
Provide for the welfare of horses

Provide for the safety, health and comfort of human handlers

Provide easy access for suppliers, clients

Be cost-effective and have efficient use of labor

Layout should facilitate day-to-day activities

Flexible design to allow for future changes





Topography
Drainage
Prevailing winds
Solar radiation



Precipitation
Vegetation
Soil characteristics

Stalls
Box Stall For Most
Horses
Box Stall – Foaling or
Stallions
Box Stall – Stallions
12 X 12’
16 X 16’
14 x 14’
Box Stall – Minimum for mature horses
10 X 10’
Box Stall – Miniatures 8 X 8’
Tie-stall 5 X 9’

Well designed box stalls/tie-stalls

Layout – entryways, alleys and traffic-flow

Sizes

Door clearance

Pen height

Stall fronts

Stall construction

Wheeler




Height

8-9’


Solid – 4-5’
Slatted for ventilation
Ceilings

Min. 8’
Lighting

One light/10’ aisle way


Each stall
Electrical outlets

Stall Floors


Wash stall

Tacking/Grooming area

Aisles

Electrical

Lighting—tack room, mares/stallions

Water system—waterer, sink, hydrants, wash rack






Reduce condensation
Prevent mold, mildew
Decrease airborne contaminants
Remove heat circulation fans
Windows (summer),
Eaves (winter)





1 ft. ridge ventilation for each horse or stall
Min. 4-8 air changes/hr
New barn

6” ridge vent – min. 12-14” overhang

Vented soffitt running full length
Hay above stalls

Air passage of 12” between wall & bales






Size
Desired characteristics
Security
Wall space for hanging equipment
Floor space for saddle racks


Manure storage

Hay and bedding storage

Shed for trucks and trailers

Sick horse stall

Office

•
•
 Outdoor pen 12 x 12’
Pasture (turnout)- 0.1 acre or more
Paddock 15’ X 75’
•
• 500 sq. ft/horse
Good drainage



Min. 100 sq. ft./horse
Floor – 6-8” gravel covered with dirt or heavy bedding

Clear span structures

MIN. 36 feet wide = exercise/training

50 feet wide = exercise/training/riding
Ceiling height


14 ft min.
16 ft high = hunters/jumpers


Recommended Ring Size

Multiple Day Show

Indoor – 100 x 250’; 135 x 225’;
150 x 300’

Outdoor – 100 x 250’

One Day Show

Indoor – 80 x 200’

Outdoor – 80 x 200’


FOOTING

Min. 3” deep

Sand/shavings

Commercial Products

Fibers

Plastic flakes

Polymers

Rubber

BASE - Level, very firm

Slight pitch 1-2 o

Depth of base

Dressage 4-6”

Jumping 6-12”






Height requirements


Perimeter fences 5-6 ft high
Stud pens 6 ft high
Bottom of fence no higher than
12 inches above ground
Boards of wooden fences secured to inside of post
Walkways between stud pens
Gates level with top board of fence

Manure Management
Daily Manure & Waste Production from A Typical 1,000 lb. Horse
Manure
Daily
Stall Waste
Daily
31 lb feces
15-20 lbs bedding
(1.6 ft 3 )
2.4 gallons urine
51 lbs manure
51 lbs manure
(0.8ft
3 )
60-70 lbs stall waste/day
(2.4 ft 3 )

Min. Distances Between Manure
Storage/Composting Areas & Other Activities
Sensitive Area
Property line
Residence or place of business
Private well or other potable water source
Wetlands or surface (streams, ponds, lakes)
Subsurface drainage pipe
Water table (seasonal high)
Bedrock
Min. Separation
Distance (ft)
50
200
100
100
25
3
3

Horsekeeping
Problems





Unprotected aprons
Inconvenient floor plan
Hazardous stall doors
Built-in grain bins
Skimpy spaces


Inadequate entryways

Electrical failures

Storage shortage

Stalls around the arena

Inhospitable sheds

No phone


Boredom

Shelter

Ventilation





Water
Nutritional requirements

Each 10 o  in temperature, a horse requires 15-20% more feed.
Dental program
Inoculations/deworming




The Average Horse
Owner

It Speaks For Itself
Boarding Stables
Loose Horses






Scan barns and pastures.
Keep entranceways free of ice and snow.
Warning signs
First-aid kit.
Post “stable rules”.





Encourage or require safety helmets.
Use contracts and written release forms.
Insurance up to date.
Post “no trespassing signs”.





Note pad or message board.
Install lighting around exterior and doorways.
Regular fence inspections.
Warning signs near horses with dangerous propensities.