November 2021 | Horizon Structures

Is Your Dog’s Kennel Ready for Winter?

Whether we feel ready or not, winter is right around the corner. And for many dog owners that means making sure their canine companion has a warm and winterized kennel. Your dog’s kennel is their home, and just like your home, there are a few things you will want to do to get it ready for winter.

If your pet has their own outdoor structure—it is important that you winterize it for when cold weather hits. The good news is, this is a fairly easy practice, but one that can make all the difference to your pet.

While most structures will provide coverage from wind, snow, and rain, not all outdoor kennels are durable enough to keep cold out as well. This is why winterizing is so important. Here are some dog kennel ideas for winter to get started.

Inspecting Your Dog’s Kennel

Before you get to work winterizing your kennel, you should perform a quick inspection of the structure. Here are some things to look for.

Start by making sure you have the right kennel. The interior space of the kennel should be big enough for your pet to move around in, but not so big that their body heat can’t help warm the space.
Determine if your kennel is in the right spot. Ideally, kennels should be placed against a shed or house to protect it from wind. If you have a particularly wet yard, make sure the kennel is raised off the ground.
Use a flashlight to inspect the inside of the structure, paying close attention to the seams to make sure you can’t see water, ice or wind coming through.
Check the roof for leaks. Pour water or run a hose over the roof to reveal leaks inside the kennel. Repair as needed.
Utilize weatherstripping to keep drafts at bay. You can use the same weatherstripping materials you use on your home.
Put the right bedding inside your kennel. This includes hay, cedar ships or wood shavings. This thick bedding should be at least six inches deep.
Use pea gravel in outdoor run areas to promote proper drainage. It can also be used as a trench surrounding their kennel to prevent flooding.

After you perform this inspection, it is time to get to work to make these changes so your dog’s home is ready for those cooler days. The smallest changes can make the biggest difference in your dog’s kennel and how warm and dry it stays.

Tips Keeping Your Dog Warm When the Weather Cools

Once your dog’s kennel is all winterized, you can feel good knowing that your dog has a safe space to call home. However, there are even more things you should be doing to make sure your dog stays safe.

Remember, not all dogs love the cold. While certain breeds like huskies, collies and labs love the cold and can tolerate these conditions relatively well, not all dogs can. Yorkies, chihuahua and boxers tend to notoriously get cold and may not handle freezing temperatures as well.

Set your dog up for success and keep them comfortable with a winterized kennel, and by following these tips on how to keep a dog kennel warm throughout the winter to keep them happy.

Fix The Position of Your Dog’s Bed

If you dog has a bed inside their kennel box, make sure you position it in the optimal spot and try to keep it away from the door or any other particularly drafty areas.

Check Your Dog

When it’s really, really cold out, make sure you are checking your dog for symptoms. Dogs show similar symptoms of being cold as people do. If your dog has a runny nose, is lethargic, shivers, has watery eyes or is showing signs of a fever— he may be too cold. This means you will either need to move your dog inside or adapt their kennel accordingly.

Keep Chemicals Out of the Kennel

Chemicals can really irritate your dog’s delicate paws, especially in the winter. Make sure that you aren’t using harsh chemicals inside your dog’s kennel. If there is ice around your dog’s kennel or in their outdoor space, do not use de-icing chemicals that can irritate your dog even more.

Add Heaters for Comfort

There are several different doghouse heaters and heated bed options for your pet. You shouldn’t always have heaters on, but if it is particularly cold certain nights, then it may be time to add a heating element.

Check The Kennel’s Bedding

You should be checking on and cleaning your dog’s bedding throughout the winter. In addition to cleaning the bedding, you should make sure there is enough bedding for your dog to make at least six inches of bedding to snuggle up in.

Little efforts like this, along with proper winterization can make all the difference for your dog this winter.

While it’s always important to start with winterization, the best way to make sure that your pet is safe, warm, and comfortable all winter long, is to make sure you have the right kennel. All the winterizing in the world won’t replace a high-quality kennel.

Here at Horizon Structures, we know just how important quality is when it comes to your pet. This is why Horizon uses premium materials to create warm and safe shelters that you and your dog can rely on.

A Horizon Structures outdoor dog kennel keeps your dogs warm, dry, and cozy all winter long. Our Standard Features include a 4” pressure-treated wood foundation that keeps the entire kennel structure out of direct contact with the ground, R-13 batten insulation in the walls and ceiling and R-13 closed cell spray foam insulation in the floor. The natural insulating properties of our wood siding and shingle roofing offers additional protection against the elements for the canine occupants.

8×16 / 2-dog ‘Traditional’ kennel with metal siding and roofing upgrade

The Low Down on Kickboards in Horse Barn Design

The interior design of a horse barn involves more than where to put the stalls, windows and doors. There are many safety facts to consider throughout the barn build and one of them is how the walls are finished.

The addition of horse stall kickboards to the interior walls offers protection to the equine inhabitant from causing injury to himself and damage to the barn structure.

While not typically a structural component themselves, kickboards can be constructed from a variety of materials. Choices include rubber matted walls, waterproof heavy-duty plastic usually laid over plywood or other wood wall, large dimensional lumber, tongue and groove timber or even breezeblock or stone.

Horses are large, unpredictable animals. If they decide to throw their weight around when confined to a stall, significant damage can occur as a result of their antics.

