"Breakaway" Shelf?
 

Mr. Horse is part or all thoroughbred, isn't a good doer, and needs lots
of grain to keep his weight up.

Mr. Pony (AKA Founder-Boy) is a greedy ******* who could live on
thistles and air, but he's smart and he likes grain. Unfortunately it
makes him fat in the long run, and in the short run it can make him
founder (he's foundered more than once before, so he's particularly
susceptible).

Our feeding stalls are laid out with a shelf about 18" high, for feed,
and a window into the feed bay about 30" high. The windows are high
enough that Mr. Pony can't reach through to get hay piled up on the
floor of the feed bay, but Mr. Horse can.

Recently, Mr. Pony has learned that he can step up on the shelves and
eat all the hay that he wants. Not only does this make him fat (and
more prone to foundering), the shelves aren't strong enough for him, and
he's already punched a hoof through the surface of one of them which
just ain't safe.

So the horses are locked out of the feeding stalls while we ponder.

I'm thinking of replacing the shelves with something akin to a breakaway
basketball basket -- i.e. something that'll handle the strain of Mr.
Horse licking the thing clean, but will collapse when Mr. Pony tries to
stand on it.

But I need a latch -- I'm thinking that a good strong magnet working on
an iron strap would work, but would attract crap. Alternately,
something akin to a BIG cabinet latch would do.

It has to support probably between 20 and 100 pounds of eagerly-licking
horse, but not the 500 pounds of the front half of the pony, and in the
"breakaway" position it can't have any protrusions that may cut up a
(likely alarmed) equine.

Any suggestions?

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

"Breakaway" Shelf?
 

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
Mr. Horse is part or all thoroughbred, isn't a good doer, and needs lots
of grain to keep his weight up.

Mr. Pony (AKA Founder-Boy) is a greedy ******* who could live on thistles
and air, but he's smart and he likes grain. Unfortunately it makes him
fat in the long run, and in the short run it can make him founder (he's
foundered more than once before, so he's particularly susceptible).

Our feeding stalls are laid out with a shelf about 18" high, for feed, and
a window into the feed bay about 30" high. The windows are high enough
that Mr. Pony can't reach through to get hay piled up on the floor of the
feed bay, but Mr. Horse can.

Recently, Mr. Pony has learned that he can step up on the shelves and eat
all the hay that he wants. Not only does this make him fat (and more
prone to foundering), the shelves aren't strong enough for him, and he's
already punched a hoof through the surface of one of them which just ain't
safe.

So the horses are locked out of the feeding stalls while we ponder.

I'm thinking of replacing the shelves with something akin to a breakaway
basketball basket -- i.e. something that'll handle the strain of Mr. Horse
licking the thing clean, but will collapse when Mr. Pony tries to stand on
it.

But I need a latch -- I'm thinking that a good strong magnet working on an
iron strap would work, but would attract crap. Alternately, something
akin to a BIG cabinet latch would do.

It has to support probably between 20 and 100 pounds of eagerly-licking
horse, but not the 500 pounds of the front half of the pony, and in the
"breakaway" position it can't have any protrusions that may cut up a
(likely alarmed) equine.

Any suggestions?

--

a set of hinges and a couple large supermagnets buried into the shelf, and a
piece of iron in the wall.

"Breakaway" Shelf?
 

charlie wrote:
"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
Mr. Horse is part or all thoroughbred, isn't a good doer, and needs lots
of grain to keep his weight up.

Mr. Pony (AKA Founder-Boy) is a greedy ******* who could live on thistles
and air, but he's smart and he likes grain. Unfortunately it makes him
fat in the long run, and in the short run it can make him founder (he's
foundered more than once before, so he's particularly susceptible).

Our feeding stalls are laid out with a shelf about 18" high, for feed, and
a window into the feed bay about 30" high. The windows are high enough
that Mr. Pony can't reach through to get hay piled up on the floor of the
feed bay, but Mr. Horse can.

