Horse Stable and Riding Arena Design

313 Pages·2006·4.12 MB·English

by  Eileen Fabian Wheeler

Horse Stable and
Riding Arena Design
Eileen Fabian Wheeler
Horse Stable and
Riding Arena
Design
Horse Stable and
Riding Arena
Design
Eileen Fabian Wheeler
Eileen Fabian Wheeler is Associate Professor in that the base fee of $.10 per copy is paid directly to the
Agricultural and Biological Engineering at The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive,
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Horse stable and riding arena design /
Blackwell Publishing Ltd Eileen Wheeler.
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550 Swanston Street,Carlton,Victoria 3053,Australia 1. Stables. 2. Arenas. 3. Corrals.
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Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . ix
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
1 Horse Behavior Influence on Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 Horse Stable Layout and Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3 Construction Style and Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4 Horse Farm Site Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5 Stall Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
6 Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 57
7 Flooring Materials and Drainage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 81
8 Manure Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 91
9 Fire Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 109
10 Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
11 Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 137
12 Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
13 Auxiliary Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 187
14 Fence Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 209
15 Fence Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
16 Indoor Riding Arena Design and Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
17 Riding Arena Surface Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 267
18 Outdoor Riding Arena Design and Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Appendix Phychrometrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 291
Additional Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 299
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
v
Preface
This book has been more than a few years in the One of my motivations in creating this book is to
making. Picture a child drawing horse stable layouts reemphasize the need to provide adequate ventila-
on the back of a restaurant’s paper placemat while tion for good air quality in stables,because a devel-
waiting for the family meal to be delivered. More oping trend is to copy residential construction
recently, this book has been a multiyear project to practices that severely compromise the air quality in
get some solid engineering-based design informa- horse stable and riding arena environments. I have
tion to those advising stable managers and builders spent many years working in ventilation of various
of horse facilities. In between placemat drawings livestock buildings,and as those systems have made
and my current faculty position, this “child” was tremendous improvements in providing comfortable
educated in animal science and agricultural engi- conditions and improved air quality, many newly
neering to better understand the depth and breadth constructed horse facilities have worse environ-
of topics that influence horse stable design. My life- ments than the old traditional stables.
long interest in horses sparked the desire to become My interest is in providing readers with enough
educated,and now to help others to understand the background information to make good decisions in
underlying principals influencing function and horse facility design. Most “nuts and bolts”of con-
design of horse stabling. struction are available elsewhere. Detailed design
Pleasant are my memories of entering horse stables and plans can be obtained from builders and profes-
containing the mingling smells of hay, horse, and sional engineers working in horse stable construc-
leather. What peace from the satisfied sound of forage tion. Through the use of this book,detailed building
being chewed by the horses! Stable spaces that were plans can be checked for features that you have
light and airy felt welcoming. We all seem to know learned are important for horse well-being and
when we have entered a nicely designed and managed human convenience.
stable whether it is plush or spare in its design. I hope
this book can aid in the design of such facilities. Eileen Fabian Wheeler
vii
Acknowledgments
It is hard for me to know how to organize the recog- primary author of the chapter on fire safety, which
nition of people who have contributed so much to extends her expertise and interests as an emergency
the successful completion of this book. Being the medical technician.
sole author of this book implies that this is the work Within my department of Agricultural and
of an individual. True, this book’s content comes Biological Engineering at Penn State,there are three
from my knowledge gained through dedicated edu- other colleagues who have made this book project a
cation and years of experience that honed that successful effort. Staff assistants Marsha Hull and
knowledge. Yet, I can’t even begin to express my Amy Maney have contributed in so many big and
thanks that I owe to myriad individuals who have detailed ways to getting this book done in a profes-
contributed in concrete ways to this book and the sional manner. Marsha is the patient and creative
knowledge behind it. In random order, perhaps in publication artist for the original set of department
the amount of recent time they dedicated directly to fact sheets that turned into college bulletins, and
the project,let me begin. now into several chapters of this book. Without her
As you enjoy this book and the amount of infor- good work the original set of information would not
mation that it conveys (remember that a “picture”is have been so widely noticed, thus setting the stage
worth a thousand words), I want you to realize the for development of the information into a book-
yeoman’s job that William Moyer has done in his scale project. Marsha’s organization has helped at
capacity as the technical illustrator of this text. Bill numerous times in assembling this book from many
has detailed hundreds and hundreds of drawings for years’worth of accumulated information. Amy has
me throughout the 10 years that I have been at Penn been so helpful in many detailed aspects of the cur-
State University. More than 150 of those drawings rent tasks of completing this book-writing project
are included in this book. Thanks to Bill for such while I also maintained other professorial duties. I
friendly,quick,and dedicated turnaround of the var- much appreciate Amy’s dedicated professional
ious projects that have meant so much to me. You efforts in timely turnaround of assignments and par-
have built a career on making others look good. ticularly her attention to detail. Having small and
Jennifer Zajaczkowski is another individual large tasks completed with high quality makes
deserving extra special attention in the development pulling this book together so much easier.
