Three Things to Consider When Designing a Horse Stall

A horse stall keeps horses safe from bad weather and provides them with a comfortable place to rest. Some horses don’t enjoy being confined inside, but a stall can be in their best interest in cases where they must stay indoors to recuperate from illness or injury. Stalls can also be used to separate sick horses from others to prevent the spread of disease until the affected animal is healed. Stalls can be designed with hay zones, washing stalls, tack rooms and other amenities to make them a pleasant space for the animals to be housed in.

Most people have a picture of a horse stall in their mind when they think about equine housing, but the truth is that there are many different kinds of stalls, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The type of stall that you choose for your horses will have a big impact on their health, comfort and safety. Here are three important factors to consider when choosing a stall design:

The first step in designing a stable is to determine how many stalls you need. This will depend on how much time you want the horses to spend outside and the weather conditions where you live. If you plan to spend most of your time with the horses in a field or paddock, you will probably only need one or two stalls so that you can bring them in during stormy weather or to keep them clean for riding. If you want to keep the horses stalled full-time, it’s a good idea to add a couple of extra stalls to allow for rotation and proper bedding.

Next, you will need to decide on the stall partition design. Solid boards that are nailed together and that reach to the ground are common, but you can also use panels spaced up to one-and-a-half inches apart. These spaced walls can enhance air movement between stalls and discourage contact between horses, which can reduce boredom and vices. If you use open panel stall partitions, it’s a good idea to build in vertical center bracing to stabilize the twelve-foot-long walls and prevent them from breaking if kicked.

You should also decide on a water system for the stalls. Automatic drinkers are popular because they reduce the risk of tampering and provide an even supply of water for each horse. However, some horses don’t like to use these and prefer a water bucket that is easy to hold. Fastening these to the stall wall with double-ended snaps or specially designed hooks will ensure that the bucket is secure and easy to remove.

Another important consideration is the stall floor. You will want to ensure that the floor is well-draining and has a non-slip surface, and it’s usually best to use a concrete or stone base with a plastic infill. This type of material will resist wear and tear from the horses’ hooves, is easy to clean and is less likely to harbor bacteria than wood.