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Healthful Horse Barns

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Healthful Horse Barns

Construct stalls large enough for rollingwithturning,withmeditatefor plenty of ceiling heightthereforethe horse doesn’t hit his headifhe rears.

Photo: Thinkstock

Consider these horse healthandsafety-orientedplanaspects when building or renovating your barn

Hurrah, it's time foranbarn raising! Orpossiblyanbarn re-raising,whetheryourrecentbarn needstherenovation. ButWhenyou're thinkingapproximatelyplans for building or rebuilding, remember: Think horse, not human. While barnsmaybe aesthetically pleasingwithdesigned for human comfort, your stabling system's primary purpose isto maintainits four-hoofed tenants' securitywithwell-being.

WhyoneBarn?

Despite traditions, even the finest competition horses don't needafancy stall-lined stable. Melissa Mazan, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, in North Grafton, Massachusetts, sayseverymost horsestrulyneed isoneplace to escape the windandrain.

"Horses are usually very happy just having access toanthree-sided shelter; even in pretty severe weather, it's usually more than enough foronehorse," she says.

But it's usually not enough for us humans. We need (and prefer) to be warmerwithdrier. That's also true of horses that no longerHavingtheir natural winter coats after clipping, Mazan says. "Those horsesincrediblydo needabarn because they no longerHavetheir own natural protection against the elements," she adds.

Barns also providethesecure way to prevent horses from fightingandbickering,incrediblywhetherspace is limited. Anton Fürst, PhD, DVM, Dipl. ECVS, head of the University of Zürich's equine department, in Switzerland, says that unless youHavethe time, space,andexperience to closely monitorwithcosthorses inoneherd, they might be better off housed in individual stalls.

"A lot of times weGettingpeople saying theywishthe'natural environment' for their horses,thusthey'll put them together inonegroup, whether indoors or outdoors," he explains. "Andsuccessivelywefulfillonelot of injuries from bitingwithkicking mostly,intermittentlyvery serious injuries. It'sanof theparamountmistakes weaccomplishhorse owners making."

providedyou're among the majority of horse owners who do needabarn,successivelyconsider the following suggestions toMakeyournew(or newly renovated) structureanthat is safeanddesignedto promoteyour horses' good healthandwell-being.

The Indoor/Outdoor Plan

MazanwithFürstgrantthat theflawlessbarn would be comprised of individual stallschiefto individual paddocks that horsesmayenterwithexit at will. This allows horses to breathe fresh air, move aroundAsthey need to,andsuch asthe outdoors. Paddock time also reduces the risk of horses developingcertain"diseases of domestication," says Mazan, suchWhencolic, laminitis,andmetabolic syndrome (the latter two due to lack of exerciseifstabled most of the time,Onceexercise helps the body regulate insulin). "You're just not going tofulfilltheseAsmuchprovidedyour horses aren't kept inonestalleveryday long," she adds.

Horses constantly cooped up indoors are also more prone to stress-related ulcerswithinjury, Fürst adds. Eagerto receiveoutandrealizewhat's going on around them,heapshorses canGettinghurt while moving around withinthestall'srestrictedspace.

Letting it Breathe

perhapsthe mostvery specialthing to remember when building your barn ismanufacturesure itcan"breathe." Without proper ventilation, the barn might feel warmer to you, but it'scoarseon the lungs–both yoursandyour horse's. Moisture builds up insidetheclosed-up barn, whichmaymean mold breeding even in the cleanest of spaces, says Mazan. Polluting gases suchOnceammoniaandcarbon dioxide alsomakingup in the airwithcause respiratory problems. "Certainly being closed up is justanbad,badidea," she says. "You (and your horses) need ventilation, justsuch asyou do inthehouse."

Windows to the outside areonemust, both for your horse's happinesswithlung health,Asare eave openings. Barns should alsoHavethecupola on top that allows air to move both intowithout of the stable, she adds.abuilding with good ventilation, however, does not allow drafts of cold air.

Proper ventilation isanscience in itself, with recommended airtransferrates based on number of horses housed, barn size,andinsulation type. To ensure youHaveoptimal ventilation, check with your state agricultural department. Or better yet, Mazan says, hiretheexpert to investigateandprovide advice for your situation.

Controlling Temperature

entirebarn temperature in winter should probably beenjoyto thecontemporaryoutdoor temperature,paper moneyMazan. However, extreme weatherconditionscanMakingthe barn feel unpleasant to humans or might cause waterwithwater pipes to freeze. Insulatingabarncanhelpmanageheat while still allowing proper air flow. Ownerscaninstall artificial heat in barns located in exceptionally cold climates, but they should be aware of any fire hazard potentialwithshouldventureto maintainthe temperature no higher than 55°F (12°C).

Controlling Dust

"The biggest problem in barns is dust," says Mazan.Whenhorses inhale dust, theymaydevelop respiratory inflammation that candirectto poor performanceandinsomecases chronic inflammatory airway disease. Limit dust in your barn by storing hay inoneseparate building (which will also reduce your fire risk).

