Stabling - by far the most common form of stabling are loose boxes. Each horse should have enough room to lie down, stand up so they can turn in comfort. The minimum box size for horses is recommended at 12ft x 12ft and 10ft x 10ft for ponies. These are absolute minimums and must take into account the size of the horse.

Bedding - this is crucial to provide comfort, warmth and protection against chilly weather and injury. It ought to be non-toxic and provide good drainage to maintain a dry, comfortable bed and should comprise straw, wood shavings, chopped cardboard or paper. Other alternatives include sawdust and peat but these options are far from ideal. Bedding must always be dry and free of mould and dust, so make sure you have a high quality supplier.

Stable hygiene – at least twice a day, droppings and wet bedding should be removed. You should sweep loose hay and feed out of the stable and both the yard and stable should be kept clean and tidy at all times.

Fire hazards – all light switches and electrical wires must be out of both horses and rodents and be well earthed. Piles of used bedding ought to be stored away from the stable yard plus smoking should never be allowed in the yard area. All fire alarms and fire extinguishers should be regularly checked and fire exits must be kept clear.