Horses may rear, buck, kick etc. when excited or anxious, and some learn to clamber up a wall to visit over the dividing wall to visit with a neighbor. Horses roll in their stalls and can become cast. This is when a horse inadvertently rolls over and finds itself without the leg room between the stall wall and its body to get up. As the horse is a flight animal it will consequently panic when finding itself in this vulnerable predicament, and kick out repeatedly pushing off the walls attempting to stand.

There are many options when it comes to barn siding and each offers its own benefits. Metal-sided buildings may be particularly hazardous to horses that are either pastured alongside their walls or stabled within, unless there is some form of barrier to access between the equines and the metal sheathing. An inadvertent kick by a horse can easily puncture the metal and cause serious and even life threatening injury if the horse’s hoof penetrates the tin.

Wood sided buildings can similarly be damaged or cause injury if the sheathing only a thin layer of material.

The potential vet bill and the costs for the repair of the siding of the building easily negate the impact of the additional cost required for installation of horse barn surfacing.

Kickboards Equal Wainscoting

The aesthetic improvement of adding kickwalls to stalls should not be overlooked. It could be considered the horse barn version of wainscoting. The latter was a practice adopted in Europe in the 18^th Century, where the base several feet of interior walls were coated in wood (usually oak) paneling to cover the rising damp that emanated from the ground into the stone walls of the building.

The wainscoting provided additional insulation as well as hiding the ugly appearance of the dampness climbing the wall. The use of wainscoting continues today, as a decorative adjunct in design that offers protection to the wall surface from scuffing in high traffic areas such as corridors and dining rooms. Just as in wainscoting, kickboards can be applied partially or full-length to the height of the wall.

In certain climates insulation may be added between the kickwall and the exterior wall to help mitigate temperature changes in both hot and cold weather. If insulation is installed it is often a non-toxic spray form that is suitable for use in agricultural environments. Whatever method of insulation is chosen, it is best to utilize a product that is as vermin resistant as possible.

Pros and Cons of Different Kickboarded Wall Heights

Obviously the higher the height of the wall that is covered with protective kickboards the higher the cost for materials and installation. So a half wall height is a plus on the money saving front.

The cons of not going full wall height are that horses that can chew the top surface of the wall unless it is protected by a metal edging, and that metal edging itself could cause injury if hit at the wrong angle by a flying equine leg.

Additionally, a partial wall of horse stall kick panels does not offer protection from a rearing or clambering horse. In fact, a horse can use the partially kickboarded wall for leverage to climb the wall or hang a hoof up on its surface when attempting such naughty behavior.

On the other side of the ‘wall’ equation a full height kickboarded wall can block passive airflow between stalls and block light. The likelihood that a horse will argue with his equine neighbor and launch an attack directly at a partition wall with both hind feet is more likely than a horse kicking a front stall wall or back wall.

During feeding time horses may become excited and rear at a front wall, so a grilled front above a solid front wall is a good idea especially if stallions or youngstock are to be housed in the barn.

Kickboard Wall Materials and Construction

One of the cheapest and most substantial ways to kickboard a stall wall is the addition of rough cut lumber with substantial dimension, such as 2”x 8” planks.

As this type of lumber is not tongue and groove construction, large spans may require additional bracing to prevent warping of the wall caused by temperature fluctuations or by a horse rubbing his substantial rear end or shoulder against the surface. Walls that bow out between boards can present foals and small equines whose smaller hoof size can become stuck in the gap.

The wall support may be in the form of a curved steel rod placed vertically in the center of the wall or flat aluminum brackets placed on top of each timber member that join each plank together with low profile screws or nails keeping them in place.

However the wall us supported it is advisable that its support placement offer a horse friendly curved surface to help avoid injury if it is used as a rubbing post or preferably is a flat design that does not stand proud from the surface of the wall.

Stall partition walls must always be well-secured on each side to ensure that if a horse leans heavily on the wall, kicks out or launches itself against the wall, it will be strong enough to stand firm.

Breeding farm operators may wish to consider the option of quick take down partition stall walls that can be easily adapted to larger sized foaling stalls when required.

Ideally walls that are of tongue and groove construction should be made of hardwood. If a softwood such as pine is used, its board thickness should be significant to avoid cracking or splintering under impact.

Certain pine wood species such as Southern Yellow Pine, Douglas Fir or Cypress are commonly used in barn construction. As long as sufficient thickness of the material is used these offer a budget-friendly product that is readily available on the market.

Whatever type of wood is used for the kickboards it is important to consider the grade or quality of the wood as this affects its strength. The lower the grade of wood the more knots it will possess. This factor directly affects its strength and durability as well as its aesthetic appeal.

Horses may chew or gnaw on wood, and it can be difficult to clean. It is advisable to coat any wood surface with a non-toxic sealant to both protect the wood from moisture and to ensure hygiene can be maintained when it is hosed or sprayed down with a disinfectant solution.

Sealing the wall surface is best done before the horse is introduced to the stall while the walls are clean and offer good adherence for the sealant.

Breezeblock construction is another option for wall protection, though it does not yield on impact to the force of a well-landed kick. This can result in more damage to the horse. It is however, easy to clean, especially if painted or sealed with a non-toxic, non-porous product.

Rubber can also be used on stall walls, and offers the highest level of protection from injury to the equine occupant. A padded cell style construction is often used in surgical recovery stalls or rehabilitation facilities. Rubber is usually applied over a smooth wood surface.

