Group18: Horse Stable: Research

Showing posts with label Research. Show all posts

Case Study: An Average Horse

Horses come in various sizes. Horses are usually categorized into three different types: light riding horses, large riding horses and heavy horses.

Light Riding Horse:

Range of height from 56 to 64 inches

Range of weigh from 840 to 1210 lb

Large Horse:

Range of height from 62 to 68 inches.

Range of weigh from 1,100 to 1,320 lb

Heavy Horse:

Range of height from 64 to 72 inches.

Range of weigh from 1,540 to 2,200 lb

The Average Horse Dimensions:

Link:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publications/07232816/page03.cfm

Case Study: Potential Wood For Horse Stable

Case study: Potential Wood For Horse Stable

There are multiple woods that could be used to build a sufficient horse stable. A few characteristics that these potential wood should have are: durability, high-bending strength, good nail holding power, moderate shrinkage, decay resistance, withstands splitting, good painting and weathering qualities, doesn't warp and is easy to work with.

Some of the top woods that are used to build horse stables are:

Southern Yellow Pine (Recommended)
Tongue and groove wood (stall lining)
Brazilian Hardwood
high-grade 90% Spruce J-Grade logs
Red Cedar
Bamboo (for tack room)

Links:

http://blog.classic-equine.com/2013/05/barn-building-101-the-word-on-wood/

http://www.tritonbarns.com/stall_wood_options.php

Case Study: Buckling Load

Buckling is critical in building a structure because it tells the stress load that the column could hold before it buckles, or bends. People often use Euler's formula to calculate the critical buckling load of the long columns with central loading.

E is the Young's modulus of the column material, or the elasticity of the column material. I is the area moment of inertia of the cross-section, and L is the length of the columns. The equation above is just a general equation. The calculation usually depending on the end conditions of the columns. Some of the common end conditions is in the figure 1.

Figure 1. End Conditions

Figure 2. Effective Lengths of the End Conditions

The table in figure 2 above shows an effective lengths of the column based on the end conditions in which L represents the actual length of the column.

http://www.amesweb.info/CompressionMemberDesign/CompressionMemberDesign.aspx

The link above is one of the sites that was built to calculate the buckling load of the columns.

Links:

http://www.efunda.com/formulae/solid_mechanics/columns/columns.cfm

http://www.amesweb.info/CompressionMemberDesign/CompressionMemberDesign.aspx

Case Study: Flooring for the Horse Stable

Case Study: Flooring of Horse Stable

Choosing the important flooring for a horse stable is extremely important. With the wrong type of flooring, it can hurt the horse. With different floors, there are different ways to maintenance it. Some owners might not want to always clean the floors and waste a large amount of money so these aspects need to be considered too. Other aspects that are considered when choosing a floor is if its non-odor retentive, provided traction, durable and lastly, affordable. Below is a chart that breaks down most of the materials used for floors.

X = Poor, + = Good, ? = highly dependent on other factors

Here are two floor types that are typically used with various to them:

Porous Floors

This type of floor usually helps water movement down into the ground. Some of the materials that usually makes up this floor are as followed:

Topsoil: Different types of soil will result in different drainage options. Also when used, it could create mud or puddles which will lead to uneven footing.
Clay: Traditionally a horse stable's favorite flooring.
Sand: Needs to be replaced frequently. Horses who feed off the ground might ingest it.
Road Base Mix: Depending on the location, the mix will be different. Usually 4-5 inches think over a 6-8 inch base of sand or small gravel.
Wood: Used less because its very expensive. Difficult to disinfect.
Grid Mats: Used to support another type of flooring.

Impervious Floors

A floor that has become rather popular due to low maintenance and durability. Some of the materials that usually makes up this floor are as followed:

Asphalt: A type of material which is alternative to concrete. A mixture of stone and sand held together with a tar compound. Uncomfortable for horses to walk on but after a period of time, it will feel more comfortable.
Solid Rubber Mats: Typically used over another flooring to support or aid it.

