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California Riding Magazine • May, 2009 Innovative Equine Systems |
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Project location: Woodside, CA The average equine enthusiast won’t know what an “adjustable clevis hinge” is when they begin drafting their dreams for building a new barn or refitting an existing stable. But after a few sessions with the staff at Innovative Equine Systems and a perusal of its to-die-for catalog, this hinge will quickly become one of many must-have items on their shopping list. The heavy-duty hinge helps align and adjust weighty stall doors and stall fronts, keeping them on track for easy opening and closure. The clevis hinges are just one of many barn interior products that reflect Innovative Equine’s commitment to stable components that look beautiful, last a lifetime and, most importantly, contribute to a safe and pleasant environment for horses and humans. “Do it once, do it right, the first time” is more than a marketing motto at this Minden, NV company. It’s a modus operandi that has taken the firm to a leadership position in the craftsmanship and safety-oriented end of the stable outfitting market. Dennis Marion founded Innovative Equine Systems 10 years ago, first as a fencing company. His daughter was an eventing rider at the time, and Marion’s experiences as a “horse dad” exposed him to the dearth of quality stabling products available in North America. The company first looked to Europe, Holland in particular, for products that met their high standards for craftsmanship applied to safe, durable and beautiful stable interiors. Initially, Innovative Equine imported its offerings, but the wait time and difficulty finding existing solutions to meet a growing list of new ideas became the catalyst for designing and manufacturing the products themselves. Through every phase of its growth, the company has placed a premium on personalized customer service. imultaneously, it has established a reputation as the one-stop shop for every component needed to outfit a barn. Their mission is to make it easy for owner/builders or contractors to create barns in which attention to the smallest details makes for a perfect package, regardless of the size and scope of the project. An extensive product line ranges from subtle enhancements that include the clevis hinge, lighting fixtures and cross-tie brackets to the obvious barn building basics of stalls, flooring and fencing. Innovative Equine recently went further with the launch of its Ultimate Barn, a pre-fab barn made of steel-frame, double-wall construction that stands toe-to-toe in quality and craftsmanship with the company’s constructed-on-site counterparts. THE ULTIMATE BARN Customizable to fit from four to 20 horses and available in 16 different designs to suit a gamut of budgets and style preferences, the Ultimate Barn “is a high-end product developed around a value system,” Marion explains. “At a fraction of the cost of custom designed and custom built high-end structures, the Ultimate Barn spans the gap between flammable, non-insulated and highly perishable single wall construction – essentially wooden lumber kits – and the fully-loaded custom facility that may take months or years to build.” Once the barn’s foundation has been laid, the Ultimate Barn skeleton kit goes up in days. The build-out is accomplished using the client’s own general contractor or the client may finish it themselves at their own pace. This structure is very flexible in that it is a clear-span building and can easily incorporate an upstairs residence or office. Aesthetic options include stylish, state-of-the-art stalls and doors, durable hardwoods, 188 powder coat colors, must-have accessories, quality attachment hardware, natural recycled rubber flooring pavers, energy-efficient lighting, automatic insect systems and more, all available from the same source. Although it started as a fencing firm, Innovative Equine’s legacy was built on the firm footing of its barn flooring products. When the company introduced its rubber pavers and tiles to the North American market, very few sporthorse stables were using such beneficial flooring systems. The market has since become crowded, but Innovative Equine’s rubber flooring pavers and tiles continue to stand out for many reasons. They are designed first for safety and second for dust control that contributes greatly to horses’ respiratory health. Pavers, made of natural recycled rubber, meet today’s environmental concerns with a lower oil content than synthetic recycled pavers and a non-toxic binding agent. Tiles of the same material are a popular option for stall flooring, stall walls and wash racks.
Located in Eagle, ID Marion is especially proud of Innovative Equine’s recessed stall flooring system with built-in drainage. The idea came from the company founder’s belief that the less effort required for cleanliness and dust control, the higher likelihood that horse owners would do it. “If maintenance involves pulling the stall mats up to hose them down, that’s probably not going to happen very often,” he explains. “If it’s a matter of hosing the mats down so the dust washes down the drain, that will happen more often.” Automatic insect control systems, along with both plant-based and synthetic insecticides, are among many Innovative Equine Systems offerings that happy customers now wonder how they lived without. Grain feeders, automatic waterers and saddle, bridle and blanket racks are some of the standard stable accessories that look anything but standard in Innovative Equine’s buildings. COOL & HOT STUFF Many of the company’s products were designed with safety in mind, but the end result is just plain cool. The wash wand is a great example. Affixed to the ceiling on a rotating base, the wand functions as an equine shower hose, eliminating both the safety risk and the clutter of having a hose on the ground. Bolted onto the wall next to a hinged stall door or window shutter, their hold-open door magnets discreetly hold doors or shutters open, eliminating a bumping hazard and keeping the barn aisle neat and tidy. The company is at the forefront of built-in therapeutic systems for the barn. Newest in this category is the infared equine solarium, suitable for therapeutic purposes and for fast drying after bathing or exercise. The heat lamps aid in blood circulation and muscle elasticity, and promote rapid healing after injuries. Innovative Equine offers two models, one for high-end facilities and one for the more budget conscious. Both offer the benefits of infrared heat, which is quickly becoming the industry standard for safe, natural health care and physiotherapy. No story about Innovative Equine would be complete without mention of the products on which it was founded: fencing. “It’s a vital part of our product line because the containment of large animals is usually the first part of planning a facility,” Marion notes. “We have thoroughly researched the different types of equine fencing available, and offer three options: high density polyethylene (HDPE) fence, recycled HDPE fence, and QuickRailTM fence. Each product is designed for beauty, safety and care for horses and the environment.”
Located in Newcastle, CA The QuickRail line holds a special place in the company’s history because it solves a stabling issue that had once stumped Innovative Equine’s designers. The challenge was creating fencing for paddocks and tight containment areas, where weak materials, unattractive designs and the extreme difficulty of replacing fencing segments prevailed. The QuickRail system consists of posts made of 1/8” heavy gauge steel with .120 wall thickness and welded-on rounded caps. The rails are 1 5/8” 15-gauge that can be purchased locally and cut to size or bought from Innovative Equine in custom powder coated colors. The rails are held on by removable brackets that are bolted into the posts with special rivet nuts. Easy rail replacement is the centerpiece of this design. Myriad choices in design details are another company trademark. Most frequently, Marion and his staff work with horse owners and their architects, designers and/or contractors who have a good handle on a few pieces of the barn building or remodeling puzzle. Innovative Equine’s strength is leading them through the entire process and lending their experience-driven perspective regarding the merit of various design ideas. Marion encourages visitors at the company’s Nevada showroom, where all the components are manufactured. “The best way for them to see what we are about is to show them how we make our products and explain why we make them that way,” he says. Providing extraordinary service is the cornerstone of Innovative Equine’s mission, Marion concludes. “We present valuable and accurate information so our clients are armed with the knowledge to make an intelligent and informed purchasing decision.”
For more information on Innovative Equine Systems, visit www.equinesystems.com or call 800-888-9921.
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