LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 15, 2022)While there is plenty of research available on outdoor equine or livestock arenas, it is less well-known about indoor facilities.University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food andEnvironmentResearchers at the CAFE are making new ground in a multi-year study.
This area has been of greater interest to Cooperative Extension clients across the state, according to Bob Coleman, UK extension horse specialist. People who are building their facilities from the ground-up often ask me about it. I have never seen so much information.
Coleman is working with UK agricultural engineer Morgan Hayes and biosystems and agricultural engineering graduate student Staci McGill to study indoor arena conditions affected by a host of variables including air temperature, humidity,ventilation,airspeed,horseactivityand outdoor conditions. The researchers have been installing measurement devices and collecting data to determine the best management practices for building indoor facilities.
Hayes stated that sonic anemometers can be used to measure air speed in any direction. This is very useful in arenas where it is not possible to know exactly where the airs are going to come. Sometimes doors and windows are open, sometimes not. Sometimes fans are on, sometimes not. This device records horizontal air movement in any direction.
Hayes and Coleman visit each facility to inspect the equipment, collect data, and make recommendations. They also use a thermal camera to measure ground temperature and roof temperatures.
Hayessaid says we are trying to find spatial and temporal variability, and to see the differences between summer and winter. If we see less air movement or more humidity issues, we know that we have a wintertime problem. This is a little different from the summertime challenge which may be more a temperature issue.
Hayes said many of the cooperators are very invested in getting the study resultsand canassistresearcherswithverylittletrouble.Owners like Bruce Brown, atLakeside ArenaFrankfort should record the activities in the arena in order to correlate the data.
Brown built Lakeside, an arena measuring 108,000 square feet, to fulfill a need for an all weather facility for horse shows, and other events.
Brown stated that Ijudgehorse events are held throughout the country. A lot of the ideas you see there I have taken from other places. It is my goal to make the exhibitors’ experience here better and improve our methods of working the arena, hauling manure, housing horses, and other duties. Exhibitors are not just our clients; they are also our friends and we want to make them feel welcome.
McGill began research in 2018 to fulfill her masters requirements. It was a partnership between UK CAFE, and theUK College of Public Healthin an effort tobetterunderstandhorse and human health. They began with a survey that received more than 450 responses. 77% of those responding were concerned about dust, moisture levels, and air movement in indoor facilities. Originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, McGillthen got funding from the U.S. Department ofAgricultures NationalInstituteofFood andAgriculturefor a predoctoral fellowship and used thosesurveysto begin developingdesign guidelines and recommendations for engineers, project managers, construction companiesand the equine industryas a whole onhow tobuildbetter indoor arenas. She plans to complete a formal setof research-based guidance before graduating with her doctoraldegreein spring 2023.
McGill stated that these facilities are expensive to build. It should be something that can last for many decades. This study aims to give owners and farms suggestions on how to build great facilities.
Coleman saidthemultidisciplinary team makes the results stretch to a wide audience.
He said that the cool thing about our team, he said, is that everyone brings something to the table. This is very important to me. I look at the information that Dr. Hayes and Staci have provided. I need to understand the engineering components. It doesn’t matter if I know how to calculate it. But I do need to be able to understand it and ask the right queries that will benefit my clients. We spend a lot time discussing our observations, what is working, what is not, and what could be improved. This has allowed me to see all of these things with a different lens. It has also helped my vision and knowledge. For me, it’s all about making things right for horses. If the horses are happy and content, so will their owners.
This material is based on work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (U.S. Department of Agriculture), under award number 2020-67034-31729. Any opinions, findings or recommendations contained in this publication are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Agriculture.
UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, with its land-grant mission, serves Kentuckians by providing education, research, and extension.