The Dream Barn. A dream that many equestrians dream of from a very young age. As horse enthusiasts, we dream about what our dream barn will look, feel, and smell like from a young age. When you're ready to build your dream masterpiece, it's often a complex project that requires many decisions. Every detail matters, from the barn's design to the safety features to the functionality of your horse stalls. After all, your barn is a once-in-a-lifetime project. This is why it’s crucial to get it right the first time.
At American Stalls, our team understands that choosing the right horse stalls involves more than just picking the best-looking options. Aesthetics are important, but you will thank yourself years later when the functionality and practicality are dialed in. Your barn’s stall design requires strategic planning to optimize form and function to serve your current and future needs.
Here’s how to find the best value horse stalls for your dream boarding barn, along with expert insights from our team to ensure you’re making the right choice.
1. Outline Your Goals
Every successful barn project starts with clear goals. Do you plan to board a few horses or manage a busy facility? Are you offering full-service care or just turnout space?
Knowing how many horses you'll board and the services you'll provide will help you determine the necessary stall features, including the stall front type, size, ventilation features, and even feed access. Whether you choose a Sliding Stall Door Horse Stall for efficiency or European-Style Stall Front or pre-engineered stalls (such as our Stall Gates) for efficiency, the right layout and features depend on how your barn will function.
2. Research Stall Types and Installation Options
Once you know your goals, it’s time to explore your stall options. Should you go for Sliding Horse Stalls or Hinged (European) Stalls? Your barn's aisle width, ceiling height, and overall space often influence this decision. If your aisle is narrow (under 10 feet), sliding stalls are an excellent choice for maximizing space. Our Sliding Stall Fronts are exceptionally popular for busier facilities that may have many stalls. Larger facilities will opt for Sliding Stall Doors as they are easier to open in an emergency and allow horses to be separated from visitors. They additionally remain flush against your stall front since they slide open as opposed to a hinged door which opens into an aisle.
If your aisle is wider than 12’, you can absolutely choose our European Stall Fronts. This stall front style offers an elegant, old-fashioned look. From low-European swoops to higher-arched designs, our team will work with you to meet your design needs. You can even explore this helpful post for more design inspiration.
Beyond the stall design, consider our “Kit Stalls,” which include modular pre-engineered options for cost-effective and fast installation. These options are especially great for larger boarding barns as they can reduce labor costs and installation time. Our kit components include the same exceptional quality and finishing, but allow our clients to value engineer their projects. Our “kit” components include various options such as Stall Gates, Grillwork, Sliding Stall Doors, and more.
3. Assess Local Barns and Understand Market Needs
Before committing to a specific design, look at other boarding barns in your area. What do they offer, and what do their facilities lack? This can help you identify service gaps, allowing you to offer competitive pricing and attract boarders.
Pay attention to features such as aisle width, safety features, and the overall cleanliness and functionality of stalls. You can even ask other barn owners or boarders about their experiences to ensure you’re making a well-informed decision.
4. Consider Layout, Design, and Functionality
The functionality of your barn layout is just as important as its aesthetics. While you might dream of a beautifully designed space, the form should always support your barn’s functionality.
We recommend these key features for optimized barn layouts:
- Wide Aisles: Ensure aisles are at least 10 feet wide—ideally 12' to 16'. Wider aisles improve safety, allow two people or horses to pass easily, and make daily tasks like feeding and cleaning more efficient. They also allow you to seamlessly drive machinery and equipment in and out of the barn to help with cleaning, feeding, and other key tasks.
- Tall Ceilings: Ensure ceilings are at least 12 feet high for optimal air circulation and ventilation. Good airflow is crucial for your horses' health and your barn’s overall ambiance.
- Skylights & Vents: We recommend always adding skylights and vents in the end walls. Skylights help bring natural light that illuminates your interior while regulating bacterial growth. We recommend adding exhaust fans to pull hot air from the aisle area.
