If you’re building
a new horse barn, this question might keep you counting sheep (or horses) at
night. But you don’t need to lose sleep if you follow some general guidelines
for sizing a barn.
Start by
considering the number and breed of your horses, the type of riding you do,
storage needs, climate, and, of course, budget. Then call in an expert.
Ron Foust is an
experienced Lester dealer based in East Central Minnesota. Over the past three
decades, he’s put up many equine buildings – from hobby barns to complex riding
arenas with living quarters. In his experience, “no two equestrian projects are
alike.” Here’s his advice for how to get the best-sized barn for your horses
and you.
Building Size
Obviously, the
number of horses – yours, those boarding or both, now and in the future – is one
of the biggest sizing factors. It dictates the number of stalls. Thirty-six
feet is a common building width (12’ wide alley, flanked by 12’ wide stalls on
each side) and 10’ for height. Length will depend on number of stalls, stall
length, and additional rooms: tack room, wash bay, bathroom, lounge/office, and
storage for feed, hay and equipment.
“I really like a
minimum of 12 feet for the center aisle. I’ve done a few 10-foot aisles and it
gets too tight for horses passing each other, especially if they’re territorial”
Ron adds. Getting too narrow, can also lead to damage around doors. “Two feet makes
a big difference.”
Stall Size
The stall size
debate seems to have settled on 12’ by 12’ for an average 1,000-pound horse.
Ron says 90 percent of his projects have 12’ by 12’ stalls; he rarely get
orders for 10’ by 10’ stall, like he did years ago. A horse should be able to
turn around, lie down and get up comfortably, and be groomed in place. Movable
dividers can be added and are essential for foaling.
Riding Arena
If you’re riding
for pleasure, start with a standard indoor arena size of 60’ wide by 120’ long
and a minimum height of 14’. If you’re doing dressage, bump up the dimensions
to at least 70’ wide by 200’ long and 16’ high, to allow for speed, jumping and
turn-around space.
Hay and Equipment Storage
To reduce fire
hazards, Ron sees a lot of people storing just enough hay for a week or so.
Having a separate wing or room for hay storage works fine for people with a few
horses for personal use. Those with larger operations and staff like a separate
hay building. Also, don’t forget space for tools and equipment – wheel barrows,
brooms, ladders, buckets, lawn tractors, four-wheelers, trailers, etc.
Ron adds, “In my
experience, equine folks seem to know what they want. Lester Buildings is here
to help them achieve it, and fine tune the details.”
Still not sure what size barn you need? See a complete
library of equine projects, including those in your area, at
lesterbuildings.com. Once there, you can also enter your zip code and locate
your nearest Lester representative.