Pole Barn Insulation with a twist (Horses and dirt floor)

[RedNeckRacin]

I'm trying to find out those answers as we speak. I am trying to purchase the gas rights back and hopefully they were written that the surface owner gets 200,000 ft^3/month.

I am also thinking that with the natural gas heat, it should help a little bit with the moisture problem. Warm air holds more water than cold air. Its not going to be cheap and hence why I was looking for some insight or previous experience in this.

 

[Lloyd_E]

I know the heat/vapour from propane gives off moisture - so I have been told - does NG do the same?
If the ring is air-tight you could baffle the ceiling to contain the heat better. Up here our local arena does it. They stretch tarp horizontally on the under side of the rafters/joists to add a ceiling. Big job each fall but it does help. They don't heat their building but there is enough residual heat from horses, people, stalls to help. Wind/drafts are you biggest challenge. If you can eliminate them half your problem is solved.

 

[8n Bruce]

If you're just keeping the rider's warm . Is it possible to use gas radiant heaters above the riding area ,like the one's at sporting events to keep spectators comfortable. Don't insulate the whole building ,just an office area if needed, & separate & ventalate the stall area to keep your horse's in a healthier environment & out of the moisture dropping from the ceiling. It dosen't take long to warm an area in an enclosed space. Just an experience from unheated hockey arena's when the temp's dip down close to -40F.

 

[varmint]

8n might have a good idea for you- radiant heaters work well for big areas, which is why they are used in hangers and auto shops, among other large volume spaces. And, the heat would be about where you want it?

 

[forgeblast]

Check your gas lease it might have a well head clause in it.

 

[Beltman60]

blankets on horses serve a purpose not just make the owners feel better about themselves
we found out with a good quality blanket that our feed bills are about half as much as without
horses make heat through eating

Our horses go out in the pastures everyday if temps are above 10 F
they are put in individual stalls over night and are fed twice daily with an extra hay toss late in the evening in the cold winter months

I also believe you would be better off separating the 2
my :2cents:

 

[RedNeckRacin]

We blanket the show horses down to a certain temperature since their coats are kept shorter. I wasn't really trying to save food cost but thats an interesting observatgion. WE have several different thickness blankets as well.

The heat was mostly for the riders and my wife who works there during the day and evening full time year round. Building an addition on to keep the horses is simply out of the budget at the moment. I'm not talking 3 or 4 horses here. We have 16 inside that building.


I have not gotten ahold of the gas lease yet since I dont own the mineral rights yet either. I do believe natural gas makes some moisture, but it can't be more than the horses put off. The moisture issue is going to be one of my biggest hurdles in this endeavor i'm sure. Don't the radiant heaters have hot and cold spots though? I'm really not trying to get to room temperature in the winter time, but sweatshirts would be alot more comfortable than a full snow suit.

 

[forgeblast]

You may be able to search LANDEX Document Publishing Search Page landex if your county is listed and you know the owners name. You can get the lease that way.