My Favorite Barn Safety Products

We recently moved onto a new property with an old barn that needs updating. It was previously used for storage, then half was a cattle run-in shed and then storage again. Through all of those changes, some things definitely fell through the cracks. For example, multiple extension cords were used to hang extra lights but they were left hanging down below the rafters and everything was incredibly dusty. I try to avoid using extension cords unless I absolutely have to, so I took all of them down because the lights they were attached to didn’t even work! I left just the light fixtures and made sure that the bulbs were heavy duty and made for outdoor lights so they wouldn’t break or short out. I still keep a heavy duty extension cord in the tack room to use for clippers, my bit warmer or the radio but I don’t leave it plugged in when I’m not using it. And this was just the beginning! I started thinking about what would be most helpful in my barn and this is what I came up with:

 

I’m definitely guilty of is using the standard box fans in the summer. These are pretty common, but really aren’t the best because the motor is exposed and can get clogged with dust/hay/bedding/etc… Even though I keep my dusted off, I finally decided to order a commercial outdoor fan with a covered motor. My plan is to hang this one from the rafter above Dancer’s stall/run in area when it gets warmer.

Got cobwebs? Yep, we had plenty of those! An extended outdoor duster works great on those crazy cobwebs that are always way too high. They can be a fire hazard if left too long to gather dust.

It’s important to have a fire extinguisher, smoke detector and first aid kits for both horses and humans in the barn. This smoke detector from Nest is amazing! Even though we can’t be in the barn 24/7 it’s still possible to check up on things through the Nest app that’s connected to the phone. It will alert the user when there are concerns and also when the battery is low! So cool! OK, now let’s be honest. The downside here is the price – $99! But I think it’s worth it for all of the perks it comes with. I’d never hear a regular smoke alarm go off in the barn if I were in the house asleep, but I would hear an alarm from my phone. [Side note: earlier versions of this got mixed reviews, but the newest version has resolved those issues]

A few other things I like to do are to make sure that my horse has his halter (I use a “break-away” style) hung close to his stall in case of an emergency and that he has a metal tag on the halter with updated address & phone number. I really like the one above from Urban Puppy on Etsy.

And, finally, it’s important to have an emergency plan. Even though I keep Dancer on my property and he’s the only horse, it’s still good to have a plan in case of an emergency. What will you do first? Who will you call? Where will you take your horse? If you board at a stable, talk to your barn manager about their safety plan. Barn fires are incredibly scary, but if everyone is organized and has a plan, it will help avoid confusion and could save your horse’s life.

I’m sure there are plenty of other great ideas out there to keep barns safe. If you have any, I’d love to hear them! And if you’re looking for tips on how to prepare for a natural disaster, check out my Natural Disaster Plan post for in-depth information and tips.