Excited to hear the different ideas out in all of your guys barns!
My barn has a turnout board–a white board with all the horses names and the days of the week to keep track of turnout schedules. But we typically don’t have night turnout, so I don’t run into that problem.
A board is useful. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I always just went and caught my own horse from turnout – no sense in limiting their turnout time just because it’s slightly inconvenient for me to bring them in!
I am thinking about 30-45 min time difference not hours. I can see what you are saying though.
My horses are on pasture full-time! I do have a similar note card that I made up and put on my locker for emergencies 🙂
That’s a good idea. Nice that they are out all of the time!
Not applicable to me sorry :/
We can text to get our horse left in, but I usually will just go pull him out myself if I want to ride. If all his buddies are turned out, those extra two hours to wait for me can be ulcer inducing for a nervous TB.
That’s a good point. My current barn has horses that go out during the day and horses that go out in the night so given that they won’t be alone if left in I don’t think most of the horses would get too upset about staying in a little bit later than normal… Probably horse by horse though.
Our barn has a chalkboard at the head of the aisle that tracks the day’s notes/changes. It’s meant to be a general heads-up.
Anything more specific is detailed in the office on a note. It’s not a huge barn, and everyone knows to check those two places for instructions.
That’s smart.
I’ve always boarded at barns with around 20-30 horses and I’ve been able to just shoot a text to the BM if I want my horse left in, or if I know I want him left in a day or so in advance, I can write it on the stall card/white board. I usually just go out and get him myself anyway, but it’s been a nice option if I’m short on time and don’t want to spend those extra few minutes hiking out to the paddock.
Sounds like maybe I’m just lazy based on the general consensus so far haha!
I just catch them myself- the barn where I board isn’t a HUGE facility, so it doesn’t take too much extra time for me to grab my own horse. I think I could probably text the barn owner about bringing them in for me and it wouldn’t be a problem, I’ve just never done so!
That’s convenient. Definitely more of a pain when the pastures are really spread out.
if i really need the horse in i usually just send a text. but mostly i just catch her myself. the fields are close and if i get there at the right time (ie just before feeding) my horse will come when i call
Getting the horse to come in when called would be ideal for sure.
I just send a text for my horse to be left in. He’s only turned out with one other horse so my trainer leaves them both in and I turn out when I’m finished. They both HATE bugs so they’re happy to hang out inside a little longer.
Lucky for them when they get to avoid the bugs then! 😊
On lesson days (Mon/Weds) the barn manager knows to leave her in. If I do not show by the time she leaves (around 5) she will text to see if I want her put out. I can text to have her left in other days, but often forget and just have to get her from the field. She puts on resting mare face so that I am aware that she is not happy. Of course, down here in not so sunny FL right now, she just stays in due to the rain and resulting rain-rot.