until the mares were all safely settled. I was breeding my mares in February and March for early futurity babies; if early foals are not so important to your program, you should adjust your timed lighting accordingly. I like to have a dedicated vetting area with stocks so the
mares can be palpated and inseminated safely, and I always include a small stall to hold the foal while the mare is being palpated. This stall should be a “full view” style so the mare and foal can see each other; this lessens stress on both and makes the vet’s job a lot easier. These stocks are also very handy for vaccinations and for dentistry, so they’re a good addition to any barn, but really mandatory if you’re breeding mares. For an area with stocks, I plan for no less than 14 feet wide
by 12 feet deep—and 16 feet wide is better. This creates a good space to walk around and to open the stocks from the side when necessary. I also plan for a utility sink, which I like to recess so we can provide enough insulation and heat to keep the pipes from freezing in the winter. Plan for electrical outlets on all sides and also include outlets on the ceiling, front and back, with a retractable multi-outlet. These work well for the dentist’s power tools and for the ultrasound machines. It’s very important to provide
slip-free footing in the vetting area and, as I said before, I definitely recommend rubber brick pavers because they remain slip-free even when wet. If you have the space, it’s ideal
to locate a small lab room imme- diately next to the vetting/breed- ing area. This can house all of your medications, vet supplies and breeding records, as well as the microscope for checking semen, the insemination equipment, warm- ing blankets and a refrigerator with freezer to store colostrum. If you’re going to be breeding and foaling out mares for
barn-approved infrared heaters, I hesitate to leave them on overnight unless someone is present. Do install low-light cameras so you can continue to moni-
tor your mares without turning on all the lights and disturb- ing everyone’s rest. I used 25 watt red bulbs (two in large foaling boxes) to ensure clear camera vision without disturb- ing the mares. I also recommend constructing a neonatal box for foals
who may be weak or in jeopardy. These can be a life saver for foals needing some extra warmth and support, or to help stabilize a foal before transport to a vet clinic. Plans for a neonatal box can be found on the internet and, although you hope to never need it, having one will give you great peace of mind.
Holly: One of the general priori- ties of any barn, including one built for high-quality breeding or sport horses, is the attention to maintaining indoor air qual- ity and natural light. Concurrent with that priority is safety, which includes access to and around the barn for emergencies and egress within the barn for common work and fire egress. What happens many times
Aisle entrance to a barn in Wellington Florida.
when trying to cut costs, which are certainly important to control, is that basic human and animal building safety codes are ignored or not applied. Many agricultural zoning laws exempt barn owners from using the codes designed for us and our horses’ safety. But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. You need to address and support the basic code requirements to keep things safe. Sure, you may opt out of expen-
sive fire sprinkler systems, but don’t opt out of doing a code analysis
the foreseeable future, you may want to plan for one or more dedicated foaling stalls. I size the barn’s stalls and foaling stalls for the size/breed of the horses—for Warmblood mares, I recommend a minimum of 14 feet deep by 16 feet wide for foaling—but 14 feet by 18 feet is better. If you are building dedicated foaling stalls, use sidewall
materials that can be easily and completely disinfected; also, stall mattresses will provide a cushioned, insulated surface that can be completely cleaned and disinfected. For those breeding early foals, do invest in insulating
the foaling stalls and keep foal warming blankets on hand. I prefer foal blankets to stall heaters because, even with the
40 March/April 2015
of your structure with your barn architect, or not look into the newest affordable VESDA that can save precious seconds when there is an emergency. Air quality and natural lighting are addressed at the
structural level of your barn, and how you treat the design and construction of ridge and eave venting. Skylighting can make or break the success of your ventilation requirements. Inflammatory airway disease is one of the most common yet under-diagnosed problems that diminishes equine performance and bad indoor air quality causes it.
Part two coming next issue: Building or buying in an equestrian development.
Pegasus Design Group
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