Stall size dilemma

[Hope_And_A_Prayer]

I need to put 2 stalls into a pole barn for 2 teenage geldings (15.1h compact & 16.3h gangly). Usage would be summer fly protection and bad weather shelter. The dilemma is due to size constraints and barn layout.

While my ultimate wish would be 12x12’s, unfortunately that won’t work here. I can do 10x10 (inside measurement) stalls on one side of barn with dutch doors going out to a 10x12 overhang for each stall. On the other side I can do 10x14 stalls but no access available to outside.

In the 10x10s the dutch doors would be open most of the time (the overhang would actually be used as a run-in shelter) but they might need to be closed in some situations. Have read multiple threads this week – wwyd?

[Willesdon]

Do the horses need to be kept separately or could they share one large enclosure? As one person responded in another thread, you can put a small horse in a big stall but a large horse in a small one is not good.

[Pico_Banana]

In bad weather, would you shut the doors on the smaller stalls? If you would leave them open, I’d go for the smaller size as I like my horses to be able to go in or out as they choose. And when they are in, they can still stick their heads out the door so they feel bigger. I’d also put in lower stall fronts so they don’t feel so enclosed. And give them a way to stick their heads in the aisle if they want to look in that direction, like a yoke in the door or something.

That is basically my setup except with 10x12s and my short backed 16.3 mare fits with plenty of room. My gelding, who is 16.3 but is 6 inches longer than my mare, feels cramped in this size but he chooses to live outside pretty much all the time except for when it’s raining. (And he actually has a 12x15 stall but I tried him in the smaller one to see how he’d fit.)

[sascha]

Can you give us a diagram of the building with doors, windows, where your overhang/pasture would be, etc?

Sometimes fresh eyes can find different solutions

[Pehsness]

My two share a 12x12 (maybe a hair bigger, and it’s a horse and a mini). It works because it’s very rare they get shut in.

In your case I wouldn’t think twice and go for 2 10x10s with access to outside. I might also try to design it so the centre wall swings or can come out to make it bigger.

If they live in for any period 10x10 is too small. But as a run in… I think it’s fine.

[Bluey]

It depends on the horses and what else is going on there.
How often will the weather require horses be shut in the stall and how often do they go out to do other in a day.

In principle, a stall with any kind of run to outside is always preferable to one, even a bigger one, without a run.

[Montanas_Girl]

Most show facility stalls are 10’x10’. If they’re not going to be kept in daily, then that size will be just fine, especially with access to small runs.

[2DogsFarm]

I can go @Pehsness 1 better.
It’s not at all uncommon for me to find my current 3 sharing a single 12X12.
16h horse, 13h pony & 34" mini.
Same when I had a 17h TWH & 16h TB.
Then 17’3 WB & the pony.
All geldings.
Stalls are left open in all weather, year-round.
Dutch doors open to drylot, that opens to pastures.
Of course, YMMV, but in 20yrs of this, no issues.

Even in tie-stalls, horses as large as Drafts can lie down. Sternal, not flat out, but some are still kept this way.
IMO, larger is always better if possible, but your 10X10 with free access would be my choice.

[luvmyhackney]

I have a couple 10’x11’ stalls. My 16.2 horse had no issues with them.

[Bonnie2]

If they are only going to be shut in occasionally, 10 x 10 is fine.

[Bluey]

Our old, as in 1960 stalls in our 22 stall race training barn were 10’x10’, all but three corners of the U, that were by necessity 10’x14’.
Those horses in the ends would rarely use those last 4’, stood head over the dutch doors or sleeping on the front 10’x10’ part.

[trubandloki]

@Montanas_Girl

Most show facility stalls are 10’x10’. If they’re not going to be kept in daily, then that size will be just fine, especially with access to small runs.

Totally this!
I would totally do the 10x10 stalls with the attached outdoor area.

Please do not plan on horses sharing a small confined space.
It works for some, and then it does not work anymore and it is ugly for the poor horse that is trapped and being attacked.

[JumpWithPanache]

Totally following along on this. I’m debating having one of the pre-made Amish-built shedrows put in as a first phase barn and the 10’ wide is how I’m leaning since it’s SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than a 12’ wide stall. Would there be much difference between a 10x12 and a 10x14 (yes, I know there’s a math difference)? Horses will probably be on a day/night turnout schedule, although will try to keep stall-time shorter than turnout time. Biggest horse is 17.1, pushing 84" for a blanket.

[Bluey]

Some testing did show that horses in rectangular sizes, not square, seem to do better all around.
They lined up on the long side to stand and lay down and tended to walk the stall less, more contended in there?

When building new, I would go, within reason, as big as possible.
Our old barn stalls were 12’x14’ is now our quarantine barn, new barn stalls are 12’x16’, so we could make outside runs wider at 16’, horses are not fighting as much in that bit more space with their neighbor when irritated by something.

It does cost more, but dividing the cost over years, if it fits to go bigger, it seems better for the horses.

[luvmyhackney]

I have 20 - 11x11 stalls, 5- 10x11 stalls, 2 - 10x10 stalls.

Prior to me buying they housed TB race horses with zero issues in any of the stalls. As long as they have room to lay down, horses are probably fine.

[Pehsness]

Whoever said about hanging their heads out… that is so true. I have a Dutch door on the driveway side and a slider on the horse exit side. Slider open 98% of the time, dutch top open 75% of the time. They’re always standing with a head hanging out one side or the other, and it does make it feel much more spacious.

Only closed in driving rain or snow. And you can’t beat the airflow!

[Pehsness]

This is basically what i have. It’s a 12x20 shed that we customized with the sliding door and dutch door. Built a wall inside so I have a 7x12 (roughly) feed room and they share the rest.

One thing I would say, depending on weather, the deeper you can go the better, so the weather doesn’t come in. I find 12 feet deep is just enough that even in a blizzard they can be back far enough to stay out of the wind and snow, and I don’t have to shut the door.

It was supposed to be my starter barn too… 10 years ago, lol

[PaddockWood]

Pictures would be helpful. My vote is if you have shade and wind blockage, then just install two or three enclosed motor fans and point those guys on them during flies. I turn mine on high in the summer during flies and there is a seriously nice amount of fan movement and flies aren’t on them. Is the stall idea to keep them from standing out in the rain? I hate small stalls.

[Festivity]

I can go one better @2DogsFarm, in my old barn I’d often find my 4 all together in one of the 12’x12’ stalls that opened to the turnout. There were multiple stalls available for run in but they preferred to be together. They ranged from 14.2-15.1 and it was quite packed in there. Not something I’d encourage. So with the new barn I went with rolling center walls across the whole thing. Most of the time it’s all open so they can share a 12’x48’ space with 4 outside doors and give me fewer grey hairs. If possible I’d see if you can do one big stall instead of two smaller ones, if both horses get along.

[Mango20]

My stalls are 12 x 12 but the walls are only 4’ high so the horses and stick their heads out on two or three sides. The 12 hand pony can only stick his head out over the stall guard.