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Most of us equestrians dream of the day to have our dream barn. That dream barn is often at home in our personal farm. While our team is often involved with large barn projects, we wanted to write this post to inspire our clients who want to build smaller dream barns in their property.
Here are five horse barns with six horse stalls or less – proving small-scale barns are not lacking in the design or quality.
The first barn that we’d like to feature is a project that we completed for a fantastic interior design outside of Nashville, TN. This barn was built with the intent to house our client’s horses, but also use the center aisle for entertaining guests. We worked with our client and her vision to tastefully bring it to reality. In the end, our team helped Julie Davis Interiors by custom building European Horse Stall Fronts, Partial Privacy Stall Partitions, and providing custom interlocking rubber mat kits for each stall.
Who said that the barn is JUST for horses? This barn provides clients inspiration that our beloved barns can also be multi-use for entertaining purposes at times.
The next barn that we’d like to feature is a beautiful, airy barn in Morriston, Florida. This client has had vast experience in building barn – this being her third barn! For this barn, our client chose for it to be very open and expansive in nature. She chose our custom Sliding Horse Stall Doors for the barn interior. Each door was custom built using a mesh bottom to help promote ventilation, visibility into the stall, and allow sunlight into the stall. Each stall door also included a v-shaped yoke on the top for socialization along with a beautiful steel center and bottom rail.
Our team then helped custom build grillwork to match on the stall fronts and stall partitions. Last, but not least are our Full-Sized Stall Gates positioned in the back of each stall. This decision was to match the aesthetics of the Sliding Stall Doors – while providing our client’s horses easy and safe access to Paddocks.
The last detail we loved about the above barn is the farm’s name. You can find the signage on the top left corner showing the farm’s name: Hiraeth. This is the meaning of that term: “A spiritual longing for a home which maybe never was. Nostalgia for ancient places to which we cannot return. It is the echo of the lost places of our soul’s past and our grief for them. It is in the wind, and the rocks, and the waves. It is nowhere and it is everywhere.”
It is truly a privilege to work with clients in bringing their dreams to a reality. It’s even more fulfilling when we get to see that that a barn holds such a unique significance in our clients’ lives.
While the previous two barns are located in Northern & Central Florida, this last barn is located in our backyard in Virginia. This barn is a charming 4-stall barn for a family’s four horses. Our client had recently moved into the area purchasing a new farm property. Our team then helped client with a full renovation. This project includes brand new grillwork, custom Sliding Horse Stall Doors, blanket bars, and our black rubber pavers.
Similar to the previous barn, these Sliding Stall Doors include a v-shape yoke top and mesh bottom. The difference though is in the center and bottom rails. This Virginia barn features our wood-insert HVH center and bottom – as opposed to a steel in-fill. This slight difference gives this barn that classic look that is synonymous with Hunt Country Virginia.
While our team works on many large equestrian facility projects, we find just as much pleasure in helping our clients with their smaller private barns. We help clients across North America bring their dreams to a reality – whether that is new barn construction or a barn renovation.
Do you have any questions about where to begin for your upcoming barn project? Our team would love to help answer any questions and make recommendations. Please kindly feel free to send us an email at sales@americanstalls.com or a call at (855) 957-8255. Alternatively, you can also complete a Contact Us Form.
One thing I struggled with as a young rider was performance anxiety, more commonly referred to as, “stage fright”. And in this case, the show ring was my “stage”. Stage fright is basically anxiety and panic that’s induced by the thought of the performance itself. People that suffer from either of these, often worry about failing the task before it has even begun. It took me a long time to be able to enter the ring with confidence, and I owe this in large part to walking the walk.
Everyone has nerves. Rest assured, even the top riders you know and love, have nerves too. But what sets them apart from those of us that feel overwhelmed by these tendencies to feel anxious? Is it that you are fearful that you’ll forget your course? Are you afraid of making a spectacle of yourself in front of an unfamiliar audience? Perhaps you don’t understand how to walk a course? Have you had a bad fall that seems to haunt you? The show atmosphere can be a lot to take in, especially if you’ve never been to one. All of these worries are valid, and at the end of the day nerves aren’t a bad thing, they just mean you care. But if you can master the “walk”, I think you’d be surprised at the confidence this alone will give you.
I’m going to break down a few of the biggest takeaways I have learned after years of showing that help to bolster my confidence while in the midst of a competition.
Your why. Why do you want to horse show? If you find your answer revolving around fitting in with what everyone else is doing, or wanting to prove someone wrong or you are simply chasing ribbons and clout, then you need to spend some time on this point. As equestrians, it’s evident that we love our horses, we love to ride and we live for the adrenaline rush in one way or another. It should not be about proving something to the spectators. Nor should it be to please your social media followers. Clear your mind of the idea that it’s for the ribbons and titles. The focus should be about using each show as an opportunity to learn and grow as a rider and horseman. If you make this your purpose for showing, then the rest will come in due time.
