Small Horse Barn Ideas

Building a small barn for your horses can make it possible to have them near you. Having them with you increases the closeness you share with your beloved pets as well as giving you more opportunities to ride and make use of them. When you build your small horse barn, it is important to incorporate certain elements into any barn plans in order to keep your horse healthy and happy.

  1. Draft-Free But Well Ventilated

    • Horses should be kept out of drafts to prevent illness, but the barn should also have adequate ventilation to prevent lung disease and also mold and mildew.

    Adequate Room

    • Each horse you wish to house should have its own stall. Each stall should be a minimum of 8'x8', with 10'x10' a standard size for average horses. 12'x12' is considered a large horse stall and would provide more than adequate space for most breeds other than draft horses. The best rule of thumb, however, is to provide as much space in each stall as you can afford to give them in accordance with the space you have to build and the money you have to spend on building. There's no such thing as a stall that is too big, but a stall that is too small can be dangerous.

    Feed Storage

    • A horse can eat itself to death if it accidentally gains access to grain feed left unattended. All grain should be locked away, either in a separate room or in a can with a locking lid in case your horse should escape from its stall when you are not around.

      Hay and straw for bedding should be kept in separate buildings where possible to prevent fires.

    Flooring

    • A dirt floor provides good drainage but is harder to clean. Cement is much too hard on a horse's legs and feet. A thick rubber stall mat makes a good surface to cover concrete floors, making the area both easier to clean and still comfortable for the horse.