Barn Safety Tips: Plan Ahead to Improve Your Chances of a Positive Outcome

To our horses and to many horse people as well the barn is home. This often simple building is a place of rest relaxation and recuperation of learning and training of health and security and of friendship and bonding. But if not built or managed properly the barn can also become a danger and even if we try our hardest to be vigilant accidents and emergencies can and do happen. Following are tips to improve safety in the barn and increase your chances of a positive outcome in the event of an emergency.

In and Around the Barn
When building or buying a barn or choosing a stable at which to board your horse safety should be a priority. Aisleways should be a minimum of eight feet wide enough room so that a horse can turn around and two horses can pass easily. Ceilings in areas where horses will be such as aisleways crosstie areas and stalls should be tall enough so that a rearing horse cannot hit his head.
Lighting fixtures should be encased in a protective metal cage or high enough that horses cannot reach them. Any electrical wiring switches or plugs should be placed out of horses reach and covered in weatherproof metal boxes or conduit. According to the Langley BC Township Fire Department electrical problems are the number one cause of barn fires so pay special attention to electrical wiring installation and repair.
Flooring should be level and nonslip even when wet options include texturized concrete textured rubber tiles gravel or dirt. Windows that horses have access to should be made of Plexiglas or safety glass and covered with metal screening or steel bars. Stall doors should open easily and fully and should always open out into the aisle never into the stall doors that slide sideways on rollers are considered the safest. Ensure all doors and latches will close fully and securely. Avoid locking the stall doors of horses that are escape artists as doing so can make it impossible to get them out quickly  during an emergency.
Some additional safety options that you may want to consider are motiondetecting lights outside the barn video monitoring and fire sprinkler systems. Locks on tack room doors decrease chances of theft.
If the barn has a hay loft make sure the ladder to reach it is securely attached to the wall or that stairs have sturdy railings and handrails. Any loft areas open