This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Horse Pasture, Fencing, Barns » Barn Design and Layout »
  Discussion on Barn lighting
Author Message
Member:
Ladycfp

Posted on Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 - 5:14 pm:

I have just completed a shed row barn with a 12 foot overhang- a tack room and two stalls end to end. My electrician is here to find out what kind of lighting I want at the barn. Uh, what do I tell him? My barn is separately metered and the front of it is visible from my home but I won't be able to flip a switch from the house to see it, so I am considering a dusk to dawn light on one end of the barn. I am thinking a flood light on the other end that I would have to be there to turn on. The dusk to dawn light would illuminate the end where the tack room is and the stall I plan to leave open for shelter, also the side I would drive up to at night. Would having a light on all night disturb the horses? They have access to the barn and the 2 acre pasture that is well treed that surrounds it. I have no neighbors so that is not an issue. Any suggestions on lighting and outlet placement are appreciated! What you like about your setup, what you would change, etc. Thanks!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 7:00 am:

If the horses are exposed to all night lighting it may mess with their normal shedding and reproductive patterns. Concerning outside barn lighting consider motion detection lights, for convenience and security. The most important thing is that the electrical wiring in the barn be placed in grounded metal conduit.
DrO
Member:
Scooter

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 7:26 am:

Hi Ann, where I used to keep my horses they had a dusk to dawn light which was very nice for me, but I didn't like all the bugs it drew in the summer.

It is also nice to have the electrical outlets to put fans up, be sure to put the outlets high enough that the horses can't reach them. I know if I could afford it I would have ceiling fans in mine.

An overhead light in the sheDrOw would be nice for emergency's at night or treating sick horses. I have flood lights I can turn on and light up the whole pasture, I like them alot.
Member:
Dres

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 10:02 am:

I was just going to add FLOOD LIGHTS are a must.. It seems that stuff happens always after dark/ after hours / holidays.. Have lightening that you can change the direction of focus... Lights out in the paddocks is a must too, some horses are afraid of the flashlight..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 10:45 am:

I agree with the lighting in the paddocks.. that's one thing I didn't do and wish I had. I have lighting in each stall (for those unfortunate occasions), center aisle, and tack room, light behind and in front of the barn.
Member:
Sswiley

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 1:37 pm:

It sounds like you have a very similar arrangement as mine.
I think an all nite light between the barn and the house would be great, it is surprising how many times you trek out there after dark. Make it one of those florecent lights so you save power.
and yes lots of other light options. Floods that can point out to the pasture area in case there is that evening your are stuck walking a colicy horse(knock on wood). Also it is good to have enough light while you are feeding to you can check for cuts and injuries. If the horses have access to the shed row area you should make all switches and outlets up above butt scratching height. Otherwise you will find all the lights on in the morning.
Member:
Trouble

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 3:10 pm:

I have a dusk to dawn light which is invaluable to me since the barn is about 300 feet from the house. It is situated on the front of my barn, and it doesn't shine in on the stalls. If it is attached to the outside of your barn, it shouldn't light up the inside of your barn so as to bother the horses.

Floods are a must have also. Don't forget GFI outlets for safety.
Member:
Twhgait

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 7:05 pm:

Anne, I have my flood lights on the house and they point directly at the front of the barn and paddock. I can't see *into* the barn, but I can see 1/2 of the paddock (my horses are out 24/7 and use the barn as a run-in). We have florescent lights in the barn and it turns out that was a huge mistake! As soon as the temps DrOp below freezing, none of them work! We still haven't fixed that, but it's on my list.

At night while I'm up, I leave the flood lights on but at bedtime, I turn everything off except for a porch light outside of the "people" barn (where I keep my tack, hay, grain, ect.) which is attached to the horse barn. Because I'm crazy about anything happening, I have a baby monitor on all night right next to my head! If any noises occur that I can't figure out, I can switch on the flood lights from the house and trek on out to the barn. Outside of the florescent lights, I'm quite happy!
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 - 12:09 am:

I have a 25watt bulb in the barn on my electric fence line. It doesn't pull much power, but at night, it's like a nite light for my horses ( not really )and from the house, the glow tells me the fence is on. A couple of times, I've had to go to the barn in the middle of the night, it gives me enough light to get to the main switches easily. Also, what the guys above me said!
Member:
Erika

Posted on Friday, Nov 24, 2006 - 11:32 am:

Lee, that is a great idea! I feel my way to the light switches at night, always praying that there won't be a big ol' spider on the switch when I finally locate it.

All of you--do your neighbors a favor and put your floods on a timer. I live in a rural area but the neighboring farm has a huge floodlight that they leave on when they are away. Shines right on my pillow through the curtains. Unless I buy black out curtains, I always know when someone else is feeding for them!
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC