Whew! Hot weather is here! Have you put a box fan on your
horse’s stall yet?
Our fans are up, and our horses sure know it. Strolling in
from the summer pastures or schooling, they plant themselves in front of their
fans and zone out to the peaceful drone and soothing air circulation.
But fans can be dangerous in the horse barn, unless humans
take a few simple precautions. Each year, improperly used fans lead to disastrous consequences in far too many horse stables.
Try these six tips for stall fan safety.
1. Buying a new fan
each year is a worthy investment.
Basic box fans are budget-friendly. A horse owner can pick
up a standard three-speed box fan for $12 to $25, depending on bargains and
brands. Most equestrians skip the pricey high-velocity fans, simply because
they plan to replace their fans annually.
.
.
Last year’s fan is likely filled with lint, dust, stall
shavings and other debris. The motor may be ready to short-circuit. The cord may
be frayed, even in miniscule ways that cannot be seen, but can surely be
hazardous.
Barn fires are devastation. The horse world has seen far too
many. Is it really worth the risk to save a $12 or even $25?
2. Manufacturers
periodically issue factory recalls on box fans.
The latest fan recall occurred about a year ago. In May
2011, 4.8 million box fans were recalled for defects that resulted in fire
hazards. Stores were supposed to remove the affected merchandise, but such fans
occasionally turn up anyway.
3. Resale fans are no bargain.
Once in a while, folks find fans in
yard sales or thrift shops. Again, is it worth the fire safety risk to purchase
a cheap fan?
Boarders may leave fans behind when
they move their horses. A free used fan is never a good deal, either.
.
.
4. Coiled extension cords can start fires.
Although some stables feature
electrical outlets by every horse stall, others may not.
Heavy-duty, outdoor-quality,
grounded extension cords are fine for stall fans. However, fire safety experts
and electrical engineers warn against looping these wires together. Winding
around beams may be OK, but wire-on-wire coils can create sparks.
Smart horse owners measure first
and try to find extension cords that best fit the distance from their horses’
stalls to the nearest outlet, devoting those cords exclusively to fan use.
.
.
5. Bungee cords should be stretchy and secure.
Bungees are cheap, but they don’t
last forever. If these hooked bands have lost their elasticity, they have to
go. A snapped bungee can hurt a horse or human, or topple a fan.
The bungee hooks should be strong
and still curved to fasten securely, so horses cannot catch any anatomical
features on them.
Usually, a pair of 30” to 32” heavy-duty
bungee cords works best to hang standard square stall fans. Adjustable bungees
may be found as well.
.
.
One bungee cord goes vertically,
and the other goes horizontally, forming a “+” across the motor of the fan. The
fan, of course, is supposed to circulate fresh air into the horse’s stall, rather than the other way around. (Don’t ask. It’s been done.)
Baling twine, wire, or string is
not safe for fastening box fans to horse stalls. And fans should not dangle or
wiggle, once installed (see photo).
6. Stall fans may be best placed upside-down.
A box fan may offer comfort to a
hot horse and peace of mind to a caring horse owner on a hot summer day. But
the fan cannot run around-the-clock, as it may burn out or short out.
Why not make it easy for barn staff
or fellow boarders to switch off fans by inverting them on installation? If the
on/off dial is placed within easy reach, folks won’t be tempted to yank on the
fan cord daily, causing fraying and a possible fire hazard.
Also, the flimsy little plastic
feet should be removed from a brand-new box fan and discarded, as these are
only appropriate for floor use.
Stay safe when using stall fans.
Fan safety is a critical feature of barn safety, all summer
long. Grab those bungees! It’s time to cool the barn. But be careful.
Box fan by ArbitrarilyO
Creative Commons
Licensing/Wikipedia Commons Photos
