Having traveled and visited
several training barns, and at the suggestion of my webmaster, I thought
it would be beneficial to those searching for a trainer, to point out
some things I have noticed about training barns. I hope it will be
beneficial to share those observations, in order to help the beginning
show or pleasure person make a selection based on a few basic
principals.
The key word to ANY barn, be it
older or newer is CLEAN.
The overall impression of a
training barn should be one of neatness and cleanliness. The barn could
be a historic landmark, but still needs to be in good repair and
clean. For instance, if you walk in and the ammonia/manure odor about
knocks you off your feet, this is a bad indication….it doesn’t take long
for stalls to smell, if not cleaned on a regular basis.
Also, do you see some type of
fly control system in the barn? Not only does a spray system kill and
repel flies, but most other insects, such as black widow spiders, as
well.
How about the cross tie area?
Is it safe for the horses AND people? How clean is it?
Is the barn well ventilated?
In the hotter areas of the country, are there fans circulating the air
in the stalls?
Are the water buckets/bowls
clean? Do you see any hazardous stall conditions…nails, broken feeders,
broken boards, wire, etc.? Barn repairs are inevitable and need to be
done on a regular basis.
How about the trainer’s truck and
trailer? When you look at them, do you feel that your horse will be
safe on the highway?
You may have selected a good
trainer, but if his/her place looks like Sanford and Son, you may want
to re-think your selection. After all, your horse should be put in
the best environment possible, with a trainer that both you and your
horse can relate to. This is a sizable investment that you want to
protect. Horses somehow manage to do some really dumb things on their
own, but the surroundings don’t need to foster injuries and/or health
problems.
