Horse Barn Types

As a horse owner with land on which to build a horse barn, you have many options depending on your acreage and zoning allowances, number of horses, budget and desired features. You can be as elaborate or as simple as your budget allows. Rest assured that as long as your barn protects your horse from the elements, is large enough and provides him with a safe and comfortable environment, he will not care what type you choose.

  1. Modular Barn System

    • Modular barns allow you to pick and choose pieces you need.

      Modular barns use prefabricated pieces to assemble into a structure, and can be customized according to your preferences. Modular-barn companies can provide turn-key solutions, providing you with everything you need to design and build your barn with ready-to-use pieces. Or you can pick and choose the items that you need, such as the stall panels and doors, flooring or roof panels.

    Barn Kits

    • Horse barn kits are available in many sizes.

      Today's horse-barn kits are varied and generally of excellent construction. The designs are as basic or as elaborate as you like, to house two horses or 20. The kits include everything from wash stalls and insulated tack rooms to skylights and insulated roofs. There are a variety of facades so that you can choose a custom look for your farm to complement other buildings.

    Pole Barn

    • The pole barn is supported by poles along the sides, back and front. It can be partially or fully enclosed, and can be divided into stall areas or kept as one large area. Many horse owners and farmers use pole barns interchangeably as "run-in shelters," building them in the horses' paddock or turn-out area and leaving the front open so the horses can choose to seek shelter or shade any time. Pole barns are simple and quick to build, and can be improved on or added on to later. Depending on the size, you can enclose a portion of the pole barn to store equipment, hay or grain, as long as you can secure it from the horses and pests.

    Custom Barns

    • Custom-made barns are designed and built to your specifications.

      Custom barns are designed and built to your specifications. There can be a fine line between modular barn systems and custom barns, as modular barns can be customized to a certain extent. You can design and build a barn yourself, or hire professional help. Tom Tower, owner of One Iron Horse Farm in Dripping Springs, Texas, has two custom barns on his property. "We wanted a log barn to complement our log home," says Tower. "It is visually appealing, enhances the resale value, and is virtually indestructible." The other custom-made barn was designed for the farm's breeding activity, and includes a birthing stall with an attached turn-out area to accommodate mom and baby while keeping them separate from the herd. Custom barns can be made from any suitable material.