Question: How big should a stable or barn be?
Horse and ponies don't need a barn as long as they have shelter from the wind, rain and sun. But if you are planning to keep your horses in a barn, stalls need to be designed for the comfort, safety and health of the animal.
Answer:
You will need space for stalls and equipment and feed storage in your barn. Box stalls for a horse should be an average of twelve feet by twelve feet. Larger horses will be more comfortable in a larger stall and small ponies will be happy in a somewhat smaller stall. Stalls for broodmares who will foal are often provided with a larger stall.
Standing stalls should be about five feet wide and eight feet deep. Again this depends on the size of the horse, but should provide enough room to stand and lie down easily. The tie rope should be postioned high enough that the horse cannot put a foreleg over it.
A few other considerations:
- The ceilings should by high enough to allow the horses to move their heads up and down fully.
- There should be good natural light and ventilation without being drafty in cold weather.
- Stables should be planned so they do not flood in heavy rain or snowmelt.
- Floors should dry quickly, provide good traction and be easy to clean.
