barn chores – Horse Listening

Top 6 Things You’ll Learn From Doing Barn Chores

It's hard. It's time-consuming. It's often thankless.

To the outside observer, it might seem that working in a barn is unrewarding and just that: chores. I mean, all you're doing is feeding and turning horses in and out, cleaning stalls and sweeping aisles, right?

Well, anyone who has actually worked in a barn knows differently. In fact, people who work with horses have to become highly skilled, be fairly athletic, and must know how to pay attention to detail. While people can start with little to no experience, they usually get paired with longtime horse keepers who can mentor them until they have enough experience to work independently.

Working in a barn can do more than just give you a gym-level workout. Here are the top six lessons you won't be able to avoid if you stay long enough at the job.

6. Hard work is necessary

This is probably the first thing you'll learn if you get the chance to ever work for the horses.

You'll quickly realize how you can actually move heavy things if you put your mind to it. You might have to go up and down stairs or ladders to get to the hay loft. You'll have to fill feed bins and then horse buckets with grain. Those feed bags and hay bales need to be moved, stacked and then fed. The walks to the paddocks can be long, bumpy or snow-covered. No need for you to go to the gym after that!

5. It's ok to get dirty

Because you won't have any choice in the matter! You'll likely end up with hay bits in your hair and down your shirt, mud all over your lower legs, dirty jeans because of having to lift the feed bags off the dirt floor. Then there's the mouth goop that the horses leave on your shoulder as you lead them out, and splashed water as you fill buckets.

4. Team work makes the dream work

After you have to do the barn all on your own, you quickly learn the value of help. There's nothing better than two (or more) people sharing the chores, one person taking on one task while the second person does another.

3. Routine is wonderful

This lesson probably will come from the horses themselves. Horses thrive on routine. Timeliness, feed, exercise... the more regular these can be, the happier the horses in your care. You'll learn the value of establishing and then maintaining a routine.

2. Efficiency is key

Every barn worker learns all about efficiency and saving energy - not just the electrical kind!

Before you figure out your routines, you might end up having to walk back and forth to key areas - such as the feed room, the tack room, or the paddocks. Soon enough, you'll start figuring out how you can save as many trips as possible - because, let's face it - the number of steps you walk can add up pretty quickly when you're walking real distances!

You'll work out what you should carry with you even while you're heading to a paddock to do something else.

10,000 steps? Haha! Even after multiple step-saving attempts, you'll still end up somewhere in the 15-25,000 steps region. That's in ONE DAY!

But you won't be able to stand for inefficiencies ever again!

1. Horses come before anything else

This is truly the #1 lesson you'll learn if you work in the barn. While it's true that you're working for the barn owner, or for the boarders or lesson students, you'll soon realize that it's all about the horses. How will you learn this valuable lesson?

It might happen when you notice that one of the paddocks run out of water, and how the horses stand around the water tub waiting and waiting - in the heat of the summer. Or you'll notice how a horse gorges on his hay when he comes inside - after having finished the morning hay on that long snowy wintry day, when there's no grass to be found otherwise.

These mistakes will urge you to be more diligent because the horses are literally reliant on you. And it's a big responsibility.

There is one other thing that happens when you add all this up. In the end, you become a much more empathetic human being. Which will serve you the rest of your life.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

Horse Listening Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine is a compilation of the best patterns that have been shared on the Horse Listening Blog. The book is divided into five sections: Warm-Ups, Left and Right, Straightness, Suppleness and Collection. Each section has specific exercises and theory based on its topic.

But there's more!

There is a Special Center Section dedicated to only Transitions - something that we can all work on throughout our riding careers. And finally, scattered throughout the book are chapters that clearly explain theory, technique and skills that can help improve the featured exercises of teach Section.

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Turn-In Talk (and Video)

Turn in Talk video horses — Actual video below

Before I put the truck into park, I can hear Annahi calling out. She can't even see me, but I guess she knows what the truck sounds like.

It's turn-in time and I'm at the barn to do my stalls, feed and turn the horses in. We only have four horses (two are mine) so it's not a lot of work. In fact, this kind of "work" is always more inclined to be a pleasure.

There's nothing nicer than coming in to an already swept barn at the end of the day, when the sun is cooling off and the bugs are beginning to go wherever they go in cooler weather. It's calm, the air is fresh and the work itself is meditative.