Now, let’s get down to business. Courses. This is where walking the walk truly comes into play. If you want to horse show, you’ll be faced with many courses and many challenges. But before we get to the shows, let’s take a look at how we prepare at home. Let’s say you come out to the barn for your weekly ride and the course is already set. Some might think this is a blessing to be spared from lugging around the heavy standards and poles. But in reality, knowing how to set up a course is one of the most important things you will ever learn. It’s right up there with learning diagonals. It’s essential. Next time your trainer sets a course, ask if you can help. That’s right! Volunteer to do some hard work. I promise you the benefit will far outweigh the work, even if you walk out of the ring with a few extra splinters on your hands.
Walk the walk! Why is learning how to set and walk a course so essential? Learning the basic fundamental principals of setting a course will help you to learn what a “stride” is. If you want to be able to tackle something on horseback, I first suggest you understand it from the ground.
The average horse has a 12-foot stride. In comparison, one horse stride is equal to four human steps. A horses take off and landing stride measures as two human steps or six feet. So if you want to set a one stride line, you would walk 2 steps for take off, 4 steps for a stride, and another 2 steps for take off. The distance between the two jumps will be about ~24 feet. Now, I don’t know about you, but I never thought I would have to use math to be able to jump a horse, but there it is.
We walk our own stride to be able to convert those steps to horse strides. It’s kind of like goldilocks and the three bears (too hot, too cold, just right). Stay with me here…If we are lucky, the lines are “just right”, or “normal”. Some might be “long”. And some will be “short”. The reason walking a course is so important is that it helps give you a sense of how much ground your horse will cover in one stride. Once you know that, you can assist your horse better depending on if they have a short stride, a normal stride, or a big stride. Essentially, this is how you determine if the line is a “woah”, a “go”, or a “flow” for your horse. It’s a nice little rhyme, but even handier when you understand the terminology.
Now that you understand how to walk a line and access your horses stride, let’s talk about the other factors you’ll need to keep in mind as you walk the walk. How will you enter the ring? What lead will you come off of to approach jump one? If you compete in the jumpers, where are your start and end timers? Occasionally, you may have the option of a handy turn or a rollback. Will you be conservative and take the “outside” turn? Or will you take the daring “inside” turn? The course walk is your opportunity to gauge what turns, approaches, pace and strides will best suit your horse. If you are aware of what awaits your horse, then you will be prepared to guide your horse and avoid needless errors.
One of my favorite things to do to prepare for a show is to simulate the horse show at home. For instance, if you are going to show in the jumpers, maybe you will practice how you enter the ring, or how you will use your time before the buzzer sounds. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Naturally, if we have a weakness, this leaves room for fears to take hold.
So how can you make your weaknesses a thing of the past? Maybe you lose track of where you are in a line? Maybe you struggle particularly with a bending line set on a half stride? Maybe it’s a one stride combination. It could even be something as simple as a long approach down to an oxer, or the jump with a liver-pool underneath it. The take away here is that the more you practice at home, the better prepared you will feel at the show because it won’t feel “new”. Knowledge and being prepared are the keys to confidence and success. And this is why taking the time to properly do the course walk is essential.
As equestrian rob you of something that is meant to be enjoyed. Set yourself up for success. Show smaller, school larger. Just because you jump a bit bigger at home, doesn’t mean you should jump that big at a show. Slow and steady wins the race. Take your time moving up. Enter in a class lower than what you normally school at a home, and you will feel overly prepared. This is how you will build on your many layers of confidence. After all, it’s called walking the walk, not sprinting a marathon.
Lastly, establish your routine. Organization, preparation, and routines are the key elements to harnessing your worries, and building your confidence. If you don’t know where to begin, here’s what I like to do:
This blog post was authored by our client, Melina Poole-Minnillo, who operates MPM Sport Horses.
Melina & MPM Sport Horses specialize in jumpers, hunters & equitation. MPM emphasizes a solid foundation and the understanding of proper horse care, flat work and the mechanics behind riding for any discipline. Melina values instilling the importance of fundamentals, having fun and training a positive mindset while advancing her students to their fullest potential. Melina takes great pride in going above and beyond to provide the absolute best feed and care for her equine partners, and a positive environment for all riders.
In addition to becoming a riding instructor, Melina spends her time finding quality import prospects to bring to the United States to further their development and pair with their perfect rider. MPM Sport Horses proudly also work with fellow professionals in the sales, exercise, care and training, and development of quality hunter/jumper horses in the area.
Follow MPM Sport Horses on Instagram at @mpmsporthorses or Facebook.
It’s finally the evening and the sun is just about ready to set. We find ourselves in our barn to feed our horses, but to also wrap up the day. Often times, wrapping up the day means keeping the barn tidy. One look down the aisle though and we see shavings sprawled all across the barn aisle. Frustration quickly ensues as we watch bedding get kicked out of stalls and mud being dragged in.
If you can relate to this occurrence, you will be excited by our newest addition to our product line. We are excited to introduce the Bedding Blocker system. The Bedding Blocker is the first and only product specifically designed to save you money on horse and large animal bedding costs. This low profile, safe threshold barrier keeps more bedding in your stalls, and mud and debris out.