Don’t Forget The Aisleways & Wash Stalls

High traffic areas such as aisleways are usually located between stalls on either side so the front stall walls. In horse barn designs that include a tack room/office/bathroom/feed room or washstall there will necessarily be areas that may not be constructed of the same heavy duty lumber.

Washstalls are often sheathed with a waterproof plastic based product for easy clean down. It is a good idea to install such sheathing over a solid base layer if it is thin or flimsy in nature.

For the facing walls of other rooms it is tempting to place cabinets, shelving (lots of cleaning!), message boards etc. A solid wood wall is a good option that will provide a durable surface to attach the varietal equestrian ‘accoutrements’ that are often found in a horse barn.

Wherever such items are placed, ensure that there are no sharp corners within the reach of where a horse may be led or cross-tied that may cause eye or shoulder injury. Consider horse friendly bendable rubber hooks versus metal ones for hanging coats/bridles/halters and avoid cluttering the aisle with obstacles such as wheelbarrows, tools or tack trunks that may pose a hazard to a horse passing by.

Tips For Extra Comfy, Cozy Equine Quarters

The addition of rubber matting or interlocking floor made of composite materials and backfilled with stonedust laid over the surface of the stall can save on labor and bedding costs as well as improve the comfort and health of the horse.

A textured floor surface can provide traction for the horse when standing up after laying down for a nap or roll, as well as offer a barrier to dampness and cold that emanates from a concrete or dirt floor.

Horses suffer arthritis the same as humans do, and their joints benefit from cushioning and protection from cold surfaces. A horse that stands for long periods on a hard surface such as concrete, will also be less comfortable than a horse standing on a soft rubber matted surface that offers some shock absorption. There are many stall floor-matting options on the market. It is prudent to utilize a design that does not become slippery when wet.

CLICK HERE to Request Horizon Structures’ FREE Barn Buyer’s Guide and Price List

Bedding materials such as shavings or straw may be ‘banked’ around the sides of the stall to mitigate the chances of a horse becoming cast as well as offer protection from cold drafts of air with its additional insulation.

A Dutch door and/or grilled window offers the stabled horse a room with a view. This access can decrease boredom and provides emergency access to the barn and offers fresh air/passive ventilation for its occupants. Keeping your horse physically well includes keeping him mentally stable when confined.

Why You May Want to Kennel Small Breed Dogs

When many people think about kenneling dogs, they tend to think about large dogs and especially working breeds. However, little dogs can also be working dogs, and there are many other reasons why you may want to kennel your small breed dog. Here are some tips for kenneling little dogs to keep them safe and happy.

Small dogs are often not as destructive in the home as larger dogs, and they are often more likely to be thought of as house pets than big dogs are. So why have a kennel for small dogs? Here are a few key reasons why kenneling small dogs may be a good idea:

Safety Outdoors

Your small breed dog may love being outside, but being outside can be a lot more dangerous for a little dog than a larger dog. Even in a securely fenced backyard, the outdoors can pose serious risks to your small breed dogs.

Even owls or hawks can pose a risk to very little dogs. It can be very easy for a coyote, raccoon, or even a large cat to get into a yard that you believed to be securely fenced and attack your little dog. Therefore, if you would like to give your small dog some time in the sunshine and the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors without constant supervision, a kennel is a very good idea.

No Need to Hold it During the Day

Small dogs may have a harder time holding their bladder than large dogs. This makes smaller dogs more difficult to potty train and can also make accidents within the house more likely. Some breeds, like Italian Greyhounds, are notorious for being very difficult to potty train.

Unfortunately, providing a doggie door and letting your little dog out of your house whenever they like during the day can put them at risk to predators or even birds of prey. With a kennel for small dogs, you can put down a patch of artificial grass or a pee pad in the outdoor portion and give your little dog the freedom to go potty whenever they’d like in complete safety.

Your little dog will have the comfort of the inside space and plenty of room outside to go potty when they like, and you won’t have to worry about cleaning up potty accidents when you get home.

Noise Control

Just because a dog is small doesn’t mean they make little noise. Small breed hunting dogs like Beagles and Terriers can be some of the loudest dogs around. Kenneling your small breed dogs is a great way to provide them with comfortable housing and let them be their natural loud selves without making you crazy indoors.

Breeding or Working

Just as with large breed dogs, housing a lot of small dogs safely and comfortably within your home can quickly become unreasonable. Kennels are a great way to give each one of your dogs comfort and space.

A kennel can also give your small dog plenty of room to run around and stretch out in a comfortable indoor space. It’s a great way to separate females in heat from male dogs, keep dogs that are blowing their coat from making a mess of your house, and generally keep track of multiple dogs in an orderly way.

What Should the Kennel be Like for Small Breed Dogs?

Keeping your small dog in a kennel isn’t quite the same as keeping a large dog in a kennel. There are some things that you need to keep in mind for your small dog to ensure their safety and comfort.

