Ideas for hay storage please.

[LoveToJump]

The BO has been keeping the hay in the indoor arena. The hay gets dusty.

I heard about using old railroad cars for hay storage, but, can't seem to find any information on them. I have googled until I am blue in the face. I must not be googling it correctly.

Any other creative (not expensive) ideas? Thanks:sigh:

[blaster]

Don't know where you are located, but if you are anywhere near water, this may be an option for you.

You might be well served to look into used shipping conex containers. Since the US imports, more than we export, there are many many that make a one-way trip. Typical sizes are 20X20 or 20X40. I believe you can have them bought and delivered in the $3-5K range.

[Debbie]

I've got two of these http://www.tractorsupply.com/lawn-garden/outdoor-structures/landowners-garage-1110468 that I can store about 300 bales of hay in. They aren't particularly attractive to have around, but I've had them for two seasons and they've held up great under light snow, heavy winds and torrential rain. Definitely an inexpensive solution.

[mhtokay]

around here I've seen old tractor trailer trailers used for storage, even hay storage. Try googling "storage trailers" or they might even be in your yellow pages.

[Saddith]

At the very least, I would recommend getting them up off the dirt - I would use wooden pallets. The kind you see behind the supermarkets, you know? I have 3 pallets side by side in my middle stall of the barn and stack 33 bales on them (going 6 wide and 5 high - and on the end I have to turn the bales sideways so I can only stack 3). You could then tarp them to keep the dust off. Do you use the indoor for riding, or is it just for storage?

[LoveToJump]

At the very least, I would recommend getting them up off the dirt - I would use wooden pallets. The kind you see behind the supermarkets, you know? I have 3 pallets side by side in my middle stall of the barn and stack 33 bales on them (going 6 wide and 5 high - and on the end I have to turn the bales sideways so I can only stack 3). You could then tarp them to keep the dust off. Do you use the indoor for riding, or is it just for storage?

Thanks. They are not directly on the ground. They are on pallets. The indoor isn't used for riding in summer...but, winter is a comin. It is a very large indoor, 30 meteres by 80 meters and the hay is kept at one end. I think the dust is worse when they drag the arena, as opposed to our riding in the arena.

We have 22 horses and a lot of hay. I don't think they would be able to tarp it reasonably. I have recommended that.

[MistyBlue]

I wouldn't want it stored in an arena used for riding. Hay would get fulll of footing dust...not good for the respiratory systems of the horses.
Since the hay is taking up space there, instead of tarping the hay itself is it possible to put up a few long poles and then using tarps and shower curtain hangers add some grommets to the tarps and hang them like curtains in front of the hay? That way you don't have to cover the hay itself and can easily slide the tarp aside to get the hay or leave it closed to keep the dust off of it.
Shipping containers work well too, as do truck trailers. Although when storing in those it's goood to cut a few small holes in it near the rooof and add some vents. Those don't have great air circulation. You can find those for sale in those sales magazines found in convenience stores that sell trucks only. Or check online for large machinery auctions near you, they usually have a few of those there too. I've seen them around here for between $900 to $2000 depending on size and condition and whether it's still road-worthy or not.
How does your BO get the hay delivered? If they buy from a large supplier, some will let you lease a trailer for storage. And if you have a flat open parking area, this makes things easy since every new laod that comes in just gets the entire trailer dropped and then the empty one picked up and hauled off. No unloading and stacking. :D
Last place I boarded had a 40-something footer for hay and a 22 stall barn. It fit enough hay for a month.
ETA, where are you located? Here's a site that rents or sell containers or truck boxes in the New England area:
http://www.out-backstorage.com/default.html

[LoveToJump]

I wouldn't want it stored in an arena used for riding. Hay would get fulll of footing dust...not good for the respiratory systems of the horses.
Since the hay is taking up space there, instead of tarping the hay itself is it possible to put up a few long poles and then using tarps and shower curtain hangers add some grommets to the tarps and hang them like curtains in front of the hay? That way you don't have to cover the hay itself and can easily slide the tarp aside to get the hay or leave it closed to keep the dust off of it.
Shipping containers work well too, as do truck trailers. Although when storing in those it's goood to cut a few small holes in it near the rooof and add some vents. Those don't have great air circulation. You can find those for sale in those sales magazines found in convenience stores that sell trucks only. Or check online for large machinery auctions near you, they usually have a few of those there too. I've seen them around here for between $900 to $2000 depending on size and condition and whether it's still road-worthy or not.
How does your BO get the hay delivered? If they buy from a large supplier, some will let you lease a trailer for storage. And if you have a flat open parking area, this makes things easy since every new laod that comes in just gets the entire trailer dropped and then the empty one picked up and hauled off. No unloading and stacking. :D
Last place I boarded had a 40-something footer for hay and a 22 stall barn. It fit enough hay for a month.
ETA, where are you located? Here's a site that rents or sell containers or truck boxes in the New England area:
http://www.out-backstorage.com/default.html

Thank you for the suggestions. Another poster told me to google shipping Conex containers and I found a number of sites. Now, I am waiting for them to get back to me. Tarping, as you suggested, would be the least expensive way to go.

[MistyBlue]

Oh, that's not good then if you can't get the BO behind the idea of dust-free hay. Hay isn't cheap, pretty much everyone I know protects their hay like they boought bales of cash. ;)
If you can't get them to change the hay storage issue...I'd ask to have the hay your horse gets soaked...or soak it yourself if you can.
The Conex containers or trailer boxes can be easier to use if there's a spot at the barn to place it so that hay deliveries are easier.