The Bedding Blocker is extremely helpful on horse stalls with in and out runs. It can also be used on the front of a stall. This helps keep your aisle tidy and free from shavings.
To give you an overview, each Bedding Blocker system is comprised of the following components:
1 nylon brush that is 48″ long and 6″ high
Below are other frequently asked questions about the Bedding Blocker System.
Question: What if my horse stall door opening is larger than 48″ or smaller than 48″ wide?
Answer: If your stall door opening is larger than 48″, the Bedding Blockers can easily be lined up end to end for larger thresholds. In contrast, if your horse stall opening is less than 48″, all Bedding Blocker components can be cut using a hacksaw with a metal cutting blade.
Question: What if my horse tried to eat the bristles?
Answer: The bristles are designed to stay in place. With proper installation, animals should not be able to remove the brush component from the bases.
If you have a persistent chewer or destructive animal, we recommend spraying the brush with an anti chewing deterrent made for animals.
Question: Am I able to drive a cart or roll a wheelbarrow over the Bedding Blocker?
Answer: Yes! The bristles are designed to allow wheelbarrows and carts to easily pass through them. You can even view a video of a wheelbarrow in action here.
Question: How do I maintain the longevity and durability of the Bedding Blocker?
Answer: The Bedding Blocker is designed to block bedding and debris. We suggest running a pitchfork through the bristles when you are finished cleaning your stalls. This will remove excess build up of dirt and debris and keep your brush’s integrity intact longer. You can also remove the brush by removing one base and sliding the brush out. If the Bedding Blocker is installed with a muddy area outside, you may need to clean it with a hose and mild detergent more frequently.
While the brush component is designed to last for an extended period of time, several factors will determine how often your brush needs to be replaced. Animal traffic in and out of stalls, amount of dirt and mud outside of the stall, time spent cleaning the brush, and general use will determine how often the brush should be replaced. In this case, you can purchase a replacement brush from our team.
Do you have any additional questions? Please reach out to our design team at (855) 957-8255 or email us at sales@americanstalls.com. Our team of expert consultants would love to sit down, understand your questions, and provide our 17+ years of experience
Your decision in your aisle flooring will affect how you use your barn in the long run. It can affect day-to-day aspects such as caring for your horses and how you keep your aisles clean. Your aisle flooring can also impact how visitors see your equine operations for the first time when they step foot in your barn.
Many people may think of themselves or others as being a student. But what is the meaning behind this word? Most definitions you will find go something like this: “a person engaged in study; one who is devoted to learning; especially, one who attends a school, or who seeks knowledge from professional teachers or books and examines thoughtfully”.
Regardless of what you are a student of, being a student is like having a job, one that should be held in the highest regard. I was a student majoring in equestrianism, and still am. That’s how seriously I take my riding. Why? Good students in the equestrian world view riding and learning as an honor and a privilege. An opportunity to perfect their craft in hopes of rising to a higher level of mastery. Being a good student is something I have always held near and dear to my heart. I was born putting my whole heart into anything I set out to do. Now, I hope to inspire my own students and readers to adapt to this mindset.
As riders, it is natural to have idols and people to admire. We admire their effortless equitation, their flawless round, their horsemanship, their endless knowledge, and let’s not forget the horses that are practically real life unicorns. A lot of people lose sight of the work that was put in by their idols to allow them to get to that level. Most of those individuals that we aspire to be like are professional students, if you ask me. They have learned the artistry behind studying and applying their knowledge. Showing up at the barn just won’t cut it. Just like showing up to “class” won’t guarantee your grade or knowledge retained. You can groom, tack up, ride, cool down, and repeat this cycle on a loop without any improvement. But why is that? You are at the barn, in the saddle, shouldn’t that be enough? It won’t ever be, “enough”. You will always lack purpose and intention if you have the mindset of “good enough” instead of “being the best that I can be”. That’s why when I work with a new student, the first thing I instill is organization.
Make a Checklist
If you can lock down organization, this will pave the way for stepping stones to success. You should always practice with purpose, intention, and a term I refer to as “policing”. Accountability and “policing” are very similar. The difference is that policing is something you do yourself rather than relying on others. It comes down to “policing” yourself as you ride by engaging your mind/muscle connection when your trainer isn’t able to watch you. Make a mental checklist of the things your trainer has stressed to you in recent lessons. A mental checklist if you will. Are your hands too low? Are your legs at the girth? Are your fingers closed against the reins? Are you slouching through your shoulders? Is your core engaged? This mental list will vary person to person, but we all should have one, and you have to write it down! By learning this mindset of riding with intentionality, you can begin to create objectives for both you and your horse each week.
