Tips for Working Horses Alone

"Don't do anything stupid" is really subjective. Although I have never locked myself in anything (yet), I had a terrible incident with a manure pit. I worked at a breeding barn in which we had to do night checks - we all took turns coming in during the evening hours. Well on my night, I heard barking form the manure pit - basically a huge concrete lined pit. The barn dog had jumped in and could not get out. The pit was about 3/4 full of straw and poop, so not thinking, I thought "you poor thing!" and jumped in to save her. Well, when I jumped in, the pile sunk down and both the dog and I were stuck in the pit. Luckily (and very unusually) my pal had come with me to do the check. I yelled for her and when she saw us she fell over laughing. I was able to boost the dog out, but she had to get a manure fork to pull me out of the pit. If she were not there, I probably would have spent the night in a manure pit. Later, the barn manager told me that rats were common in the pit (which is why the dog probably jumped in). I have huge mouse-phobia, so being locked in a pit with rats probably would have sent me over the edge!