When looking to prepare modular horse barns and storage sheds for the coming winter months, one should pay foremost attention to the following things:
• Winterizing the water system for the barn
• Keeping the shed and barn draft-free and well-insulated
• Storing adequate supplies of hay and feed for the horses
Most regions in Georgia do not experience severe winters. However, some places in the northern part of the state, and especially those located on the foothills, do record heavy rain and snowfall in winter. However, no matter what part of the state one is living in, one should do the proper prep work to sufficiently protect the barn, the shed, and the horses from any kind of inclement weather?
When it comes to a horse barn, or modular horse barns, if you are living south of the state, you may not have to invest in heated water tanks or expensive heating units to prepare for the cold months. However, those living in northern Georgia, where areas can experience snow and rain, may need adequate and elaborate preparation for the winter.
The very first thing you should do is to stock up on adequate supplies of hay and feed for the winter. One should also make sure that one is using mouse-proof feed storage. Mo matter whether we are talking modular horse barn or storage sheds, it is necessary to keep the structures free of the rodents. As the weather gets colder, the rodents have a tendency to invade the sheds and they can carry fatal disease for horses and can cause damage to storage equipment. Using pest control is a good idea to keep the rodents at bay during the colder months.
One should also caulk up all drafts in walls and the windows. In places where the winter is harsh, one may also put rubber strips on the floor over the gravel or the stone dust to keep the horses warm. Whether or not you will need to use blankets for the horses again depends on the place the barn is situated. The natural coats of the horses grow long and thick as the outside temperature dips. So, they do not suffer so much from cold as we humans do. A blanket might be necessary if you are taking them out at night. Otherwise, use blankets only if the winter is really cold.
Ventilation is another thing to pay attention to. It is okay to keep all windows and doors shut for a storage shed. However, in case of a horse barn, one should normally provide for some passage for fresh air to pass through. Otherwise, the horses stand the risk of suffering from respiratory ailments.
Finally, you should properly winterize the water system for the barns. Wrap-around insulation is often very effective for insulating above-ground piping. To keep the water buckets from freezing overnight, one can use heating components that can be attached to the side of the buckets. As for sheds and the storage, weather stripping the doors of the sheds is often a good idea. Ensuring that the electrical wiring and equipment for the barns and the sheds are in proper order should also be on the list of your prep work.