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Prepping for a Blue-Ribbon Year

An off-season checklist for show horse trainers

Show horse trainers don’t really have a lot of down-time -- even in the winter months. But the off-season IS a good period to review all the little details that might be low priority when you are in the midst of the horse show circuit.

Of course, winter makes barn management particularly difficult, but it’s still important to keep up with your barn care to-do list while planning for your clients’ next show season. Even though some of your horses might have the winter off, YOU’LL need to stay on task to make sure you prevent problems before they occur next show season.

So, what items should be on every show horse trainer’s winter to-do list?

Organize Your Barn
How much time do you or your staff spend looking for that misplaced shovel, rake or brush? Having your barn well-organized with the proper tools in good working condition will help make barn chores easier – and faster. Make sure to also go through your feed and tack rooms to straighten or re-organize the shelves and storage areas.

Check Your Equipment
Spend an afternoon going through and inspecting your gear, from tack to buckets to sheets to grooming tools. Even if you think it was in good shape when you stowed it after show season, you may not have noticed early signs of failure, or its condition may have deteriorated over the past few months.

Do the same with your grooming tools. Lay them out, clean them up and repack with show activities in mind.

Wash Your Blankets
Check sheets, saddle pads and other such garments. Wash any that seem less than clean, and repair and replace items as necessary. Check for signs of mold or mice and replace any blankets that don’t pass muster.

Clean Your Tack
Winter is hard on horse tack, so it’s especially important to scrutinize tack closely. These months are a good time to give tack a thorough cleaning and conditioning. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of it for insurance purposes.

Get Your Tools and Equipment Ready Check season-specific equipment that may go unused over the winter. The water containers you keep in the trailer, for instance, may have cracked in the cold. You’ll want to know that now, not when you’re loading up to hit the road.

And take some time now to either repair or replace any faulty or inefficient barn equipment – you’ll be glad that you did, later!

Check Medications
When it comes to medications, check the storage recommendations and expiration dates on all labels and keep all medications and salves in a location that is temperature controlled.

Purchase Spring and Summer Supplies First quarter is also a good time to order fly spray, so you’re not caught without it on the first buggy day of the year. This is a great time to begin of a list of ALL supplies needed for show season.

Off season tasks for show horse trainers not only include the tangible chores of checking equipment and cleaning gear. The winter months also allow the time to develop training tactics and show strategies, and to make sure they are both in line with your business objectives.

Set Show Goals
Trainers usually use the winter months to begin planning their show schedule for the upcoming year. It’s always a good idea to talk to your clients and ask for input on what they enjoy about being part of the barn, and what can be done to enhance their barn and show experience. What shows would they like to attend? What goals do they have? Reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the upcoming show season should involve both trainer and client.

Review Policies and Procedures
The off season is also a good time to review barn policies and procedures, and make sure you have the right insurance coverage for your horse farm operation. Standard homeowners’ policies may not cover events like losing your horses to fire or collision, and you may be exposed to financially catastrophic liability claims. Do you have Care, Custody or Control insurance for transporting your client’s horse to a show? Make any changes now in your insurance policies to ensure the success of your business tomorrow.

Take a Break
Your horses have a little time off in the winter months with less travel and less stress. Make sure you allow yourself that same gift to reset and renew for a successful future show season.

Winter’s a challenge in any barn, but the more that you can stay ahead of potential issues, the smoother your training experience should be. When your show horses enter the ring in Spring, these cold-temperature weeks of preparation will have paid off.

For more information, contact us direct at: Equidae Insurance, Inc. 608 Virginia Street East, Suite 302 Charleston, WV 25301 p. (304) 346-1198 f. (304) 345-3535

Stacey Halloran, Agent
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