| If you are a horse lover, I am sure you will agree | | | | feed then do your best to keep the feed on one |
| that horses need to be treated like one of the family. | | | | side and your tack on the other. |
| No matter if you are building small horse barns or | | | | Materials |
| large ones, you want to put as much effort and time | | | | Treated lumber for the base of the stalls and the |
| into building a home for your horse that is safe, | | | | basic frame costs a bit more but will save you in the |
| comfortable, roomy and pleasant for your horse. | | | | long run because the manure, horse urine and water |
| Building a good quality barn by spending a bit more | | | | from cleaning won't rot this area at all. The rest of |
| money initially will actually save you money and time | | | | the barn can be built with plywood or rough cut |
| in the long run. So what aspects should you really | | | | 10'x12'. |
| consider and not compromise on when building and | | | | Doors |
| planning? | | | | Avoid metal doors because they tend to be noisy |
| Barn Location | | | | when it's windy and especially if your horse head buts |
| Choose an area that has good drainage, has close | | | | or kicks or plays with it. Dutch doors seem to be a |
| connection to utilities and easy access for cars and | | | | favorite and people like the idea of the horse sticking |
| your horse box. | | | | their head over the top of the bottom part of the |
| Layout | | | | door, but if you are going to be keeping your horses |
| If you are going to be the one cleaning, feeding, | | | | in their overnight, I would go for a full door on hinges. |
| grooming and looking after the stall then try to | | | | Horse like their privacy too! |
| minimize work load by thinking carefully about your | | | | Airflow |
| design. If you are planning on building a new kitchen | | | | Good airflow is a must. Get some vent style |
| you would plan where you want to have each part | | | | windows, 2 by 2 or 2 by 4 feet and set them out of |
| to make cooking and cleaning more efficient. Well the | | | | reach of the horses. This lets the warm stale air |
| same goes for the barn. | | | | move up and out. If you are really in a hot area, you |
| Stall Size | | | | can install a roof exhaust fan. They don't cost that |
| Don't compromise on size. Allow at least 12'x12' for | | | | much, probably about $150 or so. |
| one stall and even bigger if you are to stable a mare | | | | Light |
| and foal. | | | | If you want electric lights to the barn, set the lights |
| Tack Room | | | | at the back of each stall, high up and out of the way. |
| It's always useful to have your tack right where you | | | | Windows will do a good job for letting in natural light |
| are grooming and getting ready to ride so if you can | | | | and skylights even better. Of course take into |
| afford to, then add on a small room for all your tack. | | | | account the angle of the sun and if its going to let in |
| If possible include a small window to allow for good | | | | ultra strong sunshine in at the hottest time of the |
| ventilation. Saddles and bridals are made of leather | | | | day, put it in another place. |
| and prone to mildew so some ventilation and light will | | | | Floors |
| help prevent this. | | | | I recommend you use 10 to 18 inch gravel on the |
| Feed Room | | | | stall floor. Later we got some rubber matting and put |
| We like to keep our feeding room separate since the | | | | that on top. The edges of the stall had concrete so |
| hay and meal gives off a lot of dust and just adds | | | | that water couldn't get in or out and to stop the |
| extra work to keep the tack clean. But you are | | | | horse from digging holes in the corner of the door. If |
| building a small horse barn so you might not have this | | | | you have an aisle then consider concrete with asphalt |
| luxury. If you do build one room for both tack and | | | | over the top. Asphalt is far less slippery. |