In the process of animal husbandry modernization, horse sheds are the core carriers of horse breeding, and their functionality, durability and economy directly affect breeding benefits and animal welfare. Traditional brick-concrete and wooden structure horse sheds have been difficult to meet the global large-scale and intensive breeding needs due to pain points such as long construction period, weak disaster resistance and high maintenance cost. Prefab horse barns are becoming the preferred solution for global horse farm owners and agricultural investors with their disruptive advantages of modularization, high adaptability and long life. This article will start from the functional differences of the three mainstream forms (open/semi-open/closed) and the advantages of steel structures, combined with Canglong Group’s one-stop service capabilities, to analyze why steel structure prefabricated horse barns are the optimal solution for modern animal husbandry.
Ⅰ. Three major forms of prefab horse barns
One of the core advantages of prefabricated horse shed is their highly customized form design. By adjusting the enclosure structure, opening and closing method and spatial layout, the climate characteristics and breeding goals of different regions can be accurately matched. The three major forms currently in the world are as follows:
1.1 Open horse shed
Open horse sheds are typically characterized by no closed side walls and top sunshades, and are mainly suitable for high temperature and high humidity or tropical grassland climate zones such as India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Its design logic is to maximize the use of natural ventilation and lighting. Metal plates or light-transmitting PV panels are used on the top to prevent horses from being directly exposed to the sun. The side walls are completely open, and the ground vents and side wall guide plates are used to quickly reduce the temperature in the shed. The temperature in the shed in summer can be 3-5℃ lower than that in the open air environment. In addition, the open structure has a low cost (about 60% of the closed structure) and is convenient for horses to enter and exit freely, which is very suitable for free-range or semi-free-range horse farms.
1.2 Semi-open horse shed
Semi-open horse sheds add retractable side walls (usually colored steel tiles or PC sun panels) on the basis of the open structure. They are suitable for areas with distinct four seasons but no extreme cold in winter, such as North China, southern Europe, and California, USA. Its core advantage is flexible adjustment. In summer, the side walls are fully opened to maintain ventilation. In winter, the side walls are closed and covered with insulation cotton, and the double-layer hollow glass (or laminated board) on the top is used to reduce heat loss, so that the temperature in the shed is stabilized in a comfortable range of 5-20℃. In addition, the semi-open design takes into account both lighting and privacy. The opening and closing angles of the side walls can be adjusted according to the direction of sunlight to prevent horses from suffering eye discomfort due to long-term strong light exposure. Rubber mats or a mixed layer of sand and soil can be laid on the floor of the shed to take into account both anti-slip and comfort.
1.3 Closed horse shed
The closed horse shed adopts a fully enclosed enclosure structure (the walls + roof are all composite panels), mainly serving areas with severe winter cold (the lowest temperature is below -30℃) or windy and sandy areas such as Northern Europe, Canada, and Russia, as well as large-scale racecourses and stallion breeding bases. The design focuses on environmental control. The walls are made of polyurethane insulation boards (thermal conductivity ≤0.024W/(m·K)), and combined with floor heating or radiators, the winter temperature in the shed can be maintained above 10℃. The roof adopts a slope design (slope ≥ 15°), with a diversion trough and rainwater collection system to prevent snow from crushing the structure. The shed is divided into activity area, rest area, and feeding area, and functional zoning is achieved through partitions to reduce cross-interference between horses. In addition, the closed stable can be equipped with a fresh air system and temperature and humidity sensors to achieve intelligent environmental control and meet the special needs of stallions, young horses and other environmentally sensitive horses.
Ⅱ. Why steel structure is the best material for stables
Compared with traditional brick-concrete and wood structures, the versatility of steel structure prefabricated stables stems from its in-depth exploration of material properties and innovative application of engineering technology, which is specifically reflected in the following four aspects:
2.1 High strength, earthquake resistance and wind resistance
Horses are large in size (adult horses weigh 400-800kg) and have a wide range of activities. Stables need to withstand dynamic loads (such as horses running and hitting, snow accumulation) and extreme weather (typhoons, earthquakes). The steel structure adopts Q235/Q345 high-strength steel with a tensile strength of 470-550MPa (about 1.5 times that of ordinary steel). With the H-shaped steel frame + bolt connection node, the overall wind resistance level can reach 14 (56m/s) and the seismic fortification intensity is 9 degrees (equivalent to a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the Richter scale). When Hurricane Ian hit Florida, the United States in 2022, the local horse farm that used the steel structure prefab horse barns of Canglong Group only slightly deformed the shed (no collapse), while 90% of the surrounding brick-concrete horse sheds were destroyed, which confirmed the disaster resistance advantages of steel structures.
