The concept of industriously using small chunks of time is not a new idea. Everyone inadvertently wastes time here and there (“Oh, I can’t get into a big project, I only have 10 minutes before I have to leave for work”), but when you intentionally seek to maximize the productivity of these small pockets of free time with some horsekeeping hacks, you might be surprised by the results.
Most barn and horsekeeping tasks require more than 10 minutes, but there are plenty of quick chores and details that you can breeze through with only a few minutes of spare time. You’ll love the feeling of accomplishment and the freed-up brain-space that you’ll gain as you start plowing through those tasks that constantly clutter up your mind. Here are a few ideas to help you start brainstorming.
1. Schedule appointments
A 10-minute window of free time is the perfect opportunity to make some calls to schedule any necessary upcoming appointments. Vet? Farrier? Hay delivery? Done and done.
These are all quick calls that are easy to make whenever you have a minute to spare. You’ll get important appointments scheduled And you can stop worrying about forgetting.
Use a moment of free time to schedule those hay deliveries and annual vet appointments. Photo by Daniel/Adobe Stock
2. Preserve photos
It goes without saying that probably half the photos on your phone have horses in them. Do your best to protect these photos by taking a few minutes to either back them up onto the cloud or download them onto a computer.
Bonus tip: If you have a bit more time, look into having your favorite photos printed in a personalized book, which works as an extra backup for your photos and provides a tangible keepsake.
3. Take stock
It only takes a few minutes to evaluate the supplies you have on hand. How are your horse’s supplements holding up? What’s the status of the first-aid kit? Do any equine prescription medications need a refill?
Bonus tip: Use a few additional minutes to set up autoship or subscription services on items you use regularly so the appropriate supplies automatically arrive at the designated time. This saves time, money, and headaches.
You’ll save even more time by not having to run to the store to pick up basics like bucket snaps or a tube of ulcer preventative.
4. Get grooming
OK, so maybe 10 minutes isn’t enough to do a full and thorough grooming of your horse, but there are plenty of quick tasks you can do with the time you have available. Comb out a lightly tangled mane, pick out your horse’s feet, or give him a quick once-over with a curry comb.
You can do the full head-to-tail grooming when you have more time, but a few minutes can make a big difference in your horse’s appearance and give you a few special minutes of quality time with your horse. Win-win!
5. Tidy up
Did you know you can wage war on cobwebs in five-minute chunks? If you find yourself with a few free minutes at the barn, snag a broom and sweep any cobwebs you see (they like to show up in corners and crevices).
Or take a moment to give the barn aisle a quick extra sweep. Tidy up the bridle rack. Roll up polo wraps. You might not be able to tackle your tack trunk in a 10-minute window, but you can at least evaluate the situation and create a game plan to put into action another day.
6. Teach something new
We all know horses are smart and learn fast, but it’s easy to forget that they can learn a lot in short, frequent sessions, even when there isn’t time for an official “lesson.”
You could practice ground tying, do a bit of in-hand-trail or obstacle training, teach your horse a new trick or two, or do a groundwork exercise.
7. Spend time together
Hand-grazing is a great way to bond with your horse, and a 10-minute window gives him a special treat while giving you some quiet time to think. Enjoy the fresh air, soak up some sunshine, and listen to the birds singing and the peaceful sound of your horse chewing. Pure happiness.
It’s easy to offhandedly dismiss a few minutes here and there as not enough time to accomplish any important tasks, but those chunks of time really do add up. You might be surprised at how many horsekeeping tasks you can quickly remove from your to-do list with a few simple, quick hacks.
Good luck and enjoy!
This article about 10-minute horsekeeping hacks appeared in the September/October 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!