Climate control. Small dogs may be more sensitive to changes in temperature than a larger dog would be. The interior portion of runs should always be precisely climate-controlled so that your little dog will be comfortable when they go inside.
Solid floors. Little dogs have little paws that can easily slip through the grates in non-solid floors. Therefore, choose a material like PVC decking that is easy to clean, not absorbent, maintains a cooler temperature in summer and is warmer in winter, and doesn’t have gaps for paws to slip through.
Protection from the elements. Your little dog may want to spend time outside, but they shouldn’t get rained on every time they need to go potty in the outside portion. Therefore, make sure that the outside portion of the kennel is covered. It’s a good idea to position your kennel in such a way that the morning and afternoon sun shines into it so that your dogs can get a little bit of sunshine as well.
Easy to go between outside and inside portion. Big dogs may be able to push through a doggy door that has more tension than what a small breed dog can push through, so make sure that the doggie door between the inside and outside portion of the kennel has enough tension to stay closed when not in use but also lets a small dog push through it easily.
Secure kennels. You may be amazed by how determined even a small dog can be in trying to get out of a kennel. A small dog may be able to climb fences and slip over the top of a door, squeeze underneath a gap between the fencing and the floor, or find some other creative way to escape. Be sure to look at the kennel from your dog’s perspective and look for any ways they could get out.
Escape proof entry. Any dog can find ways to squeeze past you when you open the kennel door, but small dogs are especially good at giving you the slip. It’s a good idea to choose a kennel that enables you to open the door to the kennel while having a second space to keep them in a confined main area in case they slip past you.

Can Multiple Small Dogs be Housed in One Kennel?

The kennel that you want to buy for your small dog may be able to house several dogs comfortably. Naturally, you may wonder whether you can keep several dogs in one kennel. After all, you’ll be able to house more dogs overall and dogs can entertain one another and keep each other company if kept in the same kennel.

If you have small dogs that get along well together, you may be able to keep them together. However, there are some potential issues that can come up. Aggression can come out unexpectedly when dogs are housed together.

If dogs are unfixed, a female going into heat can cause aggression throughout the entire pack, in both male and female dogs. Sometimes dogs that are kenneled together for too long can begin to show aggression. Dogs can also get into fights over high-value objects like toys or food.

The more time dogs spend out of the kennel, the more successfully they are likely to be able to be housed together within the kennel. However, it is up to you to keep a careful eye on your small dogs and ensure that everyone is getting along well in the shared kennel. Provide separate toys, beds, and anything else that the dogs could compete over. Feeding separately is a very good idea.

Kennel Your Small Dog Successfully

Kenneling can be a great option for small dogs, providing safety, comfort, and convenience. Make sure that you keep your small dog’s needs in mind when choosing a kennel and you will likely find that you are very successful in kenneling your small dog.

Learn More About Horizon Structures Prebuilt Kennels & Get Pricing… HERE

Ways to Keep Your Stabled Horse Mentally Stable

If you spent any time at all around horses you’ll appreciate that just like us they do better when they are kept happy and enjoy life. Predictable routines especially feeding times, space to roam, consistent and professional care, all come in to play when it comes to managing the mental health of our 1500 pound partners.

A necessary part of most horse stable care includes stabling the beast. Sometimes the timeline on stall time can be a ‘stall-cation’ for the equine. Horses that are recovering from surgery, injury or illness or prevented from usual turnouts by adverse weather or location, are just some of the factors that can increase the time they must spend indoors.

Horses that are stabled for any length of time quickly become bored with their surroundings and lack of freedom. As the renowned professional dancer Derek Hough says, “ Motion is emotion.” This is true for all beings and horses dance to their own tune when it comes to their individual abilities to handle the stress of being confined to a small space.

There is a laundry list of stressors that can contribute to a horse becoming mentally unstable when circumstances dictate a captive environment is necessary:

Boredom
New stable mate(s)
New caregiver
Different barn or stable
Change in training routine
Weaning
Illness
Noise
Smell
Transport
Change in caregiving routine
Irritation from pesky flies and biting bugs
Inclement weather

Performance horses are often subjected to limited turnout simply because they are at showgrounds for much of their lives with breaks between of either stressful transport or intense training and competition. In other instances snow storms or bad weather may deny the usual turnout activity for the horse.

It is essential that special attention be given to the mental and physical needs of any equine that is confined to a stable for lengthy periods of time to help mitigate the risk of ulcers, bad behavior and bad habits developing in the horse.

Here are a few suggestions on how to calm a horse in a stable and alleviate the stress factors that may negatively impact your equine partner:

The Comfort of Routine

Horses will anticipate a routine of daily events such as training, feeding, bathing, turnout times etc., and sticking to a schedule can help defray nervousness in the horse by providing a set program that it can expect every day.

Routine also comes in the form of the caregiver. Assignment of a particular groom or experienced caregiver for a horse can increase its comfort level and reduce stress.

Touch and Turnout

Most horses love human interaction and finding time to conduct a grooming, bathing and massage time for the horse can do wonders for its well-being. Establish a workable program that is split up during the day to minimize boredom for the horse and maximize the movement of the horse to and from the stall.

While at showgrounds turnout options may be limited or deemed not viable for worries over transmission of contagious disease. Handwalking a horse even without grazing can be beneficial for its mental health. Find a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of the show activities and pick times when the grounds are quiet such as early morning or early evening.

The one type of touch a horse happily does without is that of pesky flies or biting bugs. The use of leg wraps, lightweight flysheets and a carefully placed commercial grade fan can help deter the annoyance that insects can cause. Fly repellent systems in horse barns can also be implemented to limit the fly population.

For horses in rehabilitation where their ability to walk may be compromised, consider adding a ‘lanai’ space to a Dutch door stall set up, that may be under cover of the overhang of the barn and sheltered from bad weather. This can give the opportunity for the horse to move minimally within a slightly larger space and enjoy fresh air and more views of what is going on around the farm.

During inclement weather such as snowstorms, even a few brief walks up and down an aisleway or a quick turnout in an indoor arena/lunge session can make a huge difference in keeping the stalled horse sane.