Keep a Journal / Calendar
Once you grab the reins of organization, you will learn to love calendars and journals. I like to plan my schedule each week not just for my own horses, but for my students as well. I help my students decide what days to plan for a jump lesson, a training ride, what days to flat in between and what should be practiced on those days. A good student will journal and keep track of their lessons/rides so they can take note of all the things they should be studying and practicing as homework outside of lessons. It is also a great way to record the things that went well, new accomplishments and determining what new goals you should establish for yourself or your horse. Setting small attainable goals is key!
Ultimately, your trainer can provide you with the homework, but they can’t hold your hand and force you to do it; it’s a choice that has to be made by you. You, and only you, are the thing that stands between success and failure. Which goes back to accountability. Homework will look different for each individual rider because it should be personalized and not “one size fits all”. Chances are, at the end of your lesson your trainer will recap what you did well and what didn’t go so well. That’s your cue that you do indeed have homework, and learning doesn’t need to stop when your lesson is over.
Do Your Homework & Get the Most out of Your Lessons
Being a good student requires finding your own sense of independence and responsibility. Want to get the most out of your lessons? Leave the excuses behind. Fight the urge to excuse your flaws. Instead, embrace the constructive criticism, soak up the knowledge. Shut up, and buck up. This may sound harsh, but if you spend less time making excuses for you or your horse, and just RIDE, that alone will knock down a barrier that’s most likely in the way of your success. Take the criticism and use it to fuel your motivation during future rides. Don’t just ride, ride with a purpose. Remembering all of the things you or your horse should be practicing outside of your lessons. I promise you, your trainer isn’t pointing out these things to belittle you, they only want to help you improve and truly become the best that you can be.
Fight the urge to respond defensively or with an excuse or explanation. Process what your trainer is saying and just apply it. If there’s something you don’t understand, don’t ever be afraid to ask a question. A good student asks questions. If you find yourself still not fully understanding something at the end of the lesson, take the time to ask your trainer what your homework should be, or if they can explain their feedback to you a bit more in depth. After all, a lesson is just a period of your learning, so make sure you use that time to do just that, learn.
Research is Free
Everywhere we look we can find credible resources to further our education. Some of my personal favorites I like referencing to are:
A good student knows that their learning doesn’t stop in the saddle, it can be applied in the barn and at home as well. Have you ever watched your trainer do something, and settle with watching them do it as being enough? Train your brain to be a do-er and not just a watcher, give it a go for yourself! Don’t know how to dress a wound? Don’t know how to switch a bit? Don’t know how to walk a line or set courses? Don’t just let someone do it for you and pass up the opportunity to learn. Embrace challenges and new opportunities to fail, and learn from them. After all, failure, for the committed, often leads to eventual success. When it comes to improving our riding, nothing can replace time in the saddle, I of all people get that. But we can actively further our knowledge in and outside of the barn.
Be the Best Student
Now I may sound like a broken record, but the biggest take away here is SELF. It’s not about the barn, your horse, your clothes or your social circle. If you want to be the best that you can be, you have to learn to be a good student. Being a student in and of itself is something that must be learned. A good student makes horsemanship a priority. A good student is always eager to learn and face new challenges. A good student will spend more time listening and applying, than they do making excuses. A good student will learn time management and organization. A good student will ask for homework. A good student will reap their rewards. A good student will tackle their goals. A good student will noticeably make strides of improvement. A good student will become a great horseman. And the best student never loses the passion to learn and further their education and abilities.
This blog post was authored by our client, Melina Poole-Minnillo, who operates MPM Sport Horses. Melina & MPM Sport Horses specialize in jumpers, hunters & equitation. MPM emphasizes a solid foundation and the understanding of proper horse care, flat work and the mechanics behind riding for any discipline. Melina values instilling the importance of fundamentals, having fun and training a positive mindset while advancing her students to their fullest potential. Melina takes great pride in going above and beyond to provide the absolute best feed and care for her equine partners, and a positive environment for all riders.
In addition to becoming a riding instructor, Melina spends her time finding quality import prospects to bring to the United States to further their development and pair with their perfect rider. MPM Sport Horses proudly also work with fellow professionals in the sales, exercise, care and training, and development of quality hunter/jumper horses in the area.
Follow MPM Sport Horses on Instagram at @mpmsporthorses or Facebook.
It’s the week of the show, and you’ve got a million things on your mind. Instead of winging it last minute, put your mind at ease with a little preparation. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I am a huge advocate for organization and preparation. Two things that I believe go hand in hand and lead to success. If you are organized, you will know where everything is, and if you are prepared that means everything you will need is ready to go. And that will give you peace of mind.
As I prepare my own students for a show this weekend, I’d like to share some of the lists that I have helped them put together. It can be especially nerve racking if you haven’t been to a horse show before. Without guidance, it can be a lot to take in and believe me it’s easy to forget important items. I found that breaking the lists down into three separate categories makes sense, is easier and helps the process along: Stable Supplies, Horse, and Rider.
STABLE SUPPLIES
HORSE
RIDER
So there it is, a fairly complete listing of what you will need at the show for you, your horse and for your horse’s stay at the show venue. In some cases, your trainer will provide some of the barn items on my list, but make sure you know in advance what that is so you can bring what they don’t provide.
