Delta Cowgirl - 2017-01-04 6:28 AM Whatever type barn you build, be sure to select a site that is high and do dirt work to build up the site further. Also, install gutters. You want water to drain away quickly and avoid a barn and turn-outs in mud holes..... Put in a walk-out door as well as your big doors - have a barn aisle at least 12 feet wide. And fans - install good barn fans. Discuss ventilation with your builder.

Delta Cowgirl - 2017-01-04 6:28 AM

Whatever type barn you build, be sure to select a site that is high and do dirt work to build up the site further. Also, install gutters. You want water to drain away quickly and avoid a barn and turn-outs in mud holes..... Put in a walk-out door as well as your big doors - have a barn aisle at least 12 feet wide. And fans - install good barn fans. Discuss ventilation with your builder.

rodeomom3 - 2017-01-04 7:43 AM


 Ditto, we put ours on a pad and also have gutters. Have the  roof pitch as high as you can and vented to let out the heat.   I live in southeast Texas and have an open barn but I am far enough off the coast that hurricanes are not a concern for me.

WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2017-01-04 10:23 AM

We are admidst planning with our contractor for the barn we are building this spring. We are going with a 40x72 pole frame structure, with a 12 ft (side enclosed) lean off the south side. We went with 14ft sidewalls, with raised trusses, to allow a tractor to pull all the way through.  The south side, where they have free access, will have 4ft treated pine kick plates up the wall and on the lean sides. We've decided to install a 12x14 roll up door on each end and each door will have 4 windows in it, to allow more light in. We have a separate door into the tack room, and there will be a sliding door on the south end, under the lean, to allow me to bring the horses into the barn from their corral. We've planned for 6 poly panels on the north side of the barn and two on each end to allow more natural light. We are putting in a 12x16 tack and feed room (concrete floors) and 4, 12x12 Hi Qual stalls, dirt floors, with mats. It's set up to have about a 15ft alley way by the time construction is finished. Not sure yet what I'll do for the alley way flooring..contemplating concrete, covered with mats, but we'll see.  I'll have a 32x40 area in the back to store the bobcat and likely a round bale or two during the winter. I will likely use that area for ground work, round penning, etc. We decided to not insulate at this time. Our horses do pretty good in the winter as long as we can get them out of the wind and keep them dry. To prevent condensation there is a substance that will be sprayed on the steel, while in the factory; I forget what it's called off the top of my head. We have to talk to our electrician about types and where to place the overhead lighting and electrical outlets. So far that is what's in the works. I'm so excited to get started I can barely contain myself.

If anyone wants to suggest good flooring options for the alley and stalls we are most certainly open to suggestions. I live in ND so we have access to pretty much a wide variety of ground that can be taken off our ranch, however sand is the most prevalent in my neck of the woods.
 

WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2017-01-04 9:23 AM We are admidst planning with our contractor for the barn we are building this spring. We are going with a 40x72 pole frame structure, with a 12 ft (side enclosed) lean off the south side. We went with 14ft sidewalls, with raised trusses, to allow a tractor to pull all the way through.  The south side, where they have free access, will have 4ft treated pine kick plates up the wall and on the lean sides. We've decided to install a 12x14 roll up door on each end and each door will have 4 windows in it, to allow more light in. We have a separate door into the tack room, and there will be a sliding door on the south end, under the lean, to allow me to bring the horses into the barn from their corral. We've planned for 6 poly panels on the north side of the barn and two on each end to allow more natural light. We are putting in a 12x16 tack and feed room (concrete floors) and 4, 12x12 Hi Qual stalls, dirt floors, with mats. It's set up to have about a 15ft alley way by the time construction is finished. Not sure yet what I'll do for the alley way flooring..contemplating concrete, covered with mats, but we'll see.  I'll have a 32x40 area in the back to store the bobcat and likely a round bale or two during the winter. I will likely use that area for ground work, round penning, etc. We decided to not insulate at this time. Our horses do pretty good in the winter as long as we can get them out of the wind and keep them dry. To prevent condensation there is a substance that will be sprayed on the steel, while in the factory; I forget what it's called off the top of my head. We have to talk to our electrician about types and where to place the overhead lighting and electrical outlets. So far that is what's in the works. I'm so excited to get started I can barely contain myself.



If anyone wants to suggest good flooring options for the alley and stalls we are most certainly open to suggestions. I live in ND so we have access to pretty much a wide variety of ground that can be taken off our ranch, however sand is the most prevalent in my neck of the woods.

 

Nita - 2017-01-05 1:56 PM Open barn? Like a shed row style barn? How do you like it? I know open style barns are better for air flow, but I dislike almost everything else about them. (Wind-blown rain, cold in the winter with no way to really get in out of the weather, etc.) Also, do you prefer the open style because of things you disliked about other barns you've had?

Delta Cowgirl - 2017-01-05 5:47 PM Sounds like it will be an awesome barn! Are you planning a wash area with a hot water heater? I'd certainly recommend a hot water heater. I have concrete in my alley with mats on top. Really like it. Easy to sweep and keep clean. My stalls open to the south with a 12 ft lean-to loafing shed and each stall has a 12x48 run with a gate at end that opens to allow the horses access to a small turn-out pasture and each small turn-out pasture links to individual large pastures -- so each horse has lots of personal turn-out space and pasture which helps with hay / feed costs. In the summer I typically keep the horses in out of the sun -- typically June - August with free-choice hay and fans. I am down to just two horses now with plans to stay at only two. I like to keep my horses separated since it is safer for me to handle and feed them -- and they don't get nicked and scarred from playing and acting stupid. All turn-outs and pastures are electro braid fencing.

Delta Cowgirl - 2017-01-05 5:47 PM

Sounds like it will be an awesome barn! Are you planning a wash area with a hot water heater? I'd certainly recommend a hot water heater.

I have concrete in my alley with mats on top. Really like it. Easy to sweep and keep clean. My stalls open to the south with a 12 ft lean-to loafing shed and each stall has a 12x48 run with a gate at end that opens to allow the horses access to a small turn-out pasture and each small turn-out pasture links to individual large pastures -- so each horse has lots of personal turn-out space and pasture which helps with hay / feed costs. In the summer I typically keep the horses in out of the sun -- typically June - August with free-choice hay and fans.

I am down to just two horses now with plans to stay at only two. I like to keep my horses separated since it is safer for me to handle and feed them -- and they don't get nicked and scarred from playing and acting stupid. All turn-outs and pastures are electro braid fencing.