Room With A View

The provision of Dutch doors and windows (that are kept clean!) in stalls will facilitate a view their equine occupants can enjoy all day long. This can greatly diminish boredom for the horse.

However, sometimes mental stimulation is not required. For example, at a busy showground stabling set up, it can be hard for the horse to rest. Remember that horses nap many times throughout the day. The best way to help your horse relax is to screen the front of the show stall with fabric or other covering to minimize both noise and visual stimulation.

It is also helpful to take a neighboring stall as a tack space so there is a side of its stall the horse can stand without being forced to be near a strange horse.

Hay Feeders/Toys

When you take away from a horse the opportunity to graze, it is important you substitute something for the missing chewing satisfaction factor, to minimize the risks for ulcers and gastric issues as well as limit the likelihood the horse will start to crib or wood chew.

The use of slow feeder hay nets can help keep the horse entertained for longer when eating (as well as saving on hay wastage).

There are many horse toys on the market that can be hung in the stall to provide a distraction for the horse. There are even ‘pacifiers’ for horses!

Ensure that hay nets are hung at an appropriate height to prevent hooves finding their way into the openings but not so high as to cause an unnatural head position for the horse to eat. Hay nets are generally not recommended for foals for this reason. Similarly toys should be carefully placed to avoid injury.

Managing Noise & Smells

Noise can significantly increase stress levels in horses. Research has shown that certain pitches and types of sounds can aggravate even a calm horse while specially formulated music patterns can actually reduce stress.

There is no doubt that tannoy/PA systems can cause anxiety in horses. I can personally attest to this fact. My first USA purchased horses was an ex Grand Prix showjumper called McCloud. I kept him at livery at the beautiful ex Marshall Field estate at Caumsett State Park, Long Island, NY and was actively trying to establish him in a new career in the dressage ring. On days when the facility would offer a hunter jumper show or showjumping event, the PA system would broadcast all day long. When I saddled up My ‘Big Mac’ to take him out for a hack away from the disturbance and bustle of the show, he would buck and cavort about behaving more like a 3 year old than the 16 year old self he was, and even take it into his head to trot into any standing horse trailer with a ramp down. After 6 years at the advanced level in showjumping, he associated the PA system with the need to amp up and get ready to clear massive oxers and puissance fences.

On other days when my riding partner husband Paul and I enjoyed trail rides together Paul enjoyed playing a prank on me. He would occasionally emit his version of a hunting horn. Big Mac would take ‘note’ of this noise and bolt off toward the barn in full flight. Apparently the horse had been foxhunted once, been panicked by the hounds and the sound he associated with the fake hunting horn noise was enough to send him galloping into oblivion.

Paul was also subject to the reactions that certain sounds can elicit from a horse, however well trained the beast. When his horse Mistral, (a chestnut OTTB he had trained to FEI dressage level) heard geese gathering for their flights south, the horse would become tense and hard to control. We never learned why the noise bothered him, but it made Fall rides very interesting.

Horses certainly have a Pavlovian conditioning response to sound and we train them everyday. From rattling a bucket of grain to obtain a horse’s attention across a field to bring him in, to impatient equine diners in the barn kicking stall doors when they hear the feed bin lid raised, we have all experienced the horse’s reaction to sound.

Mother Nature can also add her own barrage of noise to the horses’ environment as can annoying neighbors. During firework events, hurricanes or thunderstorms the use of a piped in calming music or use of earplugs can all help alleviate the stress that such commotions can produce.

Certain smells, especially the scent of seasoning mares near stallions or smoke from forest fires that permeates the air, can be managed with the application of a small amount of Vicks on the muzzle of the horse. This trick is often used in international horse transport for stallions where they must travel in close proximity to mares.

A good passive ventilation system is a must for any confined horse, to ensure its respiratory health.

It’s All About Design

It hopefully comes as no shock to any horse owner that the better the horse barn is designed the better the chance a stabled horse will not suffer mental distress.

Windows, limited in/out access, insulated roofs to minimize noise, good barn management and stall layouts and sizes, all factor in to making the stabling space user-friendly for the horse.

Additions such as fly repellent systems, piped in music, toys and fans all offer solutions to keep a stabled horse mentally stable.

Always put the horse first when setting up your horse barn and show routines. Allow plenty of down time between show seasons and consult with your veterinarian for changes that may be needed in the horses’ nutrition for periods of less or more than normal activity.

Good horse care does take a diligent team. Efforts to minimize the stressors in a horse’s life are rewarded with good horse health and better performance.

Hurricane Sandy Horizon Barns Can Take It.

For this Post we are again lucky to have one of our customers, Shelly Rose who owns a shed row barn with an overhang from Horizon Structures send us her story about their experience during hurricane Sandy. We are very happy that everything is safe and secure on Shelly’s farm. As Superstorm Sandy was fast approaching and the whole east coast was bracing for the impact, I stood in our backyard looking at our brand new Horizon Structures shed row barn. Not only was I thankful for a safe place for our horses, but our compact little setup was solidly built and secure enough for our two Geldings to ride out the storm. Bailey and Superman had a strong roof over their heads and a dry place to hide while the wind howled outside. The overhang provided perfect protection from the rain and the boys were happy to be able to stick their heads out and not get drenched. Investing in this shed row has been the best thing I could have done for my two geldings. They have a cozy place to hide from the elements and more than enough room to be comfortable when they have to be cooped up for a storm like Sandy. The compact and strong construction of their little home made me confident that they would be kept safe. There’s a place for everything in our little barn and in fact our storm prep was minimal since everything already had its own spot in the tack room between the two stalls. When morning came after the storm their two little heads were poking out of their stalls and they were nickering as usual for breakfast. Their home had made them so cozy through the whole ordeal I doubt they even cared about the howling wind outside. Thank you Horizon for helping me keep them safe and sheltered.

