Safety
To prevent fire, we obviously have a no-smoking rule in all of the stable area. If the worst does happen, we have at least 1 fire extinguisher in each building and fire exits which have been approved by the local fire service. Next toeach stable, we have the horses headcollar and leadrope and there is a blindfold every 3 stables along. In each of the big stable blocks, we have an exit at each end incase one is blocked. Our grooms sleep close to the stable and we have a high technology fire alarm system with detectors placed all around the stable. The receptors are in the places you need them, (the main house etc) and they have a yard plan on them with a flashing light where the detector has gone off. Our stables are all built out of stone to aid fire resistance. All the hay is stored out of range of the main buildings as that is the most likely to catch fire, and we have weekly check to make sure none of it has gone mouldy and is therefore a safety hazard.

In the field, we have absolutely NO barbed wire as I seriously don't approve of it. The fields are seperated with post and rail fencing and mares and geldings are divided by an electric strip. Where we have XC jumps built into the fece line, we usually use electric tape, (which the horses are scared of) to cover them so the horses won't jump out of their field. Some of the field have thick hedges or dry stone wall at one side and while we are happy to leave these as they are secure, we check the hedges at least once a week (when we check the fields) for poisonous plants and litter. The stallion pens are much more secure. They have 4 foot high post and rail fences with an electric strip across the top. Between each pen we try to have a thick hedge so the stallions cannot see each other and start fights. This is essential for the safety of horses and handlers.

Although we take all the precautions we can, accidents and misfortunes are bound to happen and no-one can prevent them. The only thing we can do is try and make these accidents as un-serious as possible.

Security
Woodcroft Pony Stud is very vigilant when it comes to security. For starters, there is a electronic gate, which is operated through a telephone line connected to the main house, AI lab, groom's cottage and tack room. It is also password protected. Along the driveway, there are movement-activated security lights. (of course, these are also activated by foxes and rabbits and wake people up *g*). The outside walls are very high and very difficult to scale. In the main building, the tack room is double locked and all the extremely expensive equipment is kept in the house. There is only two sets of keys - one for the grooms and one for me, the owner. The feed room is also securely locked. All the windows leading into the stables, tack and feed rooms are barred. The AI laboratory is also double locked. For fire precautions, we do not lock the stable blocks as we would have problems getting the horses out in an emergency.

As well as all this, Woodcroft Pony Stud has one of the best security systems around. It has detectors infront of all the main buildings which can only be activated from the main house. Once a beam is activated, it is shown on a map in the house, so we can find the scene of the disturbance immediatly (this one fortunately cannot be set of by foxes and rabbits). We also have some delightful Irish Setters and dalamations who have full access to the stable yard. Little sweeties *LoL*. As many of our ponies winter out, we also have all of our ponies freezemarked for security reasonsand all the ones the freezemark won't show up on are microchipped.