REALLY cheap roof for horses...ASAP! Tarp??

jill.costello · #1 08/03/08, 08:01 AM

Hi all,
We have a badly injured horse in need of 6 months "stall rest", minimum (see thread in equine).

We don't HAVE stalls! And there is NO MONEY even for a pipe stall/fence panels.

What we DO have is a bunch of oak fence boards (8' and 16' lengths) that we salvaged from the neighbor's horse fence that she tore down. Also some 7' 4x4 posts.

As a fast, cheap roof, could I just build a frame out of 2x4s and then tension a tarp?? We would build the 12 x 12 stall, open-air style, like a small paddock with the fencing boards. I would like "roof" to extend 2' beyond in all directions for blocking the sun.

OR, I guess I could "spring" for one of those car-port type canopies, and then really reinforce the steel posts? Anchor it? And build the stall underneath it? I saw Sam's Club has 12x20 carport canopies for $199.00

Really need some ideas here! The horse has broken 2 vertabrae in his neck and MUST be confined like this or he has NO chance!

Rocky Fields · #2 08/03/08, 08:16 AM

Hey.

Scour the countryside for something falling down that you could scour some metal panels and framing from. Use the metal panels for roofing.Tarps are carp because the wind tears them up.

RF

OzarkHmsteaders · #3 08/03/08, 08:28 AM

if you can scrape the 199.00 buy some tin,
have you checked craigs list?
can you ask any friends or neighbors if they may have any left over stuff laying around?
good luck with the horse, I hope for the best.

DavidUnderwood · #4 08/03/08, 08:41 AM

We do the best we can with what
we have. My first chicken house was
used pallets and used tin. Pig pen was
too. Both still in working order. Four
sides and a tarp top will work for a while.

tyusclan · #5 08/03/08, 08:43 AM

Very sorry to hear about your horse.

I agree with Ozark that the $200 would be better spent on tin than on the canopy at Sam's.

You might also try a "wanted" post on your local Freecycle. Explain your situation and someone may have some laying around that they can help you out with.

I have some here I'd be glad to give you if you were close enough.

savinggrace · #6 08/03/08, 09:40 AM

I'm sorry to hear about your situation!

Another vote for scouring the area for salvageable tin/barnwood. I'm afraid the tarp would add "insult to injury" by potentially frightening the poo out of your horse when the weather picks up!!!!

Is there any way you have horse friends in the area-maybe you could do self care boarding at a friends/neighbors? (you provide the feed/bedding/care and maybe additional care for their animals?) A stall in a quiet building might be a more restful alternative.

Best Wishes!

littlebitfarm · #7 08/03/08, 10:05 AM

I sure wouldn't want to use a tarp for that. One good wind and it gets flapping, that horse could freak and be in big trouble. Find some used tin or plywood.

Kathei

Joy in Eastern WA · #8 08/03/08, 10:10 AM

Hey, we used tarps and scrap lumber to make a couple of run in sheds two years ago. They're both holding up well, but not sure if they will last a third winter here. Last winter was rough on them, heavy snows and blizzard conditions, but it kept the horses dry and out of the weather.
The shelters from Costco work well too.

SFM in KY · #9 08/03/08, 10:19 AM

We have several "temporary" shelter/ pens up ... mares coming in to be bred that need separate quarters ... quarantine pens, etc.

We use the 5 x 12 portable panels for the "stall". You could certainly use the salvaged lumber and build a wood frame/pen ... the top rail should be at about 5' though I think.

We then get two of the long "hog panels" ... I think they are 16', lay them across the top of the 12' square pen and fasten one end to one side. With the metal portable panels, we use hose clamps but with wood staples may work better, or you may need to wire it down. Then arch the panels upwards so that the other end can be fastened to the opposide side. This gives you a arch over the pen with a center that is high enough to be comfortable for most horses.

Ours are intended to be a bit more permanant, so we usually order a "tarp" from one of the companies that make them out of the fabric that is used to cover the Cover-all barns, etc. ... but we've also used the regular "blue" tarps as well in an emergency and find they usually last a year, sometimes more. Get it a little wider than the 12' front to back ... fasten the sides first, getting it as tight over the arch as possible, then lace the extra over the front and back edges of the hog panels and tie the front and back in to the hog panel squares.

If you want him to have a little more than the 12' square space, you can add more "pen" but you don't necessarily have to cover all of it as he will most likely get under the covered part when he wants to be out of the sun or rain.

agmantoo · #10 08/03/08, 10:45 AM

If you cannot afford the simplest shelter how are you going to provide for the animal and medical care? Obviously the animal is in discomfort from whatever the reason if it has to be in a stall. Winter will be here prior to the horse's anticipated recovery. All I see is a lot of misery for the animal and a vet bill that will be a burden. I only have cattle. The humane thing for me in this situation is to put the animal down. Even in that case, the fee for burial would eat up your budget. Hopefully you have given this a consideration and determined what is best for the animal and not for the emotions and conscience of the person. Good luck.

jill.costello · #11 08/03/08, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

If you cannot afford the simplest shelter how are you going to provide for the animal and medical care? Obviously the animal is in discomfort from whatever the reason if it has to be in a stall. Winter will be here prior to the horse's anticipated recovery. All I see is a lot of misery for the animal and a vet bill that will be a burden. I only have cattle. The humane thing for me in this situation is to put the animal down. Even in that case, the fee for burial would eat up your budget. Hopefully you have given this a consideration and determined what is best for the animal and not for the emotions and conscience of the person. Good luck.

