As most of us are under some budget constraints when it comes to barn building there are many good reasons and great places you can cut costs in design of your new stabling project.
A modern horse barn
When working with an experienced horse barn builder, they can save you money and make sure you do not compromise on safety or functionality.
© 2012 by Artazum
However, there are many areas where cutting costs can result in much heartache down the road. Here are a few areas where you should not compromise. There is no point in saving dollars now to spend them on a vet call and medical expenses later or have a negative experience when utilizing your barn.
Making an entrance ~ The right entrance
Stall doors should be a minimum of 4 feet wide to allow room for both handler and horse to enter and leave the stall without risk of hitting hips of the horse on the doorjamb or the handler being squished against the wall making an entrance.
The entrance to any aisleway is also important as a narrow aisleway will make those turns difficult to complete without stopping the horse and turning him square to the door. A 12-foot aisleway is best for adult horses though you may wish to go wider if you run a busy boarding operation and have people passing each other going to and from the stalls.
Also consider adding a wash stall/tack up stall if you have a commercial horse operation as it adds much safety for horse and rider with the freedom of the aisle not being compromised for traffic through the barn and avoids horses having to pass each other on crossties.
Don’t downsize the stall
The size of the stalls themselves is fairly easy to figure out. Obviously a 17 h.h. warmblood will be more comfortable in a 12’ x 12’ stable space than a 10’ x 10’ stall. Remember to plan for the future. If you have kids ponies now the chances are you’ll be housing horses later.
Also if you have plans down the road to sell the property a barn with small stalls will not add as much appeal or additional value as a barn with regular 12’ x 12’ loose boxes. Space equals safety and sanity. The larger space makes it safer for caregivers to muck out while the horse is inside, and to work around the horse in general.
The larger space also provides sanity for your horse, as he will be able to lie down comfortably, and lay flat if he wants to stretch out. It also means he will be able to mooch around the stall. If you put his hay in two piles, one on each side of the stall, he will move between them and he will have less tendency to gobble his hay at a rapid pace as soon as it arrives.
Also remember that space includes the height of the stall. A horse can contract poll evil if he repeatedly hits his head on the stall door jamb or ceiling. It is also bad for the horse’s posture to have to maintain his head in a low position all day. Also, the more height you can provide the better the air circulation will be in your barn.
Don’t forget to allow some space for hay and bedding storage in the barn. If you add an extra stall to your build you will soon fill it with supplies, but in a pinch you can also empty it for horse housing.
Sturdy walls make good neighbors
Just as good fences make good neighbors both in the horse and human world, the stall walls should also be made of sturdy materials. Kickboards should be placed to a height of at least four feet. These should be made of large dimensional lumber for added strength and walls may be braced for larger spans.
For stallions, youngstock and larger horses running the kickboards from floor to 6 or 7 feet high make sense, and a solid wall between stalls may also be preferred to keep horses from intimidating each other. Remember excited horses can and do rear in their stalls and can also become cast or kick out at a stall wall. The last thing you want is a punctured wall and a horse with ripped tendons.
Grills and gates
Grills are a great way to aid ventilation in the barn and to provide better light. Be certain that the gap between bars is a maximum of 3 inches to avoid tiny foal feet becoming trapped between bars or horses biting each other.
The gate to the stall or stall door should be a minimum of four feet high, and top edges should be protected from chewing by the equine occupant by a well-secured metal strip. Alternatively you can add a grill to the top half of the door.
With center aisleways sliding doors are safer than swinging doors as they provide no obstacle in the aisleway and will not swing and hit the horse as he makes his entry or exit to or from the stall.
Don’t forget air quality
Ventilation is very important to your horse’s health. While a window in his stall is a great option for both light and ventilation, the roof should also be vented. You can go with cupolas that add a nice touch to the visual appeal of your building, but you can also save money and just go with a ridge vent.
