You just moved into your new home and horse property. Before bringing your horses, you need to construct a barn. But, what do you need to consider before constructing one? What do you need to know?
- Factors to consider in choosing a site for a barn:
- For economical reasons, it should be within easy reach of main water and electricity
- Make sure it has easy access for vehicles to reach the barn for deliveries or it will necessitate building a road - The site itself:
- should be protected, but allow maximum fresh air and light. Trees are permissible, but heavily wooded areas restrict air.
- should be a light, dry subsoil, firm but well drained. The barn should not be in a hollow, which causes drainage problems. - Construction of stalls:
- Box stalls should be 10' x 10' for a small horse or pony and at least 12' x 12' for larger horses. Standing stalls are not advisable as the horse's freedom is drastically restricted.
- Stall walls should be made of durable boards. In areas with severe winters, they should be of double thickness, i.e. exterior wall, inner wall of boards with insulation in between.
- Flooring must have good drainage. It may be a stone foundation, covered with dirt which must be replenished at intervals and should be sprinkled with lime frequently to maintain freshness. Concrete flooring is hard on the horses legs. Rubber mats may be installed which makes cleanup easy and is easy on the horses legs.
- Roof should be cool in the summer, warm in the winter and fire-proof. Lightning conductors are advisable.
- There should be ventilation of air, but no draughts. - Stall fittings:
- Doors should be either sliding doors on runners, which save aisle space, or half dutch doors. If there is a lot of barn activity, doors and stalls should be barred to prevent the horses from snapping at passers by. Dutch doors are good in private stables and are best for preventing boredom as the horse can see what is going on about him. The lower section should be about 4'6". The hinges must be strong on all doors and the latches on the doors should always be safety ones that the horses cannot play with.
- Windows should open outwards, preferably hinged at the bottom, and should be barred to avoid injury if glass gets broken.
- Water and feed bucketsshould be near the door and in easy reach for your access. They should be securely fastened, but easily removeable for easy cleaning. They should never have sharp edges and should be made of rubber or synthetic material. Automatic waterers are not always a good idea. Hose pipes or individual faucets save labor, but straggling hose pipes look untidy and get trodden on, and horses can learn to play with the faucet.
- Electric fittings should be outside the stall and light bulbs should be higher than the horse's raised head. If lower than that, they must have a firm protective casing. Florescent lighting is most economical. If using bulb lighting, bulbs must be either out of reach or protected.
When designing a barn, you need to consider the horses' safety and comfort and the workers' convenience. Some of the points to consider are:
- stalls - the stalls should be bright and roomy
- manure pile - should be convenient, yet far enough from the barn to keep flies away
- aisles - wide enough to accommodate a tractor or vehicle and free of obstacles
- isolation stall - in case you have an ill horse
- tack room(s) - an area to store your tack, grooming tools, etc.
- feed room - store grain and supplements
- wash stall or wash area - an area to safely wash your horse, buckets, etc.
- hay storage - should be a large dry area, can be a loft or a separate building
A barn should be a safe place for your horse, yet convenient with easy access to everything for you. If it is planned with these things in mind, everyone will be happy. Now go enjoy your horses.
