We’re thinking about getting a pre-built 2 stall barn vs fixing up the run-in shed/barn that was here when we bought our place for my old man who will be coming home for his full retirement. I’d like to get an overhang which would serve as a covered area for cross ties but also as a shelter if the stall doors are closed. What would you choose, 6’, 8’ or 10’? I don’t think I need 12’ though the stalls would be 12 x 12.
LetItBe
Mine is 10’ covering part of their attached runs, and it’s big enough to keep the snow from blowing into their stalls.
You can just ignore the rest of this post because the gist is that I would go with 12’ overhang even though you say you have rejected that option. My horses have an 8’ deep shade structure which is fine for good weather but too shallow for driving rains. But you will have stalls for bad weather.
The bigger issues about the depth of the overhang are 1) orientation, 2) climate and 3) runoff/dripline.
If you are oriented so that the western sun will shine into your shade structure it will be useless during the hottest part of the day and if it is east it will provide no morning protection. If it is facing south, I would want to have a wall or hedge or really deep eave so that the deep rays from the western setting sun don’t creep in. Another issue to take into consideration is the prevailing wind patterns and how the shade structure is sited. This can really be an issue in some circumstances, such as in areas where snow drifts are blown into that side of the barn. I suppose if you are dealing with big drifts it wouldn’t matter if you had a deeper overhang though.
If you are in a rainy or snowy climate, you might have the problem of the wet creeping in too far and reducing your dry area so much that there is no room for the horses to stand unless they are partly in the mud. When we get heavy rains I have that problem. If you get really deep snow it will encroach a bit and reduce the size of your protected dry ground.
The dripline will affect the usability of your run in if you have cold weather and rain/snow. Rain or melting snow can freeze and create a ridge of ice on the ground that can be dangerous for your horses to walk over, and that ice ridge can get quite wide, reducing the dry surface where your horses stand.
what is the purpose for the overhang? Shade, dry place when it rains, other? purpose + orientation of overhang relative to wind/sun + climate + budget will determine you answer.
Snow is not an issue as we’re in Central TX but we do occassionally get heavy rain that can last for a few days. The overhang would be on the West side of the barn keeping with the current orientation which I suspect we will due to fencing, tree and gate locations. The pasture is about 2 acres with trees if that helps as well. The purpose is a place out of the sun to cross tie, added benefit being can be used as additional shade if I want to close the stalls.
I also plan on adding in rear dutch doors to the 2 stalls so if I want to give access to the stalls without access to the front of the barn I can as there is currently a fence to control barn access and I like that idea in case I need to limit turn out for some reason.
Keep the experiences and opinions coming!
LetItBe
I had a 12’ overhang on my barn in MN and an 8’ overhang on my barn here in CT. The 8’ overhang is all but useless. Weather blows right into the stalls through the dutch doors, which never happened with the 12’.
Go as big as possible. I’d go 12’, but if you’re dead set against that, then 10’. Don’t bother with 8’.
Exactly what I was going to say
I agree. I have a 10’ overhang, and that mostly keeps the weather out of the stalls, and provides a sheltered place for the horses to stand.
I would not want to go smaller than 10’.
Make sure the drainage is arranged so runoff does NOT run under the overhang.
My one thing I would change is that is would add a gutter. The water running off the overhang creates a muddy area that creeps under the overhang in spite of my best efforts.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
