| Whether you are building a new barn, or refurbishing | | | | having to re-floor the barn every two years is worth it. |
| an old one, there are many things that you need to | | | | 3. How will you Distribute Water? |
| keep in mind as you make your designs. Here are five | | | | While the hose and bucket method works well enough, |
| important things you will want to consider as your | | | | it is labor intensive, and leaking hoses are terribly |
| make your plans. | | | | frustrating in cold winter weather. Many barns set up |
| 1. Will you be Boarding or Keeping your Own Horses? | | | | automatic watering systems, which are practical, but |
| If you are looking to board horses, you will need to plan | | | | hard to keep clean. Another neat option is to set up a |
| your barn with more amenities that you might have | | | | system that has piping and taps for each stall, allowing |
| considered if you only planned to keep your own | | | | you to fill the buckets at the stall. The buckets are |
| horses. Boarders choose their facilities according to | | | | easily removed for cleaning as necessary. Whatever |
| what the barn offers, and this includes "extras" such | | | | system you use, it is essential to have a reliable source |
| as wash stalls, bathrooms, grooming areas and indoor | | | | of water at the barn, which doesn't freeze in cold |
| arenas. While these may cost more at first, you will be | | | | weather. |
| able to retrieve some of that money by charging a | | | | 4. Plan your Exits |
| higher board rate than you would be able to otherwise. | | | | There is nothing more frustrating than having a barn |
| 2. What type of Flooring is Best? | | | | that you can't get in or out of. Be sure that you not |
| Dirt floors are easiest of course, but be aware that it | | | | only have adequate entrances, but that they are |
| does not take long for the dirt to get worn down and | | | | accessible. There should be at least two entrances at |
| need repair. Stone screenings drain well and pack | | | | least four feet wide through which horses can easily |
| down to a hard surface, but horses can still dig holes, | | | | pass, and one or more people entrances in addition to |
| so the screenings need to be replenished eventually. | | | | the horse ones. |
| Cement can get slippery and while adding texture | | | | 5. Be sure to Include Storage |
| helps, it tends to wear off over time. Asphalt also is a | | | | You will need a place to store your hay, your extra |
| decent floor, but it is hard on the legs. With both | | | | grain bags, and your extra tack and equipment. There |
| cement and asphalt the stalls usually need rubber stall | | | | is a lot more to a barn than just the stalls. If you have |
| mats to protect the horses when they sleep. | | | | tractors or other farm equipment, you should plan a |
| Interlocking brick looks great at first, but over time the | | | | place to store them out of the elements. Without |
| bricks shift and become uneven. Take your time to | | | | adequate storage space, you will constantly have to |
| explore all your flooring options and choose one that is | | | | struggle to supply yourself with hay and grain, which |
| both durable and safe. It might cost a bit more, but not | | | | you will not have room to store in advance. |