Recently, Mr. Pony has learned that he can step up on the shelves and eat
all the hay that he wants. Not only does this make him fat (and more
prone to foundering), the shelves aren't strong enough for him, and he's
already punched a hoof through the surface of one of them which just ain't
safe.

So the horses are locked out of the feeding stalls while we ponder.

I'm thinking of replacing the shelves with something akin to a breakaway
basketball basket -- i.e. something that'll handle the strain of Mr. Horse
licking the thing clean, but will collapse when Mr. Pony tries to stand on
it.

But I need a latch -- I'm thinking that a good strong magnet working on an
iron strap would work, but would attract crap. Alternately, something
akin to a BIG cabinet latch would do.

It has to support probably between 20 and 100 pounds of eagerly-licking
horse, but not the 500 pounds of the front half of the pony, and in the
"breakaway" position it can't have any protrusions that may cut up a
(likely alarmed) equine.

Any suggestions?

--

a set of hinges and a couple large supermagnets buried into the shelf, and a
piece of iron in the wall.


That's high on the list of possibilities.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

"Breakaway" Shelf?
 

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
charlie wrote:
"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
Mr. Horse is part or all thoroughbred, isn't a good doer, and needs lots
of grain to keep his weight up.

Mr. Pony (AKA Founder-Boy) is a greedy ******* who could live on
thistles and air, but he's smart and he likes grain. Unfortunately it
makes him fat in the long run, and in the short run it can make him
founder (he's foundered more than once before, so he's particularly
susceptible).

Our feeding stalls are laid out with a shelf about 18" high, for feed,
and a window into the feed bay about 30" high. The windows are high
enough that Mr. Pony can't reach through to get hay piled up on the
floor of the feed bay, but Mr. Horse can.

Recently, Mr. Pony has learned that he can step up on the shelves and
eat all the hay that he wants. Not only does this make him fat (and
more prone to foundering), the shelves aren't strong enough for him, and
he's already punched a hoof through the surface of one of them which
just ain't safe.

So the horses are locked out of the feeding stalls while we ponder.

I'm thinking of replacing the shelves with something akin to a breakaway
basketball basket -- i.e. something that'll handle the strain of Mr.
Horse licking the thing clean, but will collapse when Mr. Pony tries to
stand on it.

But I need a latch -- I'm thinking that a good strong magnet working on
an iron strap would work, but would attract crap. Alternately,
something akin to a BIG cabinet latch would do.

It has to support probably between 20 and 100 pounds of eagerly-licking
horse, but not the 500 pounds of the front half of the pony, and in the
"breakaway" position it can't have any protrusions that may cut up a
(likely alarmed) equine.

Any suggestions?

--

a set of hinges and a couple large supermagnets buried into the shelf,
and a piece of iron in the wall.


That's high on the list of possibilities.

--

How about pony burgers?

"Breakaway" Shelf?
 

On Apr 28, 11:38*am, Tim Wescott wrote:
Mr. Horse is part or all thoroughbred, isn't a good doer, and needs lots
of grain to keep his weight up.

Mr. Pony (AKA Founder-Boy) is a greedy ******* who could live on
thistles and air, but he's smart and he likes grain. *Unfortunately it
makes him fat in the long run, and in the short run it can make him
founder (he's foundered more than once before, so he's particularly
susceptible).

Our feeding stalls are laid out with a shelf about 18" high, for feed,
and a window into the feed bay about 30" high. *The windows are high
enough that Mr. Pony can't reach through to get hay piled up on the
floor of the feed bay, but Mr. Horse can.

Recently, Mr. Pony has learned that he can step up on the shelves and
eat all the hay that he wants. *Not only does this make him fat (and
more prone to foundering), the shelves aren't strong enough for him, and
he's already punched a hoof through the surface of one of them which
just ain't safe.

So the horses are locked out of the feeding stalls while we ponder.

