I've never seen any really egregious examples of bad practices for barn interiors. I'm talking about sharp corners, toxic materials, non-tempered glass and that sort of thing that could injure a horse when they're in the barn.

Most of the shortcuts or less-than-ideal things I've seen in barn construction result from budgetary concerns and that is something that I understand. However, when you think about it, it's not very difficult and often not expensive to keep your horse safe in the barn by following a few guidelines.

 We don't use metal siding in barns but we do use durable materials that are safe. We never want any sharp edges because if there's a place where your horse CAN come in contact with the barn interior, your horse WILL come in contact with it sooner or later. You also want to be mindful of where your horse might get his teeth around something, because again, he will try.

The main concern is the stall and if you have a run outside the stall. The people areas are not as much of a concern but still should be reviewed; your horse is not usually playing in that area unattended.

Stall Safety

The stall's exposed edges should have chew strips or guards. Horses like to chew and will do so especially if they're bored and have been in the stall for a while.

The average stall is 12x12. Bigger than this and you're giving your horse more room to bang around when he's feeling mischievous or bored.

The stall walls should not absorb moisture. This not only could lead to mold, which is not good for your horse, but can wick urine and make the whole barn smell less-than-springtime-fresh, creating an unhealthy interior environment.

Which brings up the issue of cleaning. Ease of cleaning is important for you and your horse. The easier it is to clean a stall, the likelier you are to be able keep it clean. It won't make it easier to get your teenager to clean the stall but it should promote the health of your equine friends.

Stall openings

When we install openings in the exterior stall wall, we have a few considerations. Usually we provide shuttered openings with a U-shaped yoke. The yoke allows the horse to put its head out without rubbing back and forth along a square opening until it opens a sore on its neck.

If the owner wants windows, we use only tempered safety glass and we put a removable hinged grill on the inside. The grill keeps the horse from inadvertently putting its head through the glass and the grill allows for ease of cleaning. Tempered glass will not shatter when your horse kicks the wall.

You also don't want any openings in the stall that could catch a leg.

Stall materials

We use only materials that have been tested to be non-toxic. Some horses like to lick and you don't want them licking something that will make them sick or worse.

These are just a few of the considerations when designing and building interiors for your barn. After all, this is where your horses may spend an awful lot of time.

Whether you’re riding leather or synthetic, English or Australian, protecting and properly maintaining your saddle can add years, even decades, to the life of your saddle.
If you dig around a little you will find an abundance of information concerning saddle care. The trouble is, nearly every piece of advice seems to also come with a backdoor pitch for the latest oil, more effective brushes, or a new type of sealant. Let’s avoid name-brand products and clever acronyms and distill all the information down to a few key steps that will help your saddle last.

Keep it relatively clean
As the saddle becomes oily and/or dusty take a stiff bristled brush to it. If you’re having a hard time reaching smaller cracks an old toothbrush can do the trick. If you begin to notice that the buildup isn’t reducing simply with a brush, you can wash your leather or synthetic saddle with warm soapy water.

When it’s wet
If your saddle gets wet, clean all the exposed parts with a brush or a rag and let it air dry naturally, out of direct sunlight. Saddles dried from heat source can begin to crack and lose their structure.

Hang it, don’t toss it
The ‘tree’ of the saddle, or inner structure, can be easily damaged if a saddle is not stored properly. A hung saddle, perched from a rack or rail, ensures the saddle will keep its shape. After hanging the saddle, toss a blanket or saddle cover on it to keep it clean and free of dust.

Leather saddle care tidbits
As we all know a properly cared for leather saddle can outlast the best synthetic materials, however, there is more maintenance involved with a leather care. In addition to cleaning the saddle, leather requires oils and sealants to keep it pliable and protected. The frequency and ratio of oil to sealant depends on your climate. Dryer climates need oils applied more frequently while more moist conditions will require sealants more often.

Make sure you NEVER…

• Never store a saddle in plastic or non-porous bag.
• Never use household chemicals to clean leather.
• Avoid oils or sealants that contain alcohol, turpentine, or mineral spirits.
• Never use mink or animal fats on a leather saddle.

 There is no secret trick to saddle care. But horse tack is expensive and the better you care for it, the longer you'll be able to use it.

A sometimes overlooked item in barn building is door hardware. Not just what the door is assembled with, which is a concern for horse health and should be factored in. But also how the door is moved.

Sliding doors in barns are optimal for a variety of reasons, space being one of the more important. Stall doors can be large and heavy and that means have secure rails and guides. But remember that your horse is going to be stepping through that space frequently. Innovative Equine Systems has come up with a great solution that you can see in this video.

Meeting Jeffrey Terreson in the wonderful Cutter & Cutter Art Gallery in St. Augustine, Florida this year was an amazing moment for me. I’m a horse person and he paints the most beautiful images of equines I’ve ever seen. But a more amazing story is how Jeffrey got there.

Jeffrey has been an artist all his life. Like many artists, a devotion to art means years of struggle but he never gave up. “I’m 55 and I’m still friends with this remarkable teacher I had in high school, Harold Witherspoon. He’s the one who really taught me that you have to stick to something and do it even when no one is watching.”

During twelve of those years when no one was watching, Jeffrey simply had to lay down his brushes. He had built a successful career as a commercial fine-art illustrator but that was not to last. It’s an art whose time had passed and he found himself raising four kids in a tiny house and teaching tennis to feed them.

In 2009, an astonishing stroke of luck triggered a resurgence of his passion to get back to his art. The small town of Bedford, where he’s lived for many years, asked him to participate in a gallery walk.

Unenthused, he agreed but asked to be put next to the horse supply store. “I’ve lived here forever and I know what a horse town Bedford is. I’ve stopped by the fields around here a thousand times just to watch horses because they’re so beautiful, sensual, and powerful. I wanted to show my Equus series in the gallery walk.”

As he sat on the sidewalk with his paintings, he looked down the street and saw a gorgeous Bugatti approaching. As it passed by, it turned and parked. The occupants got out and approached. 

Despite his instantly recognizable, handsome face, the man stuck out his hand and said, “Hi, I’m Ralph Lauren.” For the next twenty minutes, Mr. Lauren, his wife, and Jeffrey carried on a wide-ranging discussion of art, Jeffrey’s art, and what a tough time it was economically for artists in general.

After assuring him they’d be back, they went off to see the rest of the walk. When they returned, they spent several minutes trying to decide which of two of Jeffrey’s paintings to take home.

Finally, Lauren asked him, “Which one do you like?” Jeffrey told him to take the one he initially was drawn to, despite it being substantially less money than the other. The painting now hangs in Ralph Lauren’s home.

Jeffrey knew instantly—this was his time. He took the money from that sale and put together a one-man show. He contacted galleries all over the country to recall some of his paintings that had not sold. It was a family affair with all of his kids helping to serve beverages and food. The show was an enormous success and well-covered in the media.

While the rest of the country was reeling from the banking meltdown, Jeffrey shifted into high gear. He now paints from 40-60 paintings a year, 25-40% of them on commission. The prices for his work have increased substantially and he has realized his dream of making a living from his art. We might even say his life is a work of art.

While no one was looking, Jeffrey Terreson was always an artist, even when his brushes were still. He always knew he’d come back to it, and we’re all richer for the determination that leveraged his chance meeting with Ralph Lauren into a vibrant career.

In another blog post, we’ll talk with Jeffrey about how he came to paint horses and something about his process. Come back for more of that and in the meantime, check out Jeffery’s work on http://www.jterreson.com.