It's a familiar routine. Do the stalls. Set up the dinner. Add water, make up tomorrow's breakfast beet pulp. Greet each horse with the same enthusiasm they bring with them to the gate (of course, their excitement is likely more about the dinner than seeing me).

There's a lot of walking, between setting up the stalls, catching and escorting the horses in, and whatever else needs to be done in the process. But it's a good kind of walking. The varied footing beneath your feet feels good. Sometimes you're on grass, sometimes the concrete floor of the barn. Other times, it's dried up mud.

Annahi knows when to call again. She waits while I do the stalls. She waits while I set up the other horses' feed - hears the banging of the feed bins, hears the buckets as they are picked up and put down. She even knows when they go into the stalls. Yet she waits - until just the moment after I dump the feed into her stall bucket. How does she know that one is hers? Horses can be so smart.

The walk to the paddock is so gratifying. Both "girls" are impatient. They want to get out of the bugs and into their dinners. This is when Annahi gives me an earful. She varies her tone. When I'm farther away, it's a loud squeal designed to be heard from far away. When I get closer, it's lower and more guttural and staccato. It sounds like the sweet nothing sounds a mare gives her foal.

Friends for almost a lifetime, they walk in together with me, Kayla on the left, Annahi on the right. My two legs to their four seem woefully inadequate. The catch - they both walk faster than I can, and invariably, I'm always telling them to wait up, wait up, wait up... until I have to reinforce with a tug on the lead. They reluctantly comply but they're always polite about it.

I pat Kayla's back as we walk, in rhythm with her strides. Her ears instantly flick forward, her pace picks up again and I ask her to wait one more time. But I know she likes it. I pet Annahi on the shoulder because she's closer to me and she too gets all perky-eared and enthusiastic. I walk a bit faster.

You might wonder how two horses can get through one doorway. It's easy, when you're Kayla and Annahi. Their long-standing herd dynamics sorts it all out with no fuss, no muss. Annahi first. Me beside her while Kayla waits behind (I leave extra lead rope for her so I don't pull on her in the meantime). Then Kayla's turn to delicately navigate through the doorway on her own. No sweat.

I can't help being satisfied when I hear the grinding and munching sounds - then the snorts and sighs. The occasional swish of a tail, face scratch on a leg. Sunshiny day to explore out in the open field, and cool, refreshing, bug-free barn to lounge in at night. Life really can't get any better.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHa2cUbgR5c/?taken-by=horselistening&hl=en

Want to advertise your business on Horse Listening? Click here for more info.

Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening! If you like what you are reading, become a subscriber and receive updates when new Horse Listening articles are published! Your email address will not be used on any other distribution list. Subscribe to Horse Listening by Email

***If you enjoyed this piece, you can find many more in our book,* Horse Listening – Book 3: Horses. Riding. Life. *now available for purchase!***

Available as an eBook or paperback.

More fun reading:

42 Ways to Learn, Play and Grow With Your Horse: Horses give to us in countless ways. We play, learn and grow with them, making horseback riding not merely a sport (which it truly is, like no other), but so much more.

Good Day For A Little Horseplay: Snort, snort, snort, SNORT! My gelding couldn’t tell me in any clearer terms how much he was enjoying the moment.

Living in Flying Changes: I wrote this short poem after a wonderfully exhilarating night ride.

Caught: A short piece of horsey fiction.

The Top 8 Perks of Horse Keeping: Here are a few positives that keep us going when everyone else is enjoying their leisure time.

5 Great Reasons To Hang Out With Non-Horsey People

It's Christmas and you'll surely be spending a lot of time with family and friends - who don't necessarily live, breathe and think horses all the time.

Although it might be almost impossible for us to even think of life without horses, let's face it. The majority of the world's population lives without even a remote access to the four-legged animals that we think of as family!

In the case of your own friends and neighbors, you might have to resign yourself to accepting the fact that it's not them - but you - who is the "not like the other" (think Sesame Street)! Luckily, because you spend so much time at the barn, you don't have to notice exactly how different your life has become since you started being around horses.

Don't worry about it though. Even if you feel like there's little to talk about unless it's about horses, there are perfectly good reasons to keep giving people a chance. Here are five reasons to spend time with non-horsey people.

They politely pretend to understand when you talk about your horse.

That's ok. Go on about how cute your horse is when he's dreaming in his sleep.

