Specifications for Horse Stalls

The primary purpose of a horse stall is shelter from the elements and other horses. Comfort is another consideration when designing a horse stall because it needs to be large enough with proper ventilation. Additionally, the items inside the stall must be mounted securely to keep the horse from injuring itself by pulling or kicking buckets and feed bins.

  1. Size

    • The typical stall size for a 1,000-lb. lightweight horse is 12 feet by 12 feet and at least 10-feet high. Draft breeds--heavy horses, which weigh 1,600 pounds or more and are at least 16-hands tall (64 inches)--require a larger stall to give them ample room to move around. Be sure the horse cannot touch the ceiling if it would rear up.

    Partitions

    • All partitions between horses should be at least 7 ½-feet high and constructed with 2-inch thick material, such as rough-cut or tongue-and-groove wood. This prevents a horse from leaning over the partition and biting another horse or from getting its leg stuck when kicking. The partition also needs to come all the way down to the ground to prevent a horse from getting a leg stuck under the wall when lying down. The use of a vertical stabilizer board along a 12-foot partition provides extra strength against kicks.

    Doors

    • The suggested size for a door is 8-feet high by 4-feet wide. This allows plenty of room for the horse to safely go in and out of the stall. The design of the door depends on owner preference and the personality of the horse. If the horse tends to bite at people passing by, a full door is a good choice. However, if the horse is friendly and enjoys looking around, a Dutch door or a partial door is sufficient.

    Flooring

    • It is hard on a horse's hooves to stand all day on a surface that does not give a little. The use of stall mats provides extra comfort to the horse's legs and feet. If possible, use pea gravel, topped with sand to ensure good drainage. Construct a floor that is non-slip to keep the horse safe when getting up or lying down.

    Accessories

    • Accessories, such as feed bins, water bucket holders and hay racks, need to be inspected for sharp edges and dangerous pieces. Horses can easily tear apart components of the stall, so do routine inspections to correct problems before they injure the horse.