What Size Should Your Horse Barn Be?

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.

Horse Stall Sense: Why Choosing a Single Source for Stalls and Barns is Best

For a horse, its stall is its personal sanctuary – its familiar place to rest, relax and rejuvenate. So it makes sense that horse lovers want that aspect of their barn to offer the best in safety, comfort, function and beauty. It begins with choosing a designer and supplier that are one in the same.

The Benefits of a Single-Source Supplier

“A single-source supplier is always going to be less problematic for the owner,” says Paul Boor, Vice President of Product Development/Engineering Services with Lester Buildings. Years ago, the company began seeing the problems and challenges that came with trying to fit other suppliers’ stalls into Lester Buildings. In response, Lester introduced its Signature Equine Line of safety-tested specialty stall fronts, backs, partitions and doors, including sliding and dutch doors, about a decade ago.

After 20 years on the job, Paul knows first-hand the benefits of ordering horse stalls and buildings from one company with plenty of equine experience.  His observations:

Safety

Animal and human safety should always be an owner’s first concern. That’s why it’s essential to work with an experienced equine builder. “We’ve listened to a lot of horse owners over the years and have decades of experience perfecting our stalls and barns.” He believes that a single-source supplier is more in tune with every detail, such as eliminating pinch points and sharp edges where stalls connect to the building.

Cost Savings  

A single-source supplier can design its stalls to fit the specific configuration of its horse barn (and horse barns are increasingly becoming more complex, according to Paul.) That means no surprises – or added costs – at install, fewer construction delays and greater longevity. 

Compatibility

Trying to marry stalls from one supplier to a different, non-related building supplier increases the chances of compatibility problems between components. A single source can offer better fit and, thus, smoother function. 

Flexibility

Horse lovers are, well, horse lovers, and a few horses can easily lead to more. Lester makes stall customization an integral part of its building design. Its partitions use laminated columns with a slot at the corner post and at the back wall, so partition walls can be easily removed and quickly modified for foaling.

Durability

Paul likes to point out that durability is a specific bragging point for Lester Buildings. “We use the same strict lumber grading criteria for selecting the planks for our buildings and our stalls. Each piece is visually picked for its specific purpose and placement.”

Aesthetics

Thoughtful integration of stalls into the building leads to a nice, clean look. Lester’s line of Signature stalls match its standard Uni-Rib™ colors so that stalls are visually integrated into the exterior building design. It’s beauty that lasts.

To learn more about Lester Buildings and see a library of equestrian buildings featuring Lester’s Signature Equine Line in your area, visit lesterbuildings.com.

Living with Your Horses

The case for building a horse barn with living quarters.

If living with your horses brings to mind Mary, Joseph and a manger, it’s time to stretch your imagination. Today, a horse barn with living quarters can be a comfortable and economical solution for housing horses and their humans.

Building is Best
Begin by considering your three options. Find an existing property for sale (scarce in most places), convert an existing barn (face strict residential building codes and cost overruns) or build your own structure, often the most economical choice. Here’s the case for pursuing the latter, from Todd Fisher, a Lester Buildings dealer based in Iowa.

“Building a new structure offers the most customization. Not only is every horse owner different, but horse breeds can have different needs, too.” Todd and his employer, K-Van Construction Company, have built several combo buildings, including those with stables, arenas and living quarters.

Getting a structure that suits your lifestyle is essential, adds Bob Johnson, an experienced Lester dealer in Illinois, who operates Bob Johnson Construction. “In 2011, we built a customized barn with living quarters for a veterinarian who wanted to keep a watchful eye on foaling mares via a huge picture window in the living room.” Recently, Bob has been fulfilling a more common request:  horse barns with an 800-1,000 sq. ft. apartment for housing a hired hand.

An Insider’s Advice on Design
Todd and Bob offer this advice to people on the fence about building:

Don’t skimp on design/build –  A professional, collaborative design process will ensure you stay in your budget; a correctly built structure will reduce maintenance costs down the road. In other words, don’t skimp when choosing a design-build company.

Build out, rather than up – Todd advocates building longer and wider to avoid stairs in the living quarters, especially if you plan on living the horse lifestyle into your golden years.

Never compromise ventilation – Avoid building a second story on top of horse stalls. Roof ridge vents over stalls are essential for moving air, odor, dust and dirt up and outside. If you live in a part of the country where it’s customary to have hay storage over the stalls, make sure you have proper roof heights and venting. Also, carefully consider placement of windows, doors and other ventilation options.

Fire prevention – In most cases – and if feasible -- play it safe by housing feed, hay, bedding and power equipment in a separate building not attached to the main structure. Also incorporate fire walls between the barn and living quarters. These design elements will likely reduce your insurance premiums.

