Sliding Horse Stall Fronts are one of the most popular options in horse barns. Sliding Horse Stalls are popular with good reason as they are often safe, reliable, and functional for most horse barns. Most stall fronts and stall doors can be extremely dressy and elegant as well – depending on the customizations.
When it comes to Sliding Horse Stall Fronts, they are two main styles available. The first is what we call Fully Welded Stall Fronts. The second is what we call a Sliding Horse Stall Front Kit – keyword being “kit.” A client’s construction skills, intended design, and budget will often determine which of the two styles is right for your project.
In this article, we would like to walk you through the differences to consider between the two options. Let’s dive in!
Horse stall kits are sold in a variety of “pieces.” The client will then assemble the kit onsite by themselves or with the help of a general contractor. A horse stall kit includes components such as:
- The sliding horse stall door
- Grillwork (also known as “grates”)
- U-Channels that hold the tongue and groove lumber in place
- Track System and Pin Lock Latch
Horse stall kits tend to be more cost-effective when compared to fully welded sliding horse stalls. Why? it is because horse stall kits because there is less welding and labor involved in the manufacturing.
Although kit horse stalls are more cost-effective upfront, please consider that they do require more installation time. This added time will drive up the install cost if you intend to hire a contractor to install the horse stalls.
Sliding Horse Stall Kits can be a beautiful option for your barn. The Stall Door and Grillwork can both be fully custom built to achieve your intended look and functionality. For example, the Sliding Stall Door can be customized with different yoke options, bottom fills (I.e. mesh or bars), and other decorative designs. The Grillwork can be customized by adding a feed hole opening or even a grilled feed door.
The Fully Welded Horse Stall System
In contrast to kit horse stalls, fully welded horse stall systems are panel systems that are prefabricated steel frames.
This means that the stall panels are ready to install the minute they deliver to your farm. In contrast to horse stall kit, this means that you do not need to individually frame out the stall and cut any components. Once unloaded from the flatbed truck, fully welded panels are ready to attach to existing barn support columns or assemble to create a freestanding horse stall structure.
Pre-welded (“fully welded”) panels are often pricier than kit horse stalls. This is because there is more welding done to the stall front’s frame. Fully welded horse stall panels do help save time, labor, and cost during installation though. Fully welded stall panels can drop the installation time from 10+ man hours for a kit horse stall to about two man-hours for a fully welded system. This consideration brings the cost comparison to be much closer at the end.
In addition, pre-welded frames, partitions, and horse stall fronts add the benefit of greater strength because of additional welding across all components.
Similar to a horse stall kit, a Fully Welded Sliding Stall Front system can be completely customized to meet your envisioned look and function. The Horse Stall Door itself can be customized many ways including:
- Custom Yokes – V-Shaped, Rectangular, and other Designs
- Filled Yokes – Hinged Drop Down Yokes or Removable Pieces
- Custom Feed Options – Feed Hole Opening, Grilled Feed Door, or a Swivel Hay Feeder
- Custom Water Options – Integrated Water Lines, Automatic Waterer Systems, and More
- Custom Aesthetic Designs – Wood In-Fill Centers and Bottoms, Mesh Bottoms, Grilled Bottoms, Shavings Guards, and more
While the above is a great starting point, we do understand that each barn is different. Your personal style, your horses, your barn’s purpose, and so many other variables affect your stall front decisions. Our team is here to help guide you through the process. Contact us today if you may have any questions. It is our goal to help you pick the right Sliding Horse Stall Front option for your barn.