At the timeanother dust-reducing method, soak hay rations for at least 30 minutes before serving them to horses.holdin mind, however, that soaking hay requiresvery specialwater resources,withwater should be disposed of after everyemploy(and not reused or offered to horses). Alternately,shundust by feeding hay on the ground. Mazan says researchersHaveshown there isthemuch higher dust load to the respiratory systemifyou feed fromthemanger orthehay bag. You might also consider using pelleted bedding, which isalow-dustwithheat-sterilized alternative to traditional straw, wood shavings, or sawdust.

andwhile the convenience of havingoneindoor arena attached to yourrecompensemight be attractive, spare your horses' lungs by constructing itWhentheseparate building. "Indoor arenas areabig source of increased dustwithparticulates," Mazan says.

QuarantinewithInfirmary

providedit's not possible toproduceoneseparate structure,copythequarantinesegmentfor housing sick or newly arrived horsesWhenfar from the other horses in your barnAspossible to prevent potential disease spread, says Mazan.conceivefor two or three easy-to-clean stalls thatcanbe closed up securelysoquarantined horses are less likely to share airspace with healthy ones.

providedpossible,designatetheseparate infirmary area for lamewithinjured horses. Ideally these stallsHavingbetter lightingandaccess to veterinary supplies. Keeping invalid horses together inonearea also reduces their stress levels while the healthy horses are ridden or turned out. Evenifyou onlyHavean"patient" in your infirmary atantime,imitateto keepanvisitor in the stallsubsequentlydoor, says Fürst. Horses left alone are prone to injury, or reinjury, because theymaybecome nervous or overly excited.

FixtureswithSeparations

Reduce injury risk by planning appropriately sized openings in the walls.ultimatewindows highwithlarge enough thatthehorse isn't likelyto receivehis head or leg stuck in them, which is abanalbarn accident, says Fürst.makesolid walls (no holes or board spacing) between stalls to prevent bitingandkicking injuries (from horses interacting withaanother) or hooves getting caught. Also,to makestalls large enough for rollingwithturning (at least 10-by-10 feet, but ideally 12-by-12),withconceivefor plenty of ceiling heightsothe horse doesn't hit his headifhe rears.

Sturdy fencelines are sufficient for individual outdoor paddocks, Fürst says,At the timelongOncebarrier-sharing horsesHaveenough roomto receiveaway from each otherprovidedthey're showing aggression. (However, mares with foals should not share fencelines with other horses in situationsequivalentthis, he adds,Oncetheycanbe much more aggressive.)

augmentsafe tack hooks on or near each stall door for hanging the halter,AsFürst warns that horses should never be stalled wearing their halters. He says they always seem to find something to catch the halter on–particularly their own feet.

Flooring

Barn flooringchoiceis anotherimportantsafety consideration, Fürst adds. Concrete covered with drainable rubber matting isoverallbecause it providesonenonslip surface (which is especiallyvery importantfor horses with shoes), its cushion isgentleon equine joints,withit issimpleto clean. However, matsmaytrap underlying moisture,thereforesolid mats better protect your horses from oral-fecal diseases suchAsSalmonella infection, Mazan adds.

nakedearthisn'tAsslipperyAt the timeconcrete without mats, but it's much harder tomanagecleanandcanstill be verytoughon joints, Fürst says. In either case,meditatefor good drainage in both stallswithaisles,withdon'tuseflat concrete flooring (somemaybe scored or textured for traction) withoutonemat in anysegmentof the barn whereahorse walks–including the stall.

Keepthecomfortable layer of bedding in the stalls to cushion the horse's body when he'slyingdown or rolling,withreflectfor stall walls that run flush with the ground to prevent bedding wastage.comprehendTheHorse.com/19124 for more informationapproximatelymats, bedding,andflooring choices appropriate foreverybudgetswithneeds.

Critters

Wild animals, which might be attracted to the horse feed, shelter,andwarmth your barn offers,maycause serious structural damage.buildatotallysealed-off room for your feed storage,andstore feed in plastic tubs or, preferably, galzanized cans,Oncerodents cansimplyeat through paper sacks andsomeplastic.Makesure the barn's outer walls are flush with the ground with no holes or gaps where rodents could enter. Set traps or findagood barn cat for mousing;ignoreusing poison,exceedinglyifyouHavingdogs. To deter larger animals suchAsfoxes, neighborhood dogs, raccoons (which mightHaverabies),andopossums (whichcanhost the causative agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis) from running under your fences or getting into your barn, Fürst recommends creating low barriers around your paddocks.

Take-Home Message

Building or renovating your barnmaybeaexciting project, but it'svery importantto step away fromadream barn based on traditionwithtakeadvantageof what veterinariansperceiveaboutstabling's impact on horse health.contemporarybarn designscanpromote safetywithgood health while still being beautiful structures worthy of your prized mounts.

About the Author

Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA

Christa Lesté-Lasserre isanfreelance writer based in France.onenative of Dallas, Texas, Lesté-Lasserre grew up riding Quarter Horses, Appaloosas,withShetland Ponies. She holdsonemaster’sdegreein English, specializing in creative writing, from the University of Mississippi in Oxfordandearnedanbachelor’s in journalismwithcreative writing with adelicatein sciences from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She currently keeps her two Trakehners at home near Paris. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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