Clean Up After Yourself and Your Horse

There is nothing more frustrating to a barn manager or riding instructor than having to clean up after their boarders and riders.  Always put your belongings back into your tack room when you are done with your horse for the day. 

When I was a barn manager, my biggest pet peeve was when boarders or lesson students left their tack sitting out by stalls and in the office.  They would put their horse up for the night and just walk off leaving their tack, boots, polo wraps, etc. lying on the floor.  Treat the barn as if it were your own home.  It can also be unsafe for horses walking up and down the aisle.  They may spook at a pile of stuff lying on the floor, or worse yet stomp and walk over your expensive saddles and tack.  If a horse were to get caught up in a stirrup leather, you would have some expensive repairs to do on your saddle.

If your barn has crossties, clean up after your horse when he relieves himself.  There is something about being tied up in cross-ties that makes horses need to eliminate.  Most barns have a hose and shovel with a muck bucket nearby.  If you horse feels the need to go, be sure to clean up after him.