Finish on horse stall wood

[Brad_bb]

So we've agonized about what finish to use on the Ash T&G.  Need to protect against PPB, but also be safe for the horses.  Some may now know how sensitive horses can be to certain things.  We considered using Heritage natural finishes oil.  One ingredient is Tung oil, which is very toxic to horses.  What is unclear though, is whether it is toxic once cured/dry or not.  No one can seem to answer that, so we assume it is toxic.  Heritage offered to leave out the Tung oil and just put more flax(linseed).  But the oil itself will not protect against PPB.  So we'd have to use shellguard (borate in glycol solvent).  Well we're not sure how safe that would be for the horses.  If you did that, then we'd probably have to wash the surface of the wood before applying oil.  

So in the end we decided to go with a water based urethane.  We don't exactly know its toxicity when cured, but can't find anything speaking against it.  It's a film finish, so it will protect against PPB.  It looks good too.  We're planning to use General Finish 450 exterior Flat.  We've been using High Performance Flat for interior use and love it.  The 450 has mildewcide and UV inhibitors. If we have to top coat it with High performance we will.  Now if only my GC can get contractor pricing on the volume we'll use....  You've got to be real careful what horses are exposed to, especially what weeds and trees are toxic.  


 

[barbender]

I'm surprised that horses even survive in the wild, they are really good at figuring out ways to end up dead🤷‍♂️

[randy d]

When we were in the horse biz we built stalls in our pole barn we soon realized our horses were part beaver had to treat the wood with stop chew.Randy

[Brad_bb]

I've never seen ours chew.  I think they learn it when they are really bored (cooped up too long), and once learned....  But then again, ours aren't in the barn much, only in really really bad weather or their dry lot is too wet (when frost coming out of the ground), or being groomed.  We are using metal frames that wood goes into.  So It would be hard for them to chew.  But some horses will dig their teeth in a flat wood face.

Walnut anything- dust, wood, nut rinds under their feet, etc really bad
Red maple leaves, Cherry leaves if eat them bad.
Many weeds, too numerous to list.
  

My milling and horses don't really mix, which is why I've been researching really good dust collection for my mill.

[randy d]

We bought and sold many horses over the years and you are right some were bad for chewing and others not so much. we decided to leave the horse biz while both of us could sill walk without a limp. Randy

[Nebraska]

I do not know for sure Brad, but I think the poly residue would pass right through without breaking down much,  kinda like mineral oil does in  a horse.   Which that (mineral oil) may be an ok thing to coat the stall interior with, the  exterior stall front you can probably use what you want as that's not where they chew.  I always tell folks to used cottonwood for stalls, it's apparently bitter tasting and not many criibing chewing horses bother it, the linseed oil, turpentine and  pine tar is probably ok. I haven't had it up long enough to comment on a powder post beetle beetle test, I know bugs don't like it and I use it as a fly repellent on open wounds once in a while in the summer.

[scsmith42]

Brad, GF 450 is a great finish.  I think that you'll be happy with it.