reducing risks on the horse farm (greene)

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is excited to welcome you to this live web presentation featuring:

Dr. Betsy Greene

University of Vermont

Please note: This presentation is intended for users with high-speed internet connections. Unfortunately, we cannot offer support for dial-up users at this time.

Reducing Risks on the Horse Farm

Dr. Betsy GreeneExtension Equine

Specialist

Overview

The Facilitieso Safety for

human/animal/environment The Behavioro Badly behaving…People?!

Healthy Horses…o Recent issues

Overall Design

Doeso Delivery traffic and parking area

interfere with horse traffic Are all of your barn needs met? Is the design appropriate foro Weather conditions in your area

The General Concepts:Inside Your Barn

Good ventilation and good airflow are crucial to your horses’ health

Ventilation

Air In, Air Out, Minimal Drafts Don’t use windows that:o Horses can get to/breako subject your horse to unrelenting

sun in hot weather Exhaust fans are a good

investment in your horses’ health

Ventilation Issues?

Best way to tell?

Ventilation in Different Horse Housing Types

Flooring

Concrete/Asphalt: unforgiving Clay: slippery when wet Dirt: pawers beware Stone Dust/Gravel, etc…

Some helpers:o Rubber mats, stall mattresses, deep

bedding Skid proof, yet “cleanable”

Human-Created Hazards Wet Floor

Separate Feed Storage Away from

Horse Access?

IS THE DOOR CLOSED!?!

What are these mats for, anyway??

Tack Room

Have you ever heard anyone say that his or her tack room is too large?

Clean, clear aisles Clean, clear work area and

wash rack

Common Problems

Only Building for Current Needs…o Lacking Foresight for Future Growth

Water/Electricity/Utility Room/etc. Locations

Plans for Adequate Manure Storage Underestimating “Empty” Storage

Space Neededo e.g. hay, shavings, manure, tack,

tools

Common Problems

Ventilation for Water Heaters, etc.

Sprinkler Systemso Public vs. Private Stableso Requirementso Water Sources

Fire Suppression System

UVM’s

Same Room!

Problem?Inadequate Ventilation

Know where things are

located

Check them!

In Case of…

Accessible Records:

Horse and Human

Horse & Human First

Aid Kits

Safe Environment:

Free of hazards o nailso barbed wireo broken fenceso glass windowso poisonso etc.

Pasture for Horses

High quality Properly fenced Properly maintained low cost feed source natural environment

Poor Pasture

exercise area inadequate feed source high potential for parasites mud problems environmental problems

Responsibilities

To your horses Neighbors The environment Clients

North to South

Preventing an Accident

Provide a safe environment Typical accidents waiting to happen

o Tying areaso Slick surfaces in aisleo Lack of supervisiono Lack Instructor experience• i.e. Least experienced instructors teaching the beginner riders.

Hazards

Tying Considerations o Eye high, arm’s lengtho Adequate distance between

horseso Proper location

Narrow aisles

Distance between barn and arenao beginners, horses, footing, traffic

Riding Areao surface, distractions, “hooks”o fencing• posts on inside• high tensile wire fencing• gates

What can we control?

NOT the beginning rider! Horse Riding Area o size, type, fencing, footing

The “Thinking Leader”

doesn’t allow riding in potentially dangerous situationso weathero upset riders or horseso sore/lame/sick horseso faulty, worn equipment, tackAFTER THE ACCIDENT IS TOO LATE!

Safety Priority

People First

Horses Second

Everything else after that!

Dangerous Propensities

The one bite rule:o owner is liable if he/she knew or should

have known about vicious propensitieso domestic animals only

Strict Liabilityo liability without a showing of fault on the

part of the ownero if you knew…or should have knowno …and failed to make reasonable or

necessary care to prevent injuries caused by the horse…

Propensityo tendency to engage in unusual

behavior• blowing trash bag “spook” is natural horse reaction• abnormal tendency to bite, kick is not.

The Horses…

Health Issueso UVM – Now… o UConn – 1 year agoo University of Findlay - 2003o CA, FL, DE, MD, etc.

Quick Tips

Quarantine (new or sick) Enforce proper biosecurity

methods o No SHARING of anythingo Treat/care for sick horse lasto Disinfecting footwear, clothingo etc.

Resources

University of Vermonto Self Guided Horse Facility Analysis

• http://www.joe.org/joe/2004december/tt5.shtml

o Tools for Promoting Biosecurity in Vermont’s Equine Community• http://www.joe.org/joe/2005february/

tt4.shtml

Betsy.Greene@uvm.edu www.extension.org/horses

www.myhorseuniversity.comwww.myhorseuniversity.comwww.myhorseuniversity.comwww.myhorseuniversity.com

Thank you for attending this live web presentation!

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