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 construction debris, pallets, and junk.
- Power wash barn aisles, wash racks, and common areas.
- Clean out tack rooms and storage areas to make room for seasonal tenants.
A professional junk removal service can handle the heavy lifting in a single visit. We bring a heavy-duty dump trailer that handles everything from furniture to farm equipment to old fencing.
Step 5: Verify Permits and Compliance (December)
With horses arriving and inspections increasing during season, make sure your paperwork is in order:
- Confirm your manure hauler's permit is current with the Village of Wellington.
- Verify that your manure bins meet containment requirements (leak-proof, covered, away from waterways).
- Ensure property signage and addressing is visible for deliveries and emergency access.
- Review your insurance coverage for the increased activity during season.
Step 6: Plan for the Unexpected
Even with thorough preparation, things come up during season. A fence breaks, a storm dumps debris across the property, or you suddenly need an extra dumpster for a barn cleanout. Having a reliable service provider on speed dial makes the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major disruption.
Look for a provider who offers same-day service, handles multiple service types (not just one thing), and actually answers the phone. During WEF, responsiveness is everything.
The Season-Ready Checklist
- Manure removal service booked with permitted hauler
- Leak-proof bins delivered and positioned
- All fencing inspected and repaired
- Gates, latches, and hardware checked
- Stall walls, floors, and mats inspected
- Barn roof and gutters cleared
- Paddocks leveled with fill dirt where needed
- Sod installed on bare paddock areas
- Driveways resurfaced or graded
- Property debris and junk removed
- Tack rooms and storage areas cleaned
- Hauler permit verified with Village of Wellington
- Insurance coverage reviewed
One Call Handles It All
Most farms need to coordinate three or four different vendors to get season-ready — a manure hauler, a fencing company, a landscaper, and a junk removal crew. At My Horse Farm, we handle all of it: manure removal, sod installation, fill dirt delivery, dumpster rental, junk removal, and farm repairs. One call, one trusted provider, one less thing to manage.
We have been getting Palm Beach County farms season-ready for over a decade. Jose Gomez and the team bring nearly 20 years of equestrian service experience — and we are horse owners ourselves, so we know what it takes.
Or book online for a free estimate. We will get back to you within one business hour.