| Horse stalls are the confined areas in a barn in which | | | | very hard wood and holds up well again both horsey |
| a horse or other animal is kept. The two most | | | | teeth and being kicked. For those who live in an area |
| common horse stall designs are standing stalls and | | | | with hardwood forests, purchasing oak might be |
| box stalls. Box stalls, AKA loose boxes, are the best | | | | economical. Many times local sawmills have lumber |
| for keeping horses healthy and providing rest. | | | | that is not good enough to be made into furniture. |
| Standing stalls are also usable for horses if they are | | | | They may sell and entire bundle (a bundle can be as |
| wide enough to allow enough movement. Horses like | | | | much as one to three pick up loads) for a mere $150. |
| to lay down in stalls and a the tie stall design does | | | | For people on the West Coast the only readily |
| not allow for this. Horses also have trouble with | | | | available wood might be pine. Pine is a soft wood and |
| swelling in their legs when they are confined. Originally | | | | horses like to chew it, but if that is all that is |
| range animals, equines suffer from 'stocking up' or | | | | available, here are a few things you can do to make |
| swelling in the lower legs when they cannot move | | | | it more durable for the horses. |
| around freely. A box stall helps to prevent swelling, | | | | #1 Cover all exposed tops and corners of the pine |
| but some horses will stock up no matter what type | | | | with wire mesh. |
| of stall they are in. When building a horse stall | | | | #2 Coat any corners that the horse is chewing with |
| attention should be paid to the wood species. Some | | | | 'chew stop'. It is bitter to taste, will not burn their |
| woods are better than others for horses. | | | | mouth, but makes them think twice about chewing. |
| Horses are known for chewing and knowing on | | | | #3 Turn the horse out more to reduce his energy |
| wood. They get board when stabled all the time, or | | | | when he is inside. Horses are happier when they get |
| even part of the time, so they take out some of | | | | to be turned out more. |
| their boredom on the stall walls. Some wood species | | | | Choosing wood species for horse stalls that are not |
| are very harmful to horses. Walnut is one of the | | | | harmful to the horse is very important. If a horse is |
| worst. If a horse stands in black walnut sawdust for | | | | going to be stabled in the barn for extended periods |
| just a few hours they can founder. Any type of fruit | | | | of time consider giving him toys or other things to |
| or nut trees species are harmful to them. Hardwoods | | | | keep him more occupied. |
| such as oak are ideal for building stalls from. It is a | | | | |