Multi-Faceted Use of Your Backyard or Horse Farm

It’s amazing what you can do with a small piece of property or smallholding when it comes to rearing critters and growing fruits and vegetables. The backyard can be a place of solace as a private retreat, a playground to keep children happy and healthy with fun-filled exercise outdoors. The uses are limited only by your imagination and of course, any current zoning restrictions. The latter are well worth checking before you start a new enterprise.

If you are lucky enough to own a horse farm then there is probably plenty of under utilized space on the property. While horse barns, pastures and arenas come first, there are lots more ways you can add value to your farm life experience beyond horses.

Homesteading is trending up across the country, and the addition of chicken-keeping to your animal care world can reap more rewards than just a supply of fresh eggs daily.

Did you know chickens are very efficient at keeping down the insect population if they are allowed to pick and peck over pastures or gardens? There are a few caveats to consider in mixing horses and chickens in the same environment, but also many benefits.

Here’s a view from both sides of the fence.

If you have kids they will love the fun of collecting eggs. Taking care of chickens can teach children valuable lessons like responsibility. There are a huge array of recipes that incorporate eggs and this gives plenty of opportunity to enjoy experimental cooking lessons with the family, and of course you can also share your farm fresh eggs with friends and family, or even sell them to boarders if you have a livery operation.

Another keen pursuit is the growing of fruits and vegetables. It seems everywhere you look these days a new garden has sprouted up replete with bedding boxes and chicken wire to keep the critters out. While the price of pressure treated lumber has tripled, and is not particularly viable price wise for building beds and boxes from a budget point of view (even if you can find some in stock), there are plenty of other methods you can use as planting boxes. Options include collapsible boxes that can be removed after the growing season, discarded tractor tires, stonewalls or rockeries or simply go to planting directly in the ground.

A fresh supply of homegrown food with a minimal carbon footprint is not only good to eat, it can be great fun to nurture plants and offers a sincere reward with its known provenance and availability. Of course not everyone lives in a region where there is a long growing season, and the addition of a greenhouse can greatly extend the length of the season as well as offer a bug and critter free, controlled temperature environment that will encourage all plants to thrive.

As horse owners the thought of a glass or wrapped plastic greenhouse may not appeal. Glass is a hazard to horses and subject to damage and wrapped plastic can flap and tear and does not offer the most appealing aesthetic. Consider a modern, polycarbonate greenhouse that gives the appearance of a pretty and traditionally designed structure without the worries of broken glass or the annoying wind noise of a plastic clad frame. A glass greenhouse can also present a challenge if you have kids that like to kick a ball around or play in the garden, so the polycarbonate siding works well as a child-friendly greenhouse too.

Horse owners are also very often dog owners, and love keeping dogs around for both play and as an added security measure. If you train horses, then training dogs probably comes naturally and dog breeding, dog boarding and grooming, and obedience training are all avenues that can add income to your farm business.

Start with a commercial grade easy care, easy clean kennel to ensure the daily chores are quickly and efficiently accomplished, and keep your canine care and comfort at the top level that customers will truly appreciate. If you board horses for folks, those same clients will probably trust you to board their dogs when they are away from home on business or pleasure travel. What a neat way to add more revenue to your bottom line.

For the homeowner the addition of a residential kennel can be a boon for use when pets need to be left home while errands are run. The option of leaving a dog in the car while shopping is obviously forfeited when temperatures are high. Dogs can be safely ensconced in a comfortable and secure location that minimizes the risk of them getting into mischief and causing damage to the home or ingesting something they shouldn’t requiring a run to the vet.

Additionally a residential kennel can offer a space for pets that arrive with visiting friends and family, and provide a retreat for family pets that might be overwhelmed too much input and noise at large family gatherings.

If you are a busy at the farm with horse care and training, any spare moments to relax may be few and far between and like most of us a cheap plastic chair or two, set outside the end of the barn for a quick respite are what’s on offer. As you dodge the heat of the sun and migrate around the yard to find a spot of shade with no pesky bugs, those moments of true relaxation can be fleeting.

Up the level of enjoyment of the great outdoors for yourself, family, friends and clients, with the simple addition of an outdoor living structure. Pavilions, pergolas and gazebos offer a permanent building that will provide shelter from the sun and protection from the errant summer shower. Remember to ask the manufacturer about options for screening in the space, so that you can escape the persistent buzzing and biting insects when you want to kick back. Choose a company that offers a large selection of styles and designs. For low maintenance choose vinyl over wood.

Talking of family perhaps you have kids home that are bored with just hanging around the barn and spend most of their time planted on the couch with device in hand. The anti-social screen time drives most parents nuts but it is a seemingly inevitable pastime in the modern era.

If you have the space the addition of a playset can add much value to a child’s life. It offers a great place to play with friends, and can teach good social behavior such as sharing space and helping others enjoy the activities it provides. A playset is a tool that can teach leadership and motor skills such as balance, and encourages the development of a child’s imagination. Swinging can additionally reduce stress. Learn how swings can build a child’s mental health with meditation, mindfulness, thinking time and daily reflection.

