Stables are shelters for horses, providing them with protection from the elements and allowing them to live safely and freely. So, what is the ideal size for a horse stall?
Your horse should be able to move around freely in the stall, and they should be given enough room to lie down and eat. Therefore, the first thing we need to do is determine the size of the horse.
Have the horse stand on level ground. The distance from the ground to the top of the horse's withers is the horse's height. At the same time, the distance from the chest to the buttocks is the length of the horse. With this data, you will know how much space they need to stand and lie down comfortably and freely.
The average height of a regular horse ranges from 14 to 16 hands (1 hand is approximately 4 inches), with an average length of 8 to 10 feet. Common stall sizes include 10x10 feet, 12x12 feet, 14x14 feet, etc.
For small horses, with an average height of 11 to 14 hands and an average length of 6 to 8 feet, so for these small horses such as Welsh horses, a 10*10’ stable can allow them to move freely.
For a medium-sized horse such as an Arabian that weighs about 1,000 pounds, their average height is 14 to 16 hands, so.a space of 12 feet by 12 feet is appropriate.
For large horses like Hanoverians, weighing over 1500 pounds and with an average height exceeding 16 hands, a space of 14x14 feet is needed.
For stallions and pregnant mares, they need a larger space to move around to release some energy or relax.
The ideal height for a stable ceiling should be 10 to 12 feet. This will prevent your horse from hitting his head and still allow enough room for air circulation. Sometimes it can be designed as an open wooden structure or steel structure without a ceiling. The height of front/partition/back panels should be 7 to 8 feet, and the bottom of the partitions should be at least 4 to 5 feet solid wall or other material to prevent fighting and kicking between horses.
Don’t forget to reserve a door, and the ideal size for a door frame is 8 feet high and 4 feet wide, allowing for easy entry for both horses and caretakers.
If you want to simplify feeding, you need to have enough space to place feed buckets, hay racks, drinking bowls, etc. The equipment should be positioned to suit the horse's eating habits.
The recommended aisle size is 12 feet. For front panels, they are usually available in sliding door styles and hinged door styles. The sliding door styles are very friendly for barns with limited space. If you prefer the hinged door style, then you need a wide enough aisle to fully open the stable door. And if you want to place equipment such as tack boxes in the aisle, it's advisable to widen the aisle accordingly.
horse stall with sliding doors
So, if you're planning to build a stable, consider these points to provide your horses with a safe and comfortable home.
