Safe ceiling height?

[Horseman15]

I’m trying to design my barn. I have height restrictions because of the local codes so I’m trying to figure out what is a safe height for a stall and a center aisle ceiling for 17hh Thoroughbreds. As much as I dislike the idea of storing my hay in the barn it’s the only practical solution at this point. If I didn’t have the height restriction I could simply store it over the tack room and feed room. But now I’m thinking the storage will end up going over top of the center aisle. So basically I’m looking for a safe flight for the center aisle keeping it on the lower side. Is a 10-foot center aisle ceiling height safe? What about in the Stalls? The other question is if I do an overhang outside what is the height I need at the lowest point?

TIA

[clanter]

since no replies I will just post about our rescue TB mare

Is a 10-foot center aisle ceiling height safe?

Maybe.

I have one TB mare, she was never raced due to a leg injury as a foal she was going to be put down but my daughter intervened… she is about 17h standing but rearing she at about seventeen feet tall

Now she is not the most sensible horse, never has had much of brain about self protection… but she has never ever gotten off the ground in the barn. Our ceiling height is about 14 feet but the door jambs are just eight feet high … she has never let off energy until outside… then it could be a wild west show if the weather has turned cool

My concern about a ten foot hallway ceiling height would be greater depending upon the length of the hallway… if it is a long hallway it could appear to be narrowing tunnel making the horse feel entrapped

[CHT]

I grew up riding at a barn where the ceiling height was probably only 9 feet or so. It was pretty low. The main issue was the light fixtures would end up being even lower, and we did have horses go up and smack their heads. The other issue was poorer ventilation: the barn would get quite warm/stuffy in the summer, but it was a long barn…might not be as much of an issue with a short barn. If the lights could be recessed or to the side maybe?

A consideration with the hay though: the heat from the barn will rise to the top/center, so your hay will be stored at the hottest part of the barn. Might be better to just store on ground level. How are you planning to ventilate the roof?

[Frog_Pond]

I have a Horizon 2-stall barn and the stall doorways are only 7’, and because I don’t have a loft, the overall building is low.
I have a 16hh Standardbred, and while he has bonked his head once while whipping it through the small-ish v-grate in his door, he learned not to repeat that move. I like a higher ceiling and doorways, but, with my calm older horses, I just decided that they’ll have to deal. So far, so good.

Many old new england bank barns are super low and the horses adjust.

Overhang – I don’t have one, and it was a huge mistake. I love a 12’ overhang – saves wear and tear on the stalls, gives good shade and weather coverage.

[goodhors]

I am with the 8-9ft height unless you own fruitloop horses. We have a smaller barn we renovated after buying this farm. It has a short loft area over the stalls. It has actually been a helpful height in preventing horses being stupid trying to go up, because their ears hit it before gaining any height. Young horses being obnoxious, throwing heads up, only bump head one time, then allow you to do what is needed like worming, ear treatments. After that when ears touch above, heads do not go any higher. We have kept a number 17h horses in there without issue.

Height is helpful as the young horses learn to load in trailers, already used to shorter roof height, don’t act silly going up when restrained inside. You don’t see a lot of trailers over 8ft inside, and horses manage in it just fine.

I think PEOPLE think of stuff horse MIGHT be afraid of, so person gets tentative and horse wonders “What is scaring the human? There must be something!” And horse reacts badly. They don’t see stuff like we do, so I don’t think the long, narrow aisle example would be a horse problem at all. Walk thru a couple times so horse learns it is just a aisle to other places. I have seen some SCARY aisles but horses there were not upset or reactive since it was their “normal” way to get places.

We don’t have silly, no-brain horses, though we have young baby horses learning new things. They learn fast that it is MUCH worse going up instead of being obedient. Shorter ceiling is a self-correcting, training tool. They are smart babies, learn from their poor choices. I would go ahead with lhe lower ceiling and worry when something actually happened. We often worry a lot about situations and “What if…” that never actually happens. You could have horses wear a head bumper on halter for a day or two, learn their stall and aisle if you think they actually would go up. Then remove bumper as they settle in. Horse has to learn to deal with what you can provide, within the zoning rules. Riding in trailers, your horses know a lot about short ceilings already!

