I want a solarium!!!

[mollymurphy]

Having just spent the weekend at Two Mills Sport Horses on a training weekend with one of my mares, i REALLY want a solarium!

Do you need a special 'room' for the lamps, or can you just stick them in a spare stable or something?!

What sort of prices are we looking at? Both for the initial purchase cost, and the running costs? Dad reckons they'll be really expensive to run.

If you've got one at your yard, can you use them for free (included in your livery) or do you pay-as-you-go?

Thank yous in advance!

Lou. x

 

[Chex]

There was one at my old livery, never used it though! I think YP would have charged extra to use it - I imagine it uses a lot of power. Ours was like a stock almost, with lights around the top.

 

[MillionDollar]

I'm putting one on my yard and I'm having a seperate room for it, but it will just be like a stable except a bit smaller

Prices start from as little as £300 and I don't think running costs are too bad if your careful. My liveries will be charged extra to use this as they will have lots of other facilitiies included.

 

[mollymurphy]

£300's not too bad is it. Would you have like a little coin-slot machine thingy for the liveries to put money in - say £1 for 3 mins (like a sun bed?) or would you just put it on their bills at the end of the month?

 

[black_n_white]

My friend has one of these at her yard. I'm not sure how much it costs to use but she has to pay per minute using a slot machine.

I would imagine that a coin machine is much easier than billing for time at the end of the month as it isn't replying on people being honest about how long they've used it for.

Having a set number of minutes of heat also means that a horse can't get "cooked" under the lamps.

 

[MillionDollar]

I think a slot machine as you know how some liveries can be very rude and unhonest

These ones are supposed to be good-

http://www.kylixuk.com/solariums.htm

 

[SpottedCat]

Got them on our yard in the wash box - not a special room, just the room with the hose and rubber mats!

We don't pay extra for anything at our yard, all facilities are included (oh, except the equissage which we can hire at £3 a time or £5 for as many times in one week as you like).

The heat lamps are great in the winter, don't use them in the summer as even in this weather horse gets too hot under them.

 

[sw123]

I have them at home, in the spare "grooming stable" we actually bought electric patio heaters from Maplins, they are on stands that adjust in height etc and were only about £30 each. I bought 3. 1 on eiether side of the stable and one is at the back. Work just as well and get v warm. Can also then use them in teh garden!!

 

[kimky]

so are they pretty safe ...? i am no thinking of getting one at my competion yard. Also mollymurpthy how much was it at two mills sport horse training weekend, i've heard about them ..?

 

[sw123]

The electric patio heaters are safe yes. The proper ones are too we had them on all the event yards i've worked on, invaluable really.

 

[luckilotti]

I've got one here in my living room waiting to be installed - its been here ages now as its a nightmare to get an electrician to do such a small job

we are having it connected up to a slot coin machine - only difference is its not money coins! its tokens that liveries will buy from us - basically when we went to an electrical store re a coin meter it was all getting complicated as app you are not meant to charge more than the electrical company - think the company were just being all prim and proper!
the area its going - is going to be an indoor pen type thing, unless i change my mind again and put it in one of our big boxes which my mares will be having foalis in maybe......

 

[Bossanova]

We've got one, it's just in an archway from the fields to the stables with cross ties. It is fantastic- worth every penny. The horses love it, esp in this sort of weather.
Our liveries can use it for free if they want but we put their horses under it if they need it anyway.

 

[mollymurphy]

[ QUOTE ]
Also mollymurpthy how much was it at two mills sport horse training weekend, i've heard about them ..?

[/ QUOTE ]

It was £120. Got there on the friday with the horses at 4pm, then left on the sunday at about 5pm. Had 2 lessons a day - one flat and one jumping. I had 2 flat on the first day though. If you're just into dressage or just into SJ, then you can just have 4 lessons of that instead of 2 of each.

I absolutley LOVED it! Booked in for the next one on the 27th of this month too. Mike is a miracle worker!
And it's such a friendly, social place - really homely. Would deffinatley recommend it!

 

[CentrestageSHS]

Mollymurphy, did you stay at two mills, with your horse or did you leave your horse their and you come home every night? Its sounds wickid!!! Thats a really good price as well. I've always wanted to do one of these training weekend's but though the price would be extortionate so haven't bothered enquiring!!

 

[mollymurphy]

Nope, the price included you staying there. Some people stayed in their horse box, one woman brought a caravan and the rest of us stayed in a dorm. Its really nice - you just bring a camp bed and bedding. In the evenings, you all go to the pub, then back to Mikes house for dinner and drinks until you want to go to bed. And it's full livery for your horse, so no mucking out!