nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429 
|
Post by nhg on Jan 17, 2016 2:18:16 GMT
A friend of mine is going to be building a barn in the spring. I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions as to things you wish you'd done when you built yours or wish you had in yours? Suggestions for heating in the winter, they're thinking heating in the concrete slab. What do you do about electrical as far as things like they want to run it through tubing so the mice don't chew it. They're planning to have it on a big concrete slab with stall mats in the stalls but I think a dirt floor in the stalls is nicer for the horses. The horses wouldn't be kept in stalls unless it was storming or one was ill or injured. Any ideas at all? Thanks!!
|
|
leli
New Member
Posts: 57
|
Post by leli on Jan 17, 2016 3:09:42 GMT
Stall mats over a gravel base work nice (like the larger rounded rock type gravel). The mats make it easier to clean stalls, and prevent the base from getting worn away.
They should think about how easy it will be to fix the stalls when horses eventually break boards or chew them to pieces. For example, putting boards (or an actual stall wall) across the back wall makes it easier to fix - if the horses destroy the wall itself it can be expensive and very time consuming depending on what the wall is made of.
They need to know how to fix the stall doors if they start to get sticky, and have the tools and supplies on hand or else the doors become almost impossible to open.
If they're going to put in a tack room, slat wall would be nice so you can easily change how many hooks you have on the wall, use different hooks for different things, etc. And shelving large enough to put rubbermaid bins on - the bins help keep things cleaner and less chance of mice eating it. Basically, make it easy to keep things organized.
A wash stall indoors would be awesome, especially if they ever do any kinds of showing. Or better yet an Anivac - like a carpet cleaner but for animals.
ETA- Sprayfoam insulation really helps keep the barn warmer with less actual heat being used.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Jan 17, 2016 5:40:07 GMT
I'm not sure about heating as I live in and grew up in a warmer climate than you do so we did not "heat" a barn.
We did make a barn accessible for good ventilation with working windows and aisle doors that could be opened a little or a lot, also put aisle end windows so doors could be closed yet ventilation still happen.
Ceilings in stalls help keep heat in...
I've had and kept horses on both concrete and dirt floored stalls, both professionally as a worker and as a private boarder.
I actually prefer concrete if, BIG IF, if the stalls are maintained, bedded and especially cleaned completely and properly...
If scrubbing of a stall is ever needed for whatever reason sure is easier to strip, wash and disinfect a concrete based floor than dirt...you can sweep excess water out the door with a squeegee.
I would suggest electrical outlets by every stall for heated buckets as needed in winter, fans in summer and if you do showing to clip and prepare your horses with NO extension cords used in a barn.
You asked about wiring.... use metal conduit pipe to slide the wiring through to prevent rodent chewing. They also make electrical wiring that is wire wrapped here in the states but don't know if that is as safe as the conduit to use.
Water needs a frost free hydrant at the least by you since you have such deep freeze temperatures.
I have never experienced heated floors in a barn but have seen them on a driveway that were wonderful. They de-iced the drive so never needed even to be shoveled or plowed. I understand though that that type of heating is very expensive to use and run, at least here again in the state I was in...but it worked outdoors...not sure if I would want my horses stall to have that under shavings though.
Horses generate a lot of body heat if you have several in a barn and it is insulated...again, not sure it is enough though for your climate conditions.
What I would be worrying about though is how easy does the horse acclimate to outdoor temperatures for turnout or riding if he lives in a heated barn.
I would be more inclined to do super heavy blankets with hoods than heating their living environment...not sure what the ammonia of urine & feces would be like when "heated" for the animals to breathe..
I wish I had done in my barn here is to put a ceiling on my feed room. My barn is dusty...we don't have concrete aisles or stalls {yet} and the dust is a killer on my hay storage.
I have everything tarped and still it is in the air and hay... When I feed I shake out every flake to remove what I can trying not to compromise the respiratory system of the horses with irritants of excess dust...
I would also do a fully enclosed tack room that is well insulated so you could heat it or a/c as needed. What kind of heating to use is a question though.
For lighting I would look into LED lights as they are brighter, cooler and no bulbs to change...fluorescent also is dimmer in extreme cold temps I know.
If fans are used, sealed motors is a must and if designed from the beginning properly placed fans can create a great cooling breeze for summer and circulate air during winter..
Getting extravagant or for you a necessary indoor wash stall with hot and cold water, heating/warming lights and a horse vac to remove any excess water or just vacuum groom a horse anytime of year would be lovely.
Another separate area for the vet or farrier to work that has excellent lighting and ventilation with several heavy duty outlets in it for equipment used and needed.
Wide aisle-ways, side lighting not overhead as it reduces shadows when done correctly, several light zones so if a large barn not every stall needs lit to conserve electric.
A barn placed to capture the cooling summer breezes, warming sun-rays of winter, graded so water runoff is not puddled near entry/exit ways. A large overhang if windows or doors open so shade abounds as needed.
If they plan of  stalls, make one more...amazing how much extra space you can really use once you are "living" in your barn...
Those come to mind right away.... 
|
|
|
|
Post by dickel on Jan 17, 2016 17:30:49 GMT
I would also like to build a larger horse barn. I have done a bit of research on space and floors. We have a horse veterinary clinic close by where I have taken some of my horses. His advise for floors was swept finished cement outer edge slope drained. That is how his clinic is built. It your in a region where the barn needs to but under a State electrical code you would most likely be required to use conduit for wiring. Here it gets freezing cold for about four months and I would never heat the whole barn. I personally would heat a wash area and the tact room. I would make an office like tact room large enough for a desk, table, a counter with sink and a refrigerator. A needed rest room connected as well.  I would want to keep my horse records close as well as the refrigerator for medical needs. I would need a water with a coffee pot when spending much time in the barn.
