Plan Your Horse"s New Home
Is this the year to build your horse a new home? Or, are you planning to renovating that old barn that was once used for cattle? A little planning before the building begins will ensure that your horse has a safe and comfortable home, and a stable you'll find easy to maintain and enjoy. Here are helpful articles with advice and recommendations on every aspect of stable design, from flooring types to the best lighting options.
When designing a new stable, or perhaps, renovating an older barn, you have lots of decisions to make. Here is a look at the basics of designing a stable for your horse. More »
Let the sun shine in! Windows add a source of natural light and ventilation. There are a lot of different types of windows out there, not all suitable for stables. Here's a look at how to choose windows that will be safe and easy to use. More »
If your horse will be spending a lot of time indoors, its legs and hooves will be affected by the type of flooring it stands on. What's the best stable flooring for you and your horse? You'll want flooring that is easy to clean and maintain, and your horse will want flooring that is comfortable and safe. Here's a look at options for stable flooring.
Ease of use, safety and eye-appeal are some of the things you'll need to think about when choosing stall doors. There are a surprising number of options depending on your needs, wants and of course, budget. More »
One of the first questions many people have about designing stables is how large the stalls should be. There are recommended standards for both standing stalls and loose boxes. Many people like to exceed the standard recommendations and build stalls that are a bit roomier. The choice is yours.More »
Air quality is one of the most important safety considerations in your barn, but because you can't see it, it may be one of the most overlooked. Fresh air in your stable is about more than just dispelling bad smells. Here's why ventilation is so important to your horse's health and to the structure itself and how to design your stable keeping fresh air in mind.More »
With daylight streaming in, it may be hard to imagine how important effective and safe lighting is in your stable once the sun goes down. A dark, shadowy stable is unpleasant, and could be unsafe for both humans and horses. Learn about different lighting options and considerations for your horse's home. More »
Barn fires are tragic, especially when horses or humans are lost. There are a few common causes of barn fires and most can be avoided with good planning and stable design. Learn how you can plan your barn and maintain it to reduce the risk of fire. More »
Also called loafing sheds, or run ins, these buildings can provide shelter from the elements, and your horse can choose whether or not they wish to stand in them or not. They are regarded as a more natural alternative than stabling, replacing natural structures such as trees or bluffs that horses would take shelter beneath in the wild. If your budget doesn't allow building a stable, a shelter is a good option and your horse may even be happier and healthier for it. More »
1. Basic Stable Design
When designing a new stable, or perhaps, renovating an older barn, you have lots of decisions to make. Here is a look at the basics of designing a stable for your horse. More »
2. Choosing Stable Windows
Let the sun shine in! Windows add a source of natural light and ventilation. There are a lot of different types of windows out there, not all suitable for stables. Here's a look at how to choose windows that will be safe and easy to use. More »
3. Flooring Options
If your horse will be spending a lot of time indoors, its legs and hooves will be affected by the type of flooring it stands on. What's the best stable flooring for you and your horse? You'll want flooring that is easy to clean and maintain, and your horse will want flooring that is comfortable and safe. Here's a look at options for stable flooring.
4. Stall Doors
Ease of use, safety and eye-appeal are some of the things you'll need to think about when choosing stall doors. There are a surprising number of options depending on your needs, wants and of course, budget. More »
5. Stall Size
One of the first questions many people have about designing stables is how large the stalls should be. There are recommended standards for both standing stalls and loose boxes. Many people like to exceed the standard recommendations and build stalls that are a bit roomier. The choice is yours.More »
6. Ventilation
Air quality is one of the most important safety considerations in your barn, but because you can't see it, it may be one of the most overlooked. Fresh air in your stable is about more than just dispelling bad smells. Here's why ventilation is so important to your horse's health and to the structure itself and how to design your stable keeping fresh air in mind.More »
7. Lighting
With daylight streaming in, it may be hard to imagine how important effective and safe lighting is in your stable once the sun goes down. A dark, shadowy stable is unpleasant, and could be unsafe for both humans and horses. Learn about different lighting options and considerations for your horse's home. More »
8. Fire Safety
Barn fires are tragic, especially when horses or humans are lost. There are a few common causes of barn fires and most can be avoided with good planning and stable design. Learn how you can plan your barn and maintain it to reduce the risk of fire. More »
9. Designing Run In Shelters
Also called loafing sheds, or run ins, these buildings can provide shelter from the elements, and your horse can choose whether or not they wish to stand in them or not. They are regarded as a more natural alternative than stabling, replacing natural structures such as trees or bluffs that horses would take shelter beneath in the wild. If your budget doesn't allow building a stable, a shelter is a good option and your horse may even be happier and healthier for it. More »