I'm thinking of replacing the shelves with something akin to a breakaway
basketball basket -- i.e. something that'll handle the strain of Mr.
Horse licking the thing clean, but will collapse when Mr. Pony tries to
stand on it.

But I need a latch -- I'm thinking that a good strong magnet working on
an iron strap would work, but would attract crap. *Alternately,
something akin to a BIG cabinet latch would do.

It has to support probably between 20 and 100 pounds of eagerly-licking
horse, but not the 500 pounds of the front half of the pony, and in the
"breakaway" position it can't have any protrusions that may cut up a
(likely alarmed) equine.

Any suggestions?

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Serviceshttp://www.wescottdesign.com

Alternative, spring-load the shelf ala those dish handlers they use in
cafeterias. Spring is stiff enough to hold up feed plus eager heads,
heads floorward on a wall-mounted track or tracks when stomped on.
Might need some sort of damping on the return stroke( car or
mortorcycle shock?). Or use a pulley+counterweight instead of the
spring, still would need the damper.

Stan

"Breakaway" Shelf?
 

"Bob La Londe" fired this volley in
:

It has to support probably between 20 and 100 pounds of
eagerly-licking
horse, but not the 500 pounds of the front half of the pony, and
in
the "breakaway" position it can't have any protrusions that may
cut
up a (likely alarmed) equine.


How about some gas springs with slow recovery? The shelf would simply
collapse under the weight, then gradually (rather than suddenly and
dangerously) right itself.

LLoyd

"Breakaway" Shelf?
 

Bob La Londe wrote:
"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
charlie wrote:
"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
Mr. Horse is part or all thoroughbred, isn't a good doer, and needs lots
of grain to keep his weight up.

Mr. Pony (AKA Founder-Boy) is a greedy ******* who could live on
thistles and air, but he's smart and he likes grain. Unfortunately it
makes him fat in the long run, and in the short run it can make him
founder (he's foundered more than once before, so he's particularly
susceptible).

Our feeding stalls are laid out with a shelf about 18" high, for feed,
and a window into the feed bay about 30" high. The windows are high
enough that Mr. Pony can't reach through to get hay piled up on the
floor of the feed bay, but Mr. Horse can.

Recently, Mr. Pony has learned that he can step up on the shelves and
eat all the hay that he wants. Not only does this make him fat (and
more prone to foundering), the shelves aren't strong enough for him, and
he's already punched a hoof through the surface of one of them which
just ain't safe.

So the horses are locked out of the feeding stalls while we ponder.

I'm thinking of replacing the shelves with something akin to a breakaway
basketball basket -- i.e. something that'll handle the strain of Mr.
Horse licking the thing clean, but will collapse when Mr. Pony tries to
stand on it.

But I need a latch -- I'm thinking that a good strong magnet working on
an iron strap would work, but would attract crap. Alternately,
something akin to a BIG cabinet latch would do.

It has to support probably between 20 and 100 pounds of eagerly-licking
horse, but not the 500 pounds of the front half of the pony, and in the
"breakaway" position it can't have any protrusions that may cut up a
(likely alarmed) equine.

Any suggestions?

--
a set of hinges and a couple large supermagnets buried into the shelf,
and a piece of iron in the wall.


That's high on the list of possibilities.

--

How about pony burgers?


I suggested wrapping a come-along around the little *******'s neck and
tightening it until grain couldn't get through, but SWMBO took a dim
view of that (they're her horses).

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

"Breakaway" Shelf?
 

My thought is perhaps you can train Mr. Pony not to climb. My friend had a
horse I used to enjoy petting. One time about 5 years ago I leaned a little
too close to the hot wire while petting the horse and the path to ground
went through the horses nose. To this day the horse will not come close
enough to take a carrot from me.

Perhaps you could rig a photo electric beam in such a way as the taller
horse could feed with out getting zapped but the smaller horse standing on
the shelf would get zapped if he was sticking his nose where it did not
belong?

Very pavlovian, but probably effective.


