Horse Stall Design

to operate them. Horses may try to jump over doors that are half height such as a Dutch door however options are available that allow a horse to hang its head out yet discourage jumping.
Lighting and Ventilation
Lighting is important for proper care and observation of stalled horses. Shadows and poorly lit areas make stall cleaning cumbersome and inhibit observation and care. For natural lighting provide a minimum of 4 square feet of window space in each stall. Glass windows should be either out of reach generally above 7 feet or protected by sturdy bars or mesh. Plexiglas is a good option for window glazing.
Place electric fixtures along the front or side walls to decrease shadows in the stall. One fixture above the center creates shadows as the horse comes to the front of the stall for observation. A 100W incandescent or 20W fluorescent are suitable electric fixtures. Position fixtures at least 8feet high to minimize contact with the horse. For further protection provide a shatter proof cage which is available at most lighting supply stores.
All electrical wiring in the barn should be housed in metal or hard plastic conduit since rodents may chew unprotected wires creating a fire hazard. Metal conduit can be used but has the tendency to rust. Position electrical wiring out of reach of horses children and pets.
Fresh air should be available to every horse for good respiratory health. A window which opens for each stall eave and ridge vents and no ceiling or at least a high ceiling will enhance fresh air exchange. Storing hay and bedding over the top of the stalls is not recommended. Not only are these substances a fire hazard but they also carry allergens and inhibit air circulation.
Open panels on the tops of stall dividers and open mesh doors help the

air circulate within the stall interior. Often the stable aisles are well ventilated while the stalls suffer from stagnant air caused by poor air circulation. More information is available in Horse Facilities 7 Horse Stable Ventilation.
Fixtures
Horse stall interiors including hardware need to be smooth rugged and free of projections. Typical stall fixtures include a water bucket or automatic drinker feed tub a ring for tying the horse and optional items such as a hay rack or ring for a hay netbag and environmental enrichment devices toys. When purchasing stall fixtures consider cost durability ease of replacement and ease of cleaning especially for feed and water buckets. Horses are fast strong animals that have all day to work on the stall components. Choose highquality durable hardware for longterm troublefree use.
Grain and water
Be sure to separate feed and water stations in the stall. A horse will drop grain into the water bucket as he chews his ration if it is within reach of the feed tub. Water and feed buckets should be fastened to the wall rather than placed on the floor where they can be tipped over. The bucket rim should be positioned just above horse chest height at nose level. This is low enough to allow the horse to reach it comfortably yet reduce the chance of the horse stepping in it. Unfortunately the correct placement of buckets is the ideal height for manure to be deposited in them. Fixtures to hang buckets should be smooth free of gaps and fastened securely to the wall. An eyehook and doubleended snap work well for buckets with a bail handle. Some manufacturers provide feed tubs and buckets with hardware for safe and secure wall attachment. The hardware should be equally safe whether the bucket is present or not. Be sure that fasteners
allow easy bucket removal for frequent cleaning.
The decision to provide water in buckets or by using automatic watering devices is usually based on cost and management preferences. An automatic drinker is more expensive than a bucket to purchase and install. Drinkers reduce the time needed to complete daily activities but are not a watering cureall. Drinkers like buckets need to be checked daily to ensure that they are free of manure and contain fresh water. Any watering device needs to be cleaned of algae and debris on a regular basis. Horses will drink more water if they have a clean bucket with fresh water. Buckets allow water to be easily removed from the stall for postexercise or treatment purposes and allow you to monitor the horses water intake. Proper drinker placement is similar to water bucket placement in height and separation from feed tub. Some models allow two stalls to share one drinker.
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