by Nikki Alvin-Smith for Horizon Structures

Why should you worry about the pitch of your horse barn roof? There is much more importance to roof pitch and roof materials and shapes than meets the eye.

Why should you worry about the pitch of your horse barn roof? The steepness or angle of the roof of any building certainly makes a difference to its overall presence, aesthetic appeal and the amount of interior space under its umbrella, but there is much more importance to roof pitch and roof materials and shapes than meets the eye.

The steepness of a roof is described in mathematical terms. Pitch is commonly referred to in the building trade as a ratio. The ratio describes the number of inch(es) rise per horizontal foot. It is also sometimes referred to as the angle in degrees its surface deviates from the horizontal.

Thus, a flat roof will be the only roof that has a zero pitch while the alpine style A-frame roof that reaches the ground is the other extreme in regard to roof pitch.

The steeper the roof the harder it will be to install and to replace. The use of manlifts or special scaffolding is often necessary for safety during roof installation and repair.

There are many other pros and cons of different pitch ratios, and when it comes to the construction process extensive rules and regulations are involved that govern the safety of the structure. We’ve all seen photos of roof collapses during snowstorms, or high winds lifting roofs off buildings entirely. Generally, these incidents occur as a result of faulty design where ordinances were not followed and the downward force of the weight of ice and snow on the roof overwhelms the roof’s supporting structure.

In extreme circumstances even the best constructed and well-designed roof can fail, particularly if high winds move snow across the roof and it accumulates unevenly on the surface.

A roof needs to be able to withstand sustained high winds. Various ratings apply to shingle types and designs, and sheathing of the roof needs to be properly affixed to the main substructure of the building to avoid uplift. The use of collar ties in the upper third of the roof space can help the roof resists uplift. While rafter ties (horizontal framing members) installed on the lower third of the roof space help prevent an outward force on exterior walls. The appropriately rated and sized metal plates, hurricane ties, rafter ties, bolts and nails as well as their proper placement is essential to the permanence of the roof.

Open sided buildings will always be vulnerable to wind uplift, but all buildings are subject to this dynamic suction process that literally lifts the roof off the structure. It occurs where winds blowing parallel to the roof cause air pressure above the roof to be lower than that below it. A veritable Wizard of Oz situation!

Many rural communities do not require any type of building permit for agricultural use structures. This makes it easy for construction companies to overlook the mathematics of roof snow loads in the region, or to provide roof installation methods that offer hurricane protection.

How Well Does the Roof Do Its Job?

Beyond the obvious job the roof does of providing protection for the interior of the building from snow and rain, its ability to shed snow load and rain effectively rather than allow standing water or snow to gather on its surface causing water leaks is monumentally affected by its shape, its pitch, and the materials from which it is constructed. A metal roof will shed both snow and rain better than a shingle roof and thus usually requires less pitch to accommodate the snow and rain load requirements.

The roof also needs to offer good ventilation for the interior of the structure. This is usually accomplished by installing roof ridge vents or gable end soffits and/or cupolas. Mechanical aid in the form of fans is sometimes installed to improve airflow within the building.

Insulation Makes a Difference

The underside of the sheathing of the roof is also something to consider. The addition of a layer of insulation beneath the roof sheathing will not only mitigate the noise of heavy rain or hail on a tin roof insulation, but it will also prevent condensation from a metal roof.

Aside from the moist damp environment that condensation can create, the constant dripping of water onto hay supplies can cause mold to form and render the forage risky to feed, while water that drips from the roof into stalls or aisleways can make rubber mats slippery and unsafe.

An insulated roof will also help prevent ice dams forming on the roof during the daily freeze/thaw cycle in snowy regions.

Metal roof barns that are located in hot climates are subject to heat radiating to the interior of the building. A roof should deflect the heat of the sun during extreme high temperatures and color as well as materials used to clad both the surface and underside of the roof should be carefully considered.

The addition of plastic panels in the roof or skylights can add light to the interior of the structure and provide benefits of warmth in colder climates as well as diminish energy costs for lighting and heating the barn.

