Horse Barns
Types, Components, and Care
Horse barns are one option of living quarters for your horse. It is a preference of many horse owners to keep their horse in some sort of stable. Whether you have the room to have or build a barn on your property or you have to board your horse at someone else's facility, you have many options available in choosing the right set-up for you and your horse.
Barn Types
Horse barn styles and types vary based on the region of the country you are in. In areas where harsh weather is common, barns with aluminum or metal roofing and siding may hold up better over the years with less maintenance than wooden buildings. Barns with wood used as a large part of construction are typically found in regions where wood is in huge supply.Pole Barn: One of the more common forms of horse barns and typically lower in cost to build. A pole barn is named so for the use of poles in each corner for support to the walls and roof. Construction is typically easier because a foundation is not required.
Wood Barn: This type of barn tends to be the more traditional type of barn used for horses. As mentioned above, the wood may require more regular maintenance especially if it is located in a region where damp or wet weather is common.
Other Barn Types: Some barns are constructed of concrete blocks or bricks (masonry barn) which prove to be a little sturdier. They do tend to take a longer time to construct and can be more expensive than traditionally built barns.
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Barn Components
Most barns consist of a few common and basic components. Typically there are a set number of horse stalls which vary based on the size of the barn. Some have as few as 2 stalls while others can have 40+ stalls. Stalls will also vary in size with most recommendations advising stalls be 10' X 10' to 12' X 12' for the average size horse.The aisles between rows of stalls or between stalls and the barn walls should be at least 10 feet wide. This allows for safe maneuvering of your horse when outside the stall.
There could also be spaces set aside for feed, tack, cleaning supplies, or horse washing. These spaces may vary in size based on the layout of the horse barn. Horse barns can have larger spaces set aside to store large amounts of bedding and hay.
Barn Care
No matter the size of the barn, there is an endless work that will need to be completed to maintain the building. If you have any experience in having your own horse barn or working at someone else's, you can speak first hand on how much work it takes to keep a barn in good working order.Many people dream of having a barn in the backyard with a few horses of their own. Most of them also have no idea how much work it actually is to take care of both the barn and the horses in it.
Most barns require a good sweeping just about each day and stalls need to be cleaned each day. Horses need to be fed usually more than once each day, and don't forget about the unexpected repairs that will pop up at the worst times.
