It’s hard to believe that Christmas is already here. While there might already be gifts wrapped with care under the tree in your house, if you are a horse person, you might be thinking of the longer days ahead and creating a wish list of your own with gifts that don’t quite fit under the tree. If your plans for the new year and dreams of spring have you thinking about updating your horse barn or a new barn construction is in the works, here are some additions to consider for your future projects.
Start with Horse Stalls – Horse stalls define the space of a barn as being a home for your horse. There are many ways to configure the space, from the size of the stall to the layout, which can be as unique as the horses that reside there. When it comes to the horse stall fronts, you can create a dynamic appeal to your barn by selecting stall fronts that are both functional and beautiful.
One of the decisions to be made will be selecting a "European" stall front, which features hinged doors, or an "American" stall front with sliding doors. Often, this decision is based your aisleway's width, your barn layout, and ultimately your personal preference. Updating the look of the barn may include adding new stall fronts, or partitions can also be selected to create a new stall or update the barn completely. 
Barn Entry Doors – Exterior doors in a horse barn are incredibly important to the safety of the animals living inside. Being able to easily open and close doors makes day-to-day access in the barn simple, but it can also be a lifesaver in case of emergency. But just because these barn entry doors need to be highly functional doesn’t mean they can be aesthetically pleasing.
Beautifully crafted doors can give a face lift to any barn space because they are highly visible from the outside while also increasing natural light and access to ventilation inside the barn. The design of the doors can be customized to fit the look that you are going for and can even include personal touches such as barn colors and logos.
Dutch Doors – The classic look of the Dutch door is so iconic that it goes hand in hand with the image of a horse stable. There is a reason why these barn doors are so popular and sought after that goes beyond beauty. Dutch doors allow for increased ventilation and light inside each individual horse’s stall, while also allowing for a horse to have the benefits of putting the head out of the stall for fresh air and socialization when the top part is open or access to a stall run or larger pasture when the door is completely open. The addition of an exterior access point in each stall also adds to the overall safety of the barn should the horses need to be removed in case of an emergency evacuation of the barn. These doors are also highly customizable. 
Barn Windows – When adding a full Dutch door to the horse stall isn’t an option, you can still get the benefits of added light and ventilation by adding barn windows to each horse’s stall. These windows can also allow the horse to look out, gaining socialization and enrichment.
There are many different stall window designs that depend on your climate, personal preferance, and the placement of the window. For example, we can build double Shutter-designed barn windows, but also single Dutch windows. These windows can also be added to other areas of the barn, such as tack rooms, feed rooms, offices, and aisleways. When including windows in the barn design or adding them, it is always important to utilize materials that are horse-safe and durable.
Barn Lighting – Lighting is essential for both the interior and exterior of the barn; it adds to safety and security. While a barn should be designed to allow natural light in wherever possible, there is always a need for good lighting sources in the barn, especially during the winter when the nights are long and daylight is at a minimum. When adding lighting options to a barn, selecting fixtures that are made of durable materials is important, but they can still offer the feel of luxury with designs that add elegant accents to the barn.
Flooring Features – As the adage goes, ‘no hoof, no horse', we all know the importance of taking care of our horses’ hooves with daily cleaning and regular visits with the farrier. When it comes to creating a luxury space for our horses, one important element is the flooring they are standing on. The time a horse spends in their stall should be for comfort, rest, and recovery. Adding stall mattresses can help aid a horse in performing their best. Outside the stall, adding rubber mats to grooming areas, wash bays, and rubber pavers in aisleways adds a layer of safety for both horse and handler when going about day-to-day tasks without compromising on style. 
Accessorize – Just like when creating the perfect outfit for a night on the town, it is the accessories that pull everything together. In horse barns, this includes items such as bridle hooks and blanket bars that work with the overall style of the barn and create a cohesive look. In addition to the design features, don’t be afraid to add some decorative elements that are uniquely your own. This can be anything from displaying awards and trophies to photos of horses in the barn or even artwork that fits with the barn theme. 
No matter what your style is, there is a way to customize your barn to reflect your own creativity without sacrificing functionality. This starts with selecting the best materials and working with a company that you can trust. Our team can help you every step of the way with your barn project. We encourage you to fill out our Consultation Form and one of our expert Project Managers would love to assist you. You can reach our team at (855) 957-8255 or sales@americanstalls.com. We look forward to assisting you soon!