The use of drainpipes and a guttering system greatly enhances the functionality of a roof in regard to its ability to shed water and move it away from the foundation of the building.

How Strong Is the Roof?

The size and strength of the substructure that supports the roof, as well as the method by which it is attached to the framed members of the sidewalls is also an important consideration. Between suction from wind uplift, aspiration of water off the roof to the underside of the eaves and standing snow/ice or water load the rafter/truss system necessarily requires a well-engineered design.

Different roof styles offer various pluses and minuses when it comes to their ability to withstand wind (the hip roof is considered superior to other styles in this regard), and to shed water and snow.

The wider the span of the roof the heavier duty the support system, whether trusses or rafter design, will need to be. This is why steel trusses are often used in large agricultural buildings such as indoor arenas versus wood materials. Trusses are stronger than rafter construction and they transfer the weight or load of the roof to the outer walls of the structure allowing the interior to be free of posts/pillar or interior wall support.

Should You Choose a Shingle and Metal Roof?

There are many other factors to think about when choosing your roof.

The fire rating of a roof can be an element in how much insurance you’ll pay. Unrated roof coverings offer the worst fire rating and Class A, B or C, with A being the highest rating, can save you money as well as give you better peace of mind.

Shingle roofs may be made of asphalt or fiberglass, with asphalt having a worse fire rating but a better choice for durability in cold climates and for its ability to withstand high winds. But shingles can crack, corrode and shrink over time and are not as durable as a metal roof.

Application of a layer of ice and water shield over the sheathing layer of a shingle roof underneath the felt or tar paper can notably extend its durability. This is especially useful in snowy regions where ice dams may result from blocked gutters and spouts, lack of roof insulation or lack of airflow under the soffits of the roof.

A metal roof can offer good fire resistance and energy efficiency and can last up to 50 years. Additionally, a metal roof can better withstand high wind than a shingle roof and will require less maintenance over its lifespan.

Metal roofs also vary significantly in quality and thickness. A thicker metal roof is not necessarily better than a thinner one, it all depends on the decimal thickness of the aluminum or steel being used and whether that number includes the paint layer or not, as well as what the tolerance of the steel is as defined by the manufacturer.

Metal roofs that are manufactured of poorer quality materials will chalk over time and become unsightly requiring repair. This is due to a poor method of paint application to the bare metal or the use of substandard quality paint.

Adverse elements to all roof materials include chemicals and pollutants in the atmosphere and of course water. These elements can break down the pigment in the paint causing it to fade.

Take Home Message

When you are considering a new barn build don’t be shy to ask questions about how these facets are managed in the design you choose.

While steeper roofs will better shed snow and ice than a low-profile roof, and metal roofs shed water better than fiberglass or asphalt shingle depending on the appropriate pitch, there are many construction factors to review that ensure you are comparing ‘apples to apples’ when obtaining your quotation for a new horse barn.

This article originally appeared on Horizon Structures and is published here with permission.

You can find more informative articles in our section on Tack & Farm.

by Nikki Alvin-Smith for Horizon Structures

Brutally cold or extremely hot temperatures and inclement weather conditions can inflict great suffering on horses that are left to their own devices in an open pasture.

Brutally cold or extremely hot temperatures and inclement weather conditions can inflict great suffering on horses that are left to their own devices in an open pasture. However well hayed-up and warm watered the equine is kept in tempestuous winter storms and however hydrated and shaded a horse is managed in burning heatwaves, their well-being is dependent on more than these precautions to keep them in good health.

Horse caregivers are often quick to defend their horse care practices where a lack of understanding and education persist as to the actuality of how horses manage in the wild or how they suffer as a result of their inability to choose their own environment.

Consider the ever-present conflicts and conversations about whether a horse should be blanketed and if so at what temperature or humidity level, or the advertisements touting what shampoos can assuage discoloration of a pristine black equine coat or product can protect a gray horse from melanoma as good examples of issues related to horse care in certain types of weather.

There are many good reasons not to brave the weather when it comes to horse care, and these are just a few.

