Click here to visit our Barn Certification Requirements Document

Click here to visit our Barn Inspection Application Form

Horse Welfare Standards

(taken from the SWEM Wiki)

Treatment

• Horses should have safe and secure accommodations that follow welfare standards.

• Horses should have reliable access to food and water.

• Horses should have clean of stall and turnout spaces.

• Horses should remain untacked if they're not required to be.

• Horses should not be left tethered for long periods of time, as they will be unable to attend to their needs.

• Horses should not be harmed or killed.

Building / Barn Standards

• Doorways: 2b+ wide and 4b+ tall (minimum)

• Walkways: 5b+ wide and 5b+ tall (4.5 optional on edges for detailing) (minimum)

• Security: All entryways/exits must have a secure gate to prevent escape. Walls should be tall enough (2b+) to prevent escape.

• Stallions and mares should stay separated at all times. You can have them in a separate barn or separate wings of a single barn. 

Food and Water

Horses should always have access to:

• Food: As either forage (grazing on grass) or feed (quality bale, timothy, alfalfa, or sweet feed)

• Water: As either an infinite water source, or adequately filled water container (trough, half barrel)

Stalls

A good-sized stall allows a horse space to turn around and lay down with decreased chances of them getting stuck in walls. It should also allow space for a rider to provide unobstructed feed items and bedding and to safely interact with and maneuver a horse into and out of the stall.

• Size: Stalls should be a minimum of 5x5, and a maximum of 12x12. Foaling stalls should be a minimum of 9x9, and a maximum of 12x12.

• Footing: Stalls must have rubber mats placed underneath shavings, and shavings must cover at least 80% of the stall floor.

Runs/Paddocks

Runs, or paddocks, are fenced-in attachments to a stall, offering limited grazing space or just outdoor access with soft footing.

• Size: Paddocks should be a minimum of 5x5 per horse.

• Footing: Paddock footing should be soft and natural. Grass, dirt, or sand is recommended. Ice, pavement, concrete, or other hard surfaces shouldn't be in your horses' paddock area.

• Terrain: Paddocks should not have extreme terrain.

Pastures

Pastures differ to paddocks as they are generally larger and intended for sustainable, longer-term grazing, exercise, and solo or group turnout of several horses at a time.

• Size: Pastures should be a minimum of 10x10 per horse.

• Footing: Pasture footing should be soft and natural. Grass, dirt, or sand is recommended. Ice, pavement, concrete, or other hard surfaces shouldn't be in your horses' pasture area.

• Terrain: Pastures should not have extreme terrain.

• Grazing: Pastures should offer mostly grass, but dry lots are permitted if bales are provided at all times.

• Water: Pastures should have water via troughs and/or natural resources.

• Stallions: Stallions shouldn't be turned out together or with mares/geldings. Only one stallion is allowed per pasture for safety reasons.