What I will most likely have is a fenced in area using 10 foot tall posts with a tarp as a roof. |
|
nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
|
Post by nhg on Jan 17, 2016 21:16:19 GMT
Some interesting things to think about, thanks you guys!
|
|
|
|
Post by carshon on Jan 18, 2016 16:14:54 GMT
The new show barn near us put in heated floors in the stall area. She loves them but says you have to remember to start heating them early as it takes a bit for the concrete to warm up. These are show horses so they are kept in their stalls with blankets on and lights on them to prevent much of a winter coat. The stall area is not super warm (60 F maybe) but the horses only wear light blankets. Her stalls are heated cement floors with a spray on rubber stall liner then a base of lime stone (I think) and then stall mats. The mats are pulled quite frequently (I want to say every 2 months) and the lime stone is replaced. This has got to be one of the best smelling barns I have ever been in - and she has horses stalled 24/7. She beds really really deep as well and I really like that. I can't remember the exact # of stalls but it is 15-20 in the lower barn and 5-10 in the upper (training barn)
I am not always a huge fan of how show horses are trained but her facility is very state of the art - both ends of the stall barn open up fully and there is also a 10 foot doorway to enter the barn - these have screen doors or sheets on them so in the summer all doors are open all of the time so the barn airs out and the horses get as much fresh air as they can. Her outdoor arena also has outside stalls next to the arena and the horses are put in these outside stalls when it is nice out so they get time out of their stalls and into the fresh air- not a lot of pasture there but some of the horses in training get a little pasture time.
|
|
nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
|
Post by nhg on Jan 18, 2016 17:16:50 GMT
y friend would never keep her horses inside full time unless they were sick or injured and had to be. The barn is for just in case this is necessary and to have an area indoors for brushing and tacking up and maybe bringing them in for the night if it's really nasty outside. But she wants to do it properly as if they'll live in there. Her husband is very particular about things and wants everything perfect. He's one of those types that will investigate the hell out of something before he does it. She wants heat but wants it as safe as possible.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Jan 18, 2016 21:17:07 GMT
My suggestion is to have switches for lights operating different sections of the barn. and lights over each stall. with outlets at each end of the barn and some in between. yes, put the wiring inside conduit pipe and the aisle ways large or wide enough for tractor to go thru. replaceable type boards just in case a horse kicks and put a hole in one. i use rough cut 8 inch wide board so each one can be taken down and replaced. , water is important. i buy submersible water heaters for buckets and keep them handy. they warm a bucket of water in 5 minutes . utility room with covered area and tack room with a roof also to make sure it stays clean and dust free with the grain. and a latch on the doors so no horse could easily open them.
|
|
mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
|
Post by mistersmom on Jan 19, 2016 1:14:42 GMT
The major thing I would change about my barn is that the aisleway is way, way too narrow. Next barn it will be at least 12 feet wide, if not 18 feet. I still don't have running water in the barn but that didn't bother me too much when I had my horses here. The barn is close enough to run a hose to it from the house. I also didn't include an easy way to get access to the "attic" space so it ended up being a lot of wasted space. If I were planning on staying here long term, I would change that so I could (easily) store hay up there.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Jan 23, 2016 12:39:48 GMT
While i was digging out a huge door on the bottom i was thinking of this thread. this door is the opening to my indoor arena where i store hay . so i need to have these doors useable at all kinds of weather so i am not dragging hay hundreds of feet to be stored. Please tell your friend that even in Canada the ground heaves and sooo make sure the doors to any building have at least 6 inches or more to the ground. you can always buy weather strips to block wind. and perhaps consider opening the doors to the inside not to the outside. even mine are open to the outside and with the  falling off the metal roof it is a chore to keep those areas clean. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2016 17:19:08 GMT
I don't have a barn, but I spend a lot of time in them!
I love big open barn isles. Wider is better in my opinion. Easier to maneuver equipment in, more room to tie, easier to move horses in and out of.
I have been in a few barns with in floor heating and it is nice, but it does take a while to heat up.
As far as flooring for the stalls, I don't mind concrete. It has its merits and is easy to sanitize. I boarded at a place that had wood under the mats. That was a nightmare. I would never recommend that. I like the gravel idea, but I have no first hand experience with it.
I would make sure there is lots of natural light and great ventilation. That is one of the things I love about the place I am now. It is bright and airy, and never smells stale.
I am not a big fan of low ceilings or beams if they can be avoided. What might seem fairly high to a person might not be to a horse. I spent at week at a barn for a clinic with a warmblood mare I used to own and they had this solid wood beam running across the tops of the stalls. I was constantly afraid that she was going to flip her head or do something silly and crack her skull on that beam.
An indoor wash bay is always a huge plus for me. It doesn't need to be extravagant, but it is so nice to have when dealing with injuries or bathing in less than ideal weather.
|
|
nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
|
Post by nhg on Feb 4, 2016 3:48:45 GMT
Thanks everyone! More great ideas!
|
|
stalls, make one more...amazing how much extra space you can really use once you are "living" in your barn... 
I would want to keep my horse records close as well as the refrigerator for medical needs. I would need a water with a coffee pot when spending much time in the barn. 
falling off the metal roof it is a chore to keep those areas clean.