Attached runs with no overhang and rain/snow

[SugarCubes]

My barn has back dutch doors that open to private paddocks. In hindsight, I should have had an overhang built off the back to keep weather out, but I didn’t

Instead, I only have a 12" soffit with gutters off the back of the barn, so anytime it rains, if I leave the doors to the paddocks open, the back half of the stalls become soaked from blowing rain. Even if I keep shavings swept away from the back doors, I still end up throwing half away the next day because they get soaked.

Those of you with similar setups, do you use your stalls more as a run in shelter for your horses to get out of the weather or do you lock them in their stalls when it’s raining/snowing? How do you bed your stalls?

I’m going back and forth (my horses have only been home a month so I’m still experimenting!) between lightly bedding the stalls, keeping shavings away from the back doors and letting the horses go in and out as they please and bedding a little deeper and locking them in when it’s too rainy so I don’t waste shavings. My two guys don’t like the rain and both will stay in their stalls when it’s raining.

Also, are there any awnings or something that can be attached easily above my dutch doors that would keep more of the weather out of my stalls?

[aahunterjumper]

Not sure how your horses would like them, but “cow curtains” sound like they could help. These are doorway height strips of clear vinyl that overlap and keep elements out, but allow people/ equipment in or out without opening a door. Think a “hippee” bead door with vinyl strips. I saw something like this advertised in the summer to keep bugs out of a run-in.

[csaper58]

If horses go in and out at will, won’t the area around the doors become a muddy boggy mess?

If stall floors were crushed stone, and that stone extended out the door past the overhang, it might drain and stay dry.

If the shavings are just wet and not dirty, could you mix in some pelleted bedding? That would draw some of the water out of the shavings.

[saddleup]

When I had my barn built I didn’t have an overhang over the stalls on the west side. It only took one winter for me to realize that was a mistake. I called the builder (MD Barnmaster in my case) and they came and added a 12 foot overhang. Quite often my horses just stay under that rather than go into their stalls, and it definitely keeps the rain and snow out of the stalls. Like you, I have attached runs and dutch doors. So it is possible to add an overhang…at least it was for me. It’s frustrating to see the stalls get soaked, I know. And in the summer the barn is cooler due to shade on that west side. For me, it was well worth the added expense.

[Bluey]

Until you decide if you can add an overhang, you could check into these kinds of wind screens or plastic strips.

Farmtek has the plastic strips, someone gave us a link to the shades, can’t find it right now, maybe they would again?

[SugarCubes]

[QUOTE=csaper58;8457137]
If horses go in and out at will, won’t the area around the doors become a muddy boggy mess?

If stall floors were crushed stone, and that stone extended out the door past the overhang, it might drain and stay dry.

If the shavings are just wet and not dirty, could you mix in some pelleted bedding? That would draw some of the water out of the shavings.[/QUOTE]

No, the paddocks have been prepared with a gravel base with compacted screenings on top so they are nice and firm. There are also mats in the paddocks right outside their stall doors. The stalls have the same base, with mats on top.

The rain simply blows into the stalls when the doors are open. I already use pelleted bedding and can bank some of the clean wet bedding against one wall until dries out, but my one piggy gelding absolutely pulverizes his poop into the bedding so it’s easier to just strip his stall.

AAhunterjumper Great idea! I’ll absolutely look into those, that may solve all my problems!

Saddleup I was also wondering about adding an overhang after the fact. My concern is the height…the back of the barn is already pretty low, I’m afraid adding an overhang would cause the roof to be too low for them, but something to consider for sure!

ETA: Normally, this hasn’t been too big of an issue but we are getting record breaking rainfall and flooding this weekend and it isn’t supposed to stop until tomorrow night! Yuck!

[SugarCubes]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8457164]
Until you decide if you can add an overhang, you could check into these kinds of wind screens or plastic strips.

Farmtek has the plastic strips, someone gave us a link to the shades, can’t find it right now, maybe they would again?[/QUOTE]

Thanks, Bluey! I’ll check out Farmtek now, I’m thinking those strips would work perfectly!

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=SugarCubes;8457173]
Thanks, Bluey! I’ll check out Farmtek now, I’m thinking those strips would work perfectly![/QUOTE]

Here are pictures of the strips:

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?479933-Door-and-shed-curtains

I still can’t find the link for those curtains, sorry.

