Beating the Heat/ Summer Horse Care

Well here we are with the hot weather of summer getting more intense each day.  It would be easy to talk about run in sheds for your horse and how they can provide unbeatable shade.  And we could go on about the features like oak kickboard and how board and batten finishes look great on any farm.  We could talk about the 30 year asphalt shingles and the steel corners that allow the sheds to be moved when necessary.  But what this Blog is about is keeping your horse safe and healthy during the summer months. 

Here at Horizon Structures we enjoy dealing with our customers and helping them make good buying decisions when it comes to their needs, and the needs of their equine partners.  We pride ourselves in doing our best to give the customers the features they want in their barn.  Most importantly though,  we care about horses and the people who ride them, so we have taken the time and gathered some important information for you to help keep you and your horse healthy during this time of the year.

Did you know that horses, like humans can become dehydrated or get sunburn in hot weather!  It is important that you take care of your horse’s needs in hot weather just like you do yourself.  When the area you live in reaches above average temperatures in the summer, use these tips for taking care of your equine friends.

1.       Make sure she gets enough fresh, clean water every day. Your horse must have a constant source of water in her pasture. A horse may drink more than 10 gallons of water a day. If she doesn’t get enough water, she could get dehydrated and become sick.
Check the water trough every day.  Clean out troughs often and make sure they are free of bird droppings, dead insects and algae.

2.        Hosing off your horse with water at the end of the day removes the sweat that attracts flies. Plus your horse will find her daily shower refreshing!

3.       If you work your horse hard in the summer, make sure she’s drinking enough water by adding electrolytes to her water or feed every day.  Just  as we humans would drink Gatorade for the mineral mixture that keeps us thirsty and drinking more so it goes for horses. Products containing electrolytes  are readily available at your feed store.

4.       Think twice about working your horse when it’s 95 degrees or above. Strenuous exercise in extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion for your horse—and for you. Schedule rides just like you schedule your own exercise.  The best times are either early in the morning or in the evening when it’s cooled down a bit.

5.       Take advantage of warm, sunny weather to keep your grooming items in good order.  Fill a buck with some warm water and soap and give them a thorough cleaning. Rinse them off with a hose and most importantly let them dry in the sun.

6.       Scrub out dirty feed buckets regularly. Dirty buckets attract flies to the barn and no one wants more flies!

7.       If you spot buckets with dirty water in them dump them out. If you have old tires or other items lying around that collect water toss them out.  Repair leaky faucets.  Standing water makes ideal breeding areas for mosquitoes and these pests can give your horse a disease called the West Nile Virus.

8.       Check your feed regularly, because sweet feed can get moldy in hot weather and that should not be passed along to your horse.  You would not want to eat bad food either. 

9.       Learn how to spot when your horse is dehydrated. A quick way to recognize this is to —do a “pinch test.” Pinch your horse’s skin between your thumb and index finger and then let go. If the skin stays pinched for more than a second, she’s probably dehydrated and she needs to drink water right away. In addition, you should probably call the vet too because she may be sick.  Better safe than sorry.

10.    If you can, provide some shade for your horse out in her field. If it’s really hot, turn her out in a field with a run-in shelter or some trees to help keep her out of the sun. She’ll go in a turnout shelter to escape flies too.

When you think about it, most of this is just common sense.  And, as you can see – horses and humans aren’t that different when it comes to beating the heat and staying well.

