What is it with barn restrooms? They seem to be the most under kept part of the barn. It dawned on me last week that quite often, horse's stalls are cleaner restrooms for them than the stable restroom is for us humans. Seriously, I've seen gas station restrooms that put some stable restrooms to shame.
I realize that a barn restroom is not designed to hang out in. I mean, there is not going to be bubble bath soaking happenin' in a claw foot tub there. And it's not like I'm starting off clean when I go into a barn restroom. I've got horse hair in on my sleeves...... dust boogers up my nose..... wet shavings on my boots.....hay bits in my hair. Horses can be a dirty enterprise, without a doubt. And I'm not afraid of a little horsey dirt. Or a lot of it, for that matter.
However, the dirt in barn restrooms is that much worse. It's like they've never been cleaned. Ever. There are cobwebs growing on the dirt. It's like the sink and toilet have had plumbing problems most of their existence and have leaked and the flooring was never fixed from the damage. There never seems to be paper towels to dry your hands on (and using TP to dry them on a cold morning at a barn is horrendous.) Even the soap in the dispenser seems dirty, not just on the hand pump.
It's always funny when barns try to make them look more cozy. Maybe they add a warped, framed picture of the Marlboro Man cowboy on the wall, or a kitschy scarecrow holding a dried flower arrangement which looks like its from 1981. And just covered in more dust.
Maybe fancier stables have fancier restrooms. I mean, they are serving some clients who spend a lot of money at their facilities- I imagine their barn restrooms have to be presentable, right? Maybe my problem is that I haven't been to a lot of upscale stables.
If you have a cleaner than average barn restroom, do a post on it! I dare you! I'm dying to see if there are any out there.
And maybe I just found myself a new career. "Barn restroom designer and remodel extraordinaire!"
I can see it now, my own special episode on Extreme Makeover Home Edition....."Pony Girl is designing and remodeling America's barn restrooms.....one leaking sink and cobwebbed flower arrangement at a time!"
p.s. I should count my blessings that stables offer restrooms at all. I mean, with all the horse's "restrooms" to muck out every day, who has time to clean the barn restroom? And exactly whose responsibility is it to clean a stable's restroom, anyway? The stable owners? Barn manager? Stall cleaners? Instructors? Do boarders rotate bathroom cleaning duties?
I don't have a restroom in my stable; I used the CLEAN stalls :) Just for a quick piddle of course ;)
ReplyDeleteWow! The barns you hang out in actually HAVE restrooms? Just joking. I realize commercial barns have to have facilities. The only horse related restroom around here that I've been to is at the fairgrounds, and they are kept clean.
ReplyDelete{Novice Life}~ Ha ha! I like that idea.....
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this post and am laughing at the part when you said that they invariably add the "horsey" decor/dried flower combo from 1981. That is soooo true!
ReplyDeleteOur farm had an outhouse which completely freaked me out when I was little. I learned to go out behind our barn which I still do and I personally think it is cleaner than any restroom. We have nice Ivory soap and a basin with clean paper towels inside. Pie and Sovey are always spying on me though! I know they are wondering what the heck I am doing.
LOL!
ReplyDeleteWell... when I with the lottery and build a barn, I will no doubt have you come and design the bathroom! :)
Happy weekend,
~Amy
Centre Pointe Stables in Delano, MN has got an awesome restroom- it's a big ASB stable, the restroom is super decorated, really cool old fashioned well/pump sink, just very cute and always clean. Don't have any photos, but it's very eclectic and cozy.
ReplyDeleteGotta admit the restroom in my barn is not pristine. I try to get to it ,but it is not high on the priority list. the best I can say is it is better than gas stations , garbage is emptied and the sink and toilet are cleaned regularly , but the floor? no decorations ,usually just a garden hose wound up an on the flor of the shower. (so it dosen't freeze) Our dairy barn when I was a kid , now that restroom was awful! my sister and I went in to clean it a few times but ewww!
ReplyDeleteMy barn has a shower in the bathroom. But, I haven't been in it this winter, so the cobwebs would prevent me from taking pics of it.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to bad barn bathrooms! Being on the show circuit I've seen many that I'd rather not even go in. And I'll admit I've used a stall instead more than once...
ReplyDeleteThe bathrooms at the Moms' barn is just like you describe too. Could it be because it's a guy in charge!
ReplyDeletePorta Potty in PDX and a clean but sterile bathroom here! It is funny that you mention this cause I do have a fun potty post coming up!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny! I have never seen a barn bathroom..I guess I am missing out!!
ReplyDeleteYou just described the bathroom at the barn I go to! It has a giant plastic framed 1980's picture of some girls on horses from a horse show way back when. There is a corner shower, but with years of rusty water hitting it, it's now a bright orange. The toilet no longer works and the soap does seem dirtier than the dirt. Guess what we dry our hands with? TP or our pants...it's great. Now that the toilet's broken, and has been for over a year now, people just use a dirty stall...it's very chic!