Some barns will transport your barn trunk to the show which makes things a lot easier. Just be sure to check in advance that everything you will need is in your trunk. There is nothing worse than opening the trunk to grab something you need at the show only to find it isn’t there.
I hope these list suggestions will be helpful to you, and I recommend you review mine and modify as your requirements dictate.
Happy showing!
This blog post was authored by our client, Melina Poole-Minnillo, who operates MPM Sport Horses. Melina & MPM Sport Horses specialize in jumpers, hunters & equitation. MPM emphasizes a solid foundation and the understanding of proper horse care, flat work and the mechanics behind riding for any discipline. Melina values instilling the importance of fundamentals, having fun and training a positive mindset while advancing her students to their fullest potential. Melina takes great pride in going above and beyond to provide the absolute best feed and care for her equine partners, and a positive environment for all riders.
In addition to becoming a riding instructor, Melina spends her time finding quality import prospects to bring to the United States to further their development and pair with their perfect rider. MPM Sport Horses proudly also work with fellow professionals in the sales, exercise, care and training, and development of quality hunter/jumper horses in the area.
Follow MPM Sport Horses on Instagram at @mpmsporthorses or Facebook.
Our Stall Gates are among our most popular stall products that we carry in-stock. We began manufacturing our Stall Gates in 2008 because we could not find a suitable stall gate for our own horses. We started with our company's three core elements in stall – safety, functionality, and elegance.
We wanted to build a stall gate that was exceptionally safe. This means that our stall gates utilize heavy-duty steel tubing, safely spaced bars and mesh, and outstanding powder coat finishes. Our choice in materials ensures that our stall gates won't bend, bow, or break due to impact.
Secondly, we understand that any horse barn must be equally functional as it is beautiful. That is why we ensured our stall gate has pre-drilled holes for an easy installation. We also provide heavy-duty hardware including hinges, gate chain latching components, and necessary screws. Our choice in hardware allows you to have a stall gate that swings in and out without effort. Our latching options are also functional and easy to use in the barn. We also add functionality by adding a mesh bottom and European yoke top. This is not only beautiful, but it allows your horse to socialize in the barn – while allowing ample airflow into your horse stall.
Last but not least, each American Stalls stall product is built with elegant design. Our Stall Gate features simple and nimble lines that are easy on the eye. Our European yoke (top) provides that refined professional look. Each Stall Gate is also finished with a durable powder coat finish that looks stunning after years of use.
While we have described our building process, we'd like to help guide you between our three options. At American Stalls, we carry three Stall Gate styles in-stock including:
Our Half-Sized Stall Gates and Full-Sized Stall Gates are our two Stall Gate options with yokes. Both designs are what most horse owners will regard as traditional stall screens. They feature an attractive mesh bottom that promotes ventilation and a clear sight line into the horse stall. They also offer a functional European yoke opening on the top. This yoke allows your horse to hang their head out of their horse stall.
Differences Between Half-Sized Stall Gate & Full-Sized Stall Gate
The main difference between our Half-Sized Stall Gate and Full-Sized Stall Gate is the height. Our Half-Sized is 42" tall while our Full-Sized is 65" tall. Our Half-Sized Stall Gates are used for all breeds including smaller breeds such as ponies, miniature horses, shetland ponies, and miniature donkeys. They are also routinely used for our clients' larger horses ranging from polo ponies and Arabians to European warmbloods and draft horses.
In contrast, our Full-Sized Stall Gate is commonly used exclusively for larger horse breeds. That being said, the mesh bottom does allow you to have smaller horse breeds and livestock as well.
Differences Between Grilled Stall Gate and Stall Gates with Yokes
Our Half-Sized Stall Gate and Full-Sized Stall Gate are our two best-selling stall gates since 2008. Both these stall gates feature top portions with yoke openings. In 2021, we launched our newest Grilled Stall Gate design. Our team designed this gate using inspiration from many polo barns located in coastal areas. This means a completely open stall design that offers clean lines and simple design.
Our Grilled Stall Gate does not include a yoke like our other two stall gates. This version instead features a straight bar design that is 58" tall. This 58" height allows our clients to use our Grilled Stall Gate as a standalone horse stall door. It is perfect for both small horse breeds and larger breeds alike.
How to Use Our Stall Gates
Although we wrote an in-depth post about this topic, our Stall Gates are used primarily in the following ways:
Do you have any additional questions? Please reach out to our design team at (855) 957-8255 or email us at sales@americanstalls.com. Our team of expert consultants would love to sit down, understand your questions, and provide our 17+ years of experience.
We have many phone conversations each day when a client shares photo(s) of a stall front design. It is common that the client will like a particular design, but will experience "sticker shock" at the stall front's actual price.
As a luxury horse stall manufacturer, we completely understand this reaction. After all, our clients may not be familiar with our metals, fabrication, and the vast amount of engineering that goes into each stall. Before your next project, we would like to address cost drivers in horse stalls.
