Horse Stalls and Dog Kennels

Portable Dog Kennels for Camping and Traveling

2011-07-28T10:26:00.002-04:00

Options Plus has now developed a new FOLDING Quick-Kennels for people who travel with their pets. This folding kennel can be setup in minutes with no tools needed. This is great for people who travel in RVs and want to be able to take their dog with them. The folding design allows you to easily stow the kennel in a storage bay and fits easily in the trunk of your car. A canopy is included to keep your pet in the shade. This dog kennel comes in 3 sizes with a height of 4 ft.

New ATV Wagon for Horse Owners

2011-04-28T09:12:00.003-04:00

The ATV has been rapidly replacing the utility tractor in the past few years and many folks have been asking for a wider ATV style wagon for hauling larger loads than is possible with the small garden carts and trailers available at retail stores.
The new model 7340ATV tuff-wagon is designed for hauling fence posts, large bulky loads like grain bags and haybales without having to make multiple trips, saving you time!
View our wide selection of ATV trailers, carts and wagons at www.countryatv.com

Traveling With Your Pet Folding Dog Kennels

2010-07-20T10:59:00.002-04:00

Many people travel with their pets on vacations. For most of us who do this, our pet is another member of our family. In some instances, the pet travels very well, for other people the trip can be a nightmare! Car-sickness, nervous behavior resulting in accidents on the carpeting of your vehicle and so on. Options Plus has developed a new folding travel kennel that addresses all the problems associated with traveling with your pet. These are heavy duty kennels, not the cheap wire pet cages seen everywhere on the Internet imported from China. Designed to control larger dogs, these dog kennels can make traveling with your pet a pleasure, not a chore.
Visit Options Plus for more information.

Manure Spreader, Best Value for the Buck

2010-06-10T13:11:00.002-04:00

In todays economy, getting the best value for your dollar is on everyone's mind. One of the most valuable tools for any horse owner is a manure spreader. If you have been on the end of a wheelbarrow hauling manure out of the stalls, you know how valuable a good manure spreader can be. Country Manufacturing currently has their model 600 25 bushel manure spreader on sale for $899.00 plus shipping! This spreader has been in production since 1978 virtually unchanged. A time-proven design, this manure spreader uses treated lumber boards which carry a warranty of 25 years without rotting or breaking! The simple mechanism is easy to replace and not expensive if parts are ever needed which makes this a great value. Best of all, this manure spreader is made in the USA.
Visit www.countrymanufacturing.com for more information about the Model 600 manure spreader.

Horse Owners Now Using ATVs More Than Tractors

2010-05-25T10:43:00.002-04:00

ATV's have rapidly become the workhorse around the farm and ranch, replacing the utility tractor due to their wider versatility and ease of getting the job done easier and faster than before. At Country Manufacturing, we have recognized the need for a line of durable USA made products than can be attached easily to an ATV to help people get their chores done faster and easier than before.
We have launched a website focusing on the ATV equipment and products that horse owners would need. Visit www.countryatv.com for more information

Adding new pet cages to the product line

2010-05-25T10:26:00.003-04:00

As the economy is improving, we have seeing people again starting to travel with their pets to dog shows, cat shows and other events. We have been getting requests for a travel kennel which can be used used in SUV's and mini-vans. Options Plus will be releasing this new kennel right after the Memorial Day Holiday to make traveling with your pet easy and convenient.
For more information, visit http://www.optionsplus.com/

How to build horse stalls on a budget

2010-03-12T09:59:00.003-05:00

In these tough economic times, trying to build horse stalls can seem like a project beyond your budget, but it really doesn't have to be.
One of the major costs is lumber. Many people believe you must use a hardwood like oak to build your horse stalls, but in reality you can use a yellow pine or ponderosa pine with excellent results. We do not suggest a white pine as it is too soft for building horse stalls.
Tongue and groove boards are the best as they interlock together and are much stronger than dimensional cut 2 x 4 or 2 x 6. Using dimensional cut lumber, the boards will bow and gap as the wood shrinks and swells with the humidy in the barn.
The only boards that should be treated lumber are the bottom board of the stall. This is the area that will be subjected to urine and manure and the treated boards will help delay wood rot. The rest of the boards should NOT be treated lumber so the horse can not ingest the treating chemicals if they crib or chew on the wood. This can save you money as the cost of untreated boards are much less than treated boards.
Need help planning your horse stall project? Talk to the experts at http://www.countrymanufacturing.com/ They have many years of experience in horse stall building and can help you decide what products you will need to stay within your budget.

