As horse owners, we can agree that airflow and ventilation are always top of mind in our barns. That applies to all barns, whether they are located in South Florida or in Vermont.
We – horse people – emphasize ventilation because it is essential to a healthy barn. Ample airflow ensures high-quality air for our horses and supports their lung health. This is even more important in foaling barns, where newborns need ample airflow.
Proper ventilation also helps with overall odor management of a barn. We have all been to a barn that retains a less-than-desired odor. That is often because ammonia and other heavy gases have settled into the horse stalls. Mindful ventilation helps turn these gases into visitors in your barn – simply passing in and out. Lastly, proper ventilation helps regulate the temperature inside your barn, keeping it nice and cool.
In this article, we'd like to share 3 ways to improve ventilation in your barn – whether you are reading this in the Summer or in the middle of Winter. This list will begin with the simplest (and cost-effective option and end with suggestions that require more planning.
Install Horse Stall Fans
To begin, we recommend that all clients install high-quality stall fans in their horse stalls. This applies to all horse barns, whether you have a private backyard barn or run a large thoroughbred farm operation.
This is a no-brainer, but a high-quality stall fan will:
- Improve air movement in your barn
- Provide superior cooling to your horses
- Operate with less noise
- Reduce heat stress in your horses
- Improve air quality in the barn
When shopping for horse stall fans, we recommend against the traditional box fan. Box fans are inexpensive and versatile, but they are not approved for use in horse barns by national electrical codes. These traditional box fans use an "open" motor design. This particular design presents a serious fire hazard for barns. This is why we recommend purchasing a stall fan with a closed motor design.
When we work with our clients, we routinely recommend our PureCOOL 12" Stall Fans. These fans are quiet, include a "closed" motor design, and include a deep-guard design that is safe and effective. They are also available in various sizes, including 12", 18", and 24"
Add Stalls with Mesh Bottoms
Aside from a stall fan, adding a mesh bottom is a great option for your stall doors. Although mesh is expensive, it provides invaluable benefits to your barn. We believe that the additional cost is justified both in the immediate and long run.
You can read about the benefits of mesh here, but here is a condensed list of its benefits:
- Airflow & Ventilation: Mesh allows for more airflow to flow into the horse stall and out of the horse stall
- Visibility: Mesh increases visibility into the stall. This allows you to save time during barn checks, but also have more peace of mind.
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Odor Management: Mesh bottoms (on stall doors and stall fronts) help flush out odors that tend to linger in the bottom of a horse stall.
Stall Gates that include mesh bottoms to promote ventilation in your barn.
For Existing Stalls and Barns
If your existing horse stalls are in good condition, we recommend that customers simply add our Stall Gates. This can be installed right behind your existing sliding horse stall door. This allows our clients to leave their sliding stall door open, while our stall gate's design promotes ventilation and socialization.
For New Stalls and Barn Builds
If you have the luxury of a new barn, we recommend simply doing it right. This means adding a mesh or gridded bottom to your horse stall door. This will be an upgrade for most horse stalls, but it will ensure happy, healthy horses.
Custom Sliding Stall Fronts with Mesh
Add Exterior Barn Doors and Barn Windows
In addition to interior upgrades, exterior components are one of the quickest ways to add ventilation. Exterior products include everything from Dutch Doors to Sliding Paddock Doors to Barn Windows.
These components ensure that your barn is ventilated – moving air efficiently. Additionally, these additions can allow your horse to access fresh air outside.
Barn in Florida that includes Hinged Barn Windows (Left) and Dutch Doors (Right)
Design Your Barn with High Ceilings
Last but not least, we always recommend clients consider higher ceiling pitches in their barn construction. We make this recommendation whenever we connect with a new barn builder or an architect without equine experience. Although this is the most "difficult" suggestion to implement, high ceilings will ensure that air is drawn and pushed efficiently.
While this article covered 4 suggestions, this is far from a complete list. If you are looking to make improvements to your horse barn, we encourage you to give our team a call or email. One of our design project managers would love to speak with you to discuss how we can help improve the safety and functionality of your barn. You can reach our sales and design team at (855) 957 8255.