To See our selection of Run-In Sheds go to http://www.horizonstructures.com/

Outdoor Living Tis the Season

Now that the warmer weather finally seems to be here to stay, my thoughts as I am sure yours do, turn to spending time outside. Working in the yard to achieve the perfect garden and flower bed and of course one of the most popular things to do during great weather, grilling and spending time with friends and family.
Some of us like a simple porch area or deck to spend this time with our guests.  Some of us like to go a bit further and create a one of a kind space that is an outdoor extension of their home.
Pavilions and Pergolas are great for creating a space that is open and yet comfortable. These structures offer an openess and accessibility that is welcoming but can be finished with outdoor furniture to create a cozy living space.
Pergolas which are my personal favorite offer a great outdoor feeling with lots of open area that provides the perfect setting for outdoor dining, grilling and to capture that rare moment of privacy and relief from daily stress.
When you choose your Pergola material you need to take some of the following things in to considertaion.
How much maintainence you want to do to it.  Vinyl is very easy and requires almost no extra care except for cleaning.  Wood offers a very natural feel and finish and is one of my favorites and will need to be sealed at regular intervals to protect it from weather.  Materials such as Yellow Pine, Cedar and Hemlock are commonly used.  When using the Yellow Pine material, a cedar, canyon brown or even a cinder colored stain adds a great finishing touch.
Lattice roofing or privacy walls can bring the outdoor feel of your Pergola to be more like the interior of your home and offer a more cozy feeling.
Pavilions offer a more substantial roof for greater cover and can also be wood or vinyl to suite your taste.  A Pavilion by your pool offers a great place to have your morning coffee or to to sit and relax by the fire pit after and evening swim.
If you are considering buying a hot tub or spa, a pavilion is a perfect shelter to keep you covered while enjoying time in your spa.
A Gazebo is another great way to enjoy the outdoors.  A bit more formal feel depending on the size, shape and even roof style or build materials (wood or vinyl) depending on your preference.  With add-ons such as the ability to add a cupola, as well as many different types of roof materials, screen packages and benches a Gazebo can offer shade for comfort or even a great place that your friends will want pictures taken in.
Rectangle and oval  gazebos are great to have along side an outdoor riding ring and offer a shady place to relax and observe shows or riding events.
So whatever your taste, whether you like the warmth and feel of natural wood or the ease of maintainence
of vinyl.  It is certainly the season to be outside and enjoy the great weather and the company of others.
Whether you are grillin or just chillin, Pergolas, Pavilions and Gazebos are the way to go. 
Have a Great Summer
http://www.horizonstructures.com/

Quality In The Details

While most people's first impression of a barn is based on the exterior color or finish and of course the size of the barn can make a great statement when sitting on a great piece of land.  That same barn can gain an entirely new level of grandure when you start to check out the fine details of that structure.
At Horizon Structures we pride ourselves on the quality of the little things as well as the things that are easily seen.
All of our metal work is done locally and is powder coated steel which will resist corrosion and denting.  The steel we use for our grill partition and window protection is of the highest quality and does not allow for a horses hoof to slip between the vertical grills.  There are various feeder cut-out options as well as steel feeders.  We even have options for grills for the stall door fronts with some of the most popular being a square grill or a V Cut option for the horse to look out and check out his surroundings.
When it comes to door latches we offer one of the coolest latches around as a stock feature on our barns.  We use a Horse Head Latch with the profile of a horses head surrounded by a horseshoe.  A classy touch for sure that you are not likely to see as a stock item. In addition, we offer steel chewguards around the top of the kickboard if you have a horse that cribs or chews. 
Another great finishing touch that makes any barn stand out is our Copper Roof Cupolas.  These are the ultimate finisher that catches glances from a distance as you approach the barn.
Our Copper is 16 oz. 24 gauge with many roof styles available to suite your taste.  The body of our Cupolas is a maintainence free vinyl that accepts paint and normal fasteners.  If you are considering a Cupola, we suggest the formula of using the length of roof line multiplied by 1.25 to get your height that would suite best.
For roof lines that are longer than normal.  Consider using two Cupolas to get the best effect.
So remember, when choosing a barn.  Check out the little things.  Sometimes they make the most difference.
Feel free to visit our website and contact us with any other questions you may have.http://www.horizonstructures.com/

Barn Finishes - Know Your Exterior

Here at Horizon Structures we offer several differenty types of barn finishes.  Two of our most popular finishes are the Dura Temp and the other is Board and Batten. 
When it is time to choose the right finish you want to be sure you are getting the look and maintainence level that is right for you.
Duratemp is a man made product 5-plywood with an exposed durable composite layer.  Duratemp is strong and resists dents, splits and cracks.  There are also no raised surfaces for horses to chew on.  The outer layer of Duratemp acts as a long-lasting weather seal which keeps moisture out.  Duratemp offers many color choices to choose from and is popular when people want to match with existing buildings on site.
Board and Batten is a completely natural pine product.  Board and Batten will also offer the same longevity as Duratemp siding.  Something to consider is the your horses may chew on the battens.  Otherwise Board and Batten offers a great rustic look that will begin to turn a silvery gray color over time if not treated.  Most people will stain the exterior either with a clear coat or go to a darker stain to acheive a specific look to their liking.  It is advised to wait 6 months prior to paining.  
If you are interested in seeing these finishes.  Go to http://www.horizonstructures.com/ and view our horsebarn section.  There are galleries within these pages that will help you with your choice.  Or feel free to call our staff at Horizon will be glad to help you with any questions.

