We are in the process of building new stalls. I would like to have the upper sections of the stall partitions done in wire for ventilation purposes. We have decided to go with wire panels instead of the bars because they are cheaper. My options for the wire holes are 2"x4" or 4"x4" - what would be best? I like the looks of the 4x4 better. Surely a horse couldn’t get its hoof stuck in a 4x4 hole could it or would it be safer to do the 2x4?
I would go with the 2" x 4"… A horse definitely could get his hoof in a 4" square hole, even if it doesn’t seem that big.
8 Likes
Yes, a horse can get its foot into a 4"x4" hole, and struggle to get it out.
You should either do something small enough they can’t get a foot in, or something big enough that they can very easily get it out.
Do the 2"x4".
Unless you can find 6"x8" or bigger.
We did our stall walls 4.5 feet high with 2x6 boards then hog panels above the boards. The hog panels start out at 2" holes and go up to 4" holes at the top of the panel. I don’t worry about a horse kicking through the panel 8’ off the floor. We’ve never had any issues and our horses love the visibility and air circulation!!
1 Like
A friend of mine successfully used chain link fencing on the upper parts of her stall partitions. Worked great !
Do not leave a halter on a horse in this kind of stall if it has the side snap facing out!!! I had a scary moment years ago when I was braiding my mare and she started to rub against the wire and the halter hooked itself to the wire! No harm done because I was right there and unhooked it before she could panic! I no longer use halters with the side snap facing out–facing in only!
5 Likes
I haven’t used chain link, but I’ve read that if a horse kicks or paws at it, the hoof can go through any given opening pretty easily. Which then causes injury and/ or rips the fence out when the horse pulls the hoof back.
For one 12ft wall between my stalls, I bought wood stairway ballusters and top/bottom rails. spacing is <3" and I did the job myself in a couple hours.
I have chain link in my stalls, they are wood up to about 5’ and then chainlink to the ceiling. No way a horse could get a hoof through the chain link - it is only about 2" across. It’s a pretty good option if you have the patience and good measuring skills to put it up. I’m still not sure how they did it – it’s stapled down (vertically) every few inches on all 4 sides.
How high up are the openings you want to ‘wire’? If openings are higher than a horse’s head, can’t you just leave them open? My stall partitions which are approx. 7’ high – old Morton barn, 2 x 12 boards with 1.5" gap between boards for ventilation (board edges protected with galvanized u channel) – are open to the ceiling above the 7’.
I can’t imagine having wire up there – would be a cobweb/dust haven – lots of extra cleaning.
But perhaps your stall set-up is way different 
.
1 Like
I’ve seen something similar, except with the front snaps on a Rambo blanket! The horse ended up snapped to the mesh stall gate until I could free him. Thankfully he did not panic.
1 Like
We used hog panels too on the stalls we built. Wood sides were 4 ft high and panels at the top. No issues at all.
JMO but I would never have anything but solid walls between stalls. I do live in a hot climate and I understand the need for ventilation but they can get plenty of airflow over the top of an 8’ wall unless your ceilings are very low or roofline is not well designed and those are other issues that stall wall construction won’t fix. If you’re going to confine horses in close proximity and feed them, dividers should be solid. I’ve seen pipe and heavy wire topped walls cause way more problems than they solve, and everyone I know who’s put them in has eventually had to cover them with plywood.
2 Likes
Our stalls are 20’ x 18’ and the first 4’ by the front is solid, the rest solid bottom and that wire top on some, solid all the way in others.
I agree that horses eating in their stall need some privacy, or some will be disturbed and may kick the walls or just be grumpy.
Since the horses also have runs in front that are about 20’ x 60’, made out of pipe panels, they can interact there also, they are not shut in a stall at all.