While we might work with clients with few budget constraints, we work with many clients who have a particular project budget. In either case, it is important that we educate our client to ensure they make the best decision to get the most value. To begin, two factors tend to the main cost drivers:
Sliding Stall Fronts – The first driver of cost is the distinction between a "kit" stall and a fully welded stall front. As mentioned earlier, a stall kit will include a welded door, track hardware, a latch, channels, and grillwork. This then requires significant labor and time onsite to build the stall. Cost is driven when the client chooses our popular fully welded system that includes a complete frame – removing the need to build and frame the stall onsite.
The next cost driver in a sliding horse stall is the addition of a yoke in the door itself. Yokes are the opening through which your horse can hang their head out. Our basic yoke is a v-shaped yoke opening that requires the steel tubing to be bent into shape. The cost can be driven further if a client chooses a hinged, drop down yoke that is popular in barns.
Drop down yokes are more cost intensive because of additional welding, hinge hardware, the addition of a stainless steel plunger latch, and an additional filled yoke piece. Drop down yokes are more cost intensive because of additional welding, hinge hardware, the addition of a stainless steel plunger latch, and an additional filled yoke piece.
European Stall Fronts – The first decision that drives cost in a hinged, European Stall Front ("Euro") is the height. We build both "low" Euros and high Euros. The main difference between the two is simply the height of the left wing, the door, and the right wing. The additional steel material is the main cost driver between the two types. The second decision that drives cost is the arch and radius bend of the left wing, right wing, door's top most tubing. Our Euros start with a straight diagonal design or bent design. Labor and specialized machinery is then required to further build larger swoops and arches.
The very last cost driver are the finishing touches such as end caps and finials. These can be made out of either aluminum, brass, or a powdered coated aluminum. Each cap or finial is hand polished in-house to ensure the most elegant finishing touch on your stall.
All Stall Fronts – There are decisions that impact both Sliding Stalls and Euros. A popular option is to place 1" round bars or steel mesh in the stall bottom. This bottom fill can be placed on either the door bottom or across the entire stall front bottom. This addition (i.e. 1" round bars or mesh) is one of the largest cost drivers for any stall. This is because this design uses a significant amount of steel.
Additionally, unlike many manufacturers, our mesh and bars are welded at every single joint for extra strength. When adding a mesh or bars, clients will also add a Shavings Guard to keep bedding inside the stall. This Shavings Guard can be either a steel sheet or a welded HVH that is ready for a wood piece. This is another cost driver to the stall due to the additional steel material and welding.
The above covers a good majority of things to consider, but it is not a comprehensive list of upgrades. It is true – if you can dream it, it can be done in most cases. We hope that the above allows you to understand how to choose a stall front that drives the most value for your barn.
Last but not least, feeding and watering options. Feed upgrades can include a feed hole opening, a grilled feed door, a revolving feed door, and other custom options. Each option requires CAD design, additional steel materials, welding, and hardware (i.e. hinges and latches). This is equally true for watering options such adding water spigots for water buckets or adding an integrated automatic waterer.
The above covers a good majority of things to consider, but it is not a comprehensive list of upgrades. It is true – if you can dream it, it can be done in most cases. We hope that the above allows you to understand how to choose a stall front that drives the most value for your barn.
Do you have any questions about what is the best horse stall design for your barn, horses, and budget? Our team would love to help answer any questions and make recommendations. Please kindly feel free to send us an email at sales@americanstalls.com or a call at (855) 957-8255. Alternatively, you can also complete a Contact Us Form.
In today’s market, there are various types of barn designs, building materials, and barn types. That being said, there are 3 to 4 basic structures that are most popular for horses. In this post, we'd like to cover the different types of popular horse barns and things you should consider during the process.
The first type of barn – and most common – is the post and beam barn. This barn is also referred to as a pole barn, framed barn, and panelized “pre-fabricated” barn. Secondly, we will discuss clear span barn structures. Thirdly, we will discuss the increasingly popular block barns found in hotter climates. Lastly, we will discuss other options such as stabling inside indoor arenas.
Looking for Barn Design that will save you time? We wrote about it extensively in our previous blog posts.
It is likely that you have been through hundreds of horse barns. If so, it is likely that you’ve walked in many post and beam barns. The post and beam barn (also known as a “pole barn”) is especially popular along the east coast.
This particular style is very popular because it can be put up in a cost-effective manner. There are also times when a general contractor who puts up the shell and the remaining work is left to the builder.
Additionally, the pole barn has cost advantages because it is usually pre-engineered for most land sites or not engineered at all. These barns are usually made with 6’x6’ or 4’x4’ timbers on 12’ or 14’ centers. It is then covered using a single wall construction of tongue and groove lumber (T&G). Luxury barn builders will go one step further when insulation is required. In these cases, the barn’s exterior will be framed with a sheer wall and a finished wall on the barn interior.