If you’ve ever lived in Wyoming or Montana and other regions where arctic air breezes in each year with the subtlety of the interest a mare in season shows in a stallion, then you’ve seen the results of frostbite on the stubby eared equines that showcase their exposure to Mother Nature’s wrath.

For those of us with experience in the world of horse breeding we know just how fast a foal or weanling can become dehydrated or chilled despite their otherwise apparent good health due to extremes of temperature and exposure to sun and rain. Elderly equine statesmen are similar to the youngstock in that their temperature regulation is not in full operation working to ideal capacity so also similarly to their junior counterparts they are at risk for health issues caused by severe weather (be it hot or cold).

A horse that is not in good health will also be more susceptible to disease and illness when subjected to extreme weather. Huge variances in the weather can also induce existing health problems to escalate or begin a cycle of harm to a horse that makes it at higher risk for similar health issues to occur in the future.

Horses that ‘go to the doctor’ aren’t given a written warning the way a human receives information, that the doxycycline they’ve been prescribed to treat Anaplasmosis or Lyme disease can cause them eye damage if they don’t protect their eyes from the glare of the blinding sun that reflects off snow or water. The Equus is painfully unaware (or will be) that liver damage may result from too much exposure to the sun’s rays when taking certain drugs. Indeed often, the horse caregivers themselves are blind to the side effects of medicines prescribed or over the counter remedies that can be purchased for treatment of equine maladies.

Is A Run-In Shed Enough?

The provision of a permanent form of shelter (not seasonal hedgerows or tree canopies) is always a good start to providing protection from the elements for horses at pasture.

While the horses have the opportunity to choose between being under cover of its roof or standing in the pasture the reality is the equine resident does not always make the smart decision. Like naughty children they sometimes do the complete opposite of what we expect them to do. Instead of seeking shade from the midday sun, they will stand next to the cooling effect of the water trough with their heads hanging low over the water surface catching sunburn on their white or pink noses. In the blasts of a Nor’easter they will stubbornly stand by the gate knee deep in mud rather than huddle up in the back of the run-in shed.

A run-in shed can provide a good temporary solution to providing some kind of shelter from the weather for horses that may be recently moved to a property without a barn or some form of enclosure suitable for their occupation.

But sadly, no, sometimes the run-in shed is not enough to provide the shelter needed in extreme weather conditions. Its 3-sided protection cannot abate whipping winds that bring wind chills to minus double digits of -30 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. While the horse’s long neck will help protect its lungs from the damage of the bitter cold air, the extremities of the horse are exposed and subject to frostbite.

Horses do not innately know that the sun’s rays are bad for them when they are taking certain medications or have a genetic make-up that makes them prone to health problems. A gray horse or an equine genetically at high risk for skin cancers will not know it needs to stay out of the sun to minimize its likelihood of developing the disease.

Ironically a gray horse has a more reflective coat to protect it from heat than a black horse, and a darker colored horse suffers more from flies and other insect attraction than a gray horse. Color of the coat, weight, condition, and breed of the horse, all affect the individual horse’s ability to weather the weather. Horses often simply don’t have the choice to make the right decision for their individual needs, even if they innately figure out the best solution to a problem they are experiencing such overheating or they are wet and cold.

The Immeasurable Pleasure of Owning a Horse Barn

There is an audible sigh of relief heard from most horse caregivers when their herd is safely shepherded into the warmth of well-bedded stalls during horrid weather or rescued from the incessant activities of biting flies and ensconced in cool, shady stables.

A barn offers the horse a respite from extremes of weather, but it also serves a valuable purpose as a hospital bed or an examination room.

The horse barn offers a retreat for the Equus suffering from too much herd interaction and can mitigate its ability to overindulge on sugary short green pastures of Fall and the rich spiking grass of Spring. In times of extreme human behavior, such as neighbors setting off celebratory fireworks, the barn can also become a much-appreciated refuge and safe harbor for the noise sensitive equine.

The benefits of being able to shelter from adverse weather in the barn is also important for the human contingent on the farm.

