horse stall horse barn bamboo wood cost designs plans kits for sale

horse stall horse barn bamboo wood cost designs plans kits for sale

Since the negative side effects of logging activities in tropical forests (e. g., deforestation due to agricultural spread along the logging roads(Kummer &Turner 1994) and over-exploitations came into public awareness, the use of tropical timber was discussed critically since the 1970s and hasfallen into disrepute in various western countries. For instance, the German Equestrian Federation (FN)suggestsrenouncing the use oftropical timber forstable construction based on the argument of environmental protection (Düe, 1997; Hoffmann, 2009). Over-exploitation of the traditional market species leads to increasing prices of such tropical timbers, while wood quality and quantity decrease (Poku et al. 2001). Furthermore, a continuous decline in the production level of large-sized logs, and an increasing use of smaller dimensioned trees from fast-growing plantations, has to be expected in tropicalregions(International Tropical Timber Organization, 2002). Changes in wood quality can result from the harvesting of smaller, younger and lowerquality trees(Zobel 1984). Consequently, the availability of customary timber qualities willrun short.Annual variations in listed timbers pecies in price trend analyses due to export bans or restrictions (International Tropical Timber Organization, 2010) indicate the on-going search for alternative species and transformations in the market. In sum this results in the need to find adequate alternative timbers from regional and sustainably managed forests. However, the lack of a verified method to determine the impact resistance, respectively the kick resistance, of infill planks hinders an effective search for suitable wood species and the development of more kick-resistant infill materials.

In the search for alternatives to tropical timbers, heavy hardwoods should be considered for use for horse stable constructions because they impart quality and durability. With regard to their high shock resistance (see Table 2), wood species like hickory (Carya tomentosa), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) may provide a high resistance against horse kicks. Likewise oak (Quercus robur), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), birch (Betula pendula) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) may also be suitable due to their comparative high shock resistance. However, the suitability has to be verified in impact tests on real-sized infill planks.

One weakness of solid wood is its property variability due to knots, deviation of the fiber direction from the plank longitudinal axis, and other inconsistencies. Engineered wood products are advantageous because the natural variety of solid wood is equalized and loads can be supported with smaller safety margins. However, if film-faced plywood sheets are used as an alternative infill material, the natural aesthetics of solid wood planks get lost due to the coating and its plate shaped dimensions. In consequence, the development of innovative infill materials has to consider aesthetic demands as were reached for LBL in the past.

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