Covering the most important questions related to horse stables

Taking in a horse means a commitment and responsibility of providing a new home for him. The home should be safe, comfortable with plenty of airflows, functional, with full access to plenty of water and feed. Horse stables can be designed based on the cultural style of architecture, building materials, climate, and historical period.

A horse is practically family, and he deserves to be treated as one. Much attention to detail should be paid when designing and building a horse barn. The design of a horse barn will have a great impact on the time and money the horse owner will spend on keeping the horse healthy and happy. There are quite a lot of details to consider when planning to build a safe barn for your horse. Below are tips that can help in creating a better dynamic:

The stable

A good stable should be 12 feet square since you need enough room for the horse to get up and down and move around with ease. A super-sized space will not only increase the maintenance costs but will also require more bedding and more cleaning area. To prevent your horses from getting a hoof atop, you can let the partitions between the stalls to be at least 8 feet high. A mesh portion on the top is good as it allows the horses to see their companions.

The height of the stable

Sturdy timber will make a good horse stall. The walls should be up to 1, 4 meters in height. Using a mesh on top of the walls will help in ventilating and lighting the stable. Another good source of ventilation and natural lighting is the windows. Having many of them will provide enough light and air. Many people prefer swinging windows over sliding windows to avoid accumulation of dirt and eventually getting stuck.

The Aisles

The aisles between the stalls can be 3 meters wide at least because there will be a hay manger in front of the stall. In order to tie to, the stable structure should be strong, and the horse can reach its feed and water without having to step over the rope of the tie.

The doors

Doors for the stalls can be sliding or swinging, and they should be 1, 2 meters wide with latches that can easily undo. Sliding doors are preferable because they don’t need to be closed when taking the horse out. Swinging doors will interfere with the aisle space. They can be utilized well if they are installed to swing outward.

The stable floor

To choose the flooring for your stable, you can balance what you want and what you can afford. There is no perfect stall flooring. You will need a floor surface that is durable and non-skid, easy to clean and one that will not retain odor. Some people prefer popcorn asphalt for floors since it’s porous, not slick and it drains. But popcorn asphalt cannot be used in the aisles because it will collect bedding and hay and such. Stone dust alone holds up urine, so it requires proper ventilation. Concrete is slippery without rubber mats and can also freeze and crack during the cold season. Interlocking rubber brick is the best flooring and is durable, soft, drain well, recycled and it also looks good.

These are some of the considerations needed for building a barn for your horse. Horses require special care and attention for them to perform well. As a horse owner, you can design a barn that will provide your horse with a comfortable environment. You can build your barn keeping in mind the efficiency, function, and safety of your horse.

Hi. I'm David Huge. I am a writer and I have 5 years experience in horse riding.