Depending on their management, routine, health, and the time of year, horses spend various amounts of time in their stables. To ensure their comfort and well-being and reduce the risk of injuries and other health concerns, the stable or other buildings your horse stays in must be well built and sized appropriately.
Stables must be large enough for your horses to turn around, lie down, and get up without difficulty. All pathways should have enough width for horses to be safely led past others. Other daily activities such as feeding, sleeping, grooming, etc., must be possible without horses or their handles getting harmed or injured. Keep reading to learn about stable sizes and more!
What is the average size of a horse stable?
Generally, a 12-foot by 12-foot stall is most common for an average-sized horse as well as other four-legged friends such as donkeys, mules and lamas, but larger stalls may be required for horses, stallions, and broodmares that stand taller. For instance, a stall of 12-foot by 14-foot is usually recommended for larger horses.
What is the minimum stable size for horses?
The British Horse Society recommends that the stable size should depend on the size of your horses. Below are recommended sizes we highly recommend you follow.
Large Horses: 3.65m x 4.25m (12ft x 14ft)
Horses: 3.65m x 3.65m (12ft x 12ft)
Large Ponies: 3.05mx3.65m (10ft x 12ft)
Ponies: 3.05m x 3.05m (10ft x 10ft)
Another factor to consider is the number of horses you wish to have in your stable. You can measure each of your horses and design a stable that will fit each one of them comfortably. Also, consider that broodmares and their foals will stay together as well as injured or unwell horses who may need bigger space.
Box Stalls
Box stalls allow horses to move about and lie down freely. Even though box stalls are only necessary for broodmares and stallions, most horses can benefit from the implementation of box stalls. Broodmares or mares and their offspring, for example, will need to stretch out on the stall floor when giving birth.
A horse’s stall should generally be large enough for them to lie down and move around quickly.
A stable structure should have no exposed surfaces or projections that could cause injury. To ensure hygiene, you should make sure that cleaning and disinfection are possible on all surfaces and are treated with non-toxic paints or non-toxic wood preservatives.
Stable Doors
A suitable stable size of doors for individual horses should be 4ft as a guide, with the height allowing the horse to glance over the door. Make sure to fasten the bottom door with bottom and top bolts securely.
Stable Roofs
Roofs should be tall enough with a clear space of 2 to 3 ft above the horse to allow for proper ventilation and air circulation. Also, ensure that the lights and cables attached to the roof are not reachable by horses. We highly recommend safety proofing the lighting fixtures to ensure your horses are not harmed in case the lights are shattered.
Jon William Stables – Intro, Ideal & Elite Range
If you are interested in having your stable designed and manufactured to the highest quality, why not browse our range of stables.
Intro Range
Our intro range offers a stable built with the same high-quality materials as our Ideal and Elite ranges. It’s a collection that gives you a good starting point for your stabling at a reasonable price while also providing you with a piece of mind for years to come.
Ideal Range
Many elements in our Ideal range of timber stables are considered optional additions by other stable manufacturers. The range provides a high level of specification at a great price. While the Ideal range stable design is a practical answer for your stabling, we may make bespoke improvements if necessary.
Elite Range
Our Elite range is manufactured to the most acceptable design specifications, with added flair, innovation, and functionality to satisfy the most selective customers.
Our steel-framed doors are highly durable and will endure the test of time, with the installation of a felt shingle roof and a 100mm x 50mm (4″ x 2″) structure, 2.4m (8′) eaves height. The Elite series is a solid structure that looks great and will envy your equestrian neighbours.
We hope this article has helped you understand what size stables are generally recommended. If you are still unsure or have unanswered questions, why not get in touch with our equestrian building experts! Simply call us at 0180 850 965 or request a call back by filling out our contact form.
