Horse Stalls FAQ
Posted on June 15, 2010
Filed Under Horses | Leave a Comment
Horses and horse stalls go together just like dogs and dog houses. For the best horse health horse stalls should not be used all the time. It is very good for horses to be turned out regularly and in large enough areas where they can run. It is also much better health wise for them to have access to green grass on a regular basis. It is much better for dogs to be walked and exercised than to be left in a kennel all the time. And so with horse, turn out is very beneficial. But stabling a horse is also good for them. A horse stall provides a confined area for working with the horse. For older horses and foals it provides a confined space for them to rest. Stalls also give owners a good place to groom and tack their horse.Answer: The best size for horse stalls is a 12’x12’ construction. This large area provides ample space for even large horses to lay down and roll. Smaller areas such as 10×10 are not as ideal, especially if larger horses are ever put in the stall.
Question: What are the dangers of smaller stalls?
Answer: Horses are not designed for rolling all the way over. The bone at the base of their neck, just in front of the back, is the withers. Withers stick up and therefore are hard for the horse to roll over on. If a horse rolls in a box stall they may roll all the way over and get trapped with their legs against their bodies on their backs. This is called “casting”. A cast horse can twist their intestine and colic. Many colic cases are fatal for horses. Casting also causes the horse to get cut and bruised as it tries to work its way out of a corner. A larger stall provides more room so the horse is not as likely to become trapped against the wall.
Question: What about tie stalls?
Answer: Tie stalls are seen in some of the old carriage houses. Tie stalls are designed for a horse to walk straight into and then be tied. A manger is mounted in front of them to eat from. Then the horse is backed out of the stall. Tie stalls can also be found in cow barns that were converted into horse facilities. These are some of the least safe stalls for horses.
Question: Are 12×12 stalls ok for mares and foals?
Answer: Mares and foals can fit into a 12×12 stall, but a larger one is better. The 12×16 feet is a more suitable size. Smaller horses such as Arabians may be just fine though in a 12×12 stall even with a foal.
Question: How can a stall be modified for a mare and foal?
Answer: A good method for making horse stalls for mares and foals is to have a removable partition built between two stalls. Then when a mare is close to her delivery date the removable partition can be slid out and a double stall is then available. Once the foal is weaned the partition can be installed again.
For whatever horse stall you build, a 12×12 construction is about the most ideal. Shopping around for 12×12 panels is a good way to insure that the horse stall is going to be the safest for your horse.
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