small barn planning

[paintedtrails]

Last year we bought a house with enough land to do ~2+acres of pasture and woods to bring my horse home (plus 1 when time comes) and have been working to clear it and make plans!

The area were are having cleared to establish pasture/grass has been allowed to over-grow for a while, but it has been bouncing back quickly as we get rid of the crud. While the completion of it all I know is easily a year+ away, I’m working to price out the barn and fencing portion to get ourselves ready for it.

Here’s the main question…There used to be a barn here years ago, so there is a concrete pad that spans the length of part of the future pasture and is currently just covered in inches of grass/clay. My plan was to use this pad to set our barn on. Once we have it cleaned up some more I’ll be able to measure exact sizing, but I know it will handle a 12x36. I’m thinking a large run-in area (12x24 that I divide with panels if needed for a layup) and a tack/feed room (and hopefully have space to make a lean-to/overhang front)…separate building for hay and husband’s stuff.

The run-in area would be on the concrete — so would you still do it like a stall? Add mats and heavy bedding over?

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

This is just my opinion. But I would try to do a deeper building or extend the overhang out further if this is the only shelter–i.e. no other barn. How big is your cement pad?

Also if you double up your overhang you can have more of a shield from wind and rain if you need to have the vet out or the farrier.

I have a 16x16 run in, which I am expanding to another stall this summer. I have a separate tie stall as well. I REALLY miss having a totally enclosed area.

Deeply bedding your run in is like having all of the negatives associated with stall care without having the good parts, imo. I only do it on rare occasions (insane mud, etc.). My horses will come in out of the pasture to defecate in the run in if it is bedded.

[paintedtrails]

To clarify - that depth/size I mentioned was without the overhang.

I’m still waiting to see exact size of the pad. We’re still in the clearing stages so we will have all the grass/clay scraped from there to see what it is exactly left behind. That may change some plans, but this is just what I’m thinking so far.

I don’t want to stall my horses, I want to give them the shelter if they choose it (and also fencing into our woods for more shade areas). So I’m def torn on the “two stall” option and leaving it open all the time (and praying for no fights) or just a run-in area that can be made into stalls if needed.

[Ready_To_Riot]

So you’re going to have 2 buildings? Just making sure I read that right. You could do a 12x12 feed/tack room and then create 2 12x12 stalls. I would however lay another 6’ of concrete along that 36’ with an over hang roof. That gives you standing room out of mud. Because there will be mud. Mat the stalls but leave the rest unmated and in bedded.

Something like this: https://www.horizonstructures.com/horse-barns/shedrow-horse-barns

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

If they are running in and out at liberty, I would leave as much of an opening as possible. So I wouldn’t put a face on the stall. Less likelihood of someone getting beat up/trapped or clipping their hip going in and out at will. Less to get damaged and need to be fixed. If you need to make one of them into a stall, you could use a gate.

[paintedtrails]

[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;8451309]
If they are running in and out at liberty, I would leave as much of an opening as possible. So I wouldn’t put a face on the stall. Less likelihood of someone getting beat up/trapped or clipping their hip going in and out at will. Less to get damaged and need to be fixed. If you need to make one of them into a stall, you could use a gate.[/QUOTE]

Exactly why I was doing a larger run in size that could be divided

The second building will be something for hay storage since I can’t do a barn with loft, nor does it make sense to me for just 2 horses on a smaller lot to have a big barn (as much as would love a full barn!)

[paintedtrails]

So if the stalls/run in area are on the concrete as well just put mats it sounds like?

If things work out to my advantage I might be able to set the barn area off the pad all together and have a large concrete area to cover all or part of, I’m juts not sure about dimensions of what space will be left behind it after clearing is done.

I guess then it becomes a matter of do I want stalls on concrete or not if that space is available

[IPEsq]

I think the farrier/vet comments above are worth considering. You could use the pad for a structure that would provide a work area out of the elements which could also double as a grooming area, and then use the structure to also house your tack room. Perhaps expand the pad if needed to make an area for hay storage, since it will be separate from the horse “living” area. Then, you could put a more basic run-in shelter out in the pasture.

[paintedtrails]

yes, I want to keep part of it sheltered and concrete for vet/farrier use.
The layout and size of the pasture I’m doing doesn’t make sense to me to do a separate run-in…my personal desires really.

[Ready_To_Riot]

My suggestion still stands for what I posted, even if you leave the open front. FWIW, my best friend has had this set up for years (not open front, just complete stalls) and has sale horses in and out all the time and has never had a fight.

[paintedtrails]

that is my basic plan…I am just wondering more about the “flooring” for the horses sake.

One of my favorite designs for what you describe (adding an overhang as well)
https://www.icreatables.com//horse-barns/12x30-RITRWF-run-in-shed-with-tack-room-plans.html

which I guess is really this one:
https://www.icreatables.com///horse-barns/22x30-RITR-LT-run-in-shed-tack-room--plans.html

[enjoytheride]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/20892581@N04/23917096995/in/dateposted-public/

This is a friend’s barn, there are three photos, she only uses it during the summer and boards her horse during our Indiana winters and it works great as a low maintenance small foot print barn. There is a run in shed big enough for two horses, then a solid wall with a single “stall” door that closes the rest of the barn off from the elements. Then there is a concrete area fully enclosed where you can tack up, store tack and feed, farrier work, etc. She also has a small loft where she stores a few bales at a time. I think it’s a great set up.