of this book. Several of the chapters in this book The third department colleague who deserves
were cowritten with Jennifer Smith, now special thanks is Roy Young, department head of
Zajaczkowski, originally as Extension bulletins on Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Penn
horse housing topics. These were topics not well State. I appreciate his approval to my spending more
covered within other available information on horse time working “out of the office” this past year for
housing,and Jenn did a great job of fleshing out my concentrated writing effort. I have the type of brain
draft manuscripts with her own capable horsewoman that needs full concentration on technical writing
experiences and information gathered from other activity. Without that release, this book could not
animal scientists. Jenn has been an invaluable addi- have been completed. Nor could two other books
tion to the applied research in horse housing and rid- have been completed over the past year, with one
ing arena environment that we have conducted over being in print and the other going into final layout
the past several years. Some findings from these with its publisher. (By the way,I don’t recommend
studies are incorporated into this book. Jenn is the working on three books at once.)
ix
x Acknowledgments
And yes, the family. Who needs a dining room? Dr. John Chastian
Work on this (and the other two) book has overtaken Associate Professor
the available surface area in my home office, so Agricultural and Biological Engineering
expansion into what my older son,Ben,now calls my Clemson University
“second office”has crippled the normally clutter-free Clemson,SC
dining room aura. What a good group of guys I have Chapter 11
with husband,Tim,son Ben,and younger son Tucker,
Patricia Comerford
putting up with a normally active “mom”stuck at the
Instructor of Equine Programs
writing table and computer. My family members,near
Dairy and Animal Science
and far,have been real troopers. The troop brings real
The Pennsylvania State University
joy and laughter to my life and I love them dearly for
University Park,PA
being them, individually, and appreciate the support
Chapters 4,5,8,16,and 17
they have lent to this book project.
I got into the habit of having my technical writing
Bonnie Darlington
reviewed long ago because of a career within the
Safety Chair
research and Extension communities. Having other
Pennsylvania Equine Council
knowledgeable people look over materials before
Chapter 9
they go to print is invaluable. It takes additional time;
my time and theirs. I welcomed and incorporated Dr. Nancy Diehl,DVM
their input for the wisdom they have beyond mine in Assistant Professor of Equine Science
so many nuances of the topics covered in this book. Dairy and Animal Science
For their efforts this book is greatly strengthened. The Pennsylvania State University
The book chapters have benefited from technical University Park,PA
review by both agricultural engineers and horse Chapters 1,6,9,and 13
specialists. To make sure that explanations made
sense to those without an engineering background,I Michael M. Donovan
enlisted the advice of equine scientists or practicing Principal
businesspeople with extensive equine experience. Equestrian Services,LLC
This book is not meant to be an engineering text,but Annapolis,MD
the engineer reviewers validated the conceptual Chapter 18
framework of the technical discussions.
Brian A. Egan
I’ve been lucky to have some wonderful review-
Extension Associate,Equine Programs
ers. My heartfelt thanks are extended to each chapter
Dairy and Animal Science
reviewer for taking the time to educate me with even
The Pennsylvania State University
more good information. These reviewers’comments
University Park,PA
and advice have contributed many thoughtful
Chapter 7
changes and clarifications. It seemed very important
that each chapter provided sensible content that sat-
James Garthe
isfied equine enthusiasts while containing enough
Instructor
engineering technical content to be of use in decision
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
making.
