Stall Design Introduction

The stall is the basic component of a stable, their primary function is to provide a safe environment for out horses. The basic components of each stall are the same, whether you have a two stall back yard barn or a full featured boarding facility.

Stall Size
Door Size and Type
Partition Design
Flooring
Lighting
Ventilation
Fixtures

Stall Size:
The two factors that are most important in determining the appropriate stall size are:

1. - The type of horse
2. - The amount of time the horse spends in the stall

Horses are most comfortable in the middle of 1,000 acres, so no stall is going to be large enough, but they have to allow for them to move comfortably and lie down without getting cast. For horses up to 16hh a 12' X 12' stall is adequate. For larger warm bloods or for horses that are stall bound a larger stall may be warranted, a 14' X 14' stall will accomodate horses up to about 18hh.

As important as the ability to move freely, the height of the stall not only effects the air flow, but can have a effect on the animals stress level. Stall partitions are a minimum of 8'-0" high, but a stall with a 8'-0" ceiling is much more inclosed than a stall that is open to the underside of the barn roof. If a ceiling is a must, a 12'-0" high ceiling will maintain an open feeling that will help keep stableing stresses to a minimum.

Stall Doors:

There are many variations on stall door, but they fall into two general categories.

Swinging and Sliding

Swinging doors can either be full height solid or devided into an upper and lower panel ( Dutch Door ) The porportions of the door upper to lower sections can vary from 50-50 to 2/3 for the upper portion to 1/3 for the lower. The door should swing out from the stall and be constructed of solid wood or a combination of wood and steel and have heavy duty hinges.

Sliding doors may be constructed of solid wood, a combination of wood and steel or of all steel. There are many various options available, but the doors lower portion should be solid wood, 3/4" 12 gage steel bars spaced 2" on center, or a grid of 3/16" steel rods spaces 1-1/2" on center in a grid. The upper portion of the door may be 3/4" 14 gage steel bars at 3" on center, the bars can fill the entire portion of the door, or may contain a yoke to allow the horse to hang its head out. Sliding doors also need an overhead track, glides and stops at the bottom, and a latch.

Partition Design:

Stall partitions or deviders may be configured in may different ways depending on the following factors.

The type of facility - in a private facility the herd is typically more stable, therefore the partitions can be designed to be more open.

Stallions should be separated from with solid partitions others.

The partions should be designed to be as open as possible to allow the horses to see and smell their neighbors. The open partition also helps to improve air flow within the stall, and has been shown to help reduce stress which can lead to stall vices.

It may be advisable to provide a solid portion of the partition around feed bins, this will help to reduce agression around feeding time.

Partitions should be constructed of tounge and grove southern yellow pine to a minimum height of 8'for a solid partition. The lumber can be installed horziontally or vertically, if its installed horziontally there will need to be a support at the midspan. For a more open partition the southern yellow pine should be a minimum of 48" hight with a series of steel bars for the remaining area. The bars and frame need to be a minimum of 14 gage steel with 3/4" bars spaced a maximum of 3" on center. The bars should have a continuous weld to the frame. NO TACK WELDS !!!!