Stall sizes?

[Bluey]

We received all the material Friday and were going to start building our new stalls Monday when COVID hit.
Crew decided to go build fences, where they could be outside and with proper distancing, etc.
Now that things are easing up, they will be coming to work on the stalls soon.

Our problem, we can make those stalls any size, had settled on 16’ wide so the runs off the stalls would be 16’, where horses are not feeling threatened by too close neighbors.
Then, the portable stalls we were placing about 3’ under the roof line, which gave us 16’ x 14’.
Or, we could go 5’ under the roofline, give the stall fronts more protection from the elements and a better area for horses to stand under there if they wanted to.
Then the stalls would end up 16’ x 12’.
Horses will be 99.99% of the time where they can come and go.

We went back and forth and no one could find a good enough reason for or against either size.

My question, anyone that has or has used those size stalls, did they have a preference, a reason to have that much larger stall for average sized horses in the 16’ x 14’ over the 16’ x 12’?
We have had all kinds of sizes before, have now 14’ x 14’ and up to 20’ wide in the other barn.
We never had a 16’ x 12’ and just can’t decide if it would be fine, being that longer and narrower, but seems that having a bit more overhang if that size was ok could possibly be better?

Or any other suggestion on different sizes?

[Redlei44]

12’ would certainly be sufficient for the average horse, and more overhang wouldn’t be bad. In blowing rain, 5’ still wouldn’t keep things dry, but it would be better in milder storms.

Not sure how you bed stalls - I’ve known a couple of folks who built oversize stalls and ended up thinking that it wasn’t worth the trade-off for how much more bedding and labor they required (over time). It does sound like 16’ suits your layout, though.

[Bluey]

@Redlei44

12’ would certainly be sufficient for the average horse, and more overhang wouldn’t be bad. In blowing rain, 5’ still wouldn’t keep things dry, but it would be better in milder storms.

Not sure how you bed stalls - I’ve known a couple of folks who built oversize stalls and ended up thinking that it wasn’t worth the trade-off for how much more bedding and labor they required (over time). It does sound like 16’ suits your layout, though.

That is an answer we can use, thank you.
Since horses will hardly ever be shut in there, a smaller stall would be fine we think, as they can come and go all day long.

We have thought to go 15’ x 12’ or 14’ also.
Any narrower outside individual pens seems to tight if a horse doesn’t like a neighbor,

[Greys]

I have 12’ deep by 16’ wide stalls; I built them at that size for my elderly horses, who would have to be in for longer periods of time during the winter (too much snow and ice for frail oldsters).

They certainly do the job for allowing for movement, but they are significantly (and surprisingly) more work to keep clean than my 12 x 12s when horses are in.

Despite that, I’d still do them again. They’re not difficult to keep at all when the horses have reasonable turnout, and the entire stall doesn’t have to be bedded equally. Also very easy to set fans so that the horses can choose direct airflow or not in hot weather, and they can stretch their legs during extended stays in.

greys

[Bluey]

@Greys

I have 12’ deep by 16’ wide stalls; I built them at that size for my elderly horses, who would have to be in for longer periods of time during the winter (too much snow and ice for frail oldsters).

They certainly do the job for allowing for movement, but they are significantly (and surprisingly) more work to keep clean than my 12 x 12s when horses are in.

Despite that, I’d still do them again. They’re not difficult to keep at all when the horses have reasonable turnout, and the entire stall doesn’t have to be bedded equally. Also very easy to set fans so that the horses can choose direct airflow or not in hot weather, and they can stretch their legs during extended stays in.

greys

Do you think 16’ x 12’ is good enough, or would going to 16’ x 14’ be worth the extra size of the stall, for normal sized horses?

Or those extra 2’ of better use outside?

It is a nice problem to have, to be able to go any sensible size, but don’t want to go more than makes sense.

[ASB_Stars]

What are you building the stalls out of? You are concerned about neighbors, so presumably they can see through whatever you are using?

[fordtraktor]

I have 12 by 12 with 12 by 20ft runs. I have had zero issues in the runs because I ran two strands of electric and three of Centaur HTP, with gates on the end of each. The horses can’t fight over them at all as they are HOT. I don’t find the narrow space to be a problem at all. I think you can pick a width size 12 and above and be happy.