Horse Stalls Modular or Support Post Style

2010-03-05T10:58:00.003-05:00

As we are edging closer to spring, many horse owners are looking at adding new horse stalls to their barns. The question becomes what is the best type for my needs?
Horse stalls are available in 2 main styles in terms of construction: Modular and Support Post.
A Modular Horse Stall is a pre-fabricated stall front or wall that is bracketed together and needs no support posts set into the floor to be installed. Modular horse stalls can normally be installed in 1/4 of the time compared to a support post style of stall. Modulars have the advantage of being able to be moved easily and sections or walls can be added or removed for converting the stalls into a foaling stall easily. People who own open-span or pole barns favor the modular stalls because they do not need support posts to get their strength. Modular stalls CAN be attached to existing support posts if they are already in place.

Support post style of stall construction is much less expensive than modular, but this savings is off-set by the amount of wood and labor needed to build the stalls. Support Post style of stalls DO require posts to be set into the floor. The stall grills and wood are attached to these posts to provide the strength for the stall front and walls.

Need assistance with your horse stall project? Visit http://www.horsestalls.com/ or call them toll free at 1-800-335-1880 M-F 8am-5pm EST. They have over 30 years of experience and will help you decide the best types of stalls for your needs.

New Website for Bird Cages

2010-03-03T09:32:00.003-05:00

Working with dogs and horses has always been interesting, but now we have branched out further into the pet equipment industry with bird cages. We have been to bird shows and talked to many experts in the field of exotic birds. With their input, we have developed several new products for medium and large birds. Based on our proven modular design, these bird cages and large aviary cages can be built to your specific needs simply by choosing the panels you need.
Visit www.birdcagesdirect.net to see the latest products for bird owners.

Platinum Series Dog Kennels Approved For Military and Police Working Dog Programs

2010-02-01T12:36:00.002-05:00

Options Plus Inc. has been approved by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Military and Police Canine Units to supply Platinum Series Heavy Duty Dog Kennels to these organizations.
The heavy duty construction and safety aspects of these dog kennels have been determined to be ideal for use with Military Working Dogs (MWD), bomb and drug sniffing dogs and civil police departments needs.
These highly trained and expensive speciality working dogs have specific needs when kept in a dog kennel and the Platinum Series Kennels were determined to fullfill that criteria.

Some Imported Dog Kennels ARE Dangerous to Your Pet

2010-01-05T10:04:00.002-05:00

Lately, we have been hearing many horror stories on the phone from people who have been buying imported dog kennels from Internet Retailers who import these kennels into the USA from China. The sharp edges on these kennels have resulted in many instances of large Vet bills to the owner of the dog and in some cases, the pet has died due to infections caused by the sharp edges and points on the kennels. Another issue we have been hearing of is the door of the kennel flexing out at the bottom when the dog pushes at the door. This has resulted in several dogs being strangled as their heads are trapped between the door and the frame of the kennel. We realize that the current economy has put a financial hurt on us all, but while we all look for the best price on an item, shouldn't we keep our pet's safety and well-being in mind when purchasing?
I urge people to visit www.optionsplus.com when considering a dog kennel to keep the family pet safe. These kennels are designed and manufactured in the USA. No sharp edges or points of metal like chain link kennels have to cause injury to your pet.

Building a Better Dog House

2010-01-05T09:55:00.003-05:00

Sometimes, a person just has to build it themselves to get it right. With the thousands of imported dog houses that have been flooding the US market in the past few years, we couldn't find anything that had the features and durability needed to house a dog in a kennel in bad weather. We finally worked out a design that is durable, insulated from the heat and cold and easy to clean. The new aluminum skinned all weather insulated dog house is available in 3 different sizes depending on your needs and will outlast anything we have seen on the market to date. Visit www.optionsplus.com for more information on this great dog house.

Visiting With Horse Owners Across The Country

2009-05-14T08:43:00.002-04:00

Traveling across the country for the last few months and visiting with many horse owners in the southwestern parts of the U.S. The current economic problems are having an impact on many horse owners as barn construction is far behind schedule.
Many folks are now using cheaper alternative methods for temporary barns to shelter their horses like fabric covered structures and metal car ports. These folks are using our modular horse stalls as they can be easily moved when things improve and they can afford to build a conventional horse barn.