Open House at Horizon Structures

That is right Folks.  This Saturday April the 14th from 8 am until 3 pm Horizon Structures will be hosting our open house at our Atglen, PA location.  This is a great opportunity for our staff here at Horizon to meet with our customers and show them some of the finest examples of Horse Barns, Garages and Sheds as well as other structures such as our new Sky Barn for any of you that are in to checking our the stars and planets.  The buildings will be open for you to walk through and see the various hardware and door selections as well as provide you with the ability to check out stall sizes and door options that are the best for your needs.  You can go up into the hay loft areas and check out the tack rooms. 
We will have sales staff on site to help you with pricing and answer your questions.  Even better, the weather is supposed to be cooperative.  We hope to see you here.  http://www.horizonstructures.com/
If you need to google map us for your visit please use the following address.
5075 Lower Valley Road   Atglen, PA 19310

A Ride With Our Drivers / Quality from Beginning to End

As the new guy here on the team at Horizon Structures part of my training involved the privilege of riding along with EJ, one of our expert drivers, for a day.  “The Boss” thought it best for me to see first-hand how we get our sheds, barns, and coops to you the customer.

Our first job of the day was delivering a small shed to a mobile home park for a gentleman to store his motorcycle in.  As we pulled up to the customer’s lot, all I could think was how little room there was.  I was surprised to discover that our trailer has remote controlled, drop-down wheels that enable our driver to maneuver it sideways - without moving the truck.  With the push of a few buttons and very little effort the shed was perfectly aligned within 14” of the mobile home.  The customer was highly impressed with both the competence and speed of his shed delivery.  And so was I!

Our second stop on this day was in the Lehigh Mountains.  A previous customer needed his shed moved to another location on his lot.  Again I was impressed with EJ’s skills.  The road to this location was very steep and narrow and our trailer was loaded with a 12’ wide garage for our next stop.  I was pretty sure there was no way to get our truck back to where the building was.  This meant it was time for the MULE.  If you want to know what a MULE is, other than the animal, check out our website and watch the video.

I will tell you it is about the most impressive thing you will ever see to watch someone move something you thought was not possible to move. The customer’s shed was 14’ x 24 – 26’.  EJ used the MULE to simply pick up one end of the building – kind of like a mini fork-lift.  He then hopped off and slid the dolly wheels underneath.  Then, he hopped back on the MULE and drove to the other end of the building to pick it up.  At this point he can drive that building just about anywhere he wants it.  The customer, who was happy with his initial purchase, was now overwhelmed with the move and the MULE.

The next delivery was in Rome, PA.  Our task:  to place a garage unit at the top of a very steep driveway.  The driver EJ was able to – single-handedly – set up this garage in less than 15 minutes!  He accomplished it with a mixture of driving expertise and the ability to move the trailer sideways - left and right.  The end result:  perfect and precise placement.  I helped out by installing the gutters, downspouts and a cupola which added a mere 20 minutes to our delivery.  Customer:  delighted.

Our final delivery of the day was small but no less important.  A chicken coop.  Destination:  Mountaintop, PA.  It was getting late but the family welcomed the delivery. Again, without incident.

When our day was done and my heart slowed down from the harrowing moves EJ was able to pull off we had covered 460 miles.  I’d never seen anything like it and can now say from experience that I don’t know of another company that does it’s job better from beginning to end. 
http://www.horizonstructures.com/http://www.horizonstructures.com/

Storage Sheds

Storage Sheds:

For anyone who has ever Coached an outdoor sport and not had a place to lock up the equipment when practices or games have finished for the day.  A Storage shed can be a true blessing in disguise.

Having a Mini-Barn or A-Frame shed available to store ball buckets or goalie equipment, softball gear and even field hockey practice supplies will keep goods safe and  help you avoid making multiple trips to the car or truck when the day is done. 

Many people will accessorize their sheds with shelves and chairs that can be used as a place for the coach to do some paperwork or hold meetings prior to being done for the day as well.

Mike Rinier who is one of our Horizon Staff members was a lacrosse coach for many years and would keep everything from goals to garden carts full of lacrosse balls in his shed for safe keeping.  In addition supplies for their booster club such as pop up tents, grills and accessories were all kept handy for game days to quickly have ready to sell concessions.

Overall a shed or mini barn can be a great addition to a school athletic team or several sheds to take care of multiple locations for in house baseball or softball leagues. 

Not only does it add a professional look to your complex.  It allows for your supplies to stay safe and organized for multiple users of shared equipment.   
http://www.horizonstructures.com/http://www.horizonstructures.com/