Agmantoo, We don't have the money for this RIGHT NOW because we just spent $1800.00 at the equine hospital to get the diagnosis. BUT, he needs the stall/shelter RIGHT NOW. see?

And a $12,000.00 animal with a better than 60% chance of recovery, it would be stupid and bad business practice not to try to save him.

neolady · #12 08/03/08, 11:17 AM

I'd nix the portable enclosure from Costco as well. Ours lasted less than a month. They are entirely unsuitable in a windy area, the flapping of them will spook the heck out of the horse.

I don't know how much salvaged wood you have, but I think if I was in your situation, I would build a "lean-to" type of structure (i.e. not a peaked roof, but a sloped roof) - highest at the front or one side, lowest at the back. That would provide drainage off the roof for water, snow, etc..

With that $200 you have, start scouring any used building materials places for additional wood if you need it, metal panels, fiberglass panels, plastic panels, plexiglass, etc.

In the meantime, get your structure solidly framed up, you don't need a roof today - you may be able to get by for several months without one, so get the structure framed up, and the horse enclosed inside that using it as an outdoor stall until you can scrape together a bit more money to enclose three sides (or e and a half sides) with wood and/or used metal siding or some type of panelling or even planks.

Another suggestion would be to cover the structure it with tarpaper (remember they used to cover houses with it decades ago), or something similar to rolled roofing.

I see your most immediate need as being to confine the injured animal, and an outdoor stall will accomplish that. Make sure you put the structure where you are going to want to have the animal located through the winter months.

texican · #13 08/03/08, 11:19 AM

Jill, I'd look around in the 'thrifty nickels', local ag mags, papers, or ask at the feedstores, if there are any of the metal roofing suppliers around... you can get the seconds and off color sheets for about the costs of a good tarp. ~Mid 30's, low 40's per square (100sq') Even if you have to pay full price, ~50$/square, you come out ahead... put the metal down with screws and if you need to, you can remove them later and reuse the tin in other projects. If you think you might have to use it over, or plan on moving in the future, make sure you have straight boards underneath for support, so you can put your screws all in a straight line, preferably on 2 or 3' centers.

One good storm and the tarp's history, especially if there's any movement... it'll wear through. And one season would be about all you could expect.

Free tin is the bestest, but hard to come by, without knocking down a barn...

WhiteChristmas · #14 08/03/08, 11:22 AM

Would a 8 by 10 shed work? trouble is that it's steel? and not much ventatlion for the horse but dry. I think I'd seen kits at Lowe's for that much.

{never had a rse without a barn so please forgive. white

stranger · #15 08/03/08, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jill.costello

Agmantoo, We don't have the money for this RIGHT NOW because we just spent $1800.00 at the equine hospital to get the diagnosis. BUT, he needs the stall/shelter RIGHT NOW. see?

And a $12,000.00 animal with a better than 60% chance of recovery, it would be stupid and bad business practice not to try to save him.

any chance of boarding at some ones place with an extra
stall. you could buy your own feed and work a few hours for the board.

WhiteChristmas · #16 08/03/08, 11:39 AM

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4764757

How about this try it at your local Walmart. I hope this helps. white

PlowGirl · #17 08/03/08, 11:45 AM

Jill,
SFM has a great idea, but to see what she's trying to explain, check out FarmTek's website for a good visual. If you're going with tarps for cover, the black/silver tarps will way outlast the blue ones and are just a few dollars more. If you've got extra boards, you can make the lower part of the "stall" sides solid and use that as a "pony wall" for the arch covering. You'll see what I mean on FarmTek. Also, they work best if there are two open ends for airflow.

Best of luck.

PS: I meant to add. The tarps will NOT spook the horse if they are fastened securely. No more so than tree limbs and grass waving in the breeze. Neither will they blow off with the first wind. I've got tarp shelters for my hogs that have been in place for years with up to 65 mph winds and ice damage. Before I built my horse barns, they had tarp shelter run'ins too.

onthespot · #18 08/04/08, 01:38 AM

not trying to go TOTALLY low tech here, but is it completely out of the question to tie him overhead to a sturdy branch that he can't reach? he would feel a lot less confined and might act a lot quieter until you could scrape up a few more dollars or re-evaluate if he is a long term success candidate or not... I'm just saying... horses have been kept in tie stalls for millenium.

sidepasser · #19 08/04/08, 06:25 AM

You might try posting over on COTH - lots of folks there and all horsey types..someone might have an extra stall they will allow you to use until you can get said pony a shed. Someone up your way might have some materials laying around that they might give or loan you as well. Worth a shot. As far as building something.

Check your freecycle, thrifty nickel or market bulletin for free or very cheap materials. Build a small run in type shed out of used materials, it will last much longer than a tarp and I know a tarp up north may not last in the winter due to snow or ice. You can build a 12 x 14 run in type shed fairly quickly with used materials. Contact any local building supply house, see if someone over ordered, or post a notice at the local feed store explaining your situation, surely some horse person will see it and contact you. You could also try your local pony club, local horse club, farmer's co-op, etc.

Good luck, having been through that with Girlie (strained suspensory, off for 9 months! of which she spent much of the time stalled, then handwalking) I do sympathize.

Bser · #20 08/04/08, 08:52 AM

Do the ad on Craigslist,freecycle,etc for free material;offering to take it down. Explain WHY and you will be amazed at the responses. I advertise to BUY buildings to dismantle.but most are given to me.We save thousands on our projects and mostly over engineer.Always layout so you can add on anyside. Always screw tin down ,It gives a better job and makes the tin easier to reuse. Good luck with the horse.