Don’t skimp on site preparation
Whatever type of barn you decide to build, it is beneficial to have the site properly prepared. The site should be level, and concrete pillars or supports must be prepared to the designated depth for the frost level in your area. You do not want your building to shift due to frost heave. Also ask your builder about anchoring your building for security during high winds or poor weather.
If you add a concrete aisleway to your barn, add rubber mats on top to prevent horses slipping and injuring themselves during errant moments of excitement.
All doorways that exit to the outside of the building should have some type of footing added to prevent a mud hole at areas of high traffic. Stonedust will pack down nicely on top of a light gravel base. Do not use large gravel on the surface as it will become lodged in horse’s hooves especially if your horses are shod.
When you work with an experienced horse barn builder you have the significant advantage of their knowledge of where you can save money and where you need to not compromise your spend for reasons of safety or functionality of the structure.
Most folks begin with a dream barn design and quickly realize that their dream outweighs their pot of gold. The great advantage of modular builds is the flexibility in design that can be accomplished before you begin, so that your final price for the building is an accurate number. No cost overruns or unhappy surprises.
A great company will provide innovative solutions for your particular needs and the wealth of experience their project team offers can be leveraged to capitalize on your ‘bang for the buck.’ Don’t be shy to ask for advice and always check references.
By Nikki Alvin-Smith
This article is brought to you courtesy of Horizon Structures Inc., Atglen PA – Modular horse barn and indoor riding arena specialists. Horizon Structures also offers both residential and commercial kennels, coops, multi-use structures and playsets. Please visit https://www.HorizonStructures.com to learn more.
About Horizon Structures: One horse or twenty, there's one thing all horse owners have in common...the need to provide safe and secure shelter for their equine partners. At Horizon Structures, we combine expert craftsmanship, top-of-the-line materials and smart "horse-friendly" design to create a full line of sheds and barns that any horse owner can feel confident is the right choice for their horses' stabling needs.
All wood. Amish Made. Most of our buildings are shipped 100% pre-built and ready for same-day use. Larger barns are a modular construction and can be ready for your horses in less than a week. All our barn packages include everything you need -
Horizon Structures also sells indoor riding arenas, chicken coops, dog kennels, 1 and 2 car garages, storage sheds and outdoor living structures.
Headquartered in South-Central Pennsylvania, Horizon Structures, LLC is owned by Dave Zook. Dave was raised in the Amish tradition and grew up working in the family-owned shed business. He started Horizon Structures in 2001 in response to an ever-increasing customer demand for high quality, affordable horse barns.
For additional information about the company or their product line, please visit their website horizonstructures.com
About Nikki Alvin-Smith: International and national published freelance writer and photographer in such world renowned publications such as The Chronicle of the Horse, Horse and Hound, Dressage and CT, Warmbloods Today, The Horseman’s Yankee Pedlar, Reiter, The Equine Journal, Spur, Hoofprints, Horsin’ Around, Horses All, Field & Stream, Western Horse and Gun, Pony Quarterly, Horses All Canada, Catskill Horse to name a few. Ghostwriting, blog services, PR/Marketing copy either direct with manufacturer or for agencies, copy editing and editor services also available. Nikki also produces catalog copy, white papers, e-books, corporate brochures and advertising copy for international corporations and PR/Marketing for celebrities.
As a Brit who has called the America home for the past 34 years, Nikki brings a unique perspective to the equestrian world. Nikki is also an accomplished Grand Prix dressage trainer/competitor, competing at international Grand Prix level to scores over 72% and is a highly sought clinician offering clinics worldwide. She has been a horse breeder/importer of warmblood and Baroque breeds for more than 25 years. Together with her husband Paul who is also a Grand Prix trainer, they run Willowview Hill Farm, a private dressage breeding operation and training yard in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of New York. Please visit NikkiAlvinSmithStudio.com to learn more.
Press release provided by Nikki Alvin Smith courtesy of Horizon Structures Inc.