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Proper drainage key part of horse barns
STILLWATER, Okla. – There should be no “horsing around” when it comes to selecting and preparing a building site that will ensure proper drainage in a horse barn.
One of the most important concerns for a building site is water drainage, which includes water flowing to the building site as well as water moving away from the barn.
“Many horse owners do not adequately select and prepare a barn building site to handle water runoff because of the added costs of site preparation,” said Dave Freeman, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service equine specialist.
Costs of additional dirt for the building foundation and contractor costs for leveling and shaping the ground can be substantial.
However, the barn will not be fully functional without preparing for excess drainage. Improperly-selected sites promote poor drainage from stalls, water standing in and around the barn and soil erosion around the barn.
“Properly selected locations will be elevated to have an overall slope of two percent to six percent – that is two feet to six feet of fall per 100 feet – within the barn floor, eight to 12 inches above ground level,” Freeman said.
Water runoff must be contained so it does not promote erosion or contaminate water sources. Proper manure storage and growth of pasture vegetation also can help reduce contamination and erosion from water runoff.
Freeman said manure storage areas should be large enough to store manure until it can be properly removed when field and weather conditions, as well as local regulations, permit.
“Also, subsurface drainage around all foundations should be considered to prevent erosion caused by water runoff from the barn roof, wash racks and other water-use facilities,” he said.
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REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Donald Stotts
News and Media Relations Manager
Agricultural Communications Services
143 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State
University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-4079
Fax: 405-744-5739
E-Mail: donald.stotts@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating. Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures, and is an equal opportunity employer.