Although wood is a great choice for these post and beam barns, it is important to acknowledge that these barns have a limited lifespan. This is because the wood needs to be protected from the horses who may chew, crib or eat the exposed edges. Another consideration is that the column spacing limits what can be done with the barn’s interior. In other words, this is a single use structure that is limited by its configuration.
Panelized horse barns are also referred to as “prefab barns.” These particular barns are sold under common brand names and are often found in California, Oregon, Washington, and Texas. Panelized barns are cost-effective structures that do the basic job of housing your horses. These structures can also be built quickly without much permit issues. That being said, these barns offer little to no flexibility for alternative uses and are architecturally uninspiring.
Framed barns provide the most flexibility and functionality when it comes to post and beam construction. These particular buildings are common used when there must be an upper story to the barn for an apartment, office, or other application.
Framed barns are built similarly to homes because they use a double wall construction. This construction allows for more architectural detail and creativity in building materials. The sky (and a client’s budget) is truly the limit in these buildings.
Clear span barns (both wood and steel) may or may not have a framed wall. They do use the truss to clear the span in the shorter side of the building. The trusses are usually one of three types: timber trusses, metal tube trusses, and scissor trusses. These engineered buildings tend to require savvy builders due to the need for a foundation.
Once permitting and the foundation is done, a clear span building can be built quickly offsite and "assembled" (bolted) together on the job site. In terms of budget, clear span buildings can be utilitarian – using inexpensive siding and roofing materials. They can also be extremely costly if you add stone walls, slate roofs, and steeper roof pitches.
Clear span steel barns are fantastic in terms of longevity since horses do not have places to chew. Lastly, they offer clients flexibility as the building can be used for other purposes in the case of a future sale.
Covered or fully enclosed arenas are growing in popularity – especially in geographies that have harsher climate. Although you might have a barn in addition to the arena, it can be worth it to also plan limited stabling with the arena. Horse stalls can be installed off the arena’s long side or short side depending on your quantity needs. An indoor arena also offers flexibility as the side spaces can accommodate everything from stalls to office space to vehicle storage.
For starters, “CMU” is also known as cinder block. Block (CMU) barns are increasingly popular in geographies with warmer climates that are prone to inclement weather. Block barns are very popular in Florida because of their strength again hurricanes and tropical storms.
CMU barns make for a great structure that will last against the elements – including weather and horses’ day-to-day wear and tear. We do recommend to find a high-quality builder for any barn structure, but especially block barns. This is because there are certain details that need to be done right to ensure your barn is safe for your horses and built to last.
For example, some horse owners express concerns the block’s hardness. Cinder block walls can be covered with padded rubber in the horse stalls. Additionally, block edges and corners must be either ground down or covered with a steel angle iron.
If you are considering a block barn, we also recommend to loop our team well in-advance to ensure there is sound communication between the builder, our team, and the architects. This is to ensure openings are accurate to ensure stalls, doors, partitions, windows, and other components are correctly built.
Do you have any questions about what is the best barn structure for you? Our team would love to help answer any questions and make recommendations. Please kindly feel free to send us an email at sales@americanstalls.com or a call at (855) 957-8255. Alternatively, you can also complete a Contact Us Form.
Although it is an expensive service, the selection of an equine architect is just as crucial as choosing the right contractor.
An architects’ benefits are immeasurable as the thoughtful planning will save you time, resources, and headache in the long run.
An experienced equine architect will help with your barns's aesthetics, but will simultaneously help ensure that your barn is functional. Reputable equine architects will help you think about your barn site’s location, the surrounding topography, climate, and other details. All of these factors will add up to make a significant difference in your barn’s day-to-day ease of operations.
Once you speak to an architect, do make sure to communicate your vision, your requirements, and your budget. As is the case with anything, the more honest you are upfront, the easier the process will be at the end. It is easy for yourself or the architect to get carried away without having proper discussions of your barn’s vision, your budget, your horses’ breeds, and how you see the barn’s function.
While we do recommend clients to work with an architect if their budget allows – there are times when an architect is not required. For example, your project’s simplicity may not require an architect’s involvement. Another example is if your project’s overall budget doesn't fit the architect's fees. A third example is when a client will have a discussion with an architect and realize that they want a simple, pre-fabricated barn. In this case, you simply don’t need an architect.
An architect involvement is truly dependent on your barn’s purpose and estimated budget. No two barn projects are the same. For example, we can work with a client who wants to build a 18-stall barn with an indoor arena, office, laundry room, wash bay area, tack room, and a client lounge. For their stabling, they’d like European stall fronts, Dutch Doors, shutter windows, and rubber pavers as flooring. The conversation will inevitably lead to a quotation when a client asks, “what will something like this cost?”
The true answer is that such a project could cost anywhere from $150,000 to $3,000,000. The first amount could be a more utilitarian barn. The latter (or somewhere in-between) is where the projects budget is well spent with a preliminary conceptual drawing. For a project with a latter project, an architect can come into provide a farm site masterplan, structural conceptual drawings, and help you truly sculpt your vision into a reality.