A playset keeps your kids entertained in a healthy manner, can be sited within view/hearing range of your barn but not under your feet, and gives you more time to focus on riding without guilt! It will also make your children popular with friends, who will want to visit and share in the fun.

There are many ways to develop your backyard into a more valuable space or to design a horse farm that offers inclusivity for all generations and presents the opportunity of a bucolic, fun and educational lifestyle experience for everyone.

Make the most of your space with one of these backyard buildings! There is no limit to the imaginative ways an outdoor space can be leveraged for maximum enjoyment though perhaps the necessary funding may be an issue. If that’s the case seek a manufacturer that offers simple financing and can supply all your needs in one easy purchase.

Larger manufacturers will often offer discount pricing for multiple purchases so don’t forget to ask!

Outdoor Living is a Great Way to Live

It doesn’t matter if you live in New England or Florida, California or Maryland and anywhere in between. Outdoor living and enjoying the outdoors via a Gazebo, Pergola, Cabanna, Pavilion, or other Patio Structure makes that time even better.

For 2013 there are going to be some new offerings on outdoor living structures available. One of the new products will be a cedar gazebo which can be delivered with different options to suite your needs. With a floor, without a floor, and even with windows and screens to offer a more quiet area that can be used for more that just sunny days.

Another new offering will be a pavilion that is going to have a more rugged structure and presence. The new Alpine pavilion will have large 8×8 posts and a steeper 10/12 pitch roof. This will be a must have for anyone looking to add a more outdoor look to their property.

The best thing for you the consumer to know is that if you order one of our kits everything is pre-cut and pre-drilled for you. All of the hardware as well as clear and easy to understand instructions are included. Average time of assembly for a non carpenter is about 10-20 hours. Lead-time is generally about 2-4 weeks depending on your location and the type of structure.

If you would like us to provide the crew to assemble your new outdoor living structure just let us know. We can add that to your quote.

The Spring season is quickly approaching. So even if the groundhog saw his shadow, the warmer weather is quickly approaching, and to me that is a very comforting thought.

Are Chickens Really Gardeners?

The great thing about my job here at Horizon Structures (www.horizonstructures.com) is that I always have the chance not only to help customers with product selection but to also learn from the customer as well.
Yesterday during a conversation about chicken coops with a customer we were going over the dimensions and specifications of a couple of our chicken coops and she suddenly asked me if our coops were able to be used with the “deep litter” method. Of course I initially misunderstood her and thought she said “deep leader” method which led me to an internet search with no results about chickens.
Once the internet suggested deep litter I was on my way to an opportunity to learn.

As I am not completely versed in the subject, I hope that the information below may guide you to deciding if this is something you want to try. Of course, I welcome your comments and feedback to help me with anything I may miss or send me your suggestions of what you do on your own farm.

Basically, the deep litter method is a means using the browns and greens to create a compost pile of your chickens poop (the greens) mixed with (the browns) such as pine shavings (DO NOT USE CEDAR SHAVINGS) or Newspaper shreds/strips. Some people will use Hay or Straw which may be to moist for this application and may mold. This process happens right on your coop floor and for most people they only have to clean out their coops once or maybe twice a year. This is a great way to manage chicken litter for small farmers or even people in urban areas.

You will find that the deep litter method works best in coops with a earthen floor. If you have a coop with a floor in it you will need to put the material you clean out in a compost bin to break down farther and avoid damaging your plants. The key here is the dirt floor in the coop which supplies the moisture and culture to keep the compost process going. If you are using a dirt floor coop and find material that is more fresh on your semi-annual or annual clean out. You will also want to put that material in a compost bin for a period of time before applying to a garden.

As for the smell you may be expecting from having this build up in your coop? It is impoortant to maintain a good balance of fresh shavings on the coop floor to keep the moisture to a minimum. Let the chicken’s do some work for you too. Tossing some corn or feed on the floor will get the chickens scratching which they like to do anyway. This will help the aeration process. From what I have read, people report a very minimal if any ammonia smell at all.

You may wonder what some of the benefits are of the deep litter method. Here are a few for you.

*There is very little time needed to manage this process
*Low cost compost for your gardens and flower beds
*No smell
*Heathier Chickens as they benefit from scratching through the litter which contains beneficial microbes. Kind of like probiotics for the chickens.

Please note that as a standard all of our Horizon Structures coops come with a wood or gladbord floor installed in them.

If this is something you would like to try, lets talk about our 6×6,8×8 or even our 8×10 chicken mansion coop. We’ll work with you to modify the coop if you want to place on a natural earth base.

Also remember that we can modify any of our storage sheds to accomodate your chickens. We can add extra chicken doors, roost bars and nest boxes to get you the coop you want.

I look forward to your comments on this topic.

Remember: Happy, Healthy Chickens Lay More Eggs.

mike@horizonstructures.com

A Happy Barn In North Carolina

For our Blog this time we welcome a new guest writer.

A recent customer of ours, Amy Caraway in Salisbury North Carolina has been kind enough to share her excitement about getting her new barn but also provides some insight to how she handles her horses during what would be a more mild winter in a more Southern region. Her story also provides a good view of how our horse barns fair in North Carolina’s climate. It also demontrates the importance of good horse barn ventilation.

Thank you Amy for sharing with us and we hope her experience provides all of you with some helpful tips. Amy’s Barn is a Low Profile with a Raised Center Aisle.
One of my favorites.