Different rooms and areas of the horse stable requires different materials. The aisleways should be somewhat similar to stalls. The feed room should have a type of floor which is low maintenance and rodent proof. Tack room are usually impervious floors such as concrete or asphalt. Wash area should be a non slippery impervious floor which helps with drainage or have a slope towards a drain.

Links:

http://extension.psu.edu/publications/ub036

http://horses.about.com/od/horsestablesandsheds/tp/Choosing-The-Right-Flooring-For-Your-Horse-Stable.htm

Case Study: Compressive Strength

Case Study: Compressive Strength and Bending Strength

Compressive strength is the maximum compressive load that the materials can withstand. Based on the compressive strength, one can calculate the size of the columns by taking the total forces coming down divided by the compressive strength. Different woods give different values of the compressive strength.

On the other hand, bending strength (also known as the Modulus of Rupture) is the measurement of the materials properties. It tells the stress in the materials before failure. The tables below listed the compressive strength and bending strength of the different types of woods.

Link: http://workshopcompanion.com/KnowHow/Design/Nature_of_Wood/3_Wood_Strength/3_Wood_Strength.htm

Case Study: Fencing for Horse Stable

There are various fencing that a horse stable can be built from. Fencing are typically used to secure the horses from wondering off or to make the area of the owner's territory. They can be used for the most basic use of securing the horses or making the area that secures the horse to look attractive. The average height which all fences would be between 4.5 to 5.5 feet tall. Fences with mesh should not open more than 3 inches squared. The most basic types of fences are wooden, wire, PVC, pipe and electric. Owners would also combine types to make a stronger and useful fence for their horses. Fences should be frequently examined because they are what keeps the horses in place. Here are the following type of fences:

Wooden Rail Horse Fences:

Very traditional but attractive type of fencing. The wooden rail is inexpensive when its being built but the maintenance can be very costly. The nails of this fence can be hazardous because horses like chewing on wood. Owner's usually put a strand of hot wire on the top rail to stop that.

Pipe Fence

A very popular horse fence in many parts of the country. It is attractive and highly visible but expensive. This type of fence lasts very long and is solid. This is great for owners because horses wouldn't run into it as much but if they do, it would not be a problem.

Vinyl or PVC Fence

These types of fences improves the looks and the value of the property. It is highly visible and attractive. It comes in numerous styles and colors. Maintaining these fences are extremely easy too. There
are also a few cons about it. They are very expensive and detaches very easily when hit by a horse. Owners would wrap a hot wire on the inside of the top rail to daunt the horses.

Wire Mesh or Woven Field Fences

Common used fences. They are relatively inexpensive and typically easy to repair. The only issue with this fence is the size of the gaps. Owners need to make sure the mesh size is small enough to keep the hooves out for every type of horse they own. Also, it is not as visible as other fences so including some color, flagging tape or a wood top rail would solve that problem.

Braided Wire Cable Horse Fence

A type of fence that needs to be tighten from time to time. The braided wire cable is durable, low maintenance and highly visible. This would be a typical nice fence but can be knocked down easily. Horse would rub on this and the outcome would not be good.

Rubber Fence

Not usually a recommended fence for horses. This type of fence will hurt the horses if they hit it because it is easily knocked down. This fence also stretches so it needs to be tightened from time to time.

Buck and Rail Fence

Recommended fencing for rocky mountainous areas. This is a attractive fence. This installation does not involve digging holes which is great for people who live in the mountains. They are very animal friendly because wild animals are not typically hurt from these fences.

Chain Link

A very expensive fence. Used for mostly strong and big horses. Owners would typically wrap hot wire on the top rail too because it can be stretched out by horses.

Links:

http://www.fivestarranch.com/articles/horse-fence.html

http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2014/07/25-5-best-types-of-fencing-for-horse-farms.aspx

Case Study: Hay Storage

Square Bales

One of the main sources of consumption for horses is hay. The hay that they consume can come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. There are some that are small bales that are about 2x2x4. There are bigger bales that are 3x3x8 and lastly are round bales that range from 500 through 1,800 pounds.

