Build A Barn: What do you do to keep your horses busy and moving when not turned out? Hi all, its Heidi (Julies TV show producer) here with an update on the new small-acreage place. Today it is all about paddock planning. When my horse Q comes home, hell have a big paddock area (about 50x60) known as a sacrifice paddock. Off of that, well have gates to two pastures to rotate so he has time to graze and be a horse. But on small acreage, keeping those pastures grassy is going to be a challenge and hell have to have some time in the paddock, too. I want as much turnout time as possible and as much as is possible to keep him busy and walking in the paddock. (Walking instead of standing still has been shown to keep hooves and horses digestive tracks healthy.) The paddock will have crusher fines as the footing to help reduce mud and slipping. Ive researched a few slow grazing feeding boxes and am considering putting them around the paddock so that hell get his daily hay rations and have a grazing experience as he goes between slow feeders. More soon about the slow feeders-- and please post any tips you have about using them! I also found a cool product called Scratch n All that is designed to help horses scratch and have something they like to rub against. Well put those on a scratching post in the paddock to entice Q not to rub his tail on the barn itself (he does have that habit and I have the pulled out horse hair to prove it). These are little pads with soft fingers that feel good to animals without hurting their skin. The pads are small but designed to fit together so that you can cover the amount of area you choose. I got 12 to cover a full side of a scratching post (that is set deep in concrete). I love the idea of having these around in case there are any sharp edges or areas that need to be smoothed out in the future. Q cut his nose deeply on some metal edging at his current boarding locale last fall. A Scratch n All pad lining the Dutch door would feel good to the horse and keep sharp edges away from soft noses. Dont you have a few places youd like to cover up to make sure the horses are safe and not scratched? Scratch n All for more info (scratchnall.mybigcommerce). When Julie came to visit the construction site, she recommended that we cover up as much wood as possible-- and to not make it too easy for horses to get at wood and learn to like it (and crib). With her advice, we have chosen metal mesh, no climb fencing for he paddock area (to keep the dogs out and the horse(s) safe) and there will be an electric top line to keep the wood posts off limits. When thinking about having wood posts, though, I also wondered how they will fare over time. They are the most economical for sure, but I wanted to keep them safe. I found another cool product made to block the top of the posts from weathering. These little tents for the top of the posts arent expensive and keep the water from running down through the woods most vulnerable surface. We have 73 posts awaiting the snow to melt and the metal mesh to be installed. Those posts took a lot of hard work to set and I want to keep them safe! postopper. We got the 5 PosToppers and they fit well. They are almost black in color but will look fine when all are uniformed and set up. Inside the barn, my husband Jared has gotten quite a bit done! We have hauled in and laid the road base as the stall flooring (that was the heaviest, hardest workout in a long time to move 20 tons!); our amazing neighbor Bowdy helped to place the stall divider (that took a lot of muscle); Jared cut and placed the stall mats AND he got the inside walls finished. The smooth wood wont give the horses anything to grab onto and will be less appealing than the internal wood. The stalls will be smooth inside (though Im considering some anti-cast strips-- anyone used those?). We are moving along and just waiting on some snow to melt before being able to get the fencing in place. Thanks to you all for your encouragement and ideas along this journey! Keep them coming! And if you are just now reading, check out the full barn building progress here>> https://facebook/notes/julie-goodnight-horsemanship/build-a-barn-heidis-small-acreage-barn-planning/10152676703656518
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 20:30:43 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015