Found the link:

http://www.horseflynet.com

[TrailRides4Fun]

My dutch doors open out to my paddock and is
set up similar to the OP also.
I also wish I had added an overhang but did not,
and do not plan to, due to design.
Therefore, in inclimate weather, I close my dutch doors so my stalls stay dry.
My current horse kicks up his heels a little too much to hang around the barn anyhow, so I ended up putting a small wooden
run in out in the pasture for turn out shelter.
My old gelding was considerably better behaved and could be
trusted around the barn.
He got to come and go as he pleased, unless the entrance
began to get too sloppy.
When the coming and going made for mucky slop, he had nice several,
all weather, turn out sheets, and blankets,
to use as cover if he had to spend a day out in nasty weather.

LOL, a decent turn out sheet/blanket is considerably cheaper than any run in or an overhang also :lol:

[AKB]

When we built our barn, we added an 8’ overhang on one side and no overhang on the other side. The side without the overhang did not work well. Rain and snow blew into the stalls. Those stalls were hot in the summer. There was a huge amount of mud outside the stall doors.

As soon as we could afford it, we added an overhang on that side. My one regret is that we have 8’ overhangs instead of 12’. My neighbor has 10’, and even that is much nicer than 8’. The barn builder can probably make your overhang tie into the roof at a different angle than the roof, thereby leaving enough clearance under the overhang.

[chicamux]

An option that is useful in summer and winter: http://www.mytarp.com/vinyl-coated-mesh-tarps-85-shading.aspx. These are vinyl coated shade tarps. They are the sturdiest of all the shade tarps and last longer than mesh that hasn’t been coated. I have shade tarps hanging from my barn’s eaves, covering the external barn doors. I keep stall dutch doors fastened open about 98% of the year. The “shade” tapes keep the barn knterior dark and cool in the summer but the mesh also blocks rain and snow pretty well. The holes in the coated mesh are very small. I hang a 6’-8’ wide tarp over a 4’ doorway. Each grommet along the top edge is linked to a small screw eye. I also connect a grommet on one side edge to the barn to keep the tarp from blowing out horizontal. Horses quickly learn to oush in and out past the tarps. You may need to tie them back a bit for a few days. I also have the same type of tarps over large run-in doors.

I did learn that buying cheaper lighter weight tarps was a waste of money. You also want the tarps to NOT reach the ground. I found that using two 8’ wide tarps to cover a 12’ opening works well. I hang them so they overlap in the center of the doorway. This way the horses have a doorway to pass thru in the center of the open side of the run-in. The tarp sides are linked to screw eyes along the sides. I do like these tarps as they do limit sun and rain/snow while letting air move freely. I also regret not having a longer overhang built on my barn. Seems to be a common regret!

[Hermein]

I’ve used plain old shade cloth to cover a non-climb fence in a very windy area–it worked to tame the wind, making a breeze out of serious gusts. I’ve also sat under a “roof” of shade cloth when it was raining, but only felt a mist. I don’t know how you’d have to attach it over a barn door opening so that the horses could go through, yet still have protection from blowing rain inside their stalls.

We need an experiment. I’ll see what I can do tomorrow with shade cloth and duct tape.

[SugarCubes]

[QUOTE=chicamux;8457618]
An option that is useful in summer and winter: http://www.mytarp.com/vinyl-coated-mesh-tarps-85-shading.aspx. These are vinyl coated shade tarps. They are the sturdiest of all the shade tarps and last longer than mesh that hasn’t been coated. I have shade tarps hanging from my barn’s eaves, covering the external barn doors. I keep stall dutch doors fastened open about 98% of the year. The “shade” tapes keep the barn knterior dark and cool in the summer but the mesh also blocks rain and snow pretty well. The holes in the coated mesh are very small. I hang a 6’-8’ wide tarp over a 4’ doorway. Each grommet along the top edge is linked to a small screw eye. I also connect a grommet on one side edge to the barn to keep the tarp from blowing out horizontal. Horses quickly learn to oush in and out past the tarps. You may need to tie them back a bit for a few days. I also have the same type of tarps over large run-in doors.