Round Bales

Hay can be stored outside or inside of a shed but is fully recommended to store indoors. Hay itself is extremely flammable so it should be kept away from any type of heat source or anything that causes fire like kerosene, gasoline, or oil. Another pro to storing hay indoors is that the sunlight does not bleach the hay. Once the hay is bleached, the hay itself loses nutrients. Also, when hay is stored away from the sun, bales can lose up to 7% of dry matter. When hay bales are not covered, bales of hay can lose up 35% of dry matter. Indoor hay is also kept away from an excess moisture that might affect the hay like rotting because when hay rots, horse are not able to eat it. Hay bales should be placed on top of something similar to wooden pallets to help the air ventilation throughout the hay to keep the freshness. If hay is stored outside, the hay should be covered with a tarp to keep it away from the sun and to keep the nutrients in the hay.

Indoor Storage

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/how-to-store-hay-to-make-it-last-2/
http://igrow.org/livestock/horse/hay-storage-recommendations/

Case Study: Bearing Capacity

Bearing capacity is the maximum stress that the loads could be applied to the soil. Bearing capacity is an important factor when determining the size of the columns of a structure. Without bearing capacity, the structure would have failed or sunk into the soil.

Bearing capacity can be tested through the following procedures for a rough calculation:

Dig out a hole that is the same depth as the depth of the structure.
Pick out a known mass and dimension of an object (a solid ball or a cube is suggested).
Drop the ball or the cube from a known height into a hole.
Calculate the average depth of impression (d) from the hole.

After this quick test, the resistance of soil can be calculated using the equation:

R = (w x h)/d

R is the ultimate resistance of soil, w is the weight (kg) of the object that is being dropped, h is the known height (cm) that the object is being dropped from, and d is the average depth of impression (cm) that the object has made on the surface of the hole.

After figuring out R, a safe bearing capacity can be calculated by the following equation:

Bearing Capacity (kg/cm²) = R/(A x F.O.S)

R is the resistance of soil that can be found using the equation above. A is the cross sectional area of the object that is being dropped (solid ball or cube). F.O.S is the factor of safety which can range from 2 to 3 depending on the structure and the site.

Link: http://civilblog.org/2015/02/23/how-to-calculate-safe-bearing-capacity-of-soil-on-site/

Case Study: Wind Loads

In order to prevent the horse stable from collapsing, loads are needed to be considered. There are three categories of loads, horizontal, vertical, and longitudinal loads. Wind loads are being looked at for this specific case study. Wind load is a type of horizontal load. It is caused by the movement of the air in which the wind pressure could have caused a damage to the building. Wind loads depend on the wind speed, the surface shape, and exposed area.

The wind pressure can be calculated through the following equation:

P = C_D X Q

P is the wind pressure (per square foot, psf) on the surface. C_D is the drag coefficient that could range from 0.6 to 2.4 (for most rectangular buildings, the value of C_D is 1.0). Q is the dynamic pressure of a moving air. Q can also be defined as (½ V²D), where V is the wind velocity and D is the air density.

In general, people use 20 to 30 pounds psf as a value of the dynamic pressure of a moving air (Q) for the wind loads. However, during the storm, the Q value can be as high as 60 pounds psf which is corresponding to the wind velocity of 150 mph or higher.

For the Pennsylvania region, if the height zone is less than 30 ft, the wind pressure would be 15 psf. If the height zone is between 30 to 49, the wind pressure would be 20 psf. If the height zone is between 50 and 99, the wind pressure would be 25 psf, and if the height zone is over 1200 ft, the wind pressure would be 40 psf.

In general, a suction of at least 10 psf should be considered. If the wind pressure is from 30 to 50 psf, a suction of one-half of that wind pressure should be considered.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), for a building that is 300 ft height, the wind load should be 20 psf, and for every 100 ft increase in height, the wind load should be increase by 2.5 psf.

Source: Lin, T. Y., and Sidney D. Stotesbury. Structural Concepts and Systems for Architects and Engineers. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1988. Print.

