BarnBiz n’ Bits

Before the show season and summer travel fun gets into full swing, now is the best time to do your horse trailer yearly safety check and service. These vital maintenance procedures will ensure your trailer is in optimal condition to afford safe hauling for your precious cargo!  Here are some tips to prepare your trailer for the upcoming season.

Regular Maintenance Checks

• Tires should be adequately inflated and show no signs of dry rot cracks. Don’t forget the spare!
• Jacks, safety triangles or reflectors should be in good working order.  Never store ignitable flares in trailer compartments due to fire potential.
• Floorboards should not be rotted or in weak condition. Replace any board that is of “questionable” nature.  Mats should be lifted after each use and the floor swept or hosed out. Let area dry completely before re-installing matting.
• Check for any screws, bolts or nails that may have worked loose and are protruding from the inside of trailer. Retighten or replace as required.
• Make sure all quick release functions are not frozen.
• All lights (marker, tail, brake, directional & interior) should be working and bright.  Replace bulbs and lens covers as required.
• Hitch welds, safety chain welds and snaps should be in good repair.
• Grease hitch ball as needed.
• Wheel chocks should be in good condition and available any time the trailer is unhitched from the tow vehicle.
• Before loading your horse make sure wasps or other creatures have not made home inside.

Yearly Maintenance Checks

• Inspect frame for cracks and wires for loose connections and frayed coverings.
• Repair or replace rotted or rusted metal.
• Grease all hinges, springs, etc.
• Inspect ramp hinges and springs for weakness and cracks.
• Wheels should be pulled and bearings checked and repacked.
• Inspect spring shackles for wear.
• Inspect brakes and emergency break-away cable, pin and control box.

Helpful Travel Tips

• Make sure both horse and human first aid kits are fully stocked.
• Carry extra halters, lead ropes, water buckets and hay bags.Horses traveling across state line require a recent health certificate and may require proof of certain vaccinations depending on destination.  Check with your veterinarian for more specific information.

A list of stable accommodations  is available in the Nationwide Overnight Stabling Directory and Equine Vacation Guide at www.overnightstabling.com .

For additional equine travel safety tips, visit the USRider Web site.
For a complete line of RV covers suitable for any size horse trailer storage, contact the sales professionals at FCP Buildings, Inc.

Today’s horse owners are facing ever increasing costs in the day to day maintenance of their four legged friends.  With apparent shortages of wood shavings, bedding prices have reached an all time high.  Leaving most barn and stable owners with a pondering thought: What else can we use?

Barn Biz ‘n Bits recently had the great fortune to meet with Mr. Ross McArthur, fellow horseman, business entrepreneur and inventor of the patented bedding system, Perma Stall Plus.  Read what he has to say about a most amazing new product revolutionizing the horse keeping industry.

Perma Stall Plus

If the cost of shavings and the ever rising cost of manure removal have you looking at ways to rethink your bedding system, Perma Stall Plus is something you may wish to consider. Ross McArthur’s patented system offers horse keepers a full service bedding program that is getting rave reviews from many users.

After owning his own stable in Toronto and riding and competing in Europe in show jumping, Ross worked with a chemist to formulate a specialized coating to treat rice hulls creating a new bedding product. He has specially treated the rice hulls with anti-bacterial drying agents and coagulants to create soft bedding that absorbs and eliminates odor without requiring huge amounts of bedding to be stripped from the stall. Many users have reduced their waste removal costs dramatically.

Ross is the first to admit that his product is not for everyone. He personally oversees the installation of the product and trains the owners and workers on how to clean the stalls and how to maintain them. Farriers that care for horses on the product have been pleased with how hooves improve after only a few months in the new bedding. The urine is quickly dissipated from the treated product and damp, wet smelly areas are virtually eliminated. The bedding is quite soft and horses that normally have hock sores or other skin problems show much improvement sleeping on the Perma Stall Plus.

Once the bedding is installed, the need to add more is usually minimal. Depending on the horse and its routine, Perma Stall Plus may only need to be added once a week or every few weeks. Ross is very watchful over the maintenance of the product. He reviews his customer’s horse barns and works closely with those who clean the stalls. Twice daily cleaning is recommended to keep the stall or pen at its best.

Dove Hollow Dressage Center of Olivenhain and Anderson Farm of Rancho Santa Fe are huge fans and extremely pleased with Perma Stall Plus. For more information call Ross McArthur 760-274-4325 or see his website.

Regular washings of your horse’s “laundry” are very important as proper care and maintenance keep them hygienic and serviceable for many years to come.

Blankets, saddle pads and leg wraps require routine cleaning as the ammonias found in urine and manure act like acid on fabric. This greatly reduces the strength and overall longevity of the garment. This soiling not only impairs functionality but also increases the risk of fungal skin conditions.

While there are many local blanket repair and laundry services available here are a few helpful hints should you decide to take on your own housekeeping details!

• Remove any dirt or debris from exterior shell.
• Using a stiff-bristled brush loosen patches of hair from interior lining. To make the process easier and more thorough use a shop vacuum, as excessive hair can damage your washing machine.
• Remove detachable leg and chest straps, untie tail cords and fasten Velcro closures and bellybands.
• Tie or rubber band buckles with socks to protect the inside of wash tub.
• Place leg wraps in zippered lingerie bags to keep from knotting during wash and drying cycle.
• Use a front load machine without an agitator whenever possible.
• Follow manufacturer’s directions for washing and drying of the garment. As wool blankets and coolers may require professional dry cleaning.
• Use appropriate cleaning solutions: While Ivory Snow products are excellent mild soaps for non-waterproof garments; it is recommended that non-detergent brands such as Nikwax, Natures Blend or comparable products be used to maintain the integrity of waterproof materials.
• Dissolve laundry products in lukewarm water prior to adding garments.
• Blankets with waterproof outer shells should be loaded into machine inside out so that water will flush thru the fabric. Place non-waterproof blankets with dirtiest side facing outward. If using a home washing machine make sure blankets are laid carefully around the agitator, keeping all straps inside the blanket.
• While line drying is preferred, use caution when using dryers as temperatures can vary. Excessive heat can shrink or melt nylon materials and bindings. Cotton leg wraps and saddle pads can be tumbled dry on cooler temperature settings.

Take care of your investment by laundering and making repairs. When not in use the best choice for long term storage is a sealable airtight container in your tack room where the garments will be protected from dampness, direct heat and rodents. It is advisable to never store dirty blankets between seasons.

For a complete line of equine laundry equipment for your horse barns visit:
www.professionallaundry.com