--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.


"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
Mr. Horse is part or all thoroughbred, isn't a good doer, and needs lots
of grain to keep his weight up.

Mr. Pony (AKA Founder-Boy) is a greedy ******* who could live on
thistles and air, but he's smart and he likes grain. Unfortunately it
makes him fat in the long run, and in the short run it can make him
founder (he's foundered more than once before, so he's particularly
susceptible).

Our feeding stalls are laid out with a shelf about 18" high, for feed,
and a window into the feed bay about 30" high. The windows are high
enough that Mr. Pony can't reach through to get hay piled up on the
floor of the feed bay, but Mr. Horse can.

Recently, Mr. Pony has learned that he can step up on the shelves and
eat all the hay that he wants. Not only does this make him fat (and
more prone to foundering), the shelves aren't strong enough for him, and
he's already punched a hoof through the surface of one of them which
just ain't safe.

So the horses are locked out of the feeding stalls while we ponder.

I'm thinking of replacing the shelves with something akin to a breakaway
basketball basket -- i.e. something that'll handle the strain of Mr.
Horse licking the thing clean, but will collapse when Mr. Pony tries to
stand on it.

But I need a latch -- I'm thinking that a good strong magnet working on
an iron strap would work, but would attract crap. Alternately,
something akin to a BIG cabinet latch would do.

It has to support probably between 20 and 100 pounds of eagerly-licking
horse, but not the 500 pounds of the front half of the pony, and in the
"breakaway" position it can't have any protrusions that may cut up a
(likely alarmed) equine.

Any suggestions?

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

"Breakaway" Shelf?
 

In article ,
"Roger Shoaf" wrote:

My thought is perhaps you can train Mr. Pony not to climb. My friend had a
horse I used to enjoy petting. One time about 5 years ago I leaned a little
too close to the hot wire while petting the horse and the path to ground
went through the horses nose. To this day the horse will not come close
enough to take a carrot from me.

Perhaps you could rig a photo electric beam in such a way as the taller
horse could feed with out getting zapped but the smaller horse standing on
the shelf would get zapped if he was sticking his nose where it did not
belong?

Very pavlovian, but probably effective.

A simpler approach would be to rig it so the juice comes on if the
weight on the shelf exceeds say 200 pounds. The natural deflection of
the shelf under load plus a well-placed microswitch ought to do it.

Joe Gwinn


About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.


"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
Mr. Horse is part or all thoroughbred, isn't a good doer, and needs lots
of grain to keep his weight up.

Mr. Pony (AKA Founder-Boy) is a greedy ******* who could live on
thistles and air, but he's smart and he likes grain. Unfortunately it
makes him fat in the long run, and in the short run it can make him
founder (he's foundered more than once before, so he's particularly
susceptible).

Our feeding stalls are laid out with a shelf about 18" high, for feed,
and a window into the feed bay about 30" high. The windows are high
enough that Mr. Pony can't reach through to get hay piled up on the
floor of the feed bay, but Mr. Horse can.

Recently, Mr. Pony has learned that he can step up on the shelves and
eat all the hay that he wants. Not only does this make him fat (and
more prone to foundering), the shelves aren't strong enough for him, and
he's already punched a hoof through the surface of one of them which
just ain't safe.

So the horses are locked out of the feeding stalls while we ponder.

I'm thinking of replacing the shelves with something akin to a breakaway
basketball basket -- i.e. something that'll handle the strain of Mr.
Horse licking the thing clean, but will collapse when Mr. Pony tries to
stand on it.

But I need a latch -- I'm thinking that a good strong magnet working on
an iron strap would work, but would attract crap. Alternately,
something akin to a BIG cabinet latch would do.

It has to support probably between 20 and 100 pounds of eagerly-licking
horse, but not the 500 pounds of the front half of the pony, and in the
"breakaway" position it can't have any protrusions that may cut up a
(likely alarmed) equine.

Any suggestions?

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html