How to Get Your Farm Season-Ready Before WEF

The Winter Equestrian Festival brings thousands of horses, riders, and trainers to Wellington and the surrounding areas every year. If you own or manage a farm that houses horses during season, the weeks leading up to WEF are your window to get everything in order — from waste management to paddock conditions to infrastructure repairs.

Here is a step-by-step checklist to make sure your property is ready before the first horse arrives.

Step 1: Set Up Manure Removal (October – November)

This is the single most important thing to arrange early. During season, hauler availability tightens dramatically — companies that handle 20 loads per week in summer may be managing 75 to 100 loads per week during WEF. If you wait until December, you may end up on a waiting list or stuck with an unreliable provider.

What to Do

• Contact your manure removal provider by October to confirm your schedule and bin size for the season.
• If you are new to the area or switching providers, get quotes from permitted haulers early. In Wellington, your hauler must hold a valid Commercial Livestock Waste Hauler Permit.
• Determine the right pickup frequency based on your expected stall count. Farms with 20+ stalls typically need weekly or twice-weekly pickup during season.
• Request leak-proof, covered bins. Open manure piles violate Wellington waste ordinances and attract flies.

Pro tip: Ask for weight tickets on every load. They serve as proof of proper disposal if you are ever inspected.

Step 2: Assess and Repair Fencing, Gates, and Stalls (October – November)

Florida's heat, humidity, and summer storms take a toll on farm infrastructure. Before horses arrive, walk every fence line, gate, stall, and paddock on your property and note what needs attention.

Common Issues to Check

• Fence boards: Cracked, rotted, or missing boards are a safety hazard. Replace before horses are turned out.
• Gate hardware: Hinges, latches, and chains wear out. A gate that does not close properly is an escape risk.
• Stall walls and floors: Check for protruding nails, splintered wood, and drainage issues. Stall mats should be level and intact.
• Barn roof and gutters: Leaks and clogged gutters cause water damage and create slippery surfaces inside the barn.
• Driveways and access roads: Potholes and eroded areas make trailer access difficult. Millings asphalt is an affordable resurfacing option.

Getting repairs done in October and November gives you a buffer. Once season starts, contractors and service providers are booked solid.

Step 3: Address Paddock and Pasture Conditions (November)

Paddock quality directly impacts horse safety. Poor footing causes slips, strains, and soft tissue injuries. Florida's rainy season (June through October) often leaves paddocks uneven, muddy, or bare.

Options to Consider

• Sod installation:For paddocks with bare or patchy ground, professional sod installation provides immediate coverage. We handle site preparation, grading, and soil conditioning before laying sod suited to Florida's climate.
• Fill dirt delivery: Low spots that collect water need to be built up before sod or gravel is laid. Screened fill dirt is the standard solution for leveling paddocks, building berms, and improving drainage.
• Arena resurfacing: If your riding arena has compacted or uneven footing, resurfacing with millings asphalt or proper footing material improves safety and performance.
• Drainage improvements: If water pools in paddocks or around the barn after rain, address grading issues before season. Standing water breeds mosquitoes and creates hoof problems.

Step 4: Deep Clean the Property (November – December)

Before the season rush, do a full property cleanout. After months of off-season accumulation, most farms have debris, broken equipment, old fencing, and general clutter that needs to go.

• Remove old fencing materials, broken equipment, and unused items from barns and storage areas.
• Clear overgrown vegetation along fence lines and around buildings.
• Haul away accumulated debris, old hay, and waste materials that have piled up over the off-season.
• Pressure wash barn aisles, wash racks, and common areas.

A clean property makes a strong first impression on seasonal tenants and clients, and it eliminates safety hazards before horses arrive.

Step 5: Confirm Service Providers (December)

By December, you should have confirmed schedules with every service provider you rely on during season — farriers, veterinarians, feed suppliers, manure haulers, and maintenance crews. Do not assume your off-season arrangements carry over. Providers get booked fast once WEF approaches.

If you need farm maintenance, manure removal, sod installation, fill dirt delivery, or property cleanout services to get your farm season-ready, contact My Horse Farm early. We serve Wellington, Loxahatchee, and the surrounding equestrian communities.