| ing a Floor Plan | | | | which boarders can store their tack. This helps keep |
| If you are going to build a barn, it is important to | | | | the clutter in control and keep boarders from taking up |
| carefully consider what you will need as you create | | | | too much space. |
| your floor plan. There are several essential spaces | | | | 5. Hay Storage |
| needed in a barn, and unless you plan for them ahead | | | | All barns need a place to store hay. You can store the |
| of time, you may find that you are not prepared once | | | | hay in a loft, or in a part of the barn itself. Some people |
| your horses move in. | | | | choose to store hay in a separate building. If you do |
| 1. Stalls | | | | this, be sure to include a small space to store hay |
| This may be obvious, but you will need to plan how | | | | currently in use. You should be able to manage at least |
| many stalls you need, and how big they should be. The | | | | 50-100 bales in your barn at all times. |
| average box stall is 10’x10’. This is | | | | 6. Grooming Areas |
| adequate for most horses, but if you have bigger | | | | Whether you choose to set up crossties in the aisle, or |
| animals or draft horses you might want to build some | | | | build grooming stalls, be sure to designate a specific |
| bigger stalls. Ponies need less space and can be | | | | area for grooming horses. If you run a boarding facility |
| happy in a 6’x8’ stall. If you plan on | | | | or a riding school, you will need to have several |
| having foals, either build two stalls with a removable | | | | grooming areas to manage the traffic. A wash stall is |
| divider between them, or build an extra large stall at | | | | a nice luxury to offer if you have the room. |
| least 12’x14’ in size. Standing stalls are | | | | 7. A Washroom |
| another option you might want to consider, but | | | | While this is more of a luxury, if you are boarding |
| remember that many horses will not be comfortable in | | | | horses it is an essential. Whether you use an outhouse, |
| a standing stall if they are used to having a box stall. | | | | a rental unit, or have a real bathroom, you should plan |
| 2. The Aisle | | | | where you will have it set up. If you choose to use the |
| It is important to build an aisle that is wide enough to | | | | bathroom in your house, be sure that you are ok with |
| lead your horses without incident. If the stalls allow the | | | | having visitors and boarders coming in to use the |
| horses to hang their heads out, you will need some | | | | facilities as necessary. |
| extra width to prevent biting as other horses pass. | | | | 8. Bedding Storage |
| Ideally an aisle should be at least 10’ wide. If you | | | | You will need bedding for your horses. No matter what |
| want to drive a tractor, truck, hay wagon or other | | | | type of bedding you use, you will need somewhere to |
| equipment through the barn, you need to plan the aisle | | | | store it. Bedding should be stored somewhere dry and |
| to be wide enough that such vehicles can pass | | | | easily accessible so you can get it when you are |
| through with adequate clearance. | | | | mucking stalls. Beware of open piles of bulk shavings. |
| 3. Feed Room | | | | The wind will blow it around and the rain will ruin a lot |
| You will need to build an enclosed room in which to | | | | of your bedding. While a tarp will cover it, you still have |
| store the feed. This room should be designed so that | | | | to worry about putting the tarp up and down every |
| you can keep loose horses from getting into it, | | | | time you muck stalls. |
| reducing the risk of colic due to gorging. The feed | | | | 9. Manure Pile |
| room should be big enough to manage any feed bins | | | | Plan where you will stack your manure when you |
| that you will be using.. Old, non-functional freezers with | | | | muck. There needs to be easy access from the barn. |
| intact seals are excellent storage bins for grain, being | | | | The manure pile should not be too close, but not too |
| rodent-proof. It is useful to have a fridge in the feed | | | | far, especially if you are using wheelbarrows. If |
| room to keep medications in (and cold drinks in the | | | | possible, place it out of obvious sight. Placing the |
| summer!). A sink with running water is very useful. A | | | | manure pile downwind from the barn will help keep the |
| small hot-water tank is a luxury that would be nice for | | | | odor to a minimum. |
| making bran mashes. | | | | 10. Turn-out |
| 4. Tack Room | | | | As you plan your barn, keep in mind where your |
| This is where you will store all the tack and equipment | | | | paddocks are. Plan your exits so that you will be easily |
| for the horses. This room should be as large as you | | | | able to access all turn-outs. If the paddock gates are |
| can manage, especially if you are running a boarding | | | | far away from the barn, it will require a long walk to |
| stable. Consider the size of the average tack truck, | | | | get to them. Turn-out takes enough time as it is, |
| and plan enough space for one truck for each | | | | without wasting time due to poor planning. |
| boarder. Some barns choose to design lockers in | | | | |