60 Years of Tradition, Now with a Cool Breeze: Fort Worth Horseshoe Club

When it comes to creating comfortable outdoor spaces, we believe that every project deserves our full attention and expertise, regardless of whether it's a residential backyard or a beloved community gathering place.

In March 2025, we had the privilege of providing comfort to the Fort Worth Horseshoe Club, a treasured equine nonprofit that has been around for over half a century. 

A True Fort Worth Staple

Fort Worth Horseshoe Club, a Cowtown staple, had members of the community lighting up with provoked nostalgia. Residents of our Panther City community recall riding their horses down the dusty dirt roads of Vickery, all the way to the Dairy Queen nearly 40 short years ago. 

A 200 ft arena sat parched, longing for a gust of wind to cool off. Luckily, its wait for cool temperatures would soon end.

This project was the first of its kind for our company. Familiar territory is residential outdoor living spaces, not equine nonprofits. There was a learning curve our staff undertook, beginning with the horses themselves. These fans are huge. How will they affect the arena? Can the horses see these fans? How many fans would be needed in order to move enough air?

Through our research process, we were able to determine the number of fans, which size would be most beneficial, the downrod needed, and any other structural changes the arena would undergo due to its age. 

Trouble

We recommended the installation of five high-performance Essence fans from Big Ass Fans. These 10-foot industrial-grade ceiling fans are designed to move a significant amount of air, making outdoor spaces feel up to 10 degrees cooler. We configured the fans to operate at optimized speeds that provide maximum comfort while minimizing ground-level turbulence.

However, this wasn't a simple installation. Due to the barn’s age, the fan’s weight and speed, we needed to seek a remedy. The existing structure wasn't designed to support the weight of these industrial-sized fans, which meant we needed a creative engineering solution.

Our Solution

Our team brought in our skilled welder to create five custom steel mounting plates that would safely distribute the weight of the fans across the existing structure. This custom process is exactly the kind of challenge our team excels at asking questions and researching until we’ve found the right solution.

Each steel plate was carefully designed, cut, and welded to the ceiling of the barn. After the motor and mount was attached, our team ran guide wires to keep the fans from swaying. A lot of technical stuff that may not make sense, but drives the point that just because we haven’t done something before doesn’t mean we won’t figure it out. 

Our research paid off beautifully. The horses needed no time to adjust, showing no signs of stress or disturbance. And just as we had planned, the optimized fan speeds keep everyone cool without kicking up dust from the playing surface.

Community

As a family-owned business based right here in Fort Worth, we take special pride in projects that benefit our community. The Fort Worth Horseshoe Club has been bringing people together for generations, some even reminiscing about the hot summers. 

Whether we're creating a backyard retreat for a family in Southlake or enhancing a community space like the Horseshoe Club, our commitment remains the same: quality craftsmanship, thoughtful solutions, thorough research, and a personal touch that turns outdoor spaces into places where memories are made.

If your organization or community space could benefit from our expertise, we'd love to hear from you. Stop by our 10,000 square foot showroom to discuss your project, or reach out to schedule a design meeting. At The Collective Outdoors, we believe that great outdoor living is for everyone, and we're here to make it happen.