I second guess it every day. I hope it works out like my brain envisions it will.
I like the layout. I’m very happy with my similar set up (dry lot attached to barn w gates from dry lot to pastures). Easy to use. Comfortable for horses.
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Similar set-up here, too, and it works very well. Not only for us, but when a neighbor feeds for us when we’re gone.
We do have the large sacrifice paddock divided, with a smaller corral with French drain right off the barn (bigger than stall runs) that opens wide (16 foot gate) to the rest of the paddock. In certain situations, it’s convenient to close that gate, confining horses to the corral. Gives some outside space from the stalls without access to the entire sacrifice area.
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I’m in the process of dividing off a bit of my dry lot to serve as “run outs” behind my two stalls. One 15x45 and the other 30x45. The larger portion of the dry lot is accessible to the “aisle” (17x25’) that serves as the run in shelter.
The smaller “run out” has a gate between it and the larger dry lot and the larger “run out” has a gate that will eventually open to a grass paddock. I’ve set it up this way so that theoretically I could leave horses separated into their own stall, run out plus dry lot or grass paddock and have someone else feed without ever having to move a horse.
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Sounds as though you’ve got a smart plan! We added a gate from the corral to a pasture just last year, previously had only the wide gate from corral to paddock (plus the rear stall doors from corral to barn). There have always been gates from the sacrifice paddock to two separate pastures. One of which can also be accessed from the stall front doors (shed row barn with concrete aisle), similar to your plan to use your barn aisle as a run-in shelter. Makes it quick and easy to get the horses in under cover if a sudden thunderstorm arises.*
Only suggestion I’ll offer is to consider putting French drains in the run outs. We didn’t originally have that, but eventually it became obvious that the horses had a favorite spot to “go” in the corral, so we installed one ourselves The large sacrifice paddock has been fine without it.
*My family lost a beautiful broodmare to lightning when I was in high school (leaving a weanling filly), and my first riding instructor lost a wonderful, kind, highly trained TB school horse to lightning, as well. These incidents made a strong impression on me at a young age, and I’ve always tried to put horses up asap when there’s thunder.
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Tree is down. I’m marking out the fence and getting overwhelmed, knowing something is going to not be right. I keep wanting to quit.
Get over it endless. Gotta start somewhere, if it’s wrong you can fix it.
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Everything will be fine. It’s ok to feel overwhelmed. It’s a heck of a big project! But you can do it!
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I have a bit of drainage done on mine already via grading and rocks under the footing. My riding horse likes to build nests to sleep in so raking those out when they start interfering with drainage is an ongoing chore lol
I’m also cautious about lighting. I’m not going to go out in a storm to try and put horses up, but when at all possible I lock mine into stalls during storms. Other people handle severe weather differently and that’s ok. But I’m at peace with my own choice.
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Same here. I hear distant thunder, and that’s my cue.
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If I’m home ill bring them in. If I’m at work, hopefully they’ll be smart and come in on their own.
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A good reminder to have a lightening rod to ground the barn as well.
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I was just talking about this with my husband earlier. You always seem to read my mind !
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I laid it out as best as I could and had my husband double check me. I’m still so nervous I could be sick.
Smaller fencing materials got taken out of the box, and organized in a lay down area.
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Sleep on it. Something might occur to you (good or not) when you aren’t as worried.
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Is there an app or tool you used to do that picture of layout of fencing,etc over your property? That would be so helpful to plan some changes on my place. Probably something everyone knows about but I’m a technophobe so always behind on learning apps :-/ Your work is inspiring so far, I’m another one feeling inspired. Best of luck with fencing install & healing vibes to burned arm.
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I used this website, and then took a screen shot and added gates and stuff in Microsoft Word.
https://www.mapdevelopers.com/area_finder.php
Not sure if the link is totally right, sorry!
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Painted the ceiling. How unpleasant.
My DH is working on the lighting for the whole barn. He does nice work!
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Lots of light! Nice!
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That worked - much thanks!
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