wooden stables?

[ggmncb]

Hi guys I was just wondering the pros and cons of these as opposed to brick/concrete/solid stables?

[KarinUS]

Wood is probaly cheaper and easier to build yourself than brick.
It's hot where we are and ventilation is more of a concern than protection from really bad weather. The pros and cons really depend on your location as well.
Horses can chew on wood and cause damage.
I never seen a stable build with concrete walls. Were you refering to the flooring?
Concrete flooring can be slippery and it does not drain. Compacted dirt/road base floors drain better but can be dusty and horses can paw holes into them.

I have a wooden barn with metal elements on a compacted roadbase foundation with a leach system.
The main reason for this was BUDGET. But I am happy with it.

[ggmncb]

Karin,
The stables i'm used to are all concrete/breezeblock built, walls od breeze block and concrete floors with shavings etc built with a slope for draining <not a massive slope mind you!!>

. I was looking at a yard today with wooden stables with concrete floors and I've never had my horse in those sorts of stables. Is it possible for him to kick his way through? and are there any preventative measures to stop them chewing the stables?

[KarinUS]

Yes! The type of board to use are 2 inches thick. ANything thinner would be a hazard because it could be kicked through.
Our barn has a steel frame and all edges are steel enforced so nothing to chew on...

[ggmncb]

Thanks Karin,
I'm just worried because in the past my fella has been known to kick his stable door, he's never caused any damage to it as its pretty thick wood, one of the doors he's had has had the piece of metal on the top to stop chewing but he did pull that off. Would treating the wood with creosote help as well as the metal?

I'm sorry for sooo many questions!

[Still Falling]

The advantage of a wooden stable is you dont need to apply for planning permission if you were to put one up, unlike brick stables.

[Lora]

I was reading on this topic (somewhere in my horse care travels) and the article mentions that concrete is really bad if you have a horse that kicks.

It goes on to say that your horse can damage it's hoof by kicking the concrete. (ouch) I can't say if this is true, the stable where I ride uses super thick wood.

[artemis]

Yes you DO need planning permission for wooden stables. If you put them in a "garden" it may come as "permitted development", but if ina field then you do need permission. I have been through all this!!

Mind you planning departments seem to be a law unto themselves, so do planning officers.

I have had wood stables for 16 years & they are fine. uneaten & unkicked:D

[ggmncb]

thanks guys, I was just worried that if he took the notion to give the wall a boot he'd put his foot right through if it was wood. but then again he's never really been a wall kicker in the time I've had him just the odd kick of his door near feeding time!