Cooling wooden stables

Honey08

Honey08

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Anyone else struggling with wooden stables?

My horses still want to come in each morning to get away from the sun and the ferrocious horse flies. They even brought themselves in yesterday morning when I left the field gate open, I found them already lying down in the stables at 8am! However the stables are getting pretty warm by midday. Luckily I've been off work this week, so have been able to go and wet the horses two or three times a day, which helped.

I was getting a bit worried as I'm working tomorrow, so today I managed to tie up car windscreen "sunscreens" over the skylights to reflect sun away, and my wonderful dad managed to rig a big fan in the overhang of the stable that blows cool air into both stables, so the horses are a lot more comfortable. They already have bars across the doors rather than the doors being shut.

Anyone else got any more ideas? We have three stone stables that are much cooler, but they are only pony stables so these two horses won't fit in.:(
 
I used to hose down outside the stable, did seem to help and like you used trailer ties across the doorways. Although the stables were hot at least out of direct sunlight.
 
When I used to have them, I went on a mission with family and friends getting all the old and unsued sheets, blankets and towels I could find. I would get them out on the floor, hose them down and ring out, then hang against the walls. Because the sun isn't on them and they are not stuck to the actual wall, they stay damp but also cool. Worked two fold, first it helped keep the general stable temp down, second, my old mare would just lean against them on super hot days. She'd lean against one until it got warm, then move to another wall...by the time she'd warmed the second, the first was cool again so she always had one of four walls to choose from that was cool if she wanted a lean.

A little trick I started doing after a few weeks as well was to hose, ring and spray with fly spray the towels I would put close to the door :D
 
If they bought themselves in OP would you be safe leaving them with access to put themselves out too?

Obviously not suitable with all animals/yards but if you can that might save you a worry or two?
 
Thanks all, will try some hosing too - like the towel idea, as it would be harder to do the outside of the stables as its the chicken run!

I don't really want them to come in and out, as would have to leave fly rugs on, and the horse flies drive my mare crazy, so she just trots in and out all day, getting all hot and bothered. They also come in to get them off the grass for a bit too.. Usually they aren't in the field near to the stables, it was just a one off the other night.
 
Honey08 said:
Thanks all, will try some hosing too - like the towel idea, as it would be harder to do the outside of the stables as its the chicken run!

I don't really want them to come in and out, as would have to leave fly rugs on, and the horse flies drive my mare crazy, so she just trots in and out all day, getting all hot and bothered. They also come in to get them off the grass for a bit too.. Usually they aren't in the field near to the stables, it was just a one off the other night.
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No point doing outside anyway...they'd be crispy dry in 5 minutes in this weather!
 
Oh interesting thread. My two wooden stables are totally un-useable at the moment due to full length plastic sheets in the roof- they become unbearably hot which is a real pain as the horses all seem to want to come in out of the flies and I hate the fact they have little shade out in the field (but the bit they do have access to they never bother with!)

My dad suggested painting the sheets with that white wash paint you put on green houses
 
poiuytrewq said:
Oh interesting thread. My two wooden stables are totally un-useable at the moment due to full length plastic sheets in the roof- they become unbearably hot which is a real pain as the horses all seem to want to come in out of the flies and I hate the fact they have little shade out in the field (but the bit they do have access to they never bother with!)

My dad suggested painting the sheets with that white wash paint you put on green houses
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Gloss would be even better as would really reflect the sun back then. I have a great vision in my mind of flies wandering above the stables and getting fried mid air as they fly over the shiny white bits :D
 
Is it at all possible to get a roll of aluminium foil and covering the skylight with that? you know, the kind they sell in the supermarket? It will reflect the heat and help your stables stay cooler. Sounds crazy, but i did the exact same thing in my house to my skylight. It worked a treat :)
 
_GG_ said:
Gloss would be even better as would really reflect the sun back then. I have a great vision in my mind of flies wandering above the stables and getting fried mid air as they fly over the shiny white bits :D
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Little ******s- Its worth trying just for that effect! ;)
 
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