Styles and designs of barns come in all shapes and sizes. The array of options comes with a variety of price points, and the availability of modern-day modular barns makes the ownership of a horse barn something that can be undertaken in an almost ‘instant’ way.

The most inexpensive barn designs that can offer confinement of a horse is a shedrow design. The addition of an overhang can help protect the interior from driving winds and rain over Dutch doors, and shedrow designs are easy to add to if extra stalls are needed down the road. The more expensive high profile center aisle barn design is at the top of the price range with high end timber frame models being the crème de crème when it comes to horse barn style.

There are many options in-between these designs that offer pros and cons of each and where the property is sited, and its climate and environment should factor into the decision.

For example, a shedrow design may be perfectly suited to a temperate environment such as the mid-Atlantic seaboard, but its limitations will be felt if placed in the snowy regions of Maine or Montana where persistent plowing out to access each stall space during blizzard conditions will be needed and the lack of protection from bitter winter winds will be evident.

For large herds of horses, it is commonplace to provide a big indoor structure such as a cowshed or machine shed where the horses can be gathered together in during poor weather. Wherever animals gather together their bodies will produce a good source of heat, and livestock sheds and buildings can provide a reasonable solution as a safe harbor for a horse herd during severe weather.

Consider the interior of the building and its substructure when housing horses in large metal buildings, and also its passive or mechanical ventilation. Horses are not cows and are much more likely to roll next to a tin wall or kick out at a compatriot equine and errant hoof placement through a metal siding is a recipe for disaster.

In terms of fresh air, a horse’s respiratory system will benefit from good ventilation wherever it lives. Shutting out the wrath of winter may be necessary for short periods but overall a horse will do better health wise with access to plenty of fresh air and light.

An enclosed barn stall is an open plan dining/living room and bathroom for the horse, and yes, as such it does require more horsey housework. It also requires a capital investment. Nonetheless, owning one is a capital idea. You’ll never regret it. And don’t forget, what’s good for the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a human.

This article originally appeared on Horizon Structures and is published here with permission.

You can find more informative articles in our section on Tack & Farm.

Wanting a new Western saddle but not sure where to start?

Purchasing a new saddle? Excitement, commence! Take a gander at these five helpful Q&As, answered by our friends, Circle Y, to help you in this process. Have more questions? Call or email our Valley Vet Supply saddle experts at saddles@valleyvet.com, and they are more than glad to help.

Are there different kinds of Western saddles?

There are many different types of Western saddles to suit your specific discipline, including saddles made for trail riding, barrel racing, roping, and showing. Learn about the different types of Western saddles produced and the differences in each.

How should riders sit on, or in, the saddle?

A saddle with a 4 ½” or 5” cantle provides a deep, secure seat. A saddle with a 2 ½”, 3”, 3 ½” cantle will feel more open to the rider.

Which saddle seat size is preferred by riders?

Seat size for the rider definitely varies on personal preference and discipline, with seat sizes ranging from 10” (kids) to 18” and half sizes also available. In general, for seat size, you should allow for four inches between the front of your body when you’re sitting comfortably and the swell of the saddle. For speed events and roping, a tighter fit is preferred. For trail riding, sizing a half size up is usually preferred rather than snug.

How much can Western saddles weigh?

Western saddles can range in weight from 20 to 50 pounds, so depending on rider preference and strength, this aspect can be important when purchasing a new Western saddle.

Which saddle tree size will best fit my horse?

Professional saddle fitters are available in the industry to study your horse for a sure fit; however, here are some general guidelines to help you in making this decision.

• Horses with a narrow, defined wither are best suited for a Medium tree
• Horses with a wide, with slightly defined, wither are best suited for a Wide tree
• Horses that are Mutton withered, with a big shoulder, should best fit a Foundation wide
• Horses with a really wide back and wither are best suited for an Extra wide

See a wide selection of saddles and tack available, and for more information, please contact saddles@valleyvet.com.

This article originally appeared on Valley Vet and is published here with permission. Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians for people just like you - people who want the very best for their four-legged friends and livestock.

All photos courtesy of Valley Vet.

There are more informative articles in our section on Tack & Farm.