A horse stall is an enclosure in which horses live. Stalls provide shelter from the elements, food, water, and space for exercise and rest.
Proper stall features include ventilation to reduce mold and mildew and a tack room for bridles, saddles, and blankets. Also, swing doors should be latched open to decrease aisle workspace and prevent horses from sagging or hitting their head on the ceiling.
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Choosing Flooring for Foaling Stalls: Special Considerations
Foaling stalls require unique flooring considerations to ensure the safety and well-being of the mare and foal Horses Stall. This article discusses suitable flooring options for foaling stalls, such as rubber, straw bedding, and specialized foaling mats. Gain insights into creating a comfortable and safe environment for the foaling process.
Box Stall
A box stall is a walled enclosure in which a horse is confined for all or part of the day. These stalls are typically used to confine horses that need a rest or a period of time off from exercise portable horse stalls, such as an injured horse. They are also useful for separating aggressive horses from the rest of the herd.
A typical stall is 12 feet by 14 feet, although smaller stalls can be made for ponies and other small animals. Stalls are usually equipped with a feeder, water bucket or automatic drinker and a ring for tying the horse. Other optional stall fixtures include a hay rack and environmental enrichment devices. Stall walls are constructed of wood or steel, with the choice based on availability and price. Steel stalls are generally made of 16-gauge steel, while wooden stalls use hemlock, pine or cedar.
The stall floor is often concrete, though other materials such as earth floors are common. Regardless of material, the floor should be durable and easy to clean. It should drain well and be free of sharp stones or other items that could hurt the horse.
Stalls should be well ventilated to help prevent respiratory problems in horses. Some stalls are designed with windows that open for each stall, while others have high ceilings and eave and ridge vents to provide air circulation. For safety, any window or opening must be securely fastened to the stall and out of reach of the horse (at least 5 feet) with bars or mesh.
Tie Stall
Like humans who stay in bed to heal, horses sometimes require stall rest. This enables them to recover from illness and injury in a safe place that keeps them away from severe weather and other threats while they rest.
Stalls are usually designed to allow for natural light and ventilation, but they must also be built safely. Windows should be placed high (ideally 5 feet or above) and made of tempered glass to prevent horses from breaking them. Electric lights should be located far enough away from the stall doors to avoid being kicked or knocked into. They should also be protected on the horse side with bars or grills to prevent horses from chewing on them.
Stable floors are either porous or nonporous. Porous floors consists of dirt, gravel or sand and offer good drainage, while concrete floors are more durable but can be slippery unless they’re textured in some way to offer traction.
Many stalls feature a ring to tie the horse. This stall design may be used in dairy barns, but can also be found in other breeders’ and stables’ horse facilities. This type of stall is particularly good for young horses or animals that are new to the stalling environment. The ability to look out of the stall and see other horses and people in the barn may help calm nervous or anxious horses.
Tie-Up Stall
A tie-up stall, also known as a standing stall, houses a horse with a manger in the front to which the animal is tied. It takes up half the bed space of a box stall and allows for more horses to be housed in one barn. These stalls are often used for show or temporary housing stalls, as they allow the horse to crane its neck out of the stall for better visibility but still keep it contained within the stall.
Stalls can be constructed of wood, steel or a combination of both materials. When selecting building materials, pay attention to the quality of lumber and the strength of the steel. A well-made stall will last longer and require less maintenance than a poorly made one.
The first decision to make when designing your stalls is what size of gap to leave between the bars. Equine vets recommend a maximum bar gap of 2 3/4″, as larger gaps can allow a horse’s hoof to slip through and become injured.
Another design consideration is the stall floor. Hay and straw are traditional choices as bedding for stalls, as they are renewable resources that are inexpensive and easy to clean. However, hay and straw bedding can easily be contaminated with mouse, rat or opossum droppings, which can lead to respiratory infections in horses.
Standing Stall
Stalls keep horses safe, comfortable and out of severe weather and in a place where they can relax. They also help prevent injuries and infections and provide the opportunity for moderate exercise.
Ideally, a horse should be turned out into a pasture or larger paddock on a consistent basis. But if the horse has to stay in its stall for longer periods, it should be given the option of having access to a sand or gravel runout, which provides mild outdoor stimulation and offers additional movement opportunities while keeping the animal confined.
The door of a stall should open easily and close securely, preventing the horse from kicking or pawing it. Full-length doors should reach close enough to the ground to prevent a horse’s foot from slipping under, typically less than 3 inches. Swing doors are easier to operate, but decrease aisle workspace. Sliding doors need heavier hardware and floor-level guides to prevent them from sagging. The barn Dutch door is attractive, easy to operate and allows for ventilation while remaining secure.
The stall floor should be well-draining and made of a material that will not become slippery with moisture. A concrete or asphalt stall floor is more durable than wooden floors and requires little maintenance. Wooden floors, however, must be regularly treated with a fungicide to prevent disease. Other materials that work well for stall flooring include sand and rubber mats.