Have a non-spring clean by washing your horse rugs and tidying your stable

Spring needn't be the only time for a good clean up. Having a tidy of your stable and a sort out of all your horse rugs and equipment is important for keeping your stable a safe environment to work in and around. It also provides a good opportunity to check for any repairs that need to be made or equipment that should be replaced.

Start by having a good sweep up – take out everything from each area so that you can get into the corners and reach any dropped food that might encourage mice and rats into the yard. Make sure that any tools are hung up out of the way so that they can't be tripped over and aren't going to fall suddenly and spook the horses.

Make sure that there are no holes in the feed bins and that they are in a waterproof container so that feed isn't spoiled by the damp and doesn't get eaten by vermin. Large plastic dustbins can provide cheap places to store feed although persistent rats can gnaw through them so metal alternatives are better.

Walk around your horse's field and collect any rubbish that may have accumulated, as well as checking fencing and gates for any repairs that need to be made. Also, pull up any ragwort which can seed quickly and spread around the field causing a deadly menace to your horse.

Give your horse's equipment a good sort out and wash. Put your horse's turnout and stable rugs through the washing machine and keep them somewhere dry and away from where vermin can reach them. Find somewhere in prominent view to pin up an emergency contact list with names and numbers of owners, vets and farriers.

Finally, add some colour to your yard by putting up hanging baskets. Once everything from the fences to the horse rugs is in order, you can put your feet up and enjoy a well deserved cup of tea.

[Image © David Boyle via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence]