Design a Better Horse Stall

The stall is the basic functional unit of a horse stable or shelter. A simple backyard pleasure horse stall may at first appear different than a stall in a fullfeature boarding operation but they both provide a suitable environment for the horse and handler. Safety for handlers and horses should be a primary consideration in stall design. Comfort for the horse is very important as is convenience for the handler in performing chores associated with good horse care. No matter what your management style or needs the basics of a safe horse stall are the same. Many options that affect function and cost are available for horse stall features.

This article provides an overview of some basic stall features for a typical 1000pound horse. The dimensions can be adjusted for significantly larger stall occupants.
Dimensions
The size of the horse and the amount of time the horse spends in the stall help determine stall size. Larger horses require more square footage than do smaller ponies to be able to turn around lie down and get up comfortably. A 12foot by 12foot stall is the standard recommendation for a 1000pound horse. Many stables are successful with stalls slightly smaller than this but walls less than 10 feet in length are not recommended. Generally the stall wall length is oneandahalf times the horses length. A larger stall size is justified if the horse spends more time in the stall or is more active. A divider between two standard stalls may be removed to allow more space for a mare and foal or a stallbound horse.
An eightfoothigh stall partition is standard. Partition height needs to be at least sevenandahalf feet to prevent horses from getting legs over the wall. Most horses can kick as high as seven feet. An eightfoottall by fourfootwide stall doorway opening has been the recommendation for years although this is not often seen in stables. Stall door manufacturers typically supply a doorway opening of slightly over seven feet with a 42 to 45inch width. These are the dimensions of the actual open area that the horse can pass through. These smaller doorway openings are adequate for horse and handler safety.
Horse barns are commonly built with a ceiling height of ten to twelve feet with eight feet being the minimum. A low ceiling not only inhibits air circulation but also increases the chance that a horse may strike its head. In fact many