This year we did heat our barn. Now, after saying that, I will explain. The stalls have rugs hanging over the outside (to their paddocks) doors. This lets the horse decide if they want to stay in or go out, their choice, except when I have to clip. Most of our shows are to our south and it's warmer down there. I usually clip a little earlier than I'd like, so this year I will keep them a little warmer if the nights get cold. Usually, after it warms up here, I let them out at night and keep them in during the day. (The stalls also have gates and solid doors as well as hanging rugs.) I have fought putting heat in the barn, but this year we put a wood stove (OH MY!!) up. It is, however, in the stall wash room. There is NO WOOD anywhere near and the walls are metal and the floor is cement. Hubby & I are the ONLY ones that keep the fire. We NEVER store hay in our horses's barn! Nothing is near the little stove and we are extremely careful. The stove will come out by the last of April, if not sooner (I need my washroom back!!). Actually, I fear the electricity for the lighting more than I do the stove. We once had a barn fire (were renting) which destroyed all tack. Fortunately, no horses were hurt, thank's to hubby. We had big horses then and he had to push our stallion back into the flames to get him out (the doors opened INTO the stall!) and he got just a few sore places on his nose. This is a little off subject, but please remember if you have swinging doors to have them BOTH ways, in and out, or if only 1 way, then out!
Pam