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While a well-built barn can help to keep horses safe, barns can also be full of potential risks that could lead to injuries. Whether you’re building a brand-new barn or want to improve the safety of an existing structure, there are many ways that you can help prevent common stable injuries and keep your horse safe. At American Stalls, we prioritize safe and healthy design choices in all of our products, hardware, and barn recommendations. Let's dive in!
The bar size and spacing in the grillwork in your Stall Fronts and Stall Partitions play a key role in your horse’s safety. Be careful as you will find some bars that are too thin (i.e. smaller than 3/4" round tube) can be easily bent. Bars that are spaced too wide (i.e. more than 2" apart) can make it possible for your horse’s hooves to be caught when he kicks or rears.
The same is true of a mesh stall partition or stall door. That mesh needs to be strong enough to withstand kicking without allowing a hoof to penetrate the metal. The mesh spaces also need to be small enough to prevent hooves from becoming caught.
At American Stalls, we’ve carefully designed our stall grills and mesh stall fronts to help prevent such stable injuries and accidents. We use high quality, longlasting 100% American steel. For example, our European Stall Fronts feature 1-inch steel round tubing that feature a 3-inch spacing on center for the upper grills. This means that the end-to-end spacing is 2 inches. If we ever weld bars on the stall door bottom, we always do so at a 2.5-inch spacing to prevent even the smallest hooves from getting caught. We also offer an incredibly heavy-duty ¼-inch steel mesh tgat features 2x2-inch openings to help keep your horses safe.
An expert tip for mesh is to ensure that the horizontal mesh rods are facing the aisle while the vertical rods are facing the horse stall interior. This is to ensure no hooves and shoes ride up or get caught in the mesh.
The size of your stalls also directly affects your horse’s safety. A stall that’s too small for a horse can increase the chance of your horse becoming cast, which can lead to nerve damage and crush injuries. Additionally, a larger stall can enhance the safety for horses and handlers during daily care.
So, what is the perfect horse stall size? It depends on the size of your horses. Average horses standing 14 to 16 hands can comfortably fit in a 12x12-foot stall, while ponies and smaller equines often have plenty of space in a 10x10-foot stall. Draft horses and warmbloods will usually need stalls that are 12x12-feet or larger, and pregnant mares who will be foaling will need a 20x20-foot stall.
If you’re trying to choose between two potential stall sizes, opting for the larger size will make that stall more versatile and allow it to house more horses. While you’ll need to spend a bit more in bedding costs for that larger space, building larger stalls that give your horse more space can pay off in increased safety.
Expert Tip: Did you know that we build hinged foaling Stall Partitions? These Partitions include heavy-duty stainless steel hinges that are attached to your barn's back wall to allow you to easily transform two neighboring stalls into one larger foaling stall.
A barn’s electric components are a common cause of stable injuries, too. Outdated electrical outlets can be a fire hazard, and a horse could be electrocuted if able to reach those outlets. Exposed light fixtures can injure a horse that can reach them and are another fire risk.
If you’re building a brand-new barn, discuss your barn and horse safety concerns with your electrician. An electrician can help recommend safety precautions, including installing GFCI outlets, running all of the wiring through metal conduit, and selecting covered light fixtures that won’t break on impact.
When working with an existing barn, it’s a great idea to have an electrician inspect the barn’s electrical system and recommend upgrades. Upgrading old outlets to GFCI, or ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets, is a simple and relatively affordable way to enhance your barn’s safety. GFCIs help prevent electrocution by automatically shutting off the power if the amount of electricity flowing out of the outlet quickly increases. They’re essential for areas where water is present, such as if you’re using water trough heaters or heated water buckets in the winter.
An electrician might also recommend that you install covered outlets, if you don’t already have them. Outlet covers can help keep dirt and debris from getting into the outlet, and they also protect the outlets from curious horse noses.
You can also upgrade your light fixtures relatively easily. Look for fully enclosed fixtures that will keep dust and cobwebs off of the hot light bulbs, helping prevent fires. Caged fixtures are also ideal for any areas where horses can access, and the cage prevents the horse from breaking the bulb and fixture. Choose from endless options that are custom built to order - including gooseneck lamps, wall sconces, pendant lighting, and more for your barn.
It’s also important to focus on the flooring installed throughout your barn. Slick flooring, like concrete, can lead to slips and falls that can injure horses and humans. Instead, choose flooring that maximizes traction, safety, and comfort.
For example, interlocking rubber mats offer traction and valuable shock absorption. These rubber mats can be used in horse stalls, wash stalls, grooming bays, barn aisles, and outdoor spaces around your property. Their flat top surface helps maximize traction while making them easy to clean and maintain, too. Most of our rubber mats are 3/4" thick and feature premium virgin rubber.
Rubber pavers are a beautiful way to add slip resistance and safety to your barn. They also offer a 50.7% force reduction, which can help maximize comfort for horses and humans. As we know, time standing on your barn aisle adds up and can lead to sore knees and feet. Rubber pavers can be ideal for stalls, barn aisles, breeding sheds, service roads, wash bays, and more. You can learn more about frequently asked questions regarding our interlocking Rubber Pavers here in our helpful blogpost.
The StableComfort Horse Stall Mattress is an excellent way to maximize traction within your horse’s stall while also enhancing his comfort. This wall-to-wall horse stall mat system features a multi-celled mattress filled with rubber crumbs. The mattress delivers a high level of shock absorbency and comfort, while the rubber-coated waterproof top cover is a non-slip surface to give your horse plenty of traction. Since the system is equivalent to the cushion your horse would enjoy from four to six inches of bedding, you can maximize your horse’s comfort while reducing your bedding use and costs.
If you’re planning your new barn or are ready to make some improvements to your existing barn, we’re happy to help. Contact us today at (855) 957-8255 or email us at sales@americanstalls.com to schedule a sales and design consultation or to ask any questions. We look forward to helping you choose the best products for your needs and plan your construction or renovation project.
Nestled in Montana’s rugged beauty, this private barn at Seeley Lake combines craftsmanship with thoughtful design, offering a haven of comfort and safety for horses and caretakers alike.
