Keeping Track of Your Horse

Posted by Laura Thompson Oct 29, 2008

Some of us are organizers, while others would rather live in chaos and hope for the best. When it comes to your horse, however, organization is essential. You might not be the type of person to make jot down reminders on sticky notes or maintain a datebook for all appointments, but you will thank yourself later for creating a notebook just for your horse.

It doesn't have to be fancy. A three-ring binder with dividers and plenty of paper will suffice, or you can go all-out and create a professional resource. The choice is yours. The important thing is that it contain all the important information about your horse.

• Latest Coggins
• Veterinary records
• Farrier records
• Insurance information
• Competition wins and losses
• Business cards for various equine services
• Physical description of the horse
• Board, lesson and training bills

The more you keep in your horse notebook, the more organized you will be. This way, if an emergency arises or if you decide to sell the horse, you'll have everything you need in one convenient place.

Additionally, it is important to prepare for natural disasters. You might keep one copy of your horse's notebook at the barn or in your desk at home, but another should be stored in a fireproof location where you can get it in an emergency. No records will be lost in the case of fire, flood, tornado or even theft.

Responsible horse owners have to think ahead, regardless of how unlikely a particular scenario might be.