But be sure to be sensitive to their needs too. After you get your fill by talking about your horse, give your friend a chance to talk about something more interesting to her. Be courteous and genuinely interested in her thoughts, too. Appreciate her for her willingness to accept your long horse stories and still be your friend!

They might be intimidated by horses - but they still join you at the barn.

How can that be possible, right? But it's true. Some people are so fearful of the sheer size of the horse that they stand at the far end of the barn aisle. Just keep smiling and look inviting. After all, they did make the effort to go with you to the barn. Don't make them feel inadequate. Encourage them but let them hang back if they must. A little patience goes a long way in this case. Give your friend some time. She came to the barn at least and didn't go on about the awful horsey smell!

You might be able to get them to do some chores for you.

Get all excited when they suggest that they might want to visit you at the barn. As they become more confident around horses, get them to help you with the barn chores. If you catch them early on, before they see you at it, you'll have a good chance to talk them into a little help. Then add a little more, then even more, and soon enough, they'll be reliable barn ~~slaves~~ workers!

They make excellent show grooms.

Same goes with horse show visits. Be super encouraging when they ask you when you'll be in the ring, and welcome them fervently when you see them at the show grounds! As they get comfortable with the show environment, give them small things to do. Maybe they can bring your brushes along. In no time at all, you can quickly build it up to holding your horse when you need to go to the bathroom, wiping your horse's mouth just before going into the ring, and setting up the hay and water while you untack.

They're nice.

Yeah, people can be nice even if they don't like horses. Of course, it would be better if they were nice AND liked horses too...

I'm having trouble thinking of more reasons (!), but I'm sure there must be some great reasons to spend time with non-horsey people. If you have any to share, add them in the comments below.

Before you go, here's a hilarious video by EventionTV showing you precisely the difference between horse people and regular people. Just be sure to not show it to the regular people - they might not find it funny at all!

Now is the time to re-evaluate your goals and path to riding success!

If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look our Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you’d rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.

Click here for more information.

Read more here:

Good Day For A Little Horseplay: Snort, snort, snort, SNORT! My gelding couldn’t tell me in any clearer terms how much he was enjoying the moment.

The Night Before Christmas: A heartwarming barn version written by Doris Elradi.

Horse Treats For Christmas: Bake these horse-approved treats for every equine in your barn!

Softly Determined – A Poem: I found this one on the Internet long ago, with no indication of the author. However, it has stayed with me, blending intensity with passion, being so eloquent and yet knowledgeable about the “path”.

10 Ways To Spot A Horse Person

Keep Riding — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, I was teaching in my classroom of little Junior Kindergarten children. I had a special event planned for them, and several parents joined us during the day to help out. You can imagine the fun we had - a room full of children, amazing treats and a bunch of put-a-smile-on-yer-face activities to keep us occupied.

You can probably also imagine the mess that was left behind as the lunch bell rang and all the little bodies headed straight out the door for recess.

Lucky for me, a few parents stayed back to help with the clean up.

One mother, in particular, grabbed the class broom and started sweeping. I stopped what I was doing and took a long look, admiring her sophisticated grasp of the broomstick and the refined dust-flicking movements that magically made the floor shiny and new.

She caught my gaze as I was analyzing her mad sweeping skillz, and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Where'd you learn to sweep like that?" I asked.

Sure enough, turned out she had horses. And a barn. And no barn help!

We had a chuckle that day about the funny idiosyncrasies of horse people, and how you can spot one from a mile away - if you know what to look for.

Here are some clues, in no particular order.

1. Smell doesn't bother them.

Smell? What smell? In general, horse people have an easy time with the less appealing scents you might find around a barn or field - like the smell of rotting manure, dead rodents, or fermenting beet pulp. But don't be surprised if you catch them taking a deep whiff of air as they enter a clean barn, put their nose to a flake of fresh hay, or snuggle close to their horses.

2. They can clean up disgusting messes.

This goes along with the bad smells in the barn. After being in a barn for a while, they won't be nearly as disturbed by squishy, smooshy messes as the regular person. Clean out a few stalls, clear up a few corners in the barn and soon enough, there will be little that can turn them right off.

3. They have more empathy for all animals than the average person.

As keepers of a large animal species, horse lovers are known far and wide as guardians of those who can't speak for themselves. But for most of them, this love of animals transcends species. They learn to appreciate all animals more, thanks to what they learn from their horses. Be it cats, dogs, lemurs, or goats, they'll be there to give a helping hand or just a cuddle.

