Barn building-- features for vets, farriers, emergencies and lay-ups

[Jarpur]

I have another, longer post pending approval, perhaps it was due to the links I included (never had this happen before). Perhaps my original post with more detail will show up, eventually.

My suggestions basically boiled down to: a) apply trim to give the appearance of a window without actually being a window, or b) a large circular gable vent (this was a link) in case it’s just that something’s needed to fill a blank gable area for balance, as with my first suggestion, or c) an actual window - perhaps to match another one elsewhere - that’s covered on the outside with a solar screen as opposed to a regular window screen (we have a couple of windows with these and they’re helpful), or d) a window with sun-blocking shade cloth (this was another link) inside.

[jawa]

Our house and my barn have southern facing openings, but both of these are under a 8’and 12’ porch. During the cooler months, the southern sun is low in the sky and the sun reaches the back surfaces ( windows in the house and almost all the way to the dutch doors in the barn ). During the warmer months, the sun is higher in the sky and the sun doesn’t reach the inner surfaces. At the height of the day the most the sun gets onto the porch is about 4’. So, if there is no overhang above those windows, it may create a lot of solar gain in those spaces during the warmer months.

Are you able to get to the windows to clean them or the blinds/screens you might use to cut down on the solar gain?

[clanter]

@mvp

Along these lines: Would you build a big, round high-up window on the South wall of a stall?

Long story, but there’s a bit of an architectural reason to put 4-paned round window on the South wall (bottom, facing out of the C-shape of the barn) of that single stall. But I don’t want to spend that extra money just to end up cooking the horse in that one stall.

use a triple pane window with high E glass… we have nearly zero heat gain

[DMK]

Just one note on the paddock walk-thrus. I do like mine, but before if you put them in, ask yourself, “will I ever own a particularly clever VSE?”

[Mukluk]

What’s a VSE?

[mvp]

@Mukluk

What’s a VSE?

Don’t know. Was leaving it alone because I’m pretty sure I don’t have one.

I will, however, have some fat, geriatric cats and there are coyotes around, so I need to figure that out, too.

[strangewings]

very smart equine?

[Jarpur]

Very Small Equine.

[ecpolo]

@Bluey

Just one quick point on a fence humans can go thru easily but keep horses in.

You can put a small gate here and there on the regular fence, or you can make those people walk-arounds.

The walk arounds seem too much work and something sticking out there for a horse to hit, when a small gate would have worked also.
The idea of the walk-around is that no one will forget to shut the gate and you can go thru hands free.

If you want to put a people gate here and there in fences, there are commercial bow gates that can do.
There are single bowgates and those added to panels, if your fence is made of panels.
Generally those are large enough to walk a horse thru:

I’m sure it is uncommon but I have known dingbat horses who try to squeeze through the walk-thru repeatedly after seeing all the people do it.

[mvp]

@strangewings

very smart equine?

Dangerous. Pretty bad…

[mvp]

@Jarpur

Very Small Equine.

Oh… even worse!

[mvp]

@ecpolo

I’m sure it is uncommon but I have known dingbat horses who try to squeeze through the walk-thru repeatedly after seeing all the people do it.

Indeed. Not sure whether its the Very Smart or the Very Stupid equine who tries that.

I will say that it will be just me living on this farm, so I think that every time I leave I’ll have to yell, “Ok, I’m out…make good decisions.”

[DMK]

LOL VSE = Very Small Equine (it is an official designation!)

But yes, it almost always ALSO means Very Smart Equine, because all VSEs are VSEs.

[Mukluk]

I learn something new everyday!

[dr_j]

When you say you won’t be able to drive up the front - how close can you actually drive to the barn? As a veterinarian bring able to drive next to the barn is a big deal. There is nothing worse than going over hill and dale multiple times to get to your truck.

[Mukluk]

I have always thought that a well stocked tiki style bar attended to by handsome scantily clad cabana boys would be a rather nice feature.

[mvp]

@Mukluk

I have always thought that a well stocked tiki style bar attended to by handsome scantily clad cabana boys would be a rather nice feature.

Hehe. I will have you know that I thought that while I was digging a big hole for the house’s foundation, we might as well put a suckling pig and some hot coals in it. Invite all my future neighbors over and get off on the right foot.

[mvp]

@dr j

When you say you won’t be able to drive up the front - how close can you actually drive to the barn? As a veterinarian bring able to drive next to the barn is a big deal. There is nothing worse than going over hill and dale multiple times to get to your truck.

See the picture. You can back a truck right up to the walk-thru wash rack, and also the the hay/feed room. Those are on the East side.

[foggybok]

@DMK

Just one note on the paddock walk-thrus. I do like mine, but before if you put them in, ask yourself, “will I ever own a particularly clever VSE?”

That’s my problem now. I really want a mini donk or two and I have all these walk-thrus, so keeping them contained will be an issue. They were put in by previous owner. I probably would have put in gates.

That said, I use them all the time!

[Libby2563]

@mvp

I will say that it will be just me living on this farm, so I think that every time I leave I’ll have to yell, “Ok, I’m out…make good decisions.”

:lol: I’m totally using that on my horses from now on!