Distinct spaces – No matter how much you love your horses (and vice versa), maintain distinct separation between horse and human living spaces. This is especially true if you have a riding arena (more dust, dirt, noise, etc.).

Know your local codes -- Local building codes, zoning laws and permit requirements vary by county. Working closely with your Lester dealer upfront can go a long way to prevent unwanted costs and delays down the road.

To see a complete library of horse barns with living quarters in your area, visit lesterbuildings.com.

Avoid Stuffy Stables with Proper Ventilation

Just like humans, horses need fresh, clean air to breathe. Yet inadequate ventilation is the most common mistake made in construction and management of modern horse stables.

That’s according to Eileen Fabian Wheeler, Ph.D., a professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Penn State. Although it’s been a decade since first published, her article, “Horse Stable Ventilation”* is still relevant today. Many barn builders, including Lester Buildings, practice her basic principles. Al Miller, a Lester sales manager and horse owner, is a fan.

“Most horses are standing 15 hours a day in a stall. If your barn isn’t providing enough fresh air and you’re not removing heat in summer and moisture in winter, your horses are much more susceptible to health problems,” he explains. Al has helped numerous Lester clients build horse barns, from simple stables to elaborate riding arenas.

Ventilation Factors to Consider

First, hire a designer/builder who knows barn ventilation basics, which are different than residential or commercial needs. Per Dr. Wheeler, ventilation should:

• Bring fresh air into the building through planned inlets
• Thoroughly mix outside and inside air; remove heat, moisture, pathogens; lower temperature, humidity and contamination levels
• Exhaust moist, contaminated air (and odors) from the building. 

Other considerations will include the building site and landscaping (for example, drainage), size and design of building, number of horses, and weather. In Al’s experience, with the right design, it’s possible to vent naturally, rather than mechanically.

“Lester uses a vented ridge cap and overhang system that suits most barns really well. I’ll also often suggest dutch doors and a grilled stall bottom to help move air around horses’ feet.” He adds that a very large horse complex -- or an owner who prefers a completely insulated barn -- will probably need power ventilation. He cautions to not lose sight of what’s best for the horse or horses. “Some people put their own comfort above what a horse needs. But they’re two very different things.”

The Goal

Aim for a comfortably (by horse standards) dry stable with no condensation. And hire a builder who is committed to preventing a stuffy stable with good ventilation. To learn more about Lester Buildings and see a library of equestrian buildings in your area, visit lesterbuildings.com.

Considering a New Horse Barn? Chew on This.

Building a new horse barn is an exciting opportunity to get the type of stable you want and the type of shelter your horses need and deserve. But like any new construction, it’s no small task. It requires forethought, decision making and financial planning. It begins with choosing an experienced builder who listens well and can guide you through the process of customization.

Al Miller and Ivan Hovden, both with Lester Buildings, have extensive experience building horse barns of all sizes (from just a few stalls to enormous riding arenas with full amenities) in Illinois. Ranking the biggest considerations is tough. “Horse people are A to Z. They really vary in what they want,” says Al. Regardless, both men agree on those issues that top the list.

Proper ventilation is the leader. “One of the biggest mistakes I see is putting ‘people comfort’ above horse comfort. Getting ventilation right is critical for keeping horses healthy,” Ivan adds. Lester dealers work with owners to discuss ventilation options, as well as other factors that can reduce moisture build-up, such as roof style, pitch and porches.

Barn size and configuration – also in relation to horse health, safety and comfort – are other list leaders. Ivan adds, “Every customer wants something a little different. Lester dealers sit down with each owner, using real-time computer design to customize the layout and track cost.” Those discussions will include reviewing framing and rafter systems, and the number, size and design/style of stalls, alleyways and gates. Lester prides itself on creating intuitive designs that combine the practical, aesthetic and emotional nuances of the equestrian lifestyle.

Al has been a horse owner for a dozen years and his father was a vet. Al insists that stall design is a particular science. “An experienced builder will ask what type of horses a customer has or plans on having, if stalls should accommodate foaling, if horse contact between stalls is desired, and if horses have any behaviors that might be a concern, like cribbing or escaping.” Lester offers its own line of safety-tested specialty stalls, stall doors, dutch doors and sliding doors.

Al also stresses the importance of a builder who has flexibility in column layout, to maximize space without compromising durability, and a builder who is conscious of keeping the building site clean and tidy. “There shouldn’t be any nails or fasteners left behind that could cause injury down the road. You want a crew who’s very careful.”

Of course, there will be many secondary, but equally important, decisions:  feed storage, watering systems, lighting, monitoring systems (cameras), etc. Lester dealers will also help owners decide on interior and exterior aesthetic details (Lester has endless options) that pull the design together and leave an owner feeling proud.

To learn more about Lester Buildings and see a library of equestrian buildings in your area, visit lesterbuildings.com.