There are so many emotions that go into building a new barn or renovating an existing barn. After all, we love our horses and often dream of that perfect barn. That is why it is so important to get it right the first time.
When planning your dream, it is easy to prioritize how your barn will look – without giving much thought to the function. While aesthetics play a key role, it is equally important to focus on functionality. A focus on form, function, and design will ensure that your barn works for you as opposed to against you. Lastly, a focus on functionality will ensure that you save time, energy, and finances.
Before you start planning your barn, we encourage you to think about the following choices:
1. Larger Barn Aisles
Narrow barn aisles are commonly found in older barns built before the 1990s. When building your new barn, we encourage our clients to design aisles that are a minimum of 10 feet wide. Ideally, we would recommend a 12' to 16' wide barn aisle in a perfect world.
We recommend this because a wide barn aisle will ultimately pay off in multiple ways. The first reason involves your horses' safety. A wider aisle allows for two horses (or humans) to safely pass each other. This is not only safer, but also saves you valuable minutes in day-to-day barn movement. This reason is even more true for busier and larger facilities such as boarding barns. Lastly, a larger aisle will allow you to drive vehicles through the aisle. For example, tractors and gators can be brought into the barn to clean and feed more efficiently.
2. Add Windows & Dutch Doors
Sunlight and fresh air do wonders for a barn regardless of its location. We have routinely visited facilities in hot climates that don't feel hot due to their barn's overall design. Although exterior Stall Doors and windows are costly, they are ultimately invaluable to your barn's success.
We recommend always adding windows or Dutch Doors to the back of horse stalls. This addition will promote airflow and natural light into your barn. Lastly, a Dutch Door (or exterior sliding door) also functions as a safety mechanism in the event of an emergency.
3. Run-In Stalls & Turnout Spaces
Run-in stalls and turnout spaces are positioned directly behind an interior horse stall. A Dutch Door (or sliding paddock door) usually stands between the interior of the horse stall and the run-in (exterior) horse stall.
This choice can help provide your horses with the option to stay indoors in their horse stalls or go outside to get fresh air. This combination of a run-in stall and Dutch Door will also help cut down on the amount of time it takes to turn your horses in and out each day. Why is this the case? It is because turnout is done by opening up exterior Dutch Doors each day as opposed to haltering your horses, leading them out, and so forth.
4. Developing a Master Plan for Your Farm & Barn
This choice is often overlooked and can be a game-changer in your barn's long-term success. We strongly recommend working with an architecture firm or reputable builder who can help you develop a master plan.
A reputable firm will help you consider numerous factors that will impact your barn's longevity. For example, we recommend considering the topography and the surrounding land of your barn. Is the land level? What is the soil like beneath the barn? Does the surrounding landscape lead water flow to the barn or away from the barn? Other factors to consider include the direction of the wind and sunlight at your barn's location. These are just a few of the factors that a reputable architect or builder will consider when developing a master plan.
Do you have any questions or need pointers for your new barn or renovation project? Feel free to contact us today at (855) 957 8255 or complete our inquiry form. Our American Stalls team is here to be a resource to help you build a barn that is elegant, safe, and built to last.
