Equine Facilities & Equipment

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

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

Stalls Box Stall For Most Horses 12 X 12’ Box Stall – Foaling or Stallions 16 X 16’ Box Stall – Stallions 14 x 14’ Box Stall – Minimum for mature horses 10 X 10’ Box Stall – Miniatures 8 X 8’ Tie-stall 5 X 9’

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

Wheeler

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

Stall Floors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arenas l FOOTING l Min. 3” deep l Sand/shavings l Commercial Products l Fibers l Plastic flakes l Polymers l Rubber l BASE - Level, very firm l Slight pitch 1-2 o l Depth of base l Dressage4-6” l Jumping6-12”

Fencing  Height requirements  Perimeter fences5-6 ft high  Stud pens6 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

Daily Manure & Waste Production from A Typical 1,000 lb. Horse Manure Daily 31 lb feces 2.4 gallons urine 51 lbs manure (0.8ft 3 ) Stall Waste Daily lbs bedding (1.6 ft 3 ) 51 lbs manure lbs stall waste/day (2.4 ft 3 ) Manure Management

Min. Distances Between Manure Storage/Composting Areas & Other Activities Sensitive Area Min. Separation Distance (ft) Property line 50 Residence or place of business 200 Private well or other potable water source 100 Wetlands or surface (streams, ponds, lakes) 100 Subsurface drainage pipe 25 Water table (seasonal high) 3 Bedrock3

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

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

WINTER CARE l Boredom l Shelter l Ventilation

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

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

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

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

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