Barn Safety Review & Action Plan
Your barn is more than a building—it’s home to animals, equipment, and hard work. The Barn Safety Walkthrough gives you an easy, practical starting point to reduce fire risks and feel more confident about your barn’s safety.
When you’re responsible for a barn, you’re also responsible for the horses and people who depend on it.
Alongside the daily jobs, staff, clients and maintenance, you need to know that the way your facility operates is helping to keep them safe. But how confident are you that you haven’t missed something, or that everyone would know what to do in an emergency?
It can be difficult to answer that when you’re working in the same environment every day. A storage area that has gradually filled up, a route that is no longer kept clear or a procedure that hasn’t kept pace with changes can become part of normal barn life. Even a well-run facility can have things its owner has stopped noticing, while written procedures may not reflect what staff, boarders and visitors actually do.
You may already have concerns but be unsure how serious they are, what to change or whether putting them right will be expensive and disruptive. With limited time and money, another long checklist is only useful if it helps you understand which issues deserve attention first.
The Barn Safety Review & Action Plan gives you an independent assessment of your facility’s fire safety and emergency preparedness from Tina Silva, whose background combines barn management with fire and emergency services. Tina reviews the areas and practices described below, discusses them with you and provides a written assessment explaining what is working well, where she has identified potential concerns and what she recommends you prioritise.
The aim is to help you make informed decisions about protecting your horses and people, with recommendations specific to your facility and two follow-up consultations to discuss progress and questions. You can ask for help without having everything in order first; the review is a chance to understand where you stand and plan improvements with someone who understands the realities of running a barn.
Who it is for?
Barn owners and managers who want a practical review of their facility.
Boarding, lesson and training barns, private horse properties and equestrian centres.
Rescues, sanctuaries and other horse facilities planning improvements.
Facilities updating emergency procedures, orientating staff or preparing for growth.
The review considers fire risks, daily practices and emergency readiness together, taking account of how your facility is used.
What we look at
- Emergency responder access.
- Exterior grounds and vehicles.
- Building construction and exits.
- First aid preparedness.
- Electrical systems and lighting.
- Fans, appliances and heating.
- Storage of hay and bedding.
- Fire detection and alarms.
- Fire safety equipment.
- Smoking, hazardous materials and hot work.
- Emergency and evacuation planning.
- Training, drills and management.
Tina’s role is to bring these observations together and explain their significance, so you can understand potential concerns and plan your next steps. If something needs specialist investigation, her recommendations help you understand the concern and the type of professional to approach. Specialist testing, repairs and official approvals are separate from this review.
Your written assessment and action plan
You leave with a written record of the findings and clear priorities to work from, rather than trying to remember a conversation or interpret a long checklist. Both options include:
- Executive summary: an overview of the review and key opportunities for improvement.
- What you are doing well: existing strengths and positive safety practices worth maintaining.
- Priority findings: what was observed, why it is a concern, relevant positive efforts and recommended improvements.
- Prioritized action plan: recommended actions organized to help you decide where to focus your attention.
- Next steps and ongoing support: follow-up priorities and information about optional planning, training and consulting services.
Your review options
In person:
introductory rate $199, plus applicable travel
During a one-hour visit, Tina reviews the areas listed below and discusses how your facility operates, so her observations are considered alongside your current practices. She then prepares a written assessment explaining the findings and recommended priorities. Your introductory price of $199 includes the on-site review, written report and both follow-up consultations, with any applicable travel fee confirmed before booking.
Virtual: introductory rate $149
A one-hour remote review using a live video tour of your facility, prerecorded video, photos or a combination. Tina provides simple capture instructions before your session, reviews the material and discusses your current practices with you. You receive a written assessment and prioritised recommendations, plus both follow-up consultations. Findings are limited to what can be seen remotely and the information provided.
Included with both Options: Two included follow-up consultations
At 30 days: a 30-minute virtual consultation for questions and progress.
At 90 days: a second 30-minute virtual consultation to discuss improvements and next steps.
You can ask questions about your report. Additional implementation services are available separately when needed.
Location and travel
Tina is based in New Kent, Virginia, USA. In-person visits are available within a 100-mile radius of ZIP code 23141 in Quinton.
There is no travel fee within 25 miles. Beyond 25 miles, the stated fee is $1 per mile over 25. Your travel quote is confirmed before booking. Travel may be shared when facilities in the same area book together.
Contact Tina about locations outside 100 miles, facilities with more than 20 stalls or properties with multiple buildings so the scope and scheduling can be confirmed.
How to book
Contact Tina with your location, facility size and preferred option: in person or virtual.
Discuss your facility and goals, then confirm the scope, scheduling and any applicable travel fee.
For a virtual review, follow the photo and video capture instructions sent before your session.
Meet for your review, receive your written report and continue with the included follow-up consultations.
Meet Tina Silva
Tina is the founder of Equestrian Safety Group. She combines a lifelong connection to horses with a professional background in fire and emergency services to provide practical, proactive safety support for equestrian facilities.
Her background includes more than 25 years in the equestrian industry and more than 15 years in Fire and EMS. She began volunteering with New Kent County fire services at 19, later serving as an Aircraft Rescue Firefighter and EMT at Richmond International Airport, finishing as Senior Lieutenant. Her work included inspections, emergency preplans, CPR instruction and fire extinguisher training.
Her equestrian experience includes barn management, instruction, training and vaulting. She founded On Point Vaulters and Devil Dog Ranch, an equine rescue and sanctuary. This experience informs her understanding of everyday barn operations.
Education, training and credentials
Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science; Fire Science Technology certificate.
CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor; Fire Instructor I; Firefighter I and II training.
FEMA Animals in Disasters training; Certified USEA Safety Coordinator.
Veterinary Assistant certification; Pet First Aid and CPR training.
Optional support after your review
If you want further help putting recommendations into practice, these services are available separately. They are not required additions to the review:
- Animal evacuation planning: routes, gate procedures, safe holding areas, roles and a plan suited to your property.
- Emergency planning and preplanning: emergency procedures, site information and responder coordination materials.
- CPR, AED and first aid training: training options for staff and the people who use your facility.
- Fire extinguisher training: appropriate use, limitations and emergency response priorities.
- AED equipment and program support: equipment, accessories and ongoing readiness.
- Implementation consulting: support with recommended improvements, documentation, drills and plan updates.
Detailed plan creation and additional consulting are separately scoped services. Contact Tina to discuss your facility and receive a quote.
Service scope
The Barn Safety Review & Action Plan is a voluntary, observational consulting service based on conditions visible and information available during the review. It does not replace an official inspection, engineering evaluation, electrical assessment or approval by the authority having jurisdiction.
It does not certify compliance or guarantee that a facility is free from hazards. Owners and managers remain responsible for facility operations, maintenance and acting on recommendations. Technical work and code questions should be addressed with qualified professionals and the local authority. Detailed plans and additional services are scoped separately.
Contact Tina
Phone: 757-914-8868
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.equestriansafetygroup.com
Based in New Kent, Virginia, USA.
Contact us to Schedule your
Barn Safety Walkthrough
Don’t wait for that moment of terror to start thinking about safety. Take control now
