Kiley, Lisa: Stall Construct., pt. 2

By Lisa Kiley | https://www.cashmans.com/

Stall Fronts and Walls

Last month we discussed different things to think about when you are starting a stall project like the structure of the building and working within the parameters of the barn. This month we are going to zero in on what is needed when constructing the sides and fronts of a built-in stall. By considering the different options and settling on the one that will work best for your barn, you can rest assured that you will be happy with your decision to tackle stalls as a do-ityourself project. Start with the layout for the stalls; if you are using the side and back walls of the barn, this can be more cost effective than constructing a back that does not utilize the wall of the barn. It is very important that if the walls of the barn are metal that they are lined with wood for the safety of the animal. An exposed metal wall leaves the opportunity for a kick to dent or go through a wall which can cause extreme damage to your horse and the barn. Because the layout differs for most barns, the cost of each stall will differ. If you have to create 3 walls and a front for a stall, it will be the most expensive, but each stall you add next to it will only be 2 walls and a front and will therefore be less expensive, so in order to budget, look for ways to share common walls to keep costs down. The recommended height of stall walls is 7.5' to 8'. This discourages horses from trying to reach over the stall with their head or hoof. Measure out the spaces carefully to make sure that you are buying the appropriate size materials for the space. One nice thing when you are working with built-in stalls is that you can make them whatever size you want, or the sizing based on the barn dimensions. Stall sizing will be dependent on the animals you are housing, but generally, stall sizes that are 12'x12' or larger are best, especially for full sized horses or those who will be spending a considerable amount of time in their stalls. horses from touching noses or seeing each other to keep equine conflict at the barn to a minimum. When selecting grills, it is very important to ensure that the bars are spaced correctly to prevent a horse from getting a hoof caught in-between. Using strong, safe, metals like steel or aluminum is important so that the bars will not break under pressure and leave jagged metal for the horse to get caught on, which could be a disaster. This goes for grills that are used on the fronts of the stalls as well. Not all bars are created equally, and it pays to invest in durable materials. Aisle space needs to be wide enough for horses to move up and down safely and for chores to be done with ease, i.e., you may want enough space for a tractor to get down the aisleway or even enough space for a truck. Balancing functionality with cost is important, but not allowing for enough aisleway space is often a common regret when constructing stalls. Stall doors will also impact aisleway space. Doors that slide are going to be the most space saving while doors or gates that swing out will take up aisle space. Sometimes even if you choose to use sliding doors, you may want to add stall gates in the future to allow horses more ventilation and socialization, so factoring in space for that is suggested.

When beginning the construction of the side walls, consider using u-channels, they will help stabilize the wall from the ground up. When stacking the boards for the wall, you can go up to 10' in length with only one wall brace or stiffener. If you are making larger stalls (12'-14') you will want to use two wall braces to ensure that the wall is solid and can stand up to the pressure your horse can exert on any place in the wall. Without proper bracing, walls will not stand up to horses leaning and kicking and may pose a hazard if the construction is faulty. When it comes to selecting the appropriate wood for the stall walls and fronts, tongue and groove provides the best stability because it eliminates gaps and firms up the wall more than standard boards. Using the highest quality of wood you can source that has been pressure treated from a reputable dealer will provide materials that will stand the test of time. Harder woods are going to stand up against wear and tear better than softer woods. The amount of lumber you will need will depend on the size of the stalls and what type of grills you will be installing. Doors are typically 48” wide and while you may want to go larger, for the safety of the horses, you won't want to go any smaller. In addition, if you are interested in adding gates to the stalls in the future, they are typically 52” wide. Determine where you want the doors, there is no standard, you can have them all on the left, all on the right or doors can even be next to each other. Where you put the doors often has to do with where the clearance is in the space you have. Take the time to really think about movement in the barn and how you and the horses will need to move around day to day to prevent issues within the space. Stay rollers on doors are so important as a safety measure – a door that is not properly secured is a safety risk as the horse can get a leg caught or try to squeeze out and get injured. When it comes to construction of the stall, thinking of safety for your horse and using solid, well-made materials will give you the best return on investment.

Choosing to put grills into the sides of stalls will depend on what your personal usage is for the barn. Grills are wonderful for creating ventilation in a barn and it can be great for horses that do better with socialization. However, if the stalls are being constructed for a training barn, or a place where horses are coming and going all the time, sometimes having a full wall is best because it can help keep

Lisa Kiley is a lifelong horse enthusiast who has worked in the equine industry and shown horses for many years. She is also a proud member of the Cashman’s Horse Equipment Team in

Delaware, Ohio. Cashman’s Horse Equipment has been proudly providing top quality products to the equine and agricultural community for over 40 years, with a commitment to sourcing environmentally conscious merchandise and items made in the U.S.A. https://www.cashmans.com/ Lisa and Cotton (26) WWW.SADDLEUPMAG.COM