Building Your Horse Stalls- Types of Wood to Use

2008-07-22T08:50:00.003-04:00

For many folks, deciding on the type of wood to build your horse stalls can be a problem. Oak was the most common type of wood used years ago because of it's availablity and hardness.
Nowadays, white and yellow pine is the wood of choice. Pine can be used because the grill sections fit over the top edge of the wood, so the horse can't easily "crib" or chew on the wood edges. If your horse has either of these habits, edge protectors can be purchased which cover all edges of the wood, stopping the horse from biting down.
Tongue and groove lumber is the best as the wood planks interlock with each other and produce a very strong wall. By using tongue and groove lumber, this will stop gaps from forming as the wood dries over time and shrinks, producing gaps between the boards.
We suggest the bottom board on the stall to be treated lumber as it will be the one subjected to manure and urine on the floor of the stall. Do not use treated lumber for the rest of the stall wall as the treating chemicals if ingested by the horse can cause large Vet bills due to making the horse sick. A good horse stall building guide is available which will help determine how many boards you will need for each horse stall front or side wall.
Make sure the wood you are using has been dried properly before starting to build your horse stalls. Wet wood will warp quickly and cause the stall doors to bind and walls will warp out of shape.

Different Types of Dog Kennels

2008-07-15T10:58:00.002-04:00

Seems like everyone is now selling dog kennels! Chain link, mesh, steel, wire, modular, cages. It can make your head spin trying to purchase a simple kennel to keep your dog in.
We found a website called dogkennelbasics which can be a big help in deciding which type of dog kennels would suit your needs the best.
Several issues to keep in mind when purchasing:
Ease of assembly! (try building a chain link dog kennel and stretching the wire, you'll see what I mean).
Quality of the finish. Options Plus Inc. makes several types of kennels which are designed to be used outdoors and the finish must be able to take exposure to the weather.
Expandablity. Adding more room to a kennel is important if you decide to have more than one dog.
Strength. Purchasing a cheap kennel is asking for trouble if the dog can get out easily and injure someone. Don't buy strictly on price. Look at the features of the kennel carefully before purchasing. Call the manufacturer and ask questions. Is the kennel an imported item or made in the states? Can you get parts if you need them?
We recommend Options Plus Inc. Dog Kennels because they are made in the USA plus they have a wide variety of kennel systems to fit the needs of anyone.

2008-07-14T10:54:00.001-04:00

Horse Stalls and Dog Kennels

2008-07-14T09:33:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our new blog.

Here, we will discuss the issues with horse stalls and dog kennels that are currently on the market.

As with any product you purchase on the internet, quality and safety should always be a major factor in any purchase you make.

Let's look at the issues facing the purchase of horse stalls:

Horse stalls come in 2 major types, Support Post Style and Modular Style.

Support post style of horse stalls are commonly called "kit" stalls as you purchase the grills, wall channels, stall doors and hardware to fit your needs and build your stall using support posts set into the ground. This type of horse stall gets it's strength from the support posts, so you have to make sure they are firmly embedded into the ground below the frost line. Support post style of stalls come in many different types of metal, the most common are coated steel, galvanized and aluminum.

Modular style of horse stalls are totally different than the support post style. Modular horse stalls are commonly referred to as "portable" stalls because the frame is pre-fabricated and does not need support posts for strength. This allows the stall front, sides and back walls to be moved as needed, so they are portable. The panels clip together with brackets, so moving a stall or expanding the stall is much easier than with the support post style.

The type of metal used in your stalls is one of the most important decisions you can make when purchasing.

Painted steel horse stalls will corrode in time, but because they are made of steel and all of the joints are welded, they are the top of the line in terms of strength. If you don't mind touching them up occasionally, painted stalls are a great choice for areas which do not have high humidity levels.

Galvanized horse stalls are a good choice for a combination of high strength and corrosion resistance, but be careful as to the quality of the galvanizing used. The best is Hot-Dip coating. If the manufacture is using a spray galvanizing (and many do the save money) this is no better than a painted finish and you are wasting your money. Because weld cannot accept the galvanizing, most companies do not weld galvanized stalls, so these stalls are made to fit together into channels. Each stall bar fits into a channel and is secured to the wood. This does make replacing a stall bar easy if it gets damaged.

Aluminum is the best for salt-air environments or barns with very high humidy, but it is a very soft metal and regardless of the claims from some aluminum stall companies, it does NOT have the same or superior to the strength of steel. We recommend the use of aluminum only if corrosion is a major concern in your local area.

Next Blog, we will discuss the different types of Dog Kennels.....