I did learn that buying cheaper lighter weight tarps was a waste of money. You also want the tarps to NOT reach the ground. I found that using two 8’ wide tarps to cover a 12’ opening works well. I hang them so they overlap in the center of the doorway. This way the horses have a doorway to pass thru in the center of the open side of the run-in. The tarp sides are linked to screw eyes along the sides. I do like these tarps as they do limit sun and rain/snow while letting air move freely. I also regret not having a longer overhang built on my barn. Seems to be a common regret![/QUOTE]

Oh these are cool too! And cheap! I like those strip doors but they can get a little pricy. What did you use to attach the grommet to the eye screw? Just a double end snap or something? Any pics by chance?

I’d LOVE to add an overhang down the road, but considering we JUST finished building the barn I’m going to have to be patient and wait a year or two for that

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=SugarCubes;8458038]
Oh these are cool too! And cheap! I like those strip doors but they can get a little pricy. What did you use to attach the grommet to the eye screw? Just a double end snap or something? Any pics by chance?

I’d LOVE to add an overhang down the road, but considering we JUST finished building the barn I’m going to have to be patient and wait a year or two for that :)[/QUOTE]

We used the plastic strips because we didn’t know about the shades.

Since then have used shades and I think horses like them better, because when the wind blows, they don’t hit them as hard as the strips do, much softer on them.

Horses really love any such materials, helps them scratch their backs and gets the flies off them.

I have not heard of a horse playing and chewing on them, but that would be something to watch with some mouthy, bored horses and avoid using those around them.

[chicamux]

I used quick links, those chain links that have a side that screws open. The grommets are usually 12" apart. If you can install one fairly small screw eye per grommet then use the quick links to join then. Advice, spray some WD-40 on the threads of the quick link before hanging them. You may only have rafters to put your screw eyes into, spacing may be 24" apart. Look at rafters and barn structure before ordering your tarps. You can have grommets spaced to fit your barn structure. . You want grommets on the sides also.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=chicamux;8460334]
I used quick links, those chain links that have a side that screws open. The grommets are usually 12" apart. If you can install one fairly small screw eye per grommet then use the quick links to join then. Advice, spray some WD-40 on the threads of the quick link before hanging them. You may only have rafters to put your screw eyes into, spacing may be 24" apart. Look at rafters and barn structure before ordering your tarps. You can have grommets spaced to fit your barn structure. . You want grommets on the sides also.[/QUOTE]

We use plastic zip ties to attach the smaller screens.

They sell bundles of those cheap and when you want to change or take the screen down, you cut them and use new ones wherever you tie to next.

For the very large areas we won’t be taking down, we use string, twice thru each grommet and on to the next one.
Has stood to fierce winds fine.

[SugarCubes]

Hmm, I’ll have to rig something in order to hang those, the ceiling of our barn is finished, so no exposed rafters to hang it from. If I screw the screw eyes into the door frame itself, I wouldn’t be able to close the doors anymore. Maybe I can screw them into the stall side of the door frame?

Bluey- Yes, zip ties! Cheap, easy and I have tons laying around!

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=SugarCubes;8460457]
Hmm, I’ll have to rig something in order to hang those, the ceiling of our barn is finished, so no exposed rafters to hang it from. If I screw the screw eyes into the door frame itself, I wouldn’t be able to close the doors anymore. Maybe I can screw them into the stall side of the door frame?

Bluey- Yes, zip ties! Cheap, easy and I have tons laying around![/QUOTE]

You can put two anchors on each side of the door and run a small cable from one to the other under tension.
You can get those cables in several sizes and the tension gizmo to attach it at Home Depot or such.

Then attach the curtains to that.

There is a picture of that here, the cable goes thru the grommets themselves, but you can also just tie to the cable, whatever fits best for your situation.

You can see the cam/turnbuckle tensioner you can use to tighten the cable on the left side:

http://www.horseflynet.com/hayshade.html

[SugarCubes]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8460477]
You can put two anchors on each side of the door and run a small cable from one to the other under tension.
You can get those cables in several sizes and the tension gizmo to attach it at Home Depot or such.

Then attach the curtains to that.

There is a picture of that here, the cable goes thru the grommets themselves, but you can also just tie to the cable, whatever fits best for your situation.

You can see the cam/turnbuckle tensioner you can use to tighten the cable on the left side:

http://www.horseflynet.com/hayshade.html[/QUOTE]

Bluey, I’m gonna start calling you McGuyver! Great idea!