ReplyDeleteJamaica Bay Riding Academy in Brooklyn, NY has very clean restrooms - one for men, one for women - thanks to the tireless efforts of Vinny, stable worker extraordinaire!
ReplyDeleteThe bathroom in the clubhouse of our horse club is frightening, too. I know what you mean about the cobwebs with dust on them! What gives?? It is not that hard to do a little cleaning....
ReplyDeleteGreat post! The bath at my last stable was horrible. The one at the new stable is a bit better. When we get the ranch, we will make sure we have a blinged out bath!!!
ReplyDeleteGirl, you would have died if you saw the bathroom at a barn I used to have lessons at. I felt like I should have taken off my boots!! It was nicer than my bathroom at home!! The barn was called Woodland Hills Equestrian Center. They had a beautiful facility. But you are right, the majority of bathrooms in barns are super nasty!! lol
ReplyDeleteLOL AMEN!!! It's non-existent! Now the only other place that goes hand in hand with barn restrooms is rodeo grounds restrooms!! EWW! Now I'd like to see you get into that business ;)
ReplyDeleteLakeside Stables (not sure if it's still called that) in Morgan Hill has one for men and one for women . . . and it was in decent condtion . . . Even had paper towels most of the time . . . but usually, if I've been lucky enough to be at a facility with any kind of "bathroom," it has been of the Port-a-John type.
ReplyDeleteI think that the condition of the human restrooms, when compared to the condition of the stalls, just goes to say that to most of us, our horses' environment is more important to us than having a clean restroom for the humans . . . and at a stables/ranch, that's as it should be. Beware the facility that goes all out for human comfort and "show," and doesn't manage the horses well. I'd rather have my money going to the horse care . . . but with some little bit of effort, the boarders can help provide for their own comfort by making sure there are paper towels, TP, soap . . . and a broom to sweep out once in awhile.
Actually, the barn where Abby was trained out of in 08 had a great bathroom!! But it certainly was the exception, not the rule!!:) But I also have to say that I'd rather have a nasty dirty barn bathroom then no bathroom at all! I've boarded long term at many barns that didnt have a bathroom, which was very inconvenient.
ReplyDeleteThis was so cute to me today!
ReplyDeleteI too have always thought about that aspect of horsey life...the rest room should be GOOD...I mean, you get so blasted dirty with the horses, the rest room should invite cleanliness not cobwebs and pack rats and animals!
I have a darned cute pictures of my perfect barn bathroom...it is in my trailer..will post it for you and alert you when I do...SOMEONE should have it done!
Be well Ponygirl!
KK
I must go to the same ones you do--ones with no electricity so you take a quick look while the door's open--try to memorize the general area--aim for the toilet and get out asap.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me laugh. You're so right. Although my biggest complaint is how cold those suckers can get in the winter. LOL
ReplyDeleteI have been a little scared using some barns restrooms. But I do have to say that the restroom at the farm I work for, is actually not too bad! It isn't fancy, no cute decorations, but it is CLEAN! The bathroom is also the laundry room. The people who clean it? Me usually. I sweep the floor, clean the counter/sink, toilet and washer/dryer. I will also refill the paper towel holder, toilet paper and soap dispenser.
ReplyDeleteSince we have high paying clients, we have to keep it clean. Clients actually use it to change in, so all the shavings on the floor must be swept up! You have actually mentioned to me before about how clean our bathroom is!
I wish I had a bathroom in my barn! And hot water. Wonder if I can get that on my "honey-do" list. Doubtful!
ReplyDeleteCute post....
We just had a port a pottie at our place, would have been nice to have a real to goodness restroom. I would have been happy to keep it somewhat clean.
ReplyDeleteRestroom? Uh, try the corner of a stall.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know there was such a thing as a barn restroom. lol!
ReplyDelete~Lisa
Once, when I had the only barefoot horse at the barn, I rode back into the yard silently.....and there was a boarder with her back to me squatting to pee into a drain grating. Rather than spoil it for her, silently we turned and rode away.
ReplyDeleteWorst barn toilet was in a place where we had to share "facilities" with the live-in manager. She was a neanderthal. I found peeing in a stable to be more hygienic.
Current barn (has around a hundred horses) has a half-decent WC with extractor fan, paper, and towel. The owner has aspirations to run an up-market premises, and it's easier to look after the toilet than, say, fertilise the fields or repair the fences.
A bathroom?! I'm lucky to find toilet paper to blow the black dirt out of my nose. I have resorted to baby wipes, or using the wash rack for my face/hands arms in summer, or rarely I go to the BO's house up the hill and use their bathroom which is technically 'our' bath which is nice but I feel bad doing that...so I store it in my camel pack and wait until I get home sometimes! :)
ReplyDelete