Barn Front & Loft

He's putting siding on the top front of the barn today.

And the loft is almost finished. Its only going over the aisle of the 3 middle stalls and a couple feet into those stalls. I'll be able to stand up there in about half of it but not near the stalls. 

So glad we're got the tractor for heavy lifting, makes it safer.

From above the front door, this is what it looks like so far.

From inside the wash rack. I had him cut it back so if the horses get stupid and go up they won't bash their heads.

This is the inside of the wash rack, looking up and out through the door.

This is through the same door but up into the stall the opposite direction.

Stable Comfort 10 Day Review

We started using the stalls with the Stable Comfort stall mats about 10 days ago and I want to do a short review.

What I've noticed the most and is super important to me is that Joey hasn't been stocked up in the mornings after being locked in the stall all night. We don't have outside runs ready yet so its just the stalls. I do not know if he's sleeping a lot or just standing around but I do know he's not making laps in it. So not stocking up is a SUPER DUPER PLUS. He has laid down a few times, I can tell by the shavings in his tail.

Wifi is the same as always in her stall.

What I do not like is that the pee goes wherever it wants and in both stalls that's right to where their hay bags hang. No one likes to eat hay that's been sitting in their pee. I'm thinking I might need to hang the hay nets on a different wall or have several spots so at least the floor can dry before using those spots again. I even switched the horses to each others stalls last night to see if it would make any difference but it didn't.

The only thing we did not do when installing was crown the concrete in the middle but it was poured before I ordered the mats. On flat floors with regular mats if Joey pees in the middle it stays in the middle.

Stable Comfort Stall Mats

The Stable Comfort stall mats are in and look great.

All the sides have been trimmed and doorways attached.

Boots has approved them for use.

Valentines Day brought a nice clean aisle, all the tools and wood put away or at least stacked neatly. The stalls look great.

Tonight I'll hang bucket holders and put up the stall divider wall and it will be ready for use.

The outside runs are not finished yet, there are not fences yet. 

we're expecting COLD temps this coming week with possible snow so I've got hay nets filled, the trough heater is ready to go and IF we decide to put horses in these stalls I have Wifi's heated water bucket for her.

This is the wash rack/grooming stall. Its going to have a ceiling & the plan is to paint the while thing white. I want lights in the back, high and low so if we need to see we will be able to.

The loft will be above these 3 stalls, in the middle of the barn over the aisle way. Should hold plenty of hay but still allow enough light to get in.

Along the back you can currently see its open at the eaves but we're going to close those, have to keep the birds out.

Stable Comfort Almost Done

The StableComfort stall mats are almost completely installed. 

We went to Habitat For Humanity and purchased just enough carpet padding to cover the entire floor.

Then we had to have 2 more people come over and help get the mat rolled out in the aisleway and rerolled in the length wise direction, so we were carrying a 27 foot long HEAVY limp noodle

instead of a 13 footer.

Hemmed & hawed, pushed & pulled, finally got it about right.

Then the sides started getting the black strips screwed in, this wall first. 

This is what the top mat looks like, almost a felt-carpet on the bottom/underneath.

And heavy duty rubber on the top.

Its about 1/4 inch thick all together.

Here is beside one of the outside doors. See the angle? it was too much, he had to take some of them back off and loosen them to less of an angle.

This is the divider post, the second wall area he did

and we had to figure out how to go around the post. 

I was a bit freaked out about him cutting it but he just went ahead and it all turned out OK. 

This wasn't easy and took about an hour to get it just so. 

This is the almost finished post.

This is below two feed windows which will be open a lot with them standing there with their heads out, stamping their feet for food and attention.

Now that wall is all finished with the top row of screws but had to be redone at the lesser angle.

There is one of the end walls done, as soon as he got the second row of screws in the floor got smooth and most of the wrinkles are gone.

Doorway outside. He had installed the pressure treated board just for this purpose and it looks like its going to work OK for a while.

There is one more doorway to finish, then trim all the excess off from above the black strips and then black caulking along the tops to seal them from having pee go down behind them.

Then I can FINALLY use the stalls.

Dutch Doors All Finished

Only One More Door

The last top half dutch door is being built right this minute. 

The Comfort Stall mat is getting there, we had to have friends come over and help get the big roll of top layer rolled the other direction, hauled out of the barn & into the stall. It didn't want to go easily but we did get it inside the stall.

Then we had to hem & haw over position, currently its sitting there thinking about being a difficult thing. In the next few days we will complete that installation then add water buckets, corner feeders, (I don't NEED them) and outside fences. Then we're good to go.

I'll be able to use it before its got fences because I can put the horses into the arena during the days.