Low Profile Barn

As far as winter goes, this is part of the reason I liked all of the options Horizon offered during the barn building process. Ventilation is important both summer and winter and having the ridge vent, the functional cupola and the gable vents assure me that air can escape the building even if I have the barn doors and windows sealed up tight. Use of Dutch windows and sliding aisle doors allow me to meter how much wind or air I want to let into the barn depending on how hot or cold the temperature is, too. My old barn did not have enough ventilation, my farrier was always complaining about there being no air when he came to shoe my horses…so when I chose the options for my Horizon barn this was in the forefront of my mind as I made upgrade decisions. To be honest, I think my horses LOVE the colder weather until they they get wet, then they want to be inside the barn. If I have only one horse at home, I usually leave one door open to the pasture and give the horse free choice to be either inside or outside unless it is bitter cold and then I have them stay up at least during the night time hours. If I have more than one at home then I have them stay up at night during the winter. I fill up a lot of extra water buckets when the temperature is predicted to be lower than 32 degrees in case the water lines freeze and I feed extra hay in the winter to supplement the loss of grass in the field. Sometimes I will put extra hay outside in the field with them too when it is really cold. Since I live in North Carolina, our winters tend to be on the milder side. I normally don’t blanket my horses unless I have a horse who is scheduled to go to early spring shows or unless I have an older horse who needs the extra help with insulation. Another thing I try to remember is to pull any medications out of the barn and bring them in the house if it gets extremely hot or cold.

Traditional Timber Frame Horse Barns Revisited

Equestrians embrace tradition. And, timber frame horse barns offer a time-honored tradition that is hard to beat when it comes to beautiful carpentry exquisitely showcasing the natural aesthetic appeal of wood.

When my husband and I purchased our farmland in Upstate New York, the neighbor had already taken possession of a lovely 2 bridge – or bank – barn in the front of our property. It was still standing proudly on the hill after 100 years, and despite the fact that its main occupants consisted of a flock of pigeons and said neighbor used its 3-story windows as target practice for his golf swing, we did try to buy it.

I was so impressed with the timber peg design, and the huge roughhewn lumber that made up the main part of the structure and I had great plans for its use. The former occupants – a herd of dairy cows – had left the concrete ground level area 10 years before and the building was dilapidated with doors off their hinges and stone retaining walls at the entrances failing. But, to me, the opportunity to own such a lovely, old barn and to bring it back to its former glory was a dream.

Sadly, it remained just that, a dream. The neighbors sold the property and the new owner decided to knock it to the ground and bury it where it stood. No announcement! We looked out the window one day to see a huge wrecking ball bashing it to pieces and our horses galloping around in their paddocks terrified of the commotion.

Fortunately, many timber frame barns have not met such tragic and untimely ends. They have stood the test of time and are highly prized by discerning property owners. Why is that?

The timber frame construction method encompasses mortise and tenon joinery where a beam – or piece of wood – is pegged on one end and then inserted into a matching hole (or notch) to conjoin solidly with the adjacent piece of lumber.

The work is painstaking because of the craftsmanship and accuracy needed to complete it. Labor costs are necessarily higher, as the journeyman carpenters required must be extremely talented in working with wood and it takes time to produce top quality results.

This type of joinery is revered over the standard post and beam for its inherent beauty, as there is no visual interference to the attractiveness of wood by metal plates or bolts and nails. Timber frame construction also provides the sturdiest and strongest and most enduring type of construction in wooden structures.

As the rafters are cantilevered, the timber frame horse barn also lends itself to having spacious interiors that are free of posts and obstructions. This is one reason that many old timber frame horse barns have been converted to homes.

The raw materials used in timber frame construction are also unique and of premium quality further adding to the cost but with good reason! You can read more about that HERE.

Timber frame buildings are obviously not the cheapest option when it comes to barn construction. But for the discerning horse owner that wants to step it up a notch (pardon the pun), the advent of a unique combination of a modular horse barn configured with timber frame construction does minimize the sticker shock. This innovative combination design is less expensive than a straight timber frame build completed on site.

Another factor to consider when it comes to purchasing a new barn, is the time needed for construction and the noise, mess and general stress than can be involved.
The advantage of this ‘revisited’ timber frame horse barn is the modular components that form the ground level of the building. These barn ‘modules’ are made in the factory and delivered prebuilt directly to the site. Stalls, doors, windows – all the interior features – are assembled and ready to have the magnificent timber frame second floor loft (and lean-to/overhang if purchased) added on site to complete the barn.

This saves time as the construction is not delayed by inclement weather or material shortages/deliveries. It also ensures a quality controlled product that is not hampered by crews that haven’t worked together before or don’t have the experience in the world of horsemanship.

Consider the concerns horse owners have about dropped nails on site, and worries of interruption of their peace and quiet for riding/training on the property and the disruption of construction noise as issues that can all be significantly reduced.

While a timber frame/modular combination building is not going to be quite as ‘instant’ a new barn on the farm as a standard modular horse structure, the delivery and set up of the final barn is only, on average, about 4-5 days longer.

The traditional timber frame is indeed revisited, with modern day improvements that can mitigate both the price and the construction time and fuss. Look for a company that offers a proven positive customer service experience, provides warranties and ‘to the penny’ pricing to ensure the barn purchase is a happy event from start to finish.

Everything old is new again. Sometimes, the traditional methods are the best!

(888) 447-4337