Case Study: Ideal Temperatures for Horse Stables

Heating
Heating for a horse stable is a very critical part of keeping your horses healthy and also not keeping it a clean environment for the horses to live in. Heating is needed in places in where there will be cold winters and pretty warm summers. The ideal temperature for a horse stable to stay around is about 50 degrees fahrenheit. If there is a temperature that is close to 0 degrees fahrenheit it is ideal for a horse to use blanket instead of blasting the heat to keep them warm that way because fresh air is ideal for their breathing. There are only two ideal rooms that really need heating in a horse stable and those rooms are the tack room and the utility room and these two need heating because it is for the medicine and different grooming tools that need to stay at a constant temperature. Any rooms that are heating in a horse stable will need to be insulated and have vapor barrier on all sides to prevent damages from happening.

Condensation
There are a few things that need to be followed so you can avoid condensation inside your horse stable which can cause horrible things such as bacteria, fungal growth and more to form inside.

To prevent Condensation as much as possible

keep humidity low
providing lots of ventilation for the horses will provide the horse inside close as possible to the outside temperature.
having insulation so the outside temperature can be as close as possible to inside.

Humidity
The idea humidity for a horse would be around 50-75 percent having 60 be the ideal but it is also better to be drier than more wet in the place. A humidifier is also ideal for enclosed rooms and stall to remove as much moister in the air as possible.

Ventilation
Keeping a place ventilated well is needed for horses especially because they are used for athletic reasons, so having fresh air for them is needed. Having fresh air is also good because it can cause less bacterial problems inside of a horse stable.

Air Movement and Vents
Having good air flow through a horse stable play a big part because there is not much air movement inside of a horse stable. Having warm air in a horse stable is ideal so the vents can cause the warm air to go out a bring in cooler air for the horses.

Ideals for Vents
Vents are rated by "net free area" and there are requirements for things like these

allow 1 square feet vent for every 300 square feet of floor space.
60 percent of venting area should be lower intake vents and 40 percent should be high exhaust vents.

Link

http://equusmagazine.com/article/barn_heating_ventilation_032708

Case Study: Lighting for Horse Stable

In the world today there are two different types of light that can be used to provided lighting to a barn and these choice are sunlight and man-made light. The better choice out of these two lights is obviously sunlight but when it is dark outside you would need man-made light to power up the horse stable. Having sunlight rather than man-made light is also better for both the human and horses because of the vitamin D that it provides.

Natural Light (Sunlight)
Having natural light is very efficient because it is provided by the sun and the lighting is both good for you and the horse. Natural light has Vitamin D which is good for both the human and horses which is why if natural light is a preferred source of light inside a stable that would be better than artificial lighting. There are different ways that you can light a horse stable with sunlight but the best way to do that is get clear acrylic panels which are clear sheets and use them as part of the building material which provides the source of sunlight to come in to the horse stable. These clear acrylic panels will provide the horse stable with a skylight which the sunlight will be coming in through the roof of the horse stable.

The only major flaw to using sunlight that is when the temperature starts increasing it will get pretty warm in a place like a horse stable so there would have to be a way to keep the temperature at a constant that the horses are comfortable in.

Artificial Lighting (LED)
Even though the best light to use is natural light there will be day that natural light will not be provided which causes us to use artificial light. There are many different types of light bulbs for artificial lighting but the most commonly used ones are incandescent, halogen energy efficient compact fluorescent, fluorescent tubes, metal halide and mercury vapors. When using artificial lighting there must be a certain way to light the place because sometimes if the light is not in the right space of the horse stable there will be spots and places where you will not be able to see. So positioning is a really big part of when you are using artificial lighting.

How to Make it Cost Efficient
There are many cost efficient ways for people that own horse stable to save money with lighting. The first thing is always try to use as much natural light as you can because sunlight is pretty much free and doesn't cost you a penny. Next is if you are using artificial lighting you there are solar and wind power which are alternative source of electric power and will save you money than using purchasing energy from the city. Having these two steps should help your horse stable be more cost efficient with the lighting aspect.

Solar Panel Cost
Solar Panel's cost ranged about $160-400 and they produce about 200 Watts per solar panel.