If I had the option, I would have reset the stalls back a bit (I had a limit to how far I could set rafters). they are built in the lee of most of our weather, but occasionally we will get an atypical storm that rains in the stalls so I have to shut my Dutch doors to keep the bedding dry. It’s like twice a year, but I would never have to do that (or more important, think about it and run out to check which is way more than 2x a year). a 6’ overhang would eliminate that need. And you could shut off the stall area and leave the horse in the run if needed for some reason, and still have shelter. I have a stall walker and I think she’d be happier locked “out” when she is in her stall, but instead she gets locked “in” if there is any question about the weather because otherwise she spends ALL DAY making figure 8s. She is much quieter in a smaller space.

In short, I think there is a lot of reason to do the 16’ wide (nice option) but reset the actual stall back under the eave.

Most mornings when I go out, I see five happy horses peering over gates in their runs. I love the runs!

[Bluey]

@fordtraktor

I have 12 by 12 with 12 by 20ft runs. I have had zero issues in the runs because I ran two strands of electric and three of Centaur HTP, with gates on the end of each. The horses can’t fight over them at all as they are HOT. I don’t find the narrow space to be a problem at all. I think you can pick a width size 12 and above and be happy.

If I had the option, I would have reset the stalls back a bit. they are built in the lee of most of our weather, but occasionally we will get an atypical storm that rains in the stalls so I have to shut my Dutch doors to keep the bedding dry. It’s like twice a year, but I would never have to do that (or more important, think about it and run out to check which is way more than 2x a year). a 6’ overhang would eliminate that need. And you could shut off the stall area and leave the horse in the run if needed for some reason, and still have shelter. I have a stall walker and I think she’d be happier locked “out” when she is in her stall, but instead she gets locked “in” if there is any question about the weather because otherwise she spends ALL DAY making figure 8s. She is much quieter in a smaller space.

In short, I think there is a lot of reason to do the 16’ wide (nice option but reset the actual stall back under the eave.

Most mornings when I go out, I see five happy horses peering over gates in their runs. I love the runs!

Good ideas, we may then go the 12’ depth, not 14’, so we have a bit more protection in front of the stall.
I hear you on the orientation of the barn.
I lost that vote long ago, we faced the stalls South, that is where our constant winds and most rain come from, I was voting for facing them East, but is ok, that is now what it is.
I wanted, because of the weather, orient it North/South.
The covered arena is mostly a roping barn and ALL ropers insisted cattle will run better and straight West/East, which is right, so that is how we had to orient it.

We have been back and forth on sizes for long time, no one of us can quite decide, any way will be fine, but surely there ought to be a real good reason to go whatever way we go.
That above all helps, thank all of you!

[dotneko]

Well, there is something new I learned today - cattle run straighter east/west

[ASB_Stars]

@dotneko

Well, there is something new I learned today - cattle run straighter east/west

Who knew? :lol:

[Bluey]

@dotneko

Well, there is something new I learned today - cattle run straighter east/west

… and from the West to the East and you set the stripping chute and their home pens on the East of the arena.

The stripping chute is the narrow exit alley where they jump on a low platform, you take the rope off their head and then let them out in the catch pen with the others.

After they make a learning run or three from the roping boxes to the exit stripping chute right across on the other side, they will run straight and fast to it while being tracked or roped.

For some reason, any other direction than running from West to East, especially in outside arenas, they scotch on you, run crooked, run-in front or into your horses, just don’t bee-line it straight to the other end of the arena.
That makes it harder to train your horses how to become automatic at their jobs of putting you on the right spot and setting the catch up.
Indoors doesn’t seem to be as important which way you run your roping steers.
Someone just came this evening to train a colt for a bit, but on the drag dummy, not live steers.
That one is handy, will run any place, any direction, any speed.

The stalls are along the side of the arena where any wind will blow any arena dust away from them.
Horses seem to love to watch the action, live TV for them.
They spend most of the time in the runs, when someone is riding in the covered arena, they come in the stalls to “supervise”.

