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The air is a little more crisp, the days are getting shorter, and you may have noticed that your horse’s hair coat is starting to change. All signs point to the fact that the dog days of summer are coming to an end and fall is upon us. As the seasons change, here are a few things to think about to make sure your barn and property are ready to support you and your favorite four legged friends through the cooler, wetter months ahead.
1. Inspect your barn and property for any deferred maintenance.
This could include anything from a broken fences, a leaky roof, broken windows, down trees, poor footing conditions and drainage. Make sure doors open and close easily and are free of debris and build up, check hinges, feeders, and water sources. Issues such as these are most difficult to address in wet, cold weather.
2. Have a cold/severe weather emergency plan in place.
Make sure your feed storage is clean, dry and well stocked for potential delays in feed delivery. Depending on where you live you may need an evacuation plan for high winds, hurricanes, or wild fires. Have a list of potential resources to help move animals to an emergency location for stabling should you need to evacuate on short notice.
3. Take inventory.
Go through your blankets and make sure you have the correct sizes, that they are clean and no repairs are needed. This is also a great time to go through your medicine cabinet in the barn to make sure you are stocked up bandages and basic first aid supplies. Do you have batteries
and flashlights for dark nights and power outages? How about battery operated lanterns that can be hung to free up your hands? These are helpful supplies to have on hand.
4. Share your fall updates and emergency plans.
If you have clients or boarders on your property make sure they are aware of any changes in operating hours, holiday events, and any extra supplies you may need to support their horse. These items might include heavier blankets, turn out rugs, and extra feed supplements.
Now is the time to take a critical look at your equestrian property and facilities to identify any issues or updates that should be addressed in the fall months. This is the perfect time to address those issues so that they do not turn into an emergency in the winter.
As always, I am happy to answer all of your questions regarding your equestrian estate. I am a well-respected and competitive horse-woman, and established Washington Realtor with nearly 20 years of real estate experience, and I would love to facilitate a smooth, profitable, and enjoyable equestrian real estate transaction for you. Contact me and let’s talk today – 206-909-9655 or aimee@windermere.com.
