I thought this month would be a good time to talk about what makes a successful show barn work, including all the many parts that we sometimes forget about.

Of course, it all starts with the owners. Too often we forget that the owners are the people who’ve decided to buy a horse for themselves, for their child, or for a professional to bring along to sell. Sometimes they buy horses for the pure enjoy-ment of watching them rise from the baby green to the regular working hunters, although those days are slowly coming to an end.

In the jumper world their goals would be to see them go to the FEI World Cup Final, the World Championships or the Olympics. Not only are these owners funding an individual horse, but they’re also asked to sponsor different events throughout the year. Are we giving them enough? Do we give them enough recognition? Do we make them feel like they’re part of the equation? I think we need to do more. I don’t know how, but I’m tossing it up for all of us to consider.

Then we have the professionals involved in teaching our students and, sometimes, riding and training our horses and ponies. I think David O’Connor, as president of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, is headed in the correct direction with his goal of licensing our trainers. We don’t go to a lawyer or doctor who doesn’t have a license, so why should we place our students or horses in the hands of people who don’t have a license?

We all have to help David make this a reality.

We professionals must all use farriers. If we don’t learn why certain shoes work for different horses, then we have no one to blame but ourselves. Correct shoeing can make or break your show or lesson barn.

So it’s important to find a farrier who is just as professional and can work with your barn. Every horse must be shod as an individual, not as part of the pack. We have to show our owners why the far-rier is so important to the well-being of their horses, to give them a reason for paying those monthly bills. And we professionals need to stand behind our farriers by making sure their bills are always paid.

Then we have the horse dentists. I have a big sales barn and a huge donation program. It amazes me as to how many horses arrive with their teeth in
very poor shape. Our dentist has made the difference with many of our show horses. And it’s not a onetime “fix”; it’s something that must be scheduled yearly, sometimes twice a year. Many owners don’t understand the need for this service. Explain it to them.

Shippers are vitally important too. Are they are on time? Are the vans clean, and do the drivers listen to you about the history of each horse’s behavior in the van? Good shippers can give the horses, owners and trainers much peace of mind. And it’s a competitive field, so shop around.

My braiders are fantastic. They don’t braid in the middle of the night and leave the horses tied up for hours on end. Some people complain about the price, but there is a solution–learn to braid yourself. Gone are the days when I’d see junior riders braiding their own horses.

But good braiders are hard to find. Good braiders don’t unnecessarily get after the horses, they take pride in their work, and they actually make an effort to watch the horses they work on perform. The owners usually are handed the bills without knowing the behind-the-scenes actuality of why good braiders charge what they do.

Veterinarians are indispensable. Today’s show world has become a science as to what medications can be used and which ones are legal and safe.

Veterinarians have to care about how they’re treating your horse. They have to be up on the latest diseases that can shut down a barn in a second. They have to advise the owners and trainers of a good worming schedule. They have to be able to work with your farrier and your trainer.

And it’s always good to have a veterinarian who can work with other veterinarians when you’re at a show and he or she’s not. And it’s great if your veterinarian can recommend reputable clinics for pre-purchase exams.

That, of course, is a vitally important part of a professional’s life. The veterinarian needs to give you an overall picture of the horse’s soundness and general health, but don’t let your owners think he’s a psychic or a magician. It’s the trainer’s job to explain the veterinarian’s evaluation of the horse’s condition–not just ask them to pay the bills.

Now we come to the staff of a top show barn. The majority of people who are involved with horses are a part of it because they love horses. So the staff should know any horse under their care like the backs of their hands. They should know when those horses are acting in any manner out of the ordinary.

They should know the water level in their buckets morning, noon and night. They should know if they go off their feed. They’re basically in charge of the daily well-being of every horse. I always feel it’s good to have staff members who want to learn more and know how to get each horse to the ring at the horse’s peak.

The job of the trainer in charge of that barn is to teach each staff member correct care. The person who longes horses by allowing them to race in a circle at top speed, cross-cantering the entire time, wasn’t taught to do it correctly.

Our equine athletes need an enormous amount of pampered care, and the barn staff makes the difference between good care and bad care, between winning and losing. They must be able to communicate with everyone involved to make any show barn work.

We trainers must stick together to make sure all of the people I’ve named here are paid in a timely fashion. Whenever a customer switches barns, it’s our job to make sure all parties are paid in full. There isn’t any other business where a customer is allowed to not pay a bill. And owners should present their questions the day the bill comes, not a month later.

A well-oiled show barn is one that can make all of these people work together, efficiently and smoothly, for the benefit of the equine friends we’ve all made part of our lives.