[ASB_Stars]

I’ve always felt so sorry for those calves. They’re running scared, and then they get roped around their neck and jerked to the ground. That’s just a nasty thing to do to any animal. I realize, when managing a herd, this does have to happen occasionally. But not like this.

I remember sitting in on a meeting with David O’Connor about marketing to the equestrian, and one of the things he said about rodeo on TV is that “you never see the snap”. In other words, the camera doesn’t show you when that poor calf gets jerked to the ground, so the public just thinks it looks like fun.

Me? Not so much.

[Bluey]

We got our heads together and decided for now, unless we change or minds again, to go as @fordtraktor suggested, 16’ x 12’ and that left us 5’ under the overhang for loafing area.
Runs off the stalls measure 16’ x 60’ and we already have the panels for them made, out of pipe and wire mesh.

One other question, the division walls between stalls we will make 4’ solid in front for privacy at feed time.
At 14’ we were going to have wire mesh 6’ and another solid 4’.
Now on 12’, we would keep the front solid 4’, but then go 4’ wire mesh and 4’ solid, or all 8’ wire mesh?
If a horse is not fond of neighbors, maybe 4’ would be less apt to set it off.
Then, 6’ or 8’ mesh would give us more airflow and line of sight.
Horses in training will come and go, won’t be a steady herd that have friends.
Our experience is, some, especially mares, are not very friendly in that situation and quick to kicking.

Has anyone experiences to share with different openings on stall division walls, maybe?

[Greys]

Hi Bluey,

I didn’t see your question before the site went down, and it seems like you already have a solution. But for what it’s worth, I’d go with the extra two feet outside, under an overhang, for your climate. The 12 x14 really is enough. Caught my old guys cantering in their stalls more than once! (Retired dressage horses—they still had it til their last days :))

Enjoy your build!

greys

[Greys]

Can’t seem to edit, but to add on for your last question: I think the 4’ solid plus the 8’ mesh would be a good solution. Enough coverage for privacy if they want it but still all the benefits of airflow and visibility. Very easy for them to disappear into a corner in a stall that size. Plus I’d think you could make some type of bolt-on/clip-on type panels to cover more of the mesh if that amount of openness is too much for the horses passing through.

greys

[Bluey]

@Greys

Can’t seem to edit, but to add on for your last question: I think the 4’ solid plus the 8’ mesh would be a good solution. Enough coverage for privacy if they want it but still all the benefits of airflow and visibility. Very easy for them to disappear into a corner in a stall that size. Plus I’d think you could make some type of bolt-on/clip-on type panels to cover more of the mesh if that amount of openness is too much for the horses passing through.

greys

Thank you, great suggestions.

Interesting more agree with room outside worth more than a larger stall itself.
That was our main question we could not agree either way.

I too think more open side walls between stalls should benefit most horses.
For the few grumps, we will just need to manage for them.
Was thinking maybe hanging a lighter 4’ x 8’ 1/2" rubber mat could work for the few that have to be behind solid walls to be happy.

[Greys]

You’re very welcome. The rubber mats do sound like a good solution. Easy enough to handle and likely would not reward any crabby kickers.

It seems like the horses will have three distinct living spaces; indoors, outdoors, and the covered patio. Nicer And a lot bigger than my first apartment! :o

greys

[Bluey]

@Greys

You’re very welcome. The rubber mats do sound like a good solution. Easy enough to handle and likely would not reward any crabby kickers.

It seems like the horses will have three distinct living spaces; indoors, outdoors, and the covered patio. Nicer And a lot bigger than my first apartment! :o

greys

Did you also have regular maid service, all meals provided, congenial friends, a personal trainer, etc. as horses enjoy?

[Greys]

Heck, I still don’t have all that! :lol:

greys

[walktrot]

My BO had to move to her new facility before she constructed the barn/arena building. The only building as an aging hay storage shed so she put 5 stalls in that were all 12 feet wide (wall to aisle) and 14-15 feet long. Once the new barn was finished (12x12) she used the older stalls for foaling. They have plenty of room for mare and baby.