Posted by Kelly Bridges on Mon, Jul 19, 2010 @ 02:58 PM
Keeping your horses on your own property (at “home”) can be very rewarding and can save money over boarding costs. Just make sure that everything is suitable for the horse, their safety and well-being should be first on your list of considerations. This is part of being a responsible horse owner.
There are three basic choices for horse keeping areas: Paddock, Pasture, Barn
A Paddock is defined as a small outside shelter with a small grassy area or maybe no grass at all (just concrete or dirt). This is fine for short periods of time but, horses require daily exercise and can’t get much of that in a small, confined area. Horses need to stretch their legs by being ridden daily or doing arena work (walking). Fresh air is good for them and sights and sounds are stimulating to horses and helps their health and well-being. An exercise area of at least 1/8 acre is the minimum size for a paddock .
The Pasture is typically a fenced in area with high quality grass and room to run. You can create a nice pasture with a little patience, hard work and research (check with your local Ag. Dept. for detailed information on creating a healthy pasture). Pastured horses have better options; they can move around more and ultimately are known to have less leg problems, less colic and better overall health and behavior. For pasture areas, allow at least once acre per horse for the best environment.
Of course there is also the Horse Barn, which can be pre-fab or custom built with stalls and hay storage. Horses stay cleaner in stalls, they don’t get as dusty or muddy and other horses can’t injure them. However, it is not healthy for horses to be inside 24/7 – they get bored and can develop bad habits (like cribbing), and respiratory problems (more often due to lack of ventilation). For horses to be in the best of health, they must get enough exercise – at least 30 minutes per day either walking or riding.
So, the choice is yours: paddock or pasture or barn or any combination of the above – simply bring your horses’ home and enjoy them!
Posted by Kelly Bridges on Fri, Jul 09, 2010 @ 12:11 PM
When designing your horse barn, there are several things to consider in the location, layout and design to make it not only functional but “friendly” for both you and your horse(s).
First, the Building Site requires careful consideration as this cannot be changed once the barn is erected. A well-drained building site, fairly flat, near a pasture or exercise area with southern exposure is best. Your local agriculture department can be of assistance in this area – they can help you in finding out if the area you “picked” has a tendency to puddle in the spring or if there is too much run-off from rain for the stability of a barn on that plot of land. Make sure that the site is easily accessible for a truck or car and horse trailer. There is always the option to rehab an existing building you already have rather than building new – garage, shed, cow barn, etc.
Next, you should consider the Ventilation in the barn. This is very important since horses produce heat and moisture, especially in the winter. Proper ventilation is also important to help prevent respiratory concerns from ammonia fumes and dust inside the barn. Cool, fresh air entering the barn will remove excess moisture and keep air clean and healthy. So, plan for windows that can be opened, sliding barn end doors that can be left open and fans in the barn (especially necessary in larger barns to “move” the air).
Remember to plan your Alley Width so that it is convenient for both you and the horses. A minimum 10’ wide, central alley is most convenient for feeding, cleaning stalls and moving horses. A surface of concrete, clay or asphalt works well (although asphalt can be slippery). You can also put rubber aisleway pavers down to add cushion and non-slip surfacing.
The layout of your Stall Design/Size would be next in your thought process. Stalls must be large enough for horse to turn around in and for them to lie down and get up without getting cast – 10’ x 10’ or 12’ x 12’ are average. Horse stalls need to give the horse room to exercise and humans room when in the stall with the horse.
Also think about your Stall Flooring. A well-drained earthen floor is comfortable for horses – clay works best. You need insure there are no rocks as they can cause foot problems (bruises) for horses. Earthen floors require periodic leveling due to horses pawing. There is also the option of wood floors but, they need to be strong enough to carry horses weight and the board must be close together to prevent buckling or breaking. On top of any floor option, you can use rubber stall mats to “even out” the floor, provide cushion for horses leg joints and save on bedding costs while making cleaning easier. Bedding from straw (wheat, oat, rye or barley) or wood shavings are the most absorbent – use 10 to 15 pounds per stall per day.
Consider your Feed Storage/Water Access in your barn and stall designs as well. With the safety and convenience for both horse and humans in mind design your barn with easy to access and maintain water outlets (in the aisleway works well) and adequate feed storage (that will help to keep hay from getting wet). Using aisleway access feeders and waterers in stalls helps with convenience by allowing easy access without having to enter the stalls. Make sure the feeders and waterers are of adequate size and located no higher than your horse can access easily.
Don’t forget about your Tack Storage in your design. Plan for a cool, dry place, free of dust to help extend the life of your tack. A separate room with a door and a small outside window for ventilation works great. Having tack “racks” or hooks of some sort and saddle trees helps to keep tack organized and “open” for air to circulate around it, keeping it dry and fresh.
Lastly, think about Lighting inside and outside your barn. This is important for both humans and horses safety and well-being. Consider having lights in the center alley, all outside entrances, service areas, above horse stalls, and in storage and wash areas. Switches should be located near exit doors for safety and convenience. Use of dust free / enclosed fixtures in center of each stall is nice for viewing your horse (to check on a sick horse or pregnant mare). An average of 100 watts for 1000 to 1500 square feet of area is sufficient. The use of reflectors will improve illumination area.
Posted by Guest Blogger on Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 03:30 PM
Just because you have an old barn, doesn't mean it has to look like an old barn. It also doesn't mean that it has to serve the same purpose as originally intended.
Take a look at this article "Old Farm, New Future" for the details.
Posted by Guest Blogger on Tue, Dec 29, 2009 @ 12:52 PM
We've started a new blog!
We hope you come back to check out our new posts.