[Leather]

@goodhors

They learn fast that it is MUCH worse going up instead of being obedient. Shorter ceiling is a self-correcting, training tool. They are smart babies, learn from their poor choices.

Yup. I bought a horse that was herd bound whose MO was to rear if her buddies were turned out before her.
She did that once in my barn.

Like others have said, as long as the light fixtures are out of the way it should be fine.

[TMares]

More than hitting their heads I worry about airflow if the barn is not oriented to catch breezes. My stalls have 8’ ceilings.

[2DogsFarm]

Rafters in my center-aisle barn are 10’, peak is 16’
I have a set of fluorescent fixtures that runs parallel to the aisle inside the stalls @ rafter height - so actual uncovered bulbs are about 6-8" lower.
Even my 17h++ WB never had a problem.

OTOH, I once shattered a similar bulb tossing a blanket over a horse crosstied in the aisle :uhoh:
Surcingle strap flew up & metal buckle hit the bulb. POOF!

Another barn I visited was a repurposed dairy barn - stall ceilings were solid & set @ about 7’.
Horses there learned head-tossing was not a good idea.

I’m with @Frog Pond DO NOT skip the overhang. :no:
Although it was not in my plans, builders took pity & added a minimal overhang - ~2’ - where stalls exit to paddock
Stalls open away from prevailing winds, but the odd storm does send weather into the stalls.

[StormyDay]

Most barns I have been in have ceilings under 10 feet. I have a 17 hand OTTB. He doesn’t have an issue… and even if he did they will do it once and never again. Bonking your head hurts. The major issue I run into is that you have to be careful putting on blankets as 2Dogs said! I once got the surcingle stuck on the rafter of my barn!

[goodhors]

Those with flying surcingles might want to consider putting blankets on from the right side of horse. Lay it across his back, spread it out, get surcingles hanging down, walk to his front to fasten chest straps. Then around to his left side to do up surcingles, check tail strap is in place, both sides are even from the rear, fasten hind leg straps if blanket has them. Only one trip around the horse and you are done!

I changed to saddling from the right years ago because no matter what I did, the girth straps would get caught under the western saddle. Straightening things would then mess up the blanket or pad, make things slide back which meant starting ALL OVER because I could not pull pad back up into place against the lay of his hair. With “all the junk (stirrup, girth or girths, breastcollars)” already hanging off on the right, it is so easy to walk up on horse’s right side, fold left stirrup onto horn, lift and settle saddle in the proper place on horse! Then I undo girths from hooked up location, walk around horse to fasten them up. I can reach over to unhook breastcollar, then fasten it in place across the chest. Left stirrup never comes down until I am ready to mount, have done my last check of girths.

We also harness horses from the right side so there is not all the flying cinches, straps during tacking up. Just walk over to horse on his right side, lift harness and set it quietly on his back, spread things down his back to their approximate location. Then walk around horse and start fastening things in place from front to rear of horse. That lifting harness or saddle high and swinging things to prevent them catching or tangling can make horse jumpy, wondering where things will hit him as they stop their motion. Full set of harness does have a lot of long strapping to get in place, easy to get in a tangle swinging it into place across the horse’s back.

None of ours are the least bit silly being handled from either side because of early training and daily tie stall use with them. Just part of the system here.

[2DogsFarm]

Psssst! @goodhors - the Secret is to drive minis.

I can harness w/o walking around from side to side… just reach over to align parts & pieces.
Same for fastening traces to the swingletree
Of course wrap straps & holdbacks do require walking :rolleyes:

[goodhors]

@2DogsFarm

Psssst! @goodhors - the Secret is to drive minis.

I can harness w/o walking around from side to side… just reach over to align parts & pieces.
Same for fastening traces to the swingletree
Of course wrap straps & holdbacks do require walking :rolleyes:

Ha ha, good one! All ours are tall, even the foal means I am reaching up to halter her now. I consider going around the horses, lifting things onto backs as part of my daily exercise program steps for fitness, improves bone density, etc.