Hay, Straw and Forage Stock Record
Know in October whether the forage will last until spring, instead of finding out in February when everyone else has sold theirs.
LK-29 2 pages
Equine records · EQ-33
Horse Yard Winter Readiness Checklist
A free printable winter horse care checklist for the yard: water, forage, shelter, mud, grit, lights, rugs and routine changes, dated and initialled when done.
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One page. Choose your paper size — both versions are laid out identically, so neither one gets shrunk to fit.
Print it and write on it
Fill it in type and save
The fillable versions have real form fields — open them in any PDF reader, type into them and save. Printing help.
What this sheet is for
Get the yard ready for frost, mud and short days before the first hard freeze. Each job is dated and initialled, so it is clear what is done and by whom.
Who it is for
Yard owners, livery managers and owners who keep their own horses through the winter.
How to use it
- Work through the list in autumn, writing the date and your initials against each job as it is done.
- Use the notes column for what was bought, what needs fixing and who is dealing with it.
- Plan the move from turnout to stabling in steps, and book weight checks through the winter.
- On frosty mornings, run the short check at the foot before the yard gets busy.
What is on the sheet
One page, top to bottom:
Printed under the title: The yard's autumn jobs for water, forage, shelter, mud, ice and the change to winter routines, each dated and initialled when done.
Write-on lines: Yard · Winter (year) · Checked by
Also printed: Job · Done · Notes · date · initials · Water · Spare water containers filled, kept from freezing · Exposed pipes and drinker supplies lagged · Self-fill drinkers and ballcocks working · Who breaks the ice on field troughs, and when · Forage and feeding · Winter hay or haylage bought in, stored dry · Field hay feeders sited on firm ground, spread out · Shelter and ground · Field shelters sound: roof, sides, no sharp edges · Hedges and windbreaks checked for gaps · Gateway and feeding-area mud measures in place · Grit or sand stocked for concrete and paths · Yard and horses · Yard and stable lights working, spare bulbs · Rugs washed, repaired and fitting each horse · Turnout to stabling changeover planned in steps · Weight checks booked through the winter
Frost-morning check — before the yard is busy
- Ice broken on every trough
- Drinkers and taps running
- Yard and paths gritted
- Gates and bolts not frozen shut
- Every horse seen drinking
- Hay out in the fields
Questions
When should the winter jobs be done?
No dates are printed, because winter arrives at different times in different places and years. Most of the list is best done before the first frost; the frost-morning check is for every cold morning after that.
Why plan the change from turnout to stabling?
Because horse welfare guidance suggests changing routine, feed and exercise gradually rather than all at once. Writing the steps and dates down keeps everyone on the yard working to the same plan.
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