United States Eventing Association

A barn fire is the worst nightmare of many equestrians around the world, but small preventative measures can be done to better prepare your facility for the unimaginable and set everyone involved, horses included, up for better odds.

“You can spend zero dollars and make your farm a lot safer,” said Lt. Jennifer Rodgers in the “How Safe Is Your Space? Fire Prevention Starts Here” session she led with her husband, Frank Rodgers, a retired fire chief, at the 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

To better understand the intent behind many of these fire prevention measures, you have to understand how the fire triangle works.

For a fire to happen and sustain, it must have all three elements of the fire triangle: oxygen, heat, and fuel. Remove one of those three, and the fire will put itself out.

Barn fires happen so quickly for several reasons, but two big hitters are that barns are not built to the same safety codes as homes are and that barns are filled with many external factors that can lead to ignition sources.

Here are some quick tips for things you should check around your barn:

• Hay Storage:

  • It is preferred to store your hay in a facility separate from your barn, however if you store it in your barn, you can use fire rated separation such as drywall and a fire rated door into your hay room to provide better protection

  • Should have adequate space and circulation

  • Stacking hay on pallets allows for circulation beneath the bales

  • Hay should never be stored wet. Quality hay suppliers should be able to tell you the moisture level of your hay bales, but you can also purchase a hay thermometer and moisture probe for your own facility if you so choose.

• Around the barn

  • Monitor for damage caused by animals such as chewed wires or bird’s nests in light fixtures

  • Switch all light sources to LED light sources as they have the lowest heat energy

  • Install a lightning rod on the top of your barn

  • Unplug or turn off any items plugged in when not in the barn (fans, lights, heaters, etc)

  • Consider evaluating the handles on your stall doors for easy opening in the case of an emergency. Keep in mind that firefighters are working with a limited line of visibility and are wearing bulky, fireproof globes, making operating snaps or handles with small reach spaces challenging

• Preventative measures:

  • Invite your local fire department out for an evaluation of your facility and to assist you with a fire plan

  • Have perimeter fences around the property that will allow you to turn horses out directly from their stall in the case of an emergency.

  • Consider installing a speciality detector in your barn that’s created for dusty environments. An aspirating smoke detector (ASD), advanced filtration system such as a WES3, or a photoelectric detector are best for the barn environment.

For a more in-depth look at fire prevention and safety measures, be sure to read Issue 1 of Eventing USA in 2026 for a full recap of the presentation led by the Rodgers’. A huge thank you to Frank and Jennifer for attending and sharing their years’ of knowledge and experience with USEA members to help create a safer space for our horses.

About the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place each December and brings together a large group of dedicated USEA members and supporters to discuss, learn, and enjoy being surrounded by other eventing enthusiasts. The USEA organizes multiple seminars in addition to committee meetings, open forums, and tons of fun! The 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Dec. 11—14. Click here to learn more about the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

The USEA would like to thank the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Sponsors: Adequan, ARMA, Bates Saddles, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Horse & Country, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, PulseVet, Rebecca Farm, RevitaVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, Standlee, and World Equestrian Brands.