Equine Facilities & Equipment

1. Equine Facilities & Equipment

2. Functions of horse housing • Provide for the welfare of horses • Provide for the safety, health and comfort of human handlers • Provide easy access for suppliers, clients • Be cost-effective and have efficient use of labor • Layout should facilitate day-to-day activities • Flexible design to allow for future changes

3. Environmental analysis • Topography • Drainage • Prevailing winds • Solar radiation • Precipitation • Vegetation • Soil characteristics

4. Stalls

5. Well designed box stalls/tie-stalls • Layout – entryways, alleys and traffic-flow • Sizes • Door clearance • Pen height • Stall fronts • Stall construction

6. Wheeler

7. Stalls • Height • 8-9’ • Solid – 4-5’ • Slatted for ventilation • Ceilings • Min. 8’ • Lighting • One light/10’ aisle way • Each stall • Electrical outlets

9. Stall Floors

10. Other essential areas, equip. • Wash stall • Tacking/Grooming area • Aisles • Electrical • Lighting—tack room, mares/stallions • Water system—waterer, sink, hydrants, wash rack

11. Ventilation • Reduce condensation • Prevent mold, mildew • Decrease airborne contaminants • Remove heat - circulation fans • Windows (summer), Eaves (winter)

12. Rule of Thumb Ventilation Considerations • 1 ft. ridge ventilation for each horse or stall • Min. 4-8 air changes/hr • New barn • 6” ridge vent – min. 12-14” overhang • Vented soffitt running full length • Hay above stalls • Air passage of 12” between wall & bales

13. Tack room • Size • Desired characteristics • Security • Wall space for hanging equipment • Floor space for saddle racks

14. Optional horse facilities • Manure storage • Hay and bedding storage • Shed for trucks and trailers • Sick horse stall • Office

15. Outdoor Facilities • Outdoor pen - 12 x 12’ • Pasture (turnout) - 0.1 acre or more • Paddock - 15’ X 75’ • 500 sq. ft/horse • Good drainage

16. Sheds & Free Access Shelters • Min. 100 sq. ft./horse • Floor – 6-8” gravel covered with dirt or heavy bedding

17. Indoor Arenas Clear span structures • MIN. 36 feet wide = exercise/training • 50 feet wide = exercise/training/riding Ceiling height • 14 ft min. • 16 ft high = hunters/jumpers

18. Arenas • Recommended Ring Size • Multiple Day Show • Indoor – 100 x 250’; 135 x 225’; 150 x 300’ • Outdoor – 100 x 250’ • One Day Show • Indoor – 80 x 200’ • Outdoor – 80 x 200’

19. Arenas • FOOTING • Min. 3” deep • Sand/shavings • Commercial Products • Fibers • Plastic flakes • Polymers • Rubber • BASE - Level, very firm • Slight pitch 1-2o • Depth of base • Dressage 4-6” • Jumping 6-12”

20. Fencing • Height requirements • Perimeter fences 5-6 ft high • Stud pens 6 ft high • Bottom of fence no higher than 12 inches above ground • Boards of wooden fences secured to inside of post • Walkways between stud pens • Gates level with top board of fence

21. Daily Manure & Waste Production from A Typical 1,000 lb. Horse Manure Management

23. Min. Distances Between Manure Storage/Composting Areas & Other Activities

24. Horsekeeping Problems • Unprotected aprons • Inconvenient floor plan • Hazardous stall doors • Built-in grain bins • Skimpy spaces

25. Horsekeeping Problems • Inadequate entryways • Electrical failures • Storage shortage • Stalls around the arena • Inhospitable sheds • No phone

26. WINTER CARE • Boredom • Shelter • Ventilation

27. WINTER CARE • Water • Nutritional requirements • Each 10o in temperature, a horse requires 15-20% more feed. • Dental program • Inoculations/deworming

28. Liability • The Average Horse Owner • It Speaks For Itself • Boarding Stables • Loose Horses

29. Liability • Scan barns and pastures. • Keep entranceways free of ice and snow. • Warning signs • First-aid kit. • Post “stable rules”.

30. Liability • Encourage or require safety helmets. • Use contracts and written release forms. • Insurance up to date. • Post “no trespassing signs”.

31. Liability • Note pad or message board. • Install lighting around exterior and doorways. • Regular fence inspections. • Warning signs near horses with dangerous propensities.