Stable block vs stable barn
- Thread starter No_Angel
- Start date
for me its the convenience of having everyone under the one roof if its raining - I only need to get soaked emptying the barrow
We have an amazing barn and I think the horses relaly like it too, we have 5ft galvanised gates each end, which allows for air flow but also security. Twice now in the morning I have gone up to find a horse out of their stable, gawd knows how we have bolts and kick bolts, worse damage that comes to them is they eat everyone elses feed.
I do like the barn style stables, but I've had 1 of my mares in a coulpe and she totally hated it. The first barn, to get to her stable she had to go past 2 big hunters who were opposite each other. Ever time we went past they would both fly at her. She only just missed being bitten.
The second was much wider, but they had paritions between the stables that were wood at the bottom and bars on the top half. She hated not being able to get away from the other horses, was contantly kicking the stables and trying to attack the other horses. Usually she is a total sweety, totally not like her.
The second was much wider, but they had paritions between the stables that were wood at the bottom and bars on the top half. She hated not being able to get away from the other horses, was contantly kicking the stables and trying to attack the other horses. Usually she is a total sweety, totally not like her.
I do like the barn style stables, but I've had 1 of my mares in a couple and she totally hated it. The first barn, to get to her stable she had to go past 2 big hunters who were opposite each other. Ever time we went past they would both fly at her. She only just about missed being bitten.
The second was much wider, but they had paritions between the stables that were wood at the bottom and bars on the top half. She hated not being able to get away from the other horses, was contantly kicking the stables and trying to attack the other horses. Usually she is a total sweety, totally not like her.
The second was much wider, but they had paritions between the stables that were wood at the bottom and bars on the top half. She hated not being able to get away from the other horses, was contantly kicking the stables and trying to attack the other horses. Usually she is a total sweety, totally not like her.
I like American barns as you can shelter from the weather abit more 
And my lad likes seeing the other horses close to him. However they can get abit dusty if you keep hay and straw in there.
And my lad likes seeing the other horses close to him. However they can get abit dusty if you keep hay and straw in there.
i prefer a block to a barn. Main reason being when they are stabled for a time in a block, they can see and hear what's going on around them. Bons was box rested in an internal stable and got very depressed staring at a stone wall. She was much happier in the outdoor facing block we moved to.
Is there a dust problem in barns then? All the stables would be rubber matting with hardly any/no bedding to keep dust down anyway, but I wouldn't want a build up of dust. Only barn I was in was quite dusty, but there was lots of straw in there.
I want 8-10 stables and a tack/feed room, do you think with 'normal' stables you would get more stables in the same area a barn would take up?
I want 8-10 stables and a tack/feed room, do you think with 'normal' stables you would get more stables in the same area a barn would take up?
I like both, If I had the option of anything I wanted I would probably go for a barn or a combo (my friend has this option and its great).
If I had a barn it would have to have doors both ends for access and also air flow, they can get stuffy in summer if you can't open them up enough and the air flow helps move the dust out.
My friend has about 15 stable size sections set in a square facing in to each other, in one corner with floor to celing walls is a tack room, another corner is her feed room, another a foaling size box and the other corner is a hay store, in between there are stables on all sides apart from one stable size section which is missing gives you your access. This structure has a large overhanging roof going into the middle but it does mean the very centre is open, all the stables are the 'inside' type with solid bottoms and bars on the top half, in the centr of them is a tieing up area. To me this gives the best of both, the stables are open and bright and all horses can see one another, but because its 4 sides the wind doesn't howl through and in winter you can reach all horses and feed and hay etc with getting drenched, but in the summer you tie in the middle and still enjoy a groom in the sun, Its great
If I had a barn it would have to have doors both ends for access and also air flow, they can get stuffy in summer if you can't open them up enough and the air flow helps move the dust out.
My friend has about 15 stable size sections set in a square facing in to each other, in one corner with floor to celing walls is a tack room, another corner is her feed room, another a foaling size box and the other corner is a hay store, in between there are stables on all sides apart from one stable size section which is missing gives you your access. This structure has a large overhanging roof going into the middle but it does mean the very centre is open, all the stables are the 'inside' type with solid bottoms and bars on the top half, in the centr of them is a tieing up area. To me this gives the best of both, the stables are open and bright and all horses can see one another, but because its 4 sides the wind doesn't howl through and in winter you can reach all horses and feed and hay etc with getting drenched, but in the summer you tie in the middle and still enjoy a groom in the sun, Its great
Last edited:
I have thought about doing this sort, having them facing each other, with a sheltered roof in the middle to allow the horses to use it as a shelter.
http://www.nzstables.co.nz/stables.php?page=6
http://www.nzstables.co.nz/stables.php?page=6
My friends are like pic 1 with 4 blocks facing in and one of the stables missing to give access.
I would do the barn with doors on both sides approach.
I've been in that setup once and it was great. Horses still got to look out, but you didn't have to get wet outside their stables. Plus advantages for bargey horses (e.g. only ever open the inside doors), better airflow etc and you could shut both outer doors in winter to keep some warmth in.
I've been in that setup once and it was great. Horses still got to look out, but you didn't have to get wet outside their stables. Plus advantages for bargey horses (e.g. only ever open the inside doors), better airflow etc and you could shut both outer doors in winter to keep some warmth in.
I had a mini barn built, 4 stables, 2 facing each other each side plus a tack room at the end. Its fab, the aisle is very wide so no bullying, and the horses have stable doors into the aisle plus half (top) doors to the outside so they get fresh air and views. When those are closed they have barred windows in the middle so the horses can still see out even if the main front door is closed in awful weather. It is lovely and snug in there but instantly coolable with these doors/windows, and its far less dusty than their old livery looseboxes, partly cos the top of the stable is the roof of the building, so no cobwebby rafters, and partly cos we use aubiose/wood pellets.
They can see each other but not bug each other, and I dont get wet mucking out more than necessary, and my radio stays dry too!
They adore it. We are in the Cairngorms so needed something where we could batten down all hatches and it has proved just the job.
I think the best stables are:
1 Very good mini barns
2 Normal stable blocks
3 Very large american barns / one with no outside opening windows/ones badly converted from agricultural sheds
They can see each other but not bug each other, and I dont get wet mucking out more than necessary, and my radio stays dry too!
They adore it. We are in the Cairngorms so needed something where we could batten down all hatches and it has proved just the job.
I think the best stables are:
1 Very good mini barns
2 Normal stable blocks
3 Very large american barns / one with no outside opening windows/ones badly converted from agricultural sheds
newrider.com