Introduction to Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Horse Stall
When it comes to designing a horse stall, one crucial aspect to consider is the flooring. The right flooring can provide comfort, safety, and durability for your Horses Stall. This article will guide you through the various options available and help you make an informed decision when choosing the right flooring for your horse stall.
Horse stalls keep horses safe and comfortable, out of severe weather, and a place where they can relax. The best stalls are well-designed to meet the needs of the horses they house.
An average-sized horse (15 hands and 1,000 pounds) can fit in a 12 by 12. However, this may be too small for drafts or warmbloods.
Size
A stall should be large enough for a horse to turn around, lie down and get up comfortably. It should also allow him to eat without eating directly over his manure area (which increases the risk of parasites). A horse should be able to lie down or roll without hitting the wall.
The standard size is 12′ by 12′, which works well for the average-sized 1,000-pound horse. However, most stall panels come in 10′ by 12′ options that work well for smaller horses, and it is not uncommon for warmblood barns or those with larger breeds to opt for a 16′ by 12′ stall size. Movable dividers can also be added to increase stall size when needed, such as for foaling or nursing mares.
It’s important to remember that a horse is usually housed in his stall for extended periods of time, even overnight. It’s also important to consider the horse’s movement requirements and history. If he’s never been stalled before or is on a long-term stall rest due to injury, he may require more space for comfort and safety.
A horse that has a tendency to crib or pace in his stall may also require more room. Doors should be easy for horses to open and close, with minimal hardware that could get caught on a horse or become stuck in the track of portable horse stalls. Glass windows in stalls should be placed high in the wall and constructed of tempered glass to protect the horse from potential injuries.
Comfort
A horse stall needs to provide enough space for a healthy and comfortable life. This is especially true if the horse is expected to be stalled for long periods of time. The standard stall size is twelve feet by twelve feet, which works well for an average riding horse that is fifteen hands and one thousand pounds. However, there is some evidence that horses feel more comfortable in a rectangular stall of 10 feet by 14 feet.
The floor of the stall should be made from a material that is durable and easy to maintain, such as concrete or asphalt. It should be level and slightly crowned in the middle to allow for ground and mattress compaction.
In addition, the stall floor should be free of rocks and sharp objects that can injure the horse. It should also be well ventilated. This can be accomplished by using a window that opens for each stall, eave and ridge vents, and no ceiling (or a very high ceiling). Storing hay and bedding over the top of the stall will inhibit air circulation.
Many stall owners choose to use mats in the stalls. This provides an additional layer of cushioning that reduces the amount of bedding required. Mats can be purchased with a textured surface that helps to prevent slipping and are available in various thicknesses. One popular product is StableComfort, a multi-celled mattress system filled with uniformly sized rubber crumb and covered by an industrial strength, waterproof and slip resistant top cover.
Safety
A stall needs to be tall enough so that when the horse rears, it doesn’t bang its head on the wall. That means the stall ceiling should be at least nine feet high, though some barns choose to go higher for ventilation purposes. For the same reason, the stall walls need to be at least four feet high.
If the stalls are built of wood, it is important to use quality lumber that is both dimensionally accurate and treated for longevity. Steel is also a vital component, so look for quality galvanized metal that has been G-90 galvanized to resist corrosion.
Likewise, the floor of the stall needs to be well-constructed and designed to withstand the abuse that horses can inflict on it. Look for a well-draining, mixed aggregate base that is then covered with a durable stall mat.
A stall should have at least a five-foot window that is constructed of tempered glass and protected on the horse side with bars. Ideally, the window should be open in good weather to provide natural light and ventilation. Similarly, a stall should have a large doorway opening to allow for easier entry and exit by humans. The stall door should either swing to the aisle or include a stationary open yoke at the top of the stall. This allows the horse to look around more and reduce boredom, which is a risk factor for behavioral problems like cribbing and weaving.
Security
There are a number of factors that play into creating safe horse stalls, including size and design. It’s important to ensure your horse is housed in a stall that is appropriate for their size so they don’t develop habits such as cribbing or pacing. This can lead to injury and even euthanasia if they’re housed in a stall that is too small.
Stall walls and dividers should be higher than the ceiling to keep your horses from rearing into them. It’s also safer for the horses when they’re able to get fresh air through their stalls, which promotes respiratory health. If you choose to include a window in your stalls, it should be high up in the wall (5 feet or more) and constructed of tempered glass.
Similarly, any fixtures used to hold feed or water buckets should be secure enough that your horse can’t tangle their legs in them. Lastly, the doorway to your stalls should be a standard four-foot width so that your horse can comfortably pass through it, and you can safely lead them in and out. Be sure to check the doors periodically to make sure there are no cracks or gaps that your horse could snag their head on.