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park,PA
Book Chapter Reviewers in Alphabetical Order: Chapter 14
Dr. Michael Brugger Dr. Robert Graves
Associate Professor Professor,Agricultural Engineering
Food,Agricultural and Biological Engineering Agricultural and Biological Engineering
The Ohio State University The Pennsylvania State University
Columbus,OH University Park,PA
Chapters 10 and 11 Chapters 6,7,8,and 12
Acknowledgements xi
Daniel Greig The Pennsylvania State University
District Manager University Park,PA
Chester County (PA) Conservation District. Chapter 14
Chapter 8
Emlyn Whitin
Kenneth Guffey Vice President
Todd Palmer Stancills,Inc.
Kory Leppo Perryville,MD
Agricultural Engineers Chapter 17
RigidPly Rafters
Richland,PA Dr. Stacy Worley
Chapter 16 Engineering Instructor
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Dr. Albert Jarrett
The Pennsylvania State University
Professor of Soil and Water Engineering
University Park,PA
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Chapter 12
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park,PA
Dr. Roy Young
Chapters 17 and 18
Professor and Department Head
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Nancy Kadwill
The Pennsylvania State University
Senior Extension Educator
University Park,PA
Penn State Cooperative Extension of Montgomery
Chapter 5
County
Collegeville,PA
Last,alphabetically,but certainly not least:
Chapter 13
Jennifer L. Zajaczkowski
Dr. Malcolm “Mac”L. Legault
Senior Research Technologist
Assistant Professor
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Health,Safety,and Environmental Health
The Pennsylvania State University
Sciences
University Park,PA
Indiana State University
Terre Haute,IN
Jennifer was reviewer of chapters 4,6,and 15 and
Chapter 9
coauthor on previous versions of five chapters that
Dr. Harvey Manbeck were first published as Extension bulletins through
Distinguished Professor Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences:“Stall
Agricultural and Biological Engineering Design,” “Flooring Materials and Drainage,”
The Pennsylvania State University “Manure Management,” “Fence Planning,” and
University Park,PA “Riding Arena Surface Materials.” She was also
Chapter 4 primary author of bulletin, now Chapter 9, titled
“Fire Safety.”
Timothy Murphy The photographic figures in this book are from
Conservation Engineer my collection taken over a couple decades of visits
Natural Resources Conservation Service to horse stabling facilities. Many horse people have
Pennsylvania kindly made their farms available for photographs
Chapter 8 and offered their experiences about horses in rela-
tion to housing. A few companies and individuals
Dr. Ann Swinker have shared their photos when I had no suitable pho-
Associate Professor of Equine Science tos of my own to use. The following list contains
Dairy and Animal Science facilities that have photos included in this book. It is
xii Acknowledgements
in no ways a comprehensive list (see next para- Brookdale Farm,KY
graph). Some farms are more recently visited sites Gainesway Farm,KY
whose owners will likely remember my visit. Other Lakeside Arena,KY
site photographs are from my files and were taken in McComsey Builders,PA
the 1980s and 1990s. Red Bridge Farm,PA
Some photographed farms are not listed by name. Smucker Construction,PA
A few photos in this book are curbside “drive-by” Greystone Stable,PA
photos taken during my other travels and an official Jodon’s Stable,PA
farm visit was not involved, so I can offer no farm Slab Cabin Stable,PA
name. In other cases,farms have changed ownership Maryland State Fairgrounds,MD
and name since my visit, so names may no longer Green Mountain Farm,VT
match. I have included names of builders and con- Tresslor and Fedor Excavating,PA
struction companies with whom I traveled for trou- RigidPly Rafters,PA
bleshooting or research project reasons. I don’t neces- Waterloo Farm,PA
sarily list the names of those farms visited during our Ryerrs Farm,PA
sometimes whirlwind tour of sites. My apologies if Rigbie Farm,MD
you recognize your facility and do not find your name Sinking Creek Stable,PA
on the credit list (send me a note to fix this situation!). Turner Stable,PA
Restless Winds Farm,PA
Tudane Farm,NY R&R Fencing,PA
Cornell University Horse Farms,NY Ev-R-Green,PA
PenMor Thoroughbreds,NY Greystone Farm,PA
Stoned Acres,NY Three Queens Farm,PA
University of Connecticut Horse Farm,CT Carousel Farm,PA
BOCES Horse Program,NY Detroit Radiant Products Co.,MI
Saratoga Organic,NY Coverall Building Systems,Ontario,Canada
Champaign Run,KY Kalglo Electronics