Infrared heaters for grooming area

[RedmondDressage]

I am super spoiled with the infrared heaters in the grooming bay where I board… But I’m bringing my horse home next month and I’ve got two more who are already at home that will be coming into regular work. Since I’ll be spending A LOT more time in the barn here at home this winter I want to upgrade my place with one of my favorite creature comforts!

My barn is a six stall center aisle. My cross ties are up in the very front. I keep the big front slider open most of the time, back slider is almost always closed and I have a loft running down the center aisle. In other words, it’s a pretty enclosed space aside from the open front slider.

Does anyone have suggestions for infrareds that would work well in this space? I’m hoping to keep the cost in the neighborhood of $200 - $300 if possible.

[HungarianHippo]

I’ve got one of these IR cove heaters in our mudroom and it’s fantastic. They work best pointing down at an angle from above.
As you prob already know, IR heat works by warming the objects, not the air. (exact same effect as the sun–so even on a chilly day, when you step from the shade into sunlight, you immediately feel warm. That’s not because that area is warmer, it’s because you’re being hit with IR rays).

As the objects are warmed up, they radiate heat into the space and the secondary effect is to warm the air in the space also. With that open door, you are not going to be able to heat that space, so I’d focus on just ensuring that you and the horse are “in the path” of the heater while you’re working there.

Therefore I think I would put a 6ft cove heater on each side of the aisle in that area, up where the stall door meets the aisle ceiling. (They come in varying lengths/output. Would be a good idea to make the switch a timer switch, like a heat lamp in a bathroom. That way it’ll automatically switch off while you’re out riding or at night so you can’t forget to turn them off.

[RedmondDressage]

Interesting - I will check out the cove heaters in more depth. We’ve got infrareds at my trainer’s barn now and they work really well so I wanted to find something similar (although more affordable, I know theirs cost an arm and a leg). I was looking at this guy - which is similar to the ones there: =2162370&PiID[]=2162398"]http://www.wayfairsupply.com/TPI-Quartz-Tube-Electric-Patio-Heater-OCH-46X-TPI1324.html?PiID[]=2162370&PiID[]=2162398.

I’m not looking to heat the space, just something to keep us warm while tacking up and to loosen up the muscles before we head out into the cold… Are the cove heaters more for space heating or object heating like infrared? I’m not familiar with them at all.

[HungarianHippo]

The one i posted is also infrared, so object heating. There’s an additional benefit of convection due to the design–air passes behind it, is heated, and creates some circulation (not as much airflow as a fan, of course). And I like the look better than those exposed orange lights-- it just tucks up there in the corner

[HungarianHippo]

but bottom line, same concept. The one you posted would work too! (now this makes me want to put one in my barn!)

[RedmondDressage]

Ah ok! Good to know

I have wanted one for a long time but none of the horses at home were rideable - one too old and one too young. Now I’ve got a rideable feedlot rescue, the youngster is almost ready to go into real work, and the show horse coming home. I figure this winter I will find the money well worth it!

[horsepoor]

These cost more than the one you posted, but are made for barns – and Barn Pros is in your area. I bet if you contact them, they can tell you how it might work for the space you have. And they are on sale right now!

[RedmondDressage]

[QUOTE=horsepoor;7776026]
These cost more than the one you posted, but are made for barns – and Barn Pros is in your area. I bet if you contact them, they can tell you how it might work for the space you have. And they are on sale right now![/QUOTE]

Awesome! That’s actually right in line with what I want to pay… And the owner of Barn Pros actually lives right around the corner from me! Nothing like keeping things local Thank you very much, I’ll definitely be giving them a call.

[JBD]

We have radiant heaters over the wash stall and 2 are shared across 3 stalls. 3 was as many as our barn electrical would support. They are expensive for long term use like overnight but I’m glad we have them