Conference noted::equitation

	If you are handy with a hammer and have the time, you should build
the barn yourself. Modern barns are not difficult to build and do not require
any big equipment.

	Visit as many barns as you can and talk to the owners to find out
what they like and dislike about their structure. Examine your own needs and
the investment in time and money that you are willing to make.

	For a single horse you may decide that an open front pole shed meets
your needs. It's inexpensive, easy to build and provides shelter for your
animal. If you construct anything more formal, you should design it with 
expansion in mind. A one horse family can quickly become a four horse family.

	If you are interested in what I think makes a good horse barn, I like
every other horse person, have strong opinions. The barn should have lots of 
light and ventilation. The stalls clay floors for drainage and should be 
constructed so that the horses can see one another and swap horse talk. Too
many stalls are design to impress human visitors and do little for the horses
that have to live in them. 

	The barn should have room for hay storage and a place to shake out
bales to air for 24 hours before feeding to the horses. There should be a 
tack room, a locked medicine closet with a refrigerator and a closet for 
brooms, shovels, and rakes. Storage for bedding is necessary and should be
designed so that unloading from a truck is convenient and access from the stable
is equally convenient.

	Manure must be disposed of in a way to control flies and worms. It
should be out of obvious sight but not far from the stable. Remember you have
to wheel it out in a wheelbarrow every day.

	Tyke

Down here, (Charlotte, NC)  the US Agricultural Extension
has alot of plans for barns, etc. They are all available from the
local public library for free, or from the AgEx for a nominal copy fee. 

I have recently been looking into renovating my barn to accomadate horses.
I am not an experienced builder. I am much more comfortable with a set of
plans telling dimensions, etc.

One note: The plans date from the early and mid 50's. I don't know if 
"barn construction theory" has changed significantly since then.

    In many of the equine publications (magazines, etc.) I have
    seen ads for barn plans, do it yourself kits, etc.  One big
    question you should ask is how much land do you have, or
    will you have for pasture space, riding space, manure disposal.
    Even one horse can graze down a small paddock in no time, and
    it's a good idea to rotate pastures.  It's also a big commitment
    to keep you horse in your backyard, it's fun at first, but
    every morning and evening they must be fed/watered, stalls
    cleaned, groomed, exercised - even in the winter when you'd
    rather be in a warm bed!              Give it a lot of thought.

    As all other horse people, I too have strong opinions for what makes
    a usable barn.  Since I run a breeding business, my needs are much
    different than those of a backyard owner.  I would recommend that
    you look at lots of barns both large and small before you begin.
    Ask the owners what they like and dislike about their own barns.
    In the end you want to build the barn that reduces your work load
    to a minimum (keeping a horse on your own property is lots of work),
    while providing the best environment for your horse.  A horse is
    a product of his environment and if that environment is dark, smelly,
    and uncomfortable, you will see the difference in his/her attitude.
    By the way, as a precaution you should check out any local zoning
    regulations or rules for owning horses by the Board of Health in
    your town.  In Mass. there are many towns where horses must be kept
    in standard size stalls with minimum lot sizes.

    My husband and I are in the process of building a barn right now
    and it is currently about 1/4 finished, we have hopes of having
    it done by the end of October.
    
    It is a good size barn because we have 5 horses...it is 28 ft x
    36 ft.  We have 5 10x12 stalls and a tack room and a large hayloft,
    plus there is a shavings bin built off the end to store bulk shavings.
    Alot of thought has gone into this project, we had to consider what
    are needs were and what our budget was. 
    
    Before you consider building, be sure of what it is you need, consider
    the use of a 3-sided run in shed for just one animal, if you
    have more then you will want to consider something larger.  There
    are many builders listed in the Pedlar - if you write to them they
    will send you prelim. barn plans that will help you to decide on
    what it is you need and want.
    
    We are doing some ourselves and we have also hired two carpenters
    to help.  It is alot of work, but will be worth it when the cold
    weather comes and our "kids" have a nice, toasty barn to sleep in.
    
    Good luck, and just be sure to shop around before you decide what
    to do.  Good Luck
    
     - jenny -  
                                                         

    Hm... y'all sound pretty practical. I myself don't know diddly about
    horses -- it's all my fianc�e's fault. I haven't pinned her down
    on it, but she seems to have kept horses (but at somebody else's
    stable) for something like 15 years. I'm assuming she knows what
    she's getting into...
    
    Given that she doesn't forsee selling the colt soon, and that the
    mare is pregnant again (she bred to rest one ovary, which has/had
    a hematoma), I can't see building a barn (as opposed to a shed)
    with fewer than 4 stalls, plus the tack room, and a suitably sized
    hayloft. Running water & electricity seems mandatory.
    
    Can anyone give advice about manure treatment? Cheryl tells me that
    there is a dietary supplement which "goes right through them", and
    is toxic to fly larvae. Presumably this would suffice to prevent
    insect breeding; what about odor, and whatever other problems manure
    gives you?
    
    Dick
    

    re: Fly Control
    
    I think the product that you are talking about is equi-trol.  You
    are right in saying that it does go right through them.  If you
    keep things clean, start early on in the season, and keep it up
    it does work.
    
    I fed it for two years and was very pleased with the results.  Last
    year in the course of a discussion with my vet. told him this. 
    He proceeded to tell me in no uncertain terms that this product
    was NOT safe for my horses.  This was his own first hand experiances
    not 2nd or 3rd hand.  Needless to say I stopped feeding the product.
    
    I didn't have any problems then or now.  So I guess that you had
    better ask your vet. for his advice.  My information is a little
    dated.
    
    -John-

    .7:
    
    Did your vet get specific as to how the fly-control product was
    not good for (some? all?) horses? Is it suitable to mention here?
    
    Dick