2.2 Fast construction, short cycle, and reduced time cost
Traditional brick-concrete horse sheds require on-site masonry and maintenance, with a construction period of up to 45-60 days. The steel structure prefabricated horse shed adopts factory production and on-site assembly mode. Canglong Group completes the precise processing of the main frame, wall panels and roof in the factory (error ≤ 2mm), and it only takes 3-7 days to complete the hoisting, fixing and joint processing after transportation to the site. For large horse farms (such as horse farms with 500 horses), the steel structure solution can shorten the overall delivery cycle from 3 months to 2 weeks, greatly reducing the stress response and management costs of temporary transfer of horses.
2.3 Corrosion resistance, long life, and reduced maintenance investment
The horse shed is in a humid environment for a long time (horses drink water and excrete), and traditional wooden structures are prone to mildew and rot (service life 8-10 years). Brick-concrete structures require large-scale reinforcement after 15 years due to concrete carbonization and steel bar corrosion. The steel structure solves this pain point through triple protection:
① The steel surface is hot-dip galvanized (zinc layer thickness ≥ 80μm), and the salt spray corrosion resistance is more than 1000 hours.
② The outer layer of the plate is made of 0.5mm aluminum-zinc steel plate (the oxidation resistance is 3 times that of ordinary steel plate), and the inner layer is filled with flame-retardant polyurethane (oxygen index ≥ 28), which takes into account both anti-corrosion and fire prevention (fireproof grade B1).
③ Weather-resistant sealant is used at the joints (50 years of UV aging resistance), and regular inspections (recommended once a year) are carried out. The overall service life can reach more than 25 years, which is 3 times that of wooden structures and 1.5 times that of brick-concrete structures.
2.4 Environmental protection and energy saving, in line with the trend of sustainable development
The global animal husbandry industry is facing carbon neutrality pressure, and the choice of building materials for horse sheds must meet green standards. The environmental protection of steel structure prefab horse barns are reflected in:
① Steel can be 100% recycled and reused (recycling rate ≥ 95%), there is no construction waste during the construction process, and traditional brick-concrete structures produce a large number of concrete fragments.
② The polyurethane plate has a low thermal conductivity, and combined with shading and ventilation design, it can reduce heating/cooling energy consumption by more than 30%.
③ Canglong Group adopts laser cutting, robot welding and other processes, reducing dust emissions by 70% during the production process, and zero wastewater discharge, which complies with the EU CE certification and the US ASTM standards.
Ⅲ. Canglong Group is a one-stop solution expert for prefab horse barns
From demand analysis to on-site delivery, Canglong Group has built a full-cycle service system covering design, production, installation, and operation and maintenance based on 18 years of experience in steel structure engineering, providing customized horse shed solutions for global customers.
3.1 Precision design
Canglong Group has an international design team, which can provide three forms of customized solutions (open/semi-open/closed) according to the climate data (such as extreme temperature, annual precipitation, wind load) of the customer’s region, breeding scale (stock, horse breed) and functional requirements (free-range/competitive/breeding).
For example, the open horse shed designed for horse farms in the desert area of the Middle East will increase the angle of the awning (avoid the midday sun) and the density of ventilation holes (1 per 5㎡). The closed stable designed for the Nordic horse farm strengthens the thickness of the roof insulation layer (increased to 150mm) and the layout of the floor heating pipes (spacing ≤30cm).
3.2 Factory production
Canglong Group has two smart factories in Henan, equipped with CNC punching machines, laser cutting machines, automatic welding robots and other equipment. All plates (aluminum-zinc-coated steel plates, polyurethane core materials) and components (H-shaped steel frames, purlins) are produced according to ISO9001 standards. Each plate is marked with a unique code to support full traceability. Customers can view the production progress in real time through the digital platform to ensure that the delivery time is controllable (urgent orders can be expedited within 72 hours).
3.3 Global services
For overseas customers, Canglong Group provides DDP logistics services and cooperates with shipping companies such as MSC and Maersk to ensure that the plate transportation damage rate is less than 0.5%. After the stable is delivered, it provides a 10-year structural warranty and a 5-year maintenance service, including regular inspections, replacement of wearing parts, and 24-hour response to failures, truly realizing affordable construction, long-lasting use, and fast repair.
Conclusion
In the context of the global livestock industry’s transformation towards scale, intelligence and sustainability, steel structure prefab horse barns are becoming a must-have for horse farm upgrades with their comprehensive advantages of safety, efficiency, environmental protection and flexibility.
Through three forms of design adaptation, four core material advantages, and deep empowerment of one-stop services, Canglong Group not only solves the pain points of traditional horse sheds, but also promotes the innovation of global horse industry space with technological innovation. Whether it is a tropical free-range farm, a temperate breeding base, or a cold-zone competition center, steel structure horse shed can provide a more comfortable “home” for every horse in a tailor-made manner, creating higher value for every horse owner.
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