As summer winds down and the days become cooler and shorter, it’s the perfect time to get ahead with winter stable preparation. Autumn is the ideal season to tackle jobs that are far harder in the depths of winter, when frozen water buckets, leaking roofs, and dark evenings can quickly turn into stressful emergencies.
Making the most of autumn ensures your horses stay comfortable and your stables remain safe and efficient before the coldest months set in.
To help you get ready for winter, we’ve created a list of essential tasks. These will not only keep your horses safe and healthy but also ensure your stables remain well-maintained throughout the colder seasons.
1. Deep Clean Your Wooden Stables
During the summer, horses often spend more time outdoors, giving their stables a natural break.
Autumn is the perfect opportunity to carry out a thorough clean before the stables see heavier use. Clear out all bedding, sweep away dust and cobwebs, and give floors, mats, and walls a wash down with a horse-safe disinfectant.
This not only creates a healthier environment but also reduces the risk of respiratory issues when doors and windows are shut against the cold.
If mats or flooring are cracked or damaged, now is the time to replace them – far easier on a crisp autumn day than during a freezing January.
2. Inspect Lighting and Electrical Safety
As daylight hours shorten, good lighting becomes essential for both safety and convenience.
Autumn is the right time to check every bulb and fitting, replacing any that have blown or upgrading to energy-efficient LED lights. Don’t wait until dark, wet evenings make it urgent.
It’s also worth keeping backup lighting in place, such as battery-powered lanterns or torches, so you are not caught out during a power cut.
While carrying out these checks, take a moment to inspect wiring and sockets – a simple precaution that helps reduce the risk of fire over the winter months.
3. Prioritise Repairs and Weatherproofing
It’s easy to overlook small repairs in summer, but once the cold sets in they can quickly turn into major problems.
The start of autumn is the perfect time to seal cracks in walls or doors that let in draughts, and to check that windows close securely.
Inspect the roof for leaks before winter rain or snow reveal weaknesses, and clear gutters and downspouts of autumn leaves so heavy rainfall can drain away instead of pooling around the stables.
4. Balance Ventilation and Insulation
Keeping stables warm in winter doesn’t mean sealing them up completely. Horses need ventilation as much as insulation, and autumn is the right time to strike that balance.
Make sure vents and windows can be opened and closed smoothly, allowing you to adjust airflow as needed. Draught-proof doors and exposed gaps, but leave room for air circulation to avoid dampness and the build-up of ammonia.
A simple stable thermometer can also be useful to track conditions once temperatures start to drop.
*Keep a thermometer in the stables to stay informed.
5. Safeguard Water Supply and Secure Forage
Frozen water pipes are a constant winter worry, but with early preparation they can often be avoided. Insulating outdoor taps and lagging pipes now is a simple task that will save time and stress later.
If you rely on troughs, check they drain properly and aren’t sitting in waterlogged ground after heavy rain.
This is also the season to plan your forage: as grass growth slows, demand for hay rises and shortages are common.
Stocking up early, while supply is steady, ensures your horses won’t go without.
6. Stock Up and Plan for Emergencies
With winter weather comes the need for extra supplies. Bedding, shavings, and rugs are essential to keep horses warm, while tools such as snow shovels, salt for pathways, and spare buckets can help you manage difficult conditions.
Keeping a small emergency kit of first aid items, extra feed, and torch batteries also means you’re ready for the unexpected.
Ordering and organising these items in autumn gives peace of mind when harsher conditions arrive.
7. Make Smart Improvements for the Season Ahead
Autumn is also a good time to consider improvements. Many owners now install stable cameras or temperature monitors to make winter checks easier, particularly in bad weather.
Others take the chance to make sustainable choices, such as switching to eco-friendly bedding or exploring solar-powered lighting for energy savings.
These changes are easier to implement before the demands of winter take hold.
Autumn Stable Prep Checklist
- Deep clean stables before horses spend more time indoors
- Check lighting and power supplies ahead of dark evenings
- Repair draughts, leaks, and roof damage while conditions are mild
- Insulate water pipes and stock up on forage early
- Gather essential supplies before shortages and storms hit
Ready to Upgrade your Stables for Winter?
Autumn is the season of preparation. Tackling these jobs now will save you time, money, and worry when winter sets in. Most importantly, it ensures your horses will be safe, warm, and healthy, no matter what the weather brings.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your stables this season, Jon William Stables can help. Call us on 01380 850 965 or email sales@j-w-s.co.uk to discuss your requirements. You can also browse our timber stables ranges here.
