Horse stable safety map – new tool for managing safety in horse stable activities

Horse stable manager has to manage multiple safety risks, which can have serious consequences to the stable and the stable employees. New safety management tools are also needed for horse farm managers for particularly when stable unit sizes increase. As a result of Innoequine project conducted by MTT Agrifood Research Finland and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, safety management tools were designed for horse stable activities and adapted into horse stable manager’s use. 

The project introduced new web tools for horse stable safety practices and management. An extensive literature review, empirical horse stable case studies, expert panel workshops and stakeholder interviews were utilized in the stable safety map design. 

As a result, the new Horse Stable Safety Map is presented in a one page checklist covering the main stable features and operations like walkways and corridors, stable and other buildings, working tools, equipment and machines, PPE, fire safety and rescue operations, employee and customer services and safety rules for horse handling, horsemanship and horse transportation. The stable safety map is a part of the Innohorse web tool safety section http://www.hippolis.fi/innohorse/safety/, which includes stable safety checklists, good practices, for example stable safety, horse handling, rescue planning and an information page about safety in horse stable activities. The new horse stable management tool can help organize horse stable activities. European Union Central Baltic Interreg IVA Programme funded the Innoequine project.