Horse Stable Ventilation

Figure 10. Options on exterior stall doors to provide warm weather ventilation openings

Stable Ventilation Openings

Figure 11. Recommended ridge and eave openings for center aisle stable with stalls on both sides

Figures 11, 12, and 13 provide recommendations for the minimum acceptable cold weather openings and warm weather options. Greater openings at the eaves, except for the coldest days, are desirable to assure good air quality within the stable during cold and cool weather. If sufficient ridge vent is not provided, then double the eave vent opening sizes. Center aisle (Figure 11) and single aisle (Figure 12) stables are easy to properly ventilate.

Figure 12. Recommended ridge and eave openings for single aisle stable with stalls facing an outside work aisle.

The recommended ventilation openings for a double-aisle stable, with four rows of horse stalls across width (Figure 13), attempt to overcome shortcomings of this building design. The central stalls in the four-row layout will get almost no fresh air since they are not near a fresh air opening. Ventilation in these central stalls will be particularly compromised if stall walls are solid without grillwork on the top portion. With solid stall walls and a ceiling over the central stalls (for storage), there will be no fresh air movement into those stalls.

 This double-aisle layout is not recommended when horses will be kept inside more time than turned out. Daily stall cleanout will be important to keep ammonia and odors from accumulating in the central stalls.

It is particularly important that this building design contain an open interior (no ceiling and open grillwork on stall walls) so that fresh air can move freely. Similar improper airflow is seen in stables that share a common sidewall with indoor riding arenas. The horses near the arena sidewall will have no access to fresh air unless openings are provided on that side of the stable.

Figure 13. Recommended ridge and eave openings for double aisle stable with four rows of horse stalls across width. The central stalls in the four-row layout will get almost no fresh air since they are not near a fresh air opening

Avoid Restrictions to Airflow

The permanently open sidewall eave openings should be constructed to be as open as possible. Ideally, they are left completely open. Do not cover with residential window insect screening or metal soffit treatments. Both these coverings severely restrict desirable airflow and will soon clog with dust and chaff, eventually eliminating almost all airflow (Figure 14). Metal-sided buildings are commonly finished with metal fascia and soffit so tell your builder that you need the ventilation air exchange at the eaves and leave off the soffit metal. The perforated metal soffit was designed for residential and commercial attic ventilation applications where the need is about one-third of even the minimum airflow for horse stables.