Building Barn Stalls For Horses

For the safety and comfort of your horses, barn stalls must provide a dry, clean space that’s easy to care for and deflects odors. Stalls can be lined with a variety of materials, from aluminum and wood to linoleum or vinyl tiles. Some stalls may have doors with either mesh top or bottom to increase airflow. A metal grill or grate on the top door can prevent horses from kicking shavings into the aisle and help keep the stall area cleaner, while a solid bottom gate keeps out pests that gnaw on leather-covered saddles and other valuable equipment.

For most horse owners, the most important consideration is a floor surface that’s non-slip and easy to clean. Concrete is a popular option because it’s durable, drains well and doesn’t retain moisture. Another popular material for the stall floor is a rubber mat that lays on top of concrete or a wood plank floor. This creates a non-slip surface that’s comfortable to stand on, reduces bedding barn stalls for horses material and is easier to clean than traditional straw or hay.

Installing lighting in a stall is crucial to proper observation and care. Ideally, windows should be placed along the front and side walls of the stall to decrease shadows. Electric fixtures should be positioned at least 8 feet high to prevent horses from reaching them and touching the wiring, which poses a fire hazard. All electrical wires should be housed in a protective cage to prevent rodents from chewing them, which can also pose a hazard.

In addition to the stall, you’ll need a feed room for storing hay and grain, as well as tack rooms for grooming equipment and medications. Keeping feed and water buckets up off the floor helps minimize the need for bedding materials, as does providing a ring for tying up a horse, which should be placed at or above horse wither height.

For added convenience, consider including a washroom for bathing your horse and washing and cleaning equipment. This requires a water supply and plumbing, as well as a drain for the sink and a stall-mounted showerhead. You’ll also want a stainless steel sink with a removable strainer to keep the water from becoming dirty. A tack room with ample storage space is a must for horse owners to keep their tack items organized, and you should include a door to prevent vermin from getting into the tack room and damaging valuable equipment. Also, a small fridge for horse medications is handy to store cold medicines that require refrigeration. These are available at many tack stores and can be installed in a tack room.