Kindness makes a Happy Barn!

Those of you who have been out to the barn over the weekend may have spotted the new board in the barn aisle-way. It's titled, "Be Kind and keep a Happy Barn!" Or something like that.

Why is it there and who does it apply to?

It applies to everyone, and clearly these are principles that should be upheld in life, not just at the barn. But I slapped 'em up on the wall as a reminder because I know we are all so busy and often forget about the important things - being considerate!

Let me be clear. No one has been directly negligent or rude. This silly little dry-erase board is simply a reminder in our barn setting.

So, that is who it applies to and that's why it's there.

What does it say?

In a nut shell it screams, "BE NICE! BE THOUGHTFUL! BE CONSIDERATE! BE COURTEOUS!" But more specifically:

(1) If your horse drops a pile in a high traffic area (barn aisle way, wash rack, the pavement, right outside a pasture gate), consider the other boarders and grab a pitch fork.
There are 4 plastuc buckets and 3 wheel barrows outside the barn doors. Toss it in there. If you're in the middle of something then just be sure to come back to it and clean it up. No one likes a big steamy pile of manure in their way when they go to hose-off their horse.

(2) If you move it, be thoughtful and put it back when you are done.
This goes for pretty much anything - saddle rack, chairs, mucking tools, blankets, hoses, etc, etc. Not only do these things get in the way, but some items have been ruined as a result of being left out (either getting chewed on by a horse or donkey, getting knocked over and broken, getting rained on, run over by a vehicle...). I have run over a plastic bucket that someone left out and damaged the undercarriage of my car. A wooden saddle rack was left in the rain and knocked over and broken. Blankets left in reach of 'naughty' horses have been torn. Rubber buckets go missing and I am left rushing around to find where it ran off to. We are on hose #3 at the wash rack because it is left unraveled and horses are left tied at the hose and the metal end is squished. We are also on hose-nozzle-sprayer-thing #3 for the same reason.
So, if you move it from its safe place, put it back in its safe place.

(3) If you borrow it, treat it like GOLD and put it back the way you found it.
I love sharing equipment because I know how frustrating it is not to have something. Being able to borrow someone's equipment with prior permission makes life more fun! But make sure to treat it well (treat it better than you would treat your own gear) and put it back exactly the way you found it. Some people like their girths removed after riding. Some like halters clipped back together and hung. If you find it that way, be sure to return it that way. This shows that you care!

(4) If you have any suggestions, requests, or concerns, please let us know! We want to make you happy, not just because we are providing a good service, but we are nice people! We want to help you in any way we are able. Need us to babysit a dog? Trim a cat's nails? Notice a bulb is broken in a stall? Fence down in your pasture? Let us know - that's what we're here for!

We love our horses and their parents! If you have any suggestions to make our barn a happier place for everyone, do tell :)