Link:
http://stablemanagement.com/article/tips-to-provide-good-barn-lighting

Case Study: Horse Stable Designs

There are many designs to a horse stable but here are some of the most popular ways to design or set up a horse stable.

Flooring: dirt instead concrete for proper drainage and easier manure collecting
Layout: center aisle, could be concrete or bricks to reduce dust levels

http://www.barntoolbox.com/floor-layout-tips.htm

Bedding (optional): Sawdust because of absorbency and inexpensiveness
Hay storage: kept somewhere dark and off the ground for air circulation to prevent rotting

Recommended stalls are 12 feet x 12 feet
Recommended stalls for larger horses are 14 feet x 14 feet
Recommended minimum height is 8 feet

http://extension.psu.edu/publications/ub033

Most popular door design are swinging doors for convenience with a top and bottom

Average doors: 4 feet to 5 feet wide, at least 7 feet tall

http://www.countrymanufacturing.com/dutchdoors.htm

Tack room walls should be 12 feet in height

http://www.fivestarranch.com/articles/barn-design.html
http://extension.psu.edu/publications/ub033
http://practicalhorsemanmag.com/article/build-barn-works-11369

Case Study: Shed Foundation

Shed is a simple roofed structure that can be used as a storage. Due to that, shed can be used to build a tack room for the horses in order to store bridles, saddles, saddle pads, and medical supplies. There are two type of shed foundations, on-grade and frost-proof foundations.

On-Grade Foundation
On-grade foundation is also known as floating foundation. It usually easy and quick to build because it sit right on the ground. It does not require to dig deep holes in the ground. It is also inexpensive to build one. That is why most sheds are built using on-grade foundation. on-grade foundation are usually build out of pressure-treated lumbers or solid-concrete blocks. It is best to not use standard wall block or hollow block because those block can crack under the weight pressure of the shed.

Solid-Concrete Blocks: The blocks are laid and spaced evenly in straight row. The number of blocks and spacing between each block are determined by the size of the shed. The block is 8 in. by 6 in. wide, and 2 in. or 4 in. deep. The thicker blocks need to be stacked first, and then follow by thinner blocks. If people want to raise the lower corner so it is evenly to the other corners, they can add more thinner blocks on top of it. One thing to be aware of is that if there is any chance that the rain can run off and drain under the shed, the blocks cannot be directly place onto the ground. First, people need to compact the soil, and lay about 2 to 3 in. of gravel on the compacted soil. Then, they can lay the blocks onto the gravel bed. These processes are to ensure that the soil won't wash away or become soggy, so the shed won't be affected on a rainy day.
Precast Pier Blocks: The shed foundation can also made out of precast pier blocks. The method for laying out the precast pier blocks is similar to the method of solid-concrete blocks above. The only difference is that the precast pier blocks have a square hole instead of just flat concrete.
Skid Foundations: Skid foundation is a type of on-grade foundation. It is easy to build in terms of both concept and application. The long and straight timbers are evenly spaced and placed in parallel. Then, the floor frame can be built on top off the timbers. The downside of this foundation is that it works best only on the sites that are flat and even.
Timber-Frame Foundation: This foundation is composed of a rectangular timbers (usually made from pressure-treated) sitting on the gravel bed. The shed wall will directly build onto the woods. This causes the shed to transfer its entire weight to the ground. The good thing of having this foundation is that people get to choose different type of flooring options, such as concrete, granite, marble chips, and many more.

Frost-Proof Foundation
Unlike on-grade foundation, frost-proof foundation is harder to build. However, it is stronger and can last longer than on-grade foundation. This foundation usually was built in the cold weather region where the weather can have an affect on the buildings

Which shed foundation is the best?
Determining the best type of foundation is usually based on the size, site, and the type of flooring of the shed.

Link:
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/firm-foundation-backyard-shed.aspx

Case Study: Horse Manure Compost

Horse manure is considered to be a inexpensive source of fertilizers for plants hence the reason why Bartram's Garden would like to use this soon to be abundant resource on their own gardens. In the short blurb below will be further information on horse manure.

What is in horse manure?
The fibers of grass and grain, minerals, shed cells, fats, water, and undigested grain and weed seeds can typically be found in the average horse's manure. Approximately 75% of the manure's weight is water.

