Back to Basics
By Anirudha Jena
The Importance of Stalls in Your Barn Design Many people focus on the outer dimensions and style first when designing a barn , only to find that their horse stalls suffer as a result . If you are considering purchasing a pole barn kit , or building a barn from scratch , your plans should begin on the inside . The horse stall is the single most important element of your design plans , as this is where your horse will likely spend a large portion of his time . While the outer dimensions of a stable are important , improper planning can lead to costly mistakes and health risks . Stall Size
The first thing you should consider when planning a new barn is the size of your horse stalls . At a bare minimum , an eight-foot by eight-foot square is needed to properly house a full sized horse for short periods of time . Like with all things horse related , the more space you provide , the happier your horse will be . With this in mind , choose a minimum of a ten-foot by ten-foot , or twelve-foot by twelve-foot stall size when possible . If you have plans to breed at any time in the future , you will need at least one stall nearly double the size of your standard box stalls to serve as a foaling stall . Aisle Width
The size of your horse stalls is not the only factor used to determine the outer dimensions of your barn . You will need a walkway between the rows of stalls that provides sufficient room for grooming , cleaning stalls , feeding and maneuvering your horse . Narrow walkways between stalls can become a major obstacle if you ever find the need to turn your horse around between stalls . On the other hand , too large of walkways will make the use of crossties difficult , if not impossible . The type of footing you plan to use in your aisles may play a factor on the layout of your barn as well . If you plan to use concrete , you will need a large enough walkway between rows of stalls for the 8 • Walking On
Horse Stalls
cement equipment to be brought into the barn . This of course is less of a consideration if you plan to use dirt or shavings for your ground cover . Drainage
Depending upon the area in which you are planning to build , drainage can be a serious problem in barn design . Horse stalls that get damp or flood can cause health concerns for your horse , as bacteria thrives in damp bedding . If flooding is a concern , professional drainage systems in the stalls or walkways may be required . Lighting
It is important that you consider the lighting when designing the layout of your horse stalls . Horses thrive best in situations where the light inside the barn mimics that outside the barn . Utilizing natural light sources , by means of skylights or windows , is always the healthiest option , but despite best intentions you will find you likely need artificial light as well . The design of your barn should give careful thought to light sources , as exposed bulbs and wires can have a devastating risk factor to animals confined in horse stalls .