These Simple Changes Can Minimize Stress for a Happier, Healthier Horse
Equine behaviors like weaving, cribbing, tooth grinding, and more can all indicate stress, and stress can contribute to issues like weight loss, ulcers, and decreased performance. While there are many horse management changes you can make to reduce your horse’s stress, the design of your barn can contribute to stress, too. Whether you’re planning to build a new barn or to renovate your existing barn, these barn design strategies can minimize horse stress and contribute to a happier, your barn's design can also contribute to stress healthier horse.
1. Carefully Choose Stall Partitions
Your Horse Stall Partition choice can affect everything from the stall lighting to your horse’s ability to interact with others. Consider the type of Stall Partitions best for your horses and barns.
At American Stalls, we offer a wide variety of partitions, including full partitions, one- and two-third options, and full grill partitions. The one- and two-third options allow horses to still socialize while also providing privacy while they eat, which can help reduce stress.
We custom make our horse stall partitions, so we can build them to meet your dimensions and preferences. The partitions feature 14 gauge United States steel for supreme durability and quality. Plus, we use one-inch bars with just two inches between them on upper grills, preventing even the smallest hooves from becoming stuck.
We’d like to walk you through the three most popular horse stall partition styles and how each one can make a difference in your barn’s design and your horse’s comfort; "3 Types of Horse Stall Partitions."
2. Choose Horse Stall Doors That Allow Interaction
Just like your horse stall partitions can allow interaction and socialization to help reduce stress, your horse Stall Doors can do the same. We build all our stall doors and grill inserts to order, ensuring the doors are built to your specifications and needs. You can mix and match between multiple options to create stall doors that help minimize stress while keeping your horses safe.
For example, we offer many design options allowing you to control how much your horse can reach into the aisle. We provide many yokes that let horses socialize. Still, options like our removable yoke and drop-down grill doors are popular because you can allow horses to put their heads out into the aisle, but you can also restrict that ability during busy times, like when you’re feeding.
3. Install Lighting and Windows to Keep the Barn Well-Lit
Adding plenty of barn lighting and windows can help keep your barn well-lit, making it a more welcoming space where your horses can feel safer. Adequate Barn Lighting and windows help ensure that no stall is too dark, helping to keep your horses comfortable.
We custom-design all of our lighting solutions and horse barn windows. We offer many window options, including hinged barn windows, window yokes, and window grills, so your horse’s stall windows become a source of entertainment, too, letting your horse safely see their surroundings.
4. Create Paddock Stall Doors and Attached Runs
Creating Paddock Doors and attached runs can give horses more space to move around and allow them to see and interact with other horses. This type of barn design can play a key role in reducing horse stress, and the increased movement can contribute to your horse’s overall health.
At American Stalls, we custom-make our paddock doors to be safe, durable, and easy to use. They can be opened from the inside or outside and are built to last. The doors have various finishes and options to match your barn’s style.
Look at our enrichment guide, “Simple Tips for Creating Equine Enrichment in Your Barn and Paddocks”, for simple, effective ways to add more interest and activity to your barn or paddocks.
5. Build Horse Stalls to Allow for Movement
Try to maximize your Horse Stall size to allow for plenty of movement. That movement can help reduce stress and minimize the chance of a horse getting cast.
When deciding on the best size for your horse stalls, consider your horse’s breed and size, as well as your purposes for the stalls. Stalls designed for foaling out horses must be extra generously sized to accommodate the mare and foal comfortably. Smaller stalls are acceptable if you’re housing smaller breeds and ponies, but always try to give your horses as much room as possible.
You can design your stalls with removable partitions that allow you to combine two stalls into one, providing extra space when needed.
6. Install Comfortable Horse Stall Flooring
Pain and discomfort can be a source of horse stress, so choose horse stall flooring designed to maximize your horse’s comfort. The StableComfort Horse Stall Mattress is an excellent choice for that reason.
This stall mat system is ergonomic to maximize your horse’s comfort. It’s filled with crumb rubber for cushioning, equivalent to four to six inches of bedding. The mat system helps reduce cleaning time while saving on bedding costs without sacrificing your horse’s comfort.
Contact American Stalls About Your Barn Design Today
We’re happy to be a part of your barn design or renovation project, and we can custom-create barn and stall components specifically for your needs and design preferences. We encourage you to contact us as early in the project as possible, and we’re happy to work with your contractor as you plan your barn. We can also provide suggestions and solutions to help minimize horse stress and create a barn that supports your horse’s health.
Contact us today at (855) 957 8255 or email us at sales@americanstalls.com to schedule a sales and design consultation. We’re available to answer any questions and will help ensure that your barn components are a beautiful and practical addition to your barn.
