Instructions
Check with your local Building Division to see if a building permit is required for your structure.
Plan the site of your stable. The easiest and cheapest option is to convert an existing barn or to build onto the side of a building using one of the existing walls. If you are building a stable for one pony only, it must measure 10 feet by 10 feet, with a ceiling height of at least 9 feet to give plenty of head room. Multiple stalls built into a barn should face each other, with a corridor separating them. This corridor should be sufficiently wide to allow two ponies to pass safely with plenty of room for the handlers. If you are building from scratch, look at the position of the new building. The stable should be angled away from the prevailing weather.
Consider electricity and water supply. You will need a source of running water for your stable, and electric lights are always extremely useful. You can also plan for a power socket, which is great for running electric horse clippers.
Design the stable itself. If you are building a single stable, the door should be wide enough to allow the pony to pass through with plenty of room either side. The door should be of a Dutch door style, where the bottom half is the right height to allow the pony to see over it comfortably. This will allow the pony to get plenty of ventilation and help prevent it from getting too bored. There should also be a window to allow ventilation in hot weather. The window should be protected with bars to prevent the pony breaking the glass. It is always useful to build an overhang on the roof, so that you have somewhere dry and shady to tie up. Plan for tying up rings both inside and outside the stable, and position any light switches or sockets well out of reach.
Consider the building materials. Ponies love to rub against fixed objects like trees and walls, especially when they are itchy from their coats changing. Your stable should be constructed of sturdy planks or brick, which will be strong enough to stand up to the rubbing. Whatever materials you use should result in a dry, draft free environment.
Think about the drainage for the stable. A floor should have a slight backwards slope to allow urine to drain away from the pony's bed. The best material to use is ridged concrete, which gives a good grip and drains well. However, if you have a concrete floor you should use a thick bed of straw or shavings to keep the pony off the hard surface. Packed-down dirt floors also work well, but can become dusty in hot weather and do not drain as well. Wood is not suitable as it is too slippery and will rot from the urine.
How to Make a Pony House
Pony houses, more correctly called stalls, stables or barns, provide shelter in cold or wet weather. Most ponies are far hardier than horses, and do not need a permanent shelter except in extreme conditions. These ponies are content with a few trees or an open sided field shelter to provide shade. Some ponies have a high proportion of thoroughbred blood which gives them a thin coat and a tendency to feel the cold; these animals will require the same level of care as horses. Stables require careful planning and design before construction to provide a safe environment for your pony.