Most horse owners and equestrians would agree that their horses are their happiest selves when outside. While we build the most beautiful stabling equipment, we are equally passionate about building the right environments for our equine friends outdoors. Horse paddocks and stall runs are one of the best ways to extend the security of a horse stall while providing your horse more square footage outside.
To begin, what is a horse paddock? Paddocks are enclosed spaces that hold horses. Some paddocks can be spread throughout a property while others can be directly attached to a barn. Regardless of their location, paddocks are usually smaller areas that serve a unique purpose for horse owners. In general though, horse paddocks provide your horses with a clean and safe area to enjoy the outdoors. 
In this article, we would like to dive into a few key topics including the multiple use cases for horse stall runs, our sizing recommendations, and some product recommendations. This all is with the intent to build the safest and most practical environment possible.
Purposes – Horse Stall Runs
- Overall Movement & Access to More Fresh Air – If you have the luxury of abundant acreage, we always recommend to add stall runs that are attached to your barn. This allows your horse more access to outside fresh air and sunlight – especially for horses that might have more stall rest.
- Separating Horses & Breeding – In a non-breeding setting, paddocks and horse stall runs can be very useful to separate horses who have shown aggression. This might be for horses who show aggression multiple times per day or simply during meal time. In a breeding setting, a paddock allows for certain horses to be places together in a safe, controlled environment.
- Injury & Rehabilitation – Horses with injuries might require extensive stall rest and confinement. For these horses, it does wonders to provide access to the outdoors in a safe and controlled environment. A small paddock will limit movement, improve overall mood, and allow your horse to heal quicker.
Size Recommendations – Horse Stall Runs
In interior horse stalls within your barn, we recommend a minimum size of 12'x12'. This horse stall size is usually sufficient for most horse breeds. However, larger breeds might be more comfortable in stall sizes such as 14x14, 16x16, 14x12, and so forth. When it comes to horse stall runs, we understand that your width will likely be very similar to the interior horse stall. However, we recommend to ideally triple the length of your runs. For example, a 12'x12' horse stall will translate into a 12'x36' horse stall run (432 sqft) attached to the barn while 12'x48' would be ideal.
Our Product Recommendations – Horse Stall Runs
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- Dutch Doors – As shown above, Dutch Doors allow your barn and stall runs to have an easy-to-use intermediary point. These doors will allow you, the horse owner, to easily lead your horse to turnout as needed. Our Dutch Doors can also be left open using our hold-back latches. This allows you to fully open your interior horse stall to make it a large area where your horse can move in and out with ease.
- HDPE Fencing – The proper fencing for your horse stall runs and paddocks will create the ultimate safe environment. It will also provide you with invaluable peace of mind. Our HDPE Fencing is made from durable virgin plastic raw material. It is then designed with heavy-duty wall construction with double-rib reinforcement. As a result, our fencing is designed to stand up to a variety of elements – including inclement weather, extreme temperatures, and even horse impact. If a horse kicks or runs into our HDPE fence, our design allows it to absorb the impact (returning to the original shape afterwards). In some extreme cases, a rail might dislodge from its insert point, but it does not splinter like traditional wood fencing.
- Lighting – The proper lighting will allow proper visibility at all times. We custom-build all of our barn lighting in a variety of styles, including Gooseneck Lamps, Wall Sconces, and more. The proper lighting will allow you to safely care for your horses at all times of the day and during all seasons. The photo below is a perfect example of how our Gooseneck Lamps can accentuate the Dutch Door area.
- The Right Footing— Proper footing in your horse stall runs and paddocks is essential. It will create a more sturdy area, keeping mud under control, reducing moisture, and improving cleanliness. In addition to standard paddock footing (i.e., wood chips, sand, gravel, etc.), we recommend supplementing with our Mud Control Grids. This base will further keep mud under control all year round.
We hope that this article has given some ideas for building your Stall Runs or simply renovating your existing horse paddocks. Upcoming barn project. Do you have any questions about this post or need help with your barn project? 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.
