Shade Structure/Run-In Shed design for HOT climate

[cardinale]

Those of you in hot, desert-y areas (desert SW USA, >100[SUP]o[/SUP] for prolonged periods in the summer): what design have you found works best for a shade structure / run-in? There are also occasional dust storms so something on the sides to protect from blowing sand would help (hence not just a roof). Will be in a big (2/3 acre) dry lot and hay would be fed inside.

I’m thinking a 3-sided shed, with a big roof overhang, facing away from prevailing winds. There will be misting fans (Farm-Tek or similar) and perhaps even one of those outdoor AC units.
Should the sides be slatted for maximum ventilation, or can they be solid part of the way up to protect from wind/sand, with open top to let hot air out?

Does enclosing more = you can keep the air inside cooler, especially if there’s AC, so e.g. solid sides with only the top open, to let hot air out? Or do you want more ventilation (openings) all along the sides? Or on the sides away from wind?

If there’s AC, would you enclose more than if just fans?

Unfortunately there is no shade from trees yet, so it would be just the sun beating down on the structure at this time.

One more point: it would be great if the structure could be disassembled and moved, in case eventually I go to another state. The Klene-Pipe or Noble run-ins look interesting for that reason, although the Noble ones are only 8’ tall, which concerns me.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[clanter]

when we were having 110F and above we got a B52 drag chute that is deployed when the airplane lands to assist in braking.

It is slotted to allow air flow

The chute we got was 60 feet in diameter, we used it to cover the 20 meter round pen.

I do not have any photos of when we had it up but I do have this one where the pony got under it to get away from flies as we had it drying
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[cardinale]

Clanter, that’s a broke pony. And a smart one.

Nothing like military technology to problem solve. Too bad I can’t put one of those chutes over the entire dry lot when it’s baking out there. But, slotted sides sounds like the right choice.

[carman_liz]

Will it be metal I assume then? The foam insulation boards with the silver stuff on one side, silver faced up towards the roof to reflect heat away would help a ton too. I think they are called Polyiso (sp?) Boards. Alot of places make thinner silver insulation in rolls too if that would be easier for you.

Using kool curtains where they come in and out would help keep the beating sunshine and dust from duststorms out as well.

[cardinale]

carman_liz: Thanks for the great ideas about foam insulation and the Kool curtains, neither of which I had known about. Roof will be metal.

The other thing I have been thinking of is double roofing, i.e. putting up another shade structure above the run-in. That one would be just a roof, something like a carport without any siding.

[jawa]

I just saw a photo of a shade structure that looked interesting. It was called an X run in. It had no exterior walls, just a roof over the interior walls that form an x. the horses could then choose which side of the structure to use depending on sun, wind, etc.

If you are mainly thinking of producing shade, their are many options for grommeted shade cloth in many different sizes. It makes a huge difference in temperature, but still allows some air flow.

[carman_liz]

@cardinale

carman_liz: Thanks for the great ideas about foam insulation and the Kool curtains, neither of which I had known about. Roof will be metal.

The other thing I have been thinking of is double roofing, i.e. putting up another shade structure above the run-in. That one would be just a roof, something like a carport without any siding.

I think the insulation boards or the rolls with the little self tapper screws would be much cheaper, and less wind or snow drama, and dust and essentially junk building up over a second roof, or between the legs of the 2 structures. plus wind and snow load specs and regulations, cobwebs, leaks, any building permits, etc. The curtains and the insulation you buy yourself, you can even do the insulation boards a few at a time as money allows depending on your budget, and no paperwork, labor cost, structure placement and capability stress, or building official type people need to be involved.

[TB2trk]

I live in the desert. Our horses are in during the day. The stalls are five-rail pipe with a metal roof and runs. The shedrow-style barn has a large covered aisle way with feed room at one end; tack room, etc at opposite end. So I guess you could say it’s 3-sided. Basically, the boys are in the shade all day. There are fans and a misting system, but I have spent many summers in Arizona without and the horses seem to do just fine. Air flow is your friend here which took some getting used to coming from the Seattle area where shelter is done differently. Shade cloth is popular in my area especially to protect from the sun on the west side. I’ve never used it. My husband and I have planted trees instead. Dirt devils come thru pretty fast and the horses just turn their butts and drop their heads. Is this your first summer in the desert?

[Amym600]

I can probably give you some help here. I am not sure about a run in as I have a 4 stall barn with aisle but we put up a big shade structure and then corral panels for stalls. However the panels are covered with plywood extra thick on the outside, with pipe clamps. The top half from the roof down is Mesh Tarp panels from Harbor Freight - where the sun directly shines in we double those up. It isn’t the most fancy looking thing but it is portable and has not cost an arm and leg. For the roof I would suggest the normal metal roof and then coating it with the white rubber elastomeric coating. I just did this this year, it’s fantastic. Keeps the barn cooler and the noise of rain very low. Our roof is fairly low, we have fans and misters. But fans is all that is necessary. I can send over pictures if you like.

[cardinale]

Amym600 and TB2trk, you’ve probably saved me some money–pipe corrals with part-way siding under a roof would be much more cost effective (and portable) than run-in sheds. I’ve been in the desert more than a year but no horses here yet. The (occasional) dust storms have kind of freaked me out (worrying about respiratory damage) which is why I thought a shed with solid sides most of the way up would be good to lessen the impact of blowing dust.

[TB2trk]

Happy to help! 😀 Everything will work out. Try not to worry about your horses, as long as they have shade, water and electrolytes they will acclimate just fine. I ride early as the temps go up. When it gets stupid hot, we just take some time off. Enjoy the design process!

[cardinale]

carman_liz, shade screens are definitely a good idea because they allow ventilation but will dampen down the wind + of course provide shade. Amym600 has a nice setup that utilizes them extensively. I’m looking to do a shedrow-style setup with 3 sides consisting of solid bottom, then grommet screen top half. The bottom half could be either pipe corrals with plywood attached or U-channel with 2 x 6s.