[Highflyer]

Yes, concrete flooring is ok if you use mats and bed well. You will have to clean it out pretty regularly, but with only 2 acres you would anyway. I actually would put a substantial overhang on and close the run-in off except in bad weather, though.

[yellowbritches]

Here is my 2 cents, having lived with JUST a run in (and not nearly as nice as what you’re talking about). Give yourself the option for stalls AND a medical paddock. Hopefully you’ll never need either. But I think having the option to stall an injured horse and keep it confined is hugely important. I watched my land lady struggle when she had a horse here who needed stall rest and small paddock turnout. The stall was ok…she divided the run in with gates. But it wasn’t ideal and it was a bit of a PITA. And small paddock turnout meant schlepping hot wire all over the place and praying he wouldn’t decide to go though it. A simple two stall shed row type barn with a generous over hang gives you LOTS of options.

As for flooring, if the horses will be potentially standing around on concrete a lot (either in stalls or chilling in the shade), I would mat the area. I don’t love stalls on concrete, but it’s ok if they are matted and preferably deeply matted if they’re using them.

[GotMyPony]

@paintedtrails;8451761

One of my favorite designs for what you describe (adding an overhang as well)
https://www.icreatables.com//horse-barns/12x30-RITRWF-run-in-shed-with-tack-room-plans.html

Coincidentally our own self-designed 13-yo run-in type barn is very much like the layout in your first rendering, with an 8’ overhang off the front. That gives us a 24x20 horse/donk area where they come and go at will, plus a 6’ wide tack/feed room on one side.

When my horse needed lay-up, I separated his area with 2 corral panels, one plain and another with a built-in 4’ gate that together formed a 12x12 stall on one side of the run-in. I’ve left that up although I leave the gate open unless I need to keep him up for some reason.

Three things I would suggest: 1) extend the tack/feed room completely out under your 8’ overhang, giving you a 6x20 room rather than just a 6x12. We did the 6x12 originally and years later added on to it and it’s much better with more room, especially if you’re keeping both tack and feed in there. 2) If you’re building it yourself see if you can find some “sidelight” type windows (i.e., long narrow ones) at a salvage place and install 2-3 high up on the walls (out of horses’ reach). We have three total and it’s a great way to get natural light in there. 3) Rather than have the tack room door on the front like the one on the drawing, we put it on the side and toward the back. Because our whole thing is actually on the perimeter fence line we fenced the horses away from the tack-room door. Makes it easy for us to come and go without their “help” and keeps them from ever breaking in. We have a narrow fence opening to step from the tack room area into the pasture (actually a dry lot in our case); the horses can’t get through the opening but we can without the hassle of dealing with a gate with our hands full. Depending on where your pad is relative to the fencing, this might also work for you.

Good luck with your project!

[AKB]

Make sure your overhang is big enough. I have an 8’ overhang on part of my barn and a 12’ in another area. The 12’ is wonderful. The 8’ is not big enough to keep the rain, snow, and sun out of the barn.

i would make sure you can close the horses into the run in, as needed. If one eats a pound of food and the other eats 10lbs, you want to be able to confine them apart during meals.

[paintedtrails]

[QUOTE=AKB;8452454]
Make sure your overhang is big enough. I have an 8’ overhang on part of my barn and a 12’ in another area. The 12’ is wonderful. The 8’ is not big enough to keep the rain, snow, and sun out of the barn.

i would make sure you can close the horses into the run in, as needed. If one eats a pound of food and the other eats 10lbs, you want to be able to confine them apart during meals.[/QUOTE]

Yes, one reason I want stalls/the ability for a stall is for feeding. Though, I can just tie them up and wait too…

[QUOTE=GotMyPony;8452222]Coincidentally our own self-designed 13-yo run-in type barn is very much like the layout in your first rendering, with an 8’ overhang off the front. That gives us a 24x20 horse/donk area where they come and go at will, plus a 6’ wide tack/feed room on one side.

When my horse needed lay-up, I separated his area with 2 corral panels, one plain and another with a built-in 4’ gate that together formed a 12x12 stall on one side of the run-in. I’ve left that up although I leave the gate open unless I need to keep him up for some reason.

Three things I would suggest: 1) extend the tack/feed room completely out under your 8’ overhang, giving you a 6x20 room rather than just a 6x12. We did the 6x12 originally and years later added on to it and it’s much better with more room, especially if you’re keeping both tack and feed in there. 2) If you’re building it yourself see if you can find some “sidelight” type windows (i.e., long narrow ones) at a salvage place and install 2-3 high up on the walls (out of horses’ reach). We have three total and it’s a great way to get natural light in there. 3) Rather than have the tack room door on the front like the one on the drawing, we put it on the side and toward the back. Because our whole thing is actually on the perimeter fence line we fenced the horses away from the tack-room door. Makes it easy for us to come and go without their “help” and keeps them from ever breaking in. We have a narrow fence opening to step from the tack room area into the pasture (actually a dry lot in our case); the horses can’t get through the opening but we can without the hassle of dealing with a gate with our hands full. Depending on where your pad is relative to the fencing, this might also work for you.

Good luck with your project![/QUOTE]

Thanks! I had seen side entry doors, but didn’t think about it much. Current plan puts the barn in the middle of the pasture area. But, may change that to closer to the fence line depending how it all looks after we get rid of the thicket lol.