-> -> If I remember what I've read, the barn stays fairly warm compared
-> -> outside because of the animals' body heat?
-> ->
-> ->    Relatively so, yes.  But - depending on how it's built, I suppo
-> -> water lines usually run danger of freezing nevertheless. Or, did i
->
-> Well around here we have to bury the water lines down about 4 feet
-> to keep them from freezing.  Then we use a hydrant valve in the
-> barn.  A hydrant valve actually shuts the water off way down at the
-> 4 feet below ground level and lets the water in the vertical section
-> of pipe drain back out of it so it doesn't freeze either.
     How ingenious! I've a feeling that German barn may have had water piped 
in as an afterthought.  The faucet next to the tackroom (inside wall) was OK 
if left dripping, but the lines to the individual stalls (along outside 
walls) invariably had to be shut off for the duration. It's a good thing they 
had a lot of unpaid enthusiastic help from their customers - hand-watering 60 
horses can get to be a chore...
Karin
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