Straw Bales for Horse Pole Barn Walls

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I've read articles about Straw Barns and Houses and was wondering if you could just pile straw bales as walls in a pole barn for extra warmth in winter? I live in Maine and I'm afraid that a three-sided shelter won't be warm enough in the winter. Some people just used heavy duty tarps or canvas for walls. I'm a thrifty homesteader so if something this simple and cheap will work let me know. Also, I was wondering about the flooring. Right now it will be just dirt. Is that going to hurt the ponies feet?

-- Kay Stahl (forestdale@juno.com), May 09, 2002

Answers

Kay,

We pile straw bales on the west wall of our horse shelter in the winter to keep the snow and wind from blowing in. Our floor is dirt, that is fine for their feet, (concrete or gravel is not good) You just don't want them to stand in manure/urine. They grow a very nice winter coat and don't seem to mind standing out in -40 degree weather sometimes! If you are going to lock the ponies in there, I would put sawdust or straw down for bedding and make sure to muck it out 3-4 times a week. Personally, I like to let my horses decide when and if they are going to be in or out unless we get an ice storm or something. Make sure to keep the floor in there as clean (manure) and dry (urine) as possible. If they can get out and run, you really don't have to pick their hooves. If they don't have enough room to do that, make sure you clean their hooves regularly. As long as you have 3 sides to your shelter, the ponies should be fine. They really do get warm and wooly coats in the winter and the more they are in the cold, the woolier their coats get. Unless you see the horse (pony) actually shivering, they are fine. If it is shivering, bring it in and give it some extra hay/alfalfa, this warms them up. Make sure they have plenty of water AND access to a mineral block at all times.

Enjoy your ponies! (I hope you have more than one because they do get lonely)

-- Cindy in IL (Ilovecajun@aol.com), May 09, 2002.


as long as its not a closed barn , this should cause no problems, if it is the mositure may be an issue... a 3 1/2 sided barn would be ok , i would think.... leaving at least 10 or more feet open , on the south or south west side, should alleviate any moisture buildup..... OTOH.. my horses have a 3 sided run in barn , and during most of the winter storms the silly animals stood out in the snow....

-- Beth in ND (famvan@drtel.net), May 09, 2002.

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