How much manure is produced on a daily basis?
On average an 1,000 pound horse can produce up to 50 pound of manure daily.

How does one turn horse manure into compost?
The first step is to select a site for the compost. In the designated site proved to us by Bartram's Garden, the client holds a preference of keeping this compost pile out of site to make the area look more appealing. The second step is to construct a bin that is able to store at least 6 months of a single horse's manure. Therefore, the bins have to be at least 8'x8'x5'. There has to be multiple bins since there are two horses and for convenience as well. The third step of covering each bin with a tarp is crucial so that the nutrients in the pile don't wash out. The tarp also prevents the pile from getting to wet or dry. The fourth step is to make sure that the compost pile is getting aerated from the center out. This allows for the manure pile to compost evenly. A way to aerate the compost pile is by inserting PVC pipes into the pile and drilling a holes a few inches away from each pipe. Besides making sure the pile is aerated from the center, the compost pile should also be slightly damp (not soggy or dry). In order to know when the compost pile is done, the finished product should feel crumbly like dirt. This should take roughly six months.

Is there anything else to know about composting horse manure?
Although a horse can produce 50 pound of manure daily, the compost should only be left with about 25 pounds since as the manure turns into compost, almost 50% of its weight its loss due to the water evaporating. Bedding is also advised to be kept at a minimum so the pile is able to compost faster and it will be cheaper.

Case Study: Philadelphia's Weather

Weather is one of our constraints in designing this horse stable. We need to ensure that the horse stable can endure different kind of weather, such as snowing, raining etc. We also need to make sure that the temperature in the horse stable is the right temperature for horses to live in. Therefore, we look into the past records of the weather in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Weather from 1949 to 2016

Highest Temperature: 106 F°

Lowest Temperature: -11 F°

Snow Fall: 27.6 inch or 2.3 ft

Precipitation: 2.32 inch or 0.19 ft

Links:
http://weather-warehouse.com/WeatherHistory/PastWeatherData_PhiladelphiaIntlArpt_Philadelphia_PA_January.html
http://philadelphiaweather.blogspot.com/2012/07/phillys-most-extreme-temperature-days.html

Case Study: The Concrete Cowboys of Philadelphia

Located in Southwest Philadelphia, The Concrete Cowboys of Philadelphia is a small group of teenagers whom ride horses around Southwest Philadelphia. The horses that these teenagers ride along belong to Malik Divers, a 55-year-old man who has a goal of "keeping the kids off the streets and out of trouble". The main purpose of this "program" is to provide a lesson of hard work and responsibility. Many of the teens that are involved with this program consider this to be a sort of therapy. By interacting with the horses the teenagers are taught empathy, compassion, and responsibility. Divers is also credited (by the teenagers) for helping them stay out of trouble.

According to Divers, "In southwest Philadelphia there's alot of senseless killing. . ." , by having this program he utilizes the horses to help the teens keep on the right path so they will be able to succeed and do well. He wants to be able to provide these teens the same opportunity he had growing up while allowing for them to care for these horses. In exchange for these opportunities, the teenagers offer $5 rides to the local residents.

Diver's stables currently house two horses however, there are current problems with keeping the horses on the current property in which the stables reside. In his current location, his landlord is demanding for more money and because of this he is in search of a new home to house the horses. Diver's was able to find a new location but there were other conflictions that occurred. The new location is owned by PRA (Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority) and is listed on the market for $500,000.00. However, Divers does not want to purchase the land but would like to set up a horse stable there. PRA is not allowing him to do so saying that there are certain processes that he would have to go through. This is Bartram's Garden comes into play.

Bartram's Garden would like to offer a part of their land in order to house Diver's horses. By providing a living space for these horses they are meeting their mission and vision.

This video shows part of the Concrete Cowboys story.

Links:

http://www.odditycentral.com/news/the-concrete-cowboys-of-philadelphia.html

http://www.pdnonline.com/features/Documenting-Philadelphia-s-Teenage-Urban-Cowboys-13796.shtml