Spring Barn Cleaning: Your Ultimate Checklist for a Safer, Greener Space
Spring has finally arrived—and with it comes the perfect excuse to tackle a barn-wide refresh. Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home. Giving your barn a little TLC not only boosts safety and organization but also sets the stage for a smoother, healthier season for your horses.
So grab your gloves, roll up those sleeves, and dive into our barn-focused spring cleaning checklist—with a sustainable twist!
Prioritize & Plan
Start by evaluating which tasks can be done in any weather and which need sunny skies. Tack room cleanup? Great for rainy days. Stall overhauls? Best saved for when your horses are turned out.
Stall Safety: Clean, Repair, Refresh
Your horse’s comfort starts with a clean and hazard-free stall. Here’s what to check:
- Inspect stall walls and doors: Look for protruding nails, rotting boards, and loose hardware.
- Flooring & mats: Strip the stall or push bedding aside to assess wear, holes, or dampness. Disinfect floors and replace mats or fill holes as needed.
- Fresh bedding: Add a clean layer of bedding for a comfy reset.
- Cobweb control: Sweep rafters, corners, around feed buckets—anywhere spiders love to lurk.
Feed & water buckets: Scrub, disinfect, and rinse thoroughly.
Pest Control: Be Proactive
Now’s the time to stay one step ahead of pesky invaders:
- Discourage nesting birds with plastic owls or recorded bird calls.
- Stop rodents by sealing up access holes.
- Launch your fly control plan: Remove standing water, apply wasp spray, stock up on fly repellents.
Tack Room Transformation
Nothing feels better than an organized tack room! Here’s your game plan:
- Clean winter gear: Send out blankets for washing and repairs.
- Inspect leather tack: Repair and condition anything worn out.
- Tidy up: Sweep, de-cobweb, and disinfect all brushes, sponges, and towels.
- Declutter: Donate or sell unused tack, blankets, and horse gear.
- Restock your med kit: Toss anything expired or questionable.
Pro tip: A streamlined tack room isn’t just easier to use—it’s safer too.
Go Green: Eco-Friendly Horse Care Tips
Why not pair your spring clean with a commitment to sustainability? Small changes can make a big difference.
- Water & Feed Smarter: Automatic waterers reduce waste. Hay nets or corner feeders prevent trampling and contamination.
- Rethink Deworming: Swap the routine 8-week deworming for annual fecal tests. Many horses are low shedders and need far fewer treatments.
- Green Grooming: Choose biodegradable, phosphate-free grooming products that are gentle on the planet.
- Natural Pest Solutions: Try fly predators—tiny insects that break the fly breeding cycle without bothering horses or humans.
- Creative Recycling: Repurpose old horseshoes for crafts or recycle them as scrap metal.
- Eco Bedding Options: Switch to recycled or pelleted bedding. It breaks down quickly and is compost-friendly.
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be overwhelming—especially when you break it down into bite-sized tasks and throw in a few earth-friendly upgrades. Your horses (and the planet) will thank you!