Summer is upon us, and so is the busiest time of year for many riders. Horse shows, clinics, and trail rides take up much of our day, but there are still important barn chores that need to be done. Here’s a quick to-do list to help you start off summer right.

Scrub Water Troughs

Have you seen algae start to emerge in your horse’s water troughs yet? Algae is pesky and grows back quickly during the hot summer months, so make it a point to scrub your horse’s water troughs regularly during the summer. To help slow the growth of algae, try to locate water troughs so that they are largely in the shade; the sun only promotes algae growth.

Drag Arena Footing

Your riding arenas will see extra use during the summer, so it’s important to regularly drag the arena footing to keep it in good shape. You can often get by with just dragging an indoor horse arena, especially if you experience muggy summers, but outdoor arenas may need to be watered down to keep the dust at a minimum.

Clean Tack

Be sure to pay close attention to your tack during the summer, especially if you’ll be riding a lot but not necessarily going to shows. Make it a point to clean and condition your tack on a regular basis, and take the time to inspect your tack for signs of wear or damage. Allow your tack to dry thoroughly before putting it away, since this will help to prevent mildew from forming on your tack.

Check Automatic Waterers

Automatic waterers are a luxury in the barn or out in the fields, but they still require some care and maintenance. Check to make sure that all of the automatic waterers are functioning on a regular basis, and don’t forget to give them a scrub to ensure that the water stays clean.

Check for Moldy Feed

It can’t be said often enough – check your feed room for moldy feed. Feed can mold more quickly in hot, humid temperatures, so check it often. If you find moldy feed, discard it immediately and thoroughly scrub and dry its container before adding new feed.

Add Dehumidifiers

You might find that your tack and feed rooms benefit from dehumidifiers. By controlling the humidity, you can slow the growth of mildew on your leather tack. The same is true of horse feed – the less humidity there is in your feed room, the longer it takes your feed to get moldy.

Summer is a busy time, but these chores are necessary to keep your barn running smoothly.

Original Source: http://blog.classic-equine.com/2015/06/summertime-barn-to-do-list/