4. They can stay out in all kinds of weather.

Whether in rain, drizzle, snow or fog, the horses are waiting for food or care.

If the riders compete at horse shows, they'll soon become comfortable in all sorts of conditions - because the show must go on! Have no fear. They'll learn to dress adequately (not so much for fashion) and just go out and get the job done!

5. They don't bat an eyelash when lifting heavy objects (say, around 40 pounds??).

I'm thinking about feed bags, hay bales, full wheelbarrows or awkward horse-size blankets. Horse people tend to do what needs to be done - sooner than later. If someone is around to help - all the better! Otherwise, they'll roll up their sleeves and lift! Just bend the knees before picking it up.

6. They can drive a truck and trailer just as well as anyone.

And car. And bicycle. And four-wheeler. And anything else that moves.

Bonus! They can also back 'em all!

7. They aren't shy to use the right names for all the "private" body parts!

Young children never learn to be shy about using the correct body part terms, because in a barn, no one gets too hung up about giggling over words. When the health of their horse is a concern, they make sure that they are perfectly clear about what body part they are referring to. Funky terms like semen, sheath, vulva and teats just become common vocabulary.

8. They have many and varied (non-school, non-work) friends.

The barn is a non-discriminatory venue. The aisles are graced with the pitter-patter of young feet, the creaky-patter of the more finely aged feet, and everything in between.

Various levels of ability become less critical when one is sitting on the back of a trusty steed.

When everyone has a common interest, it becomes easy to cross any gaps - social, physical, age, and more - and find things to talk about. It gets even better when one riding arena is populated at once by children, teenagers, adults and old-timers - all in it for one shared passion - the love of the horse.

9. They can push themselves out of their comfort zone.

Don't kid yourself. Riding isn't all fun and games. Learning to be around horses necessitates a level of confidence and carefulness that teaches horse people to accept the fact that things might not always work in their favor. They will find themselves being humbled and challenged on a regular basis. Soon enough, they will recognize that stepping out of their comfort zone is valuable. That's where the real growth happens.

10. They STILL take a good long looks at the horses in the fields as they drive by.

That little kid inside them who was mesmerized by horses never really goes away. They might mature and develop over the years, work with dozens and dozens of horses - but one thing is for sure: their attention will suddenly shift to wherever there is a horse to be seen!

What is this list missing? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Personally signed books available! Give the best gift for the horse lover in your life (or for yourself!

). Send me a message for more information.

From the first book in the Horse Listening Collection: Horse Listening, The Book

"There are many reasons why we enjoy riding horses. Maybe one of the most appealing facets of riding is the sense of freedom: freedom from our own limitations, freedom from gravity, freedom to (literally) roam the Earth. Time stands still while we have the privilege of feeling movement from the back of our four-legged friend.

Riding gives us the place to just be.

Of course, there are other purposes too. Some of us revel in the challenge of learning the skills required to becoming a good team member of this unlikely duo. Riding is like no other sport or recreational pursuit simply because of the equine partner that must not only carry us, but also do so effortlessly and gracefully. As we develop our specific skill sets, we also grow as human beings in character, emotional maturity and mental acuity.

But there is one other motivation that drives some of us to persevere in the never-ending learning process that is horseback riding: improving the horse. As your own skills develop, you begin to realize that not only can you meet your own needs through riding, but also that you can even become an instrument of benefit for the horse."

And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.

This book is geared toward the rider:

- the rider's motivations

- the essential skills for the rider

- some specific strategies

- solutions to common problems

- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience

Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!

Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Horses. Riding. Life.

Tag: barn chores

Top 6 Things You’ll Learn From Doing Barn Chores

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

Turn-In Talk (and Video)

***If you enjoyed this piece, you can find many more in our book,* Horse Listening – Book 3: Horses. Riding. Life. *now available for purchase!***

5 Great Reasons To Hang Out With Non-Horsey People

Now is the time to re-evaluate your goals and path to riding success!

10 Ways To Spot A Horse Person

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

If you enjoyed this piece, you can find many more in our book, Horse Listening – Book 3: Horses. Riding. Life. now available for purchase!

Now is the time to re-evaluate your goals and path to riding success!

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

***If you enjoyed this piece, you can find many more in our book,* Horse Listening – Book 3: Horses. Riding. Life. *now available for purchase!***