🐴 Going Away? How to Prepare Your Horse and Barn for Vacation Care

Horses have a way of making travel plans complicated. Anyone who owns them knows the feeling: you’re excited for a weekend getaway or a long-awaited vacation, but at the back of your mind you’re worrying — Who’s going to feed? Who’s going to muck? What if something goes wrong?

The good news? With the right preparation and a trusted caretaker, you can leave the barn behind and enjoy your time away with peace of mind. Here are a few practical steps to get your horses and barn vacation-ready.

📝 Step 1: Write Down Your Routine

Every horse has unique needs. Some prefer certain turnout buddies, others have special feeding times, and some are escape artists if you’re not careful with a gate. Write down the daily routine in detail — feed amounts, turnout schedule, supplements, quirks, and even “barn rules” you like followed.

👉 Pro Tip: Print a simple checklist and tape it in the feed room. That way your caretaker has a quick reference.

🐎 Step 2: Prep Feed & Supplements

Bagging or labeling grain and supplements ahead of time is one of the best ways to ensure consistency. Pre-measured feedings save time, prevent mistakes, and give you confidence your horses are getting exactly what they need.

Example: If your gelding gets half a scoop of senior feed with a joint supplement AM & PM, bag it up ahead of time. It’s foolproof.

🧹 Step 3: Stock Up & Tidy the Barn

Running out of hay or bedding while you’re gone creates stress for both your horses and your caretaker. Make sure you’ve stocked plenty of hay, shavings, fly spray, and any medications before you leave. A quick tidy-up also makes chores faster and easier.

📞 Step 4: Leave Emergency Contacts

Things don’t always go as planned. Having your vet, farrier, and a backup contact posted clearly in the barn ensures that if something happens, your caretaker can act quickly.

👉 Pro Tip: Include instructions on when you want to be called versus when the caretaker should contact the vet directly.

🚶 Step 5: Do a Walk-Through

Before you leave, spend 10–15 minutes walking your caretaker through the daily routine. Show them where feed is kept, how gates latch, which stalls belong to which horses, and any quirks (like the mare who likes to kick if you don’t enter her stall slowly). This simple step prevents confusion and gives everyone confidence.

✅ Vacation Care Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist you can use or adapt for your barn:

•  Daily routine written down

•  Feed & supplements prepped

•  Hay, bedding, and supplies stocked

•  Emergency contacts posted

•  Walk-through with caretaker completed

•  Horses happy & settled before leaving

Why Use Mathews Equine for Vacation Care?

At Mathews Equine, we know how hard it can be to leave your horses behind. That’s why we offer vacation care packages that include twice-daily visits, stall cleaning, feeding, turnout, and regular updates. Whether you’re gone for two days or two weeks, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your horses are in reliable, caring hands.

📲 Ready to plan your next getaway? Contact us today to learn more about our vacation care options.