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Windows & Dutch Doors: Always include Barn Windows or Dutch doors to increase natural light and air circulation, as described above. These features improve the horses’ well-being and reduce the need for artificial lighting and ventilation systems. Our Windows and Dutch Doors can be customized with dozens of options, including tempered glass, mesh guards, shutter window design, and so much more.
Read more about How wide your barn aisle should be. This article shares expert tips on creating the perfect barn layout for safety and efficiency.
5. Evaluate Costs and Long-Term Considerations
Cost isn’t just about upfront pricing. It's essential to understand the total cost of ownership. This includes:
- Initial setup (construction and installation costs)
- Ongoing maintenance (feed, bedding, cleaning supplies)
- Utilities (lighting, heating, water systems)
- Longevity: Opt for durable, low-maintenance materials like galvanized steel to reduce rust and maintenance costs.
There are many add-ons that will significantly increase your upfront cost, but it will dramatically decrease your long-term total cost of ownership. Features like stall mats or stall mattresses will save you on bedding costs over time. This is because they provide ample cushion and comfort, often supplemented by extra bedding. These flooring options also provide your horses with a more comfortable, supportive environment.
Another upgrade that often pays for itself is our Bedding Blockers, which are installed into your horse stall door’s opening and threshold. This engineered brush system helps keep bedding and shavings where they belong - inside your horse stall. This helps dramatically decrease bedding costs.
Lastly, we recommend choosing your project's best possible architects, builders, landscape architects, and other design-and-build professionals. Choosing the right barn builder is crucial to your project's success. In our article, we offer practical advice on finding a trusted builder who understands your vision and delivers quality results.
6. Seek Recommendations from Local Equestrians
Leverage the knowledge of local equestrians — trainers, veterinarians, farriers, and other barn owners. Their insights can help guide you to reputable product suppliers and trusted designs. Additionally, their feedback will help you understand the most valuable features in your area, such as mesh stall doors for ventilation in warmer climates or galvanized finishes in coastal areas prone to salt exposure. At American Stalls, our sales and design team is here to provide our years of experience by tailoring suggestions. We view ourselves as fiduciaries in ensuring your barn is set up for long-term success.
7. Visit and Inspect Stall Facilities
Finally, when you’ve narrowed your list of potential options and designs, we encourage you to take the time to visit barns that use similar horse stall systems. Inspect the quality and safety of the stalls. Are they easy to clean? Do they provide enough space and comfort for your horses? The best stalls are built to withstand daily use while keeping your horses safe and comfortable.
Here, you can tour some of our latest projects.
8. Master Plan for Your Barn
While stall choices are essential, a long-term vision for your barn and farm is equally important. Consider working with an architect or reputable builder to develop a master plan for your barn. This ensures you’re reacting to immediate needs and preparing your barn for future growth and success. Your master plan should take into account:
- Land topography and soil: Are there any natural drainage challenges?
- Wind direction and sunlight can affect your barn’s climate control and comfort levels.
- Future expansion: Leave room to add more stalls, storage, or training areas as your boarding business grows.
This is sometimes an afterthought when designing and constructing many barns and farms. However, thoughtful long-term planning can help your barn work for you instead of against you. It will work in harmony with the land and its equine residents and thrive for generations to come.
Start planning today — and let us help you bring your dream barn to life.
Choosing the best horse stalls for a boarding barn goes beyond the cost of your project. It’s about finding the right balance between aesthetic appeal and long-term functionality. Your barn should be a space that works with you, not against you — one that saves you time, energy, and financial resources while creating an environment that promotes the well-being of the horses in your care.
At American Stalls, we understand the importance of every decision you make. With our 20 years of experience, we are committed to providing expert advice and premium stall solutions to help you create the perfect barn for your needs.
Are you designing or upgrading your barn? Our team at American Stalls specializes in premium stall fronts, barn doors, and equestrian facility equipment designed for safety, durability, and beauty. Contact us today at sales@americanstalls.com or (855) 957 8255 to discuss how we can help you build a barn that prioritizes form and function.
