These Tips Can Help You Buy the Best Portable Stalls for Shows, Events, and More
Portable Horse Stalls give your equine facility versatility, but to get the most out of your investment, it’s essential to choose quality portable stalls. Whether you’re running a show venue, fairground, expo center, boarding barn, or training operation, quality portable horse stalls can allow you to quickly expand your capacity when needed. Here are some things to think about when buying portable horse stalls.
Materials Used
As you start comparing different portable horse stalls for sale, begin your evaluation by looking at the materials used in the stall’s construction. Portable stalls aren’t all made the same, and some stalls can be significantly weaker and less durable than others.
Look for stalls crafted with a heavy gauge steel frame and bars. The bars should be a minimum of 14-gauge steel. On all American Stalls equipment, we ensure that our 14-gauge steel is used throughout to provide substantial structural strength. Additionally, the steel should be galvanized to protect the stall against rust. The pre-galvanized tubing includes a thin zinc layer which helps protect your temporary horse stalls' investment from oxidizing. We then ensure that our equipment undergoes our powder coat finishing, which includes thorough priming, cleaning, and application. We recommend to make sure that the powder coat finish is smooth, consistent, and non-toxic.
At American Stalls, we manufacture our Classic and Elite Show Series Portable Stalls with 14-gauge galvanized steel frames and 16-gauge galvanized steel grills. Our grillwork features a non-toxic black powder coat for enhanced durability. Additionally, we use a UV-stabilized, heavyweight vinyl that resists kicks and impacts. It’s durable and long-lasting and can be used indoors or outdoors.
Bar Spacing
Whether you are choosing our "permanent" horse stalls or temporary horse stalls, bar spacing is paramount to horse safety. Bars that are spaced too widely can allow hooves to get struck, resulting in significant injuries. We design our portable horse stall grills so that the bars are spaced on 3" centers (i.e. 2 inches apart) to prevent even the smallest hooves from getting caught. The grills are fully welded inside the frame, making these stalls supremely strong and durable.
Indoor or Outdoor Suitability
Consider how and where you want to use the stalls. Portable stalls designed for use indoors or outdoors, like our Classic and Elite Show Series Stalls, will give you more versatility than stalls that are only suitable for indoor use.
Our Portable Horse Stalls are used indoors inside large expo centers across the nation, but can also be set up outside. Many clients will choose to set up our Portable Stalls outdoors under tents or fully exposed to elements in some cases. Rest assured, our powder coat and vinyl materials are fully UV-stabilized to protect your investment in the long run.
Welding Quality
Pay careful attention to the quality of the welds on the stalls, which can affect their strength, durability, and overall safety. At American Stalls, we meticulously fully weld portable stall hinges onto the frame, so there’s no need for installation hardware or door assembly. The welding job helps ensure the doors stay level for years to come.
Looking at the welds on the stall frame and bars, you’ll see that attention to detail has gone into each one. Each weld is done expertly by our experienced welders, then ground to provide a beautiful aesthetic, and then finished with a powder coat. We understand that when you buy portable stalls, you’re investing in your horse’s safety, which is why we’re dedicated to providing you top-quality products that are designed to last.
Stall Size Options
You’ll also need to determine which stall size will work best for your equine facility. If you’re working with ponies or smaller horses, a smaller stall size may work just fine. But if you’re working with warmbloods and larger breeds, a larger stall is important for the horse’s comfort and safety.
Our Portable Horse Stalls are available in 9’ W x 7’ H dimensions and 12’ W x 7’ H dimensions, so you can create 9’x9’ or 12’x12’ stalls. You can order the specific, custom sizes you need for the horses you’ll be housing and the available space.
Check out our article, The Perfect Horse Stall Size | Portable Horse Stalls, where we explore key factors in designing the ideal horse stall, including size, materials, ventilation, and accessibility for your horse's comfort and safety.
Stall Door Design
Look for stalls with a well-designed, quality, sturdy stall door. The door must be wide enough to let horses pass through easily and strong enough to swing freely.
Our portable stalls feature a 48-inch-wide door. This allows for your horse to be safely turned in and out of their stalls. The vertical straight bar door style helps prevent horses from sticking their heads into busy aisleways. This is especially important in busy commercial facilities such as expo centers, horse shows, and training barns.
Additionally, the door is centered within the stall, rather than placed on one end of the stall front. This design means you won’t have to worry about door position when you’re setting up your portable stalls, and it helps prevent horses from fighting or interfering with each other. Lastly, we weld D-rings on both sides of the stalls allowing you to conveniently place water buckets and feed buckets in different corners to facilitate easy, clean feeding.
Order Lead Time
It’s also important to consider the amount of lead time needed to produce your portable horse stalls. At American Stalls, we work efficiently but are also meticulous about creating a quality product. If you’re considering ordering portable stalls, please contact us today, and we would be happy to estimate a lead time for your order to help you plan.
Feedback From Previous Buyers
Purchasing portable horse stalls is a large investment, and you want to be able to buy those stalls confidently. A quality manufacturer should be able to share feedback from previous buyers. For example, we have feedback from buyers on our Testimonial page, and we’ve received many positive reviews from barn owners who are happy with their purchases from American Stalls.
Order Portable Horse Stalls from American Stalls Today
With spring right around the corner, now is the time to place your order for portable stalls for the upcoming show and event season. We proudly offer two portable stall series for all of your temporary stall needs. Contact us today at (855) 957- 8255, email us at sales@americanstalls.com to schedule a sales and design consultation, or complete our inquiry form.
