Hello,
I don’t have a barn but we will be building a shedrow with a run in for our two gelding shires 21 months old starting in April. In the meantime I need help locating a spot for an outdoor wash rack. We have a well house and a shed I use as my feed room, they are both about 6 feet apart. My husband thinks I should make the wash rack on the other side of the well because behind the well there’s a spicket. The well is enclosed with 2x6 boards and lattice over top of it and it has a roof. I want to build a 10x10 or 12 x12 wash rack since they are Shires and will be getting big, at the moment they are 16.1 hands. Can anyone tell me if you think is a good idea to do that or not? I was trying to post pictures of the area but don’t know how as I am new to this forum. Suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
I’d probably go for 12x12.
Can you post the picture on Facebook or something and provide a link?
@mmeqcenter I just recently created a Facebook page because my vet asked me to so she could keep track of what everyone does. This is the link to the page:
https://m.facebook.com/kitana.irizarry/about?nocollections=1
@mmeqcenter I just recently created a Facebook page because my vet asked me to so she could keep track of what everyone does. This is the link to the page:
https://m.facebook.com/kitana.irizarry/about?nocollections=1
This is the best I could do.
I can’t see the picture, is it set to public?
Commenting blind, I would say think about drainage and topography and then access to a hose (as it sounds like it is all pretty close together).
Since I can’t edit…Also search wash rack threads on here. There have been a few, extensive recent ones.
I just created this facebook account recently and I really don’t know how to use it. But I will check and see. Will get back with you.
Try to look at it now.
I just tried to look at it and the page said it was not available and to try again later.
Let me try again. lol I really can’t understand why is not working because it is public now.
Is there another way to upload images on this forum other than Facebook?
Think about how you’re going to handle the muck, hair & dirt while allowing the water to drain away. Every outside wash rack I’ve ever used has had a build up that made a sloppy spot.
One barn that I boarded at had a concrete outside wash rack. It had the mats with drainage holes on top of the concrete.
It needed MAJOR cleaning 2 times a year (7 horses using it). I wish they had used regular interlocking mats as that would have made keeping the area free of hair, dirt and manure easier.
Make sure you have plenty of slope to allow the water to drain away.
My wash rack has two mats and the ground is sloped away so the water and hair drains off onto the grass. It is easy to keep clean as I just hose it down. Because I’m in Canada it is only used 4-5 months of the year. With the wind direction in my area, once the hair dries it just blows away into no-mans’ land.
How I built the wash rack - hope it makes sense.
I cemented two 4x4 posts into the ground and then took two 8’ 4x4’s and bolted them to each side of the 4x4’s. In the very middle, I put a 6-8" piece of 4x4 and bolted it to the 2 horizontal 4x4’s for added support. I attached one of those eye hooks that have a ring attached and that’s where we tie the horse. I also put plastic caps on the two upright 4x4’s so that water wouldn’t sit on the top and rot the wood.
Have really(!!) wanted to share photos this AM both on this thread and another. 
my photobucket acct is not cooperating. Ok, basically, I have an outdoor washrack area that I love. It ‘does’ attach to the front exterior wall of my small barn. But, its enclosed with fence height half walls, a large gate (for access into barn aisle double doors). I have a repurposed corian counter/sink there that weather cannot bother! And the entire area is matted with interlocking mats wall to wall. My ‘natural’ grade at this spot is on a grade. area ‘leveled’ to retain mats, but left on a grade on purpose in order to not half to put in a drain. I have a propane water heater…and my 6x6 posts for the crossties? I ‘capped’ with solar ‘carriage’ post toppers that illuminate each evening and give a nice finished look. 
Definitely do 12’ length. Mine is 10x10’ and I wish I had an extra couple of feet to move around behind the horses. We have river rocks with mats over top for a base. Water drains down and off the back. Works great but I have to add new rocks every year because they sink.
At my old farm, I did 2 side by side 11 x 11 wash racks with post and rail set on stone. 11 years later they are still there and used. Set the posts with a posthole digger myself with concrete.