If you do choose to hire a reputable equine architect, it will entail a project where you are surrounded by the right team. This entire process will help you look at the project’s reality along with your ultimate vision. This means that it puts you in touch with people to approach project’s lead time, budget, and scale with a real view of your facility’s vision.
At American Stalls, we have experience in working alongside and serving some of the nation's leading equine architects. Please kindly feel free to reach out to our team if you may need any recommendations. One of our Project Managers would also be more than happy to help answer any questions and further explain the process. Please kindly feel free to send us an email at sales@americanstalls.com or a call at (855) 957-8255. Alternatively, you can also complete a Contact Us Form.
Each holiday season, we face the same question when start shopping for our loved ones. The question is usually something along the lines of, "what do I even get them?"
This question is that much tougher when you have a special equestrian in your life. To make matters worse, they might even have everything they could possibly want and need. This brings us to the same question with a tad bit more pressure. "What do we get them this holiday season?"
Our team has taken this challenge to curate a list of thoughtful gifts for that horse lover or avid equestrian rider in your life. Below is a curation of gifts ranging from arts to books to chocolates.
Our first gift idea includes beautiful art prints by Hart Equestrian. The brand, Hart Equestrian, is known to be dedicated to sourcing beautifully curated, artisan made homeware that reflects the rich history and timeless elegance of the equestrian lifestyle. The wide selection of prints is the perfect addition to any work study, powder room, living room, and other areas around the home.
These handcrafted candles are by our partners at Stable Style. This particular candle is the scent of amber, lavender and hard wood. It’s warm with a touch of sweetness – perfect for any room in your home or office. These candles will make for the perfect stocking stuffer this holiday season.
Additional Idea: You can even combine these candles with the Stable Style Book: Barn Inspiration for all Equestrians. Just imagine your favorite equestrian lighting a Dream Barn candle in the living room – all while flipping through inspirational visuals for that dream horse barn.
Our next gift idea is along the lines of beautiful artwork for the home and office. Combine beautiful equestrian photographs from Silver Oaks Farm with your tasteful interior furniture to make a cozy equestrian-inspired room. Silver Oaks Farm is the creation of the talented Erin Gouveia – an accomplished equestrian and photographer. Erin's prints and shop are dedicated to her love for beloved horses and her love for all things equestrian. This passion shows in all of her beautiful work.
Our last and fourth idea is the new American Equestrian Design by the world class equestrian architecture firm – Blackburn Architects. Gift this to that special equestrian in your life who contemplating building their dream barn one day. Flip through pages of design inspiration to get their dreams churning for that dream barn or indoor arena.
We hope that this curated list includes gifts that are unique and that are hidden gems. You can find two more lists that our team put together for more holiday-related inspiration:
With that, we wish you a very Happy Holidays and prosperous New Year ahead!
Apart from our horse stalls, we receive many curious questions regarding our horse stall mattresses. At American Stalls, we carry the best-selling StableComfort stall mattress for horse stalls. Below are answers to a handful of frequently asked questions regarding our horse stall mattresses.
QUESTION: What is the difference between a Stall Mattress and interlocking rubber mats for horse stalls?
ANSWER: Both stall mattresses and interlocking rubber mats are flooring options for horse stall interiors. Interlocking rubber mats are 3/4" thick mats that are laid in an interlocking grid pattern. These mats are the only component included in an interlocking stall mat kit.
In contrast, a stall mattress system includes four core components. These components include:
QUESTION: How do you clean the mattress? Is it sanitary?
ANSWER: The StableComfort mattress system is incredibly sanitary and healthy - so much so that we recommend it to facilities that particularly need are sensitive to biosecurity measures.
The StableComfort mattress system is a wall-to-wall waterproof system that includes a seamless top cover. In contrast to interlocking or straight edge rubber mats, the top cover is fixed to the stalls' side, back, and front walls. This means that it is non-draining and waterproof. It only means that you don't have to worry about any liquids or urine getting under the top cover.
When it comes time to clean, we recommend to use cleaning products such as a diluted bleach mixture or and mild cleaning detergents. You can also power wash your horse stall mattress system.
QUESTION: What happens to the urine?
Answer: The urine stays on top of the Stall Mattress's top cover. Urine, instead, is absorbed into the appropriate amount of bedding and removed from the barn. Research shows that this method delivers the lowest amount of toxic ammonia odors in a barn.
QUESTION: Does the urine attack the top cover?
Answer: No. Private testing, through an independent laboratory, has been conducted to be sure that urine does not attack the top cover.
QUESTION: I'm having a hard time visualizing the actual horse stall mattress. Can you walk me through what it actually looks in a stall?
ANSWER: As they say, a picture(s) is worth a thousands words! Below is a visual breakdown of our StableComfort stall mattresses from start to finish.
The first components are the rubber-filled mattress itself and the rubber crumb applied over the mattresses. You can see in the below two photos these two represented. The first left photo shows the mattresses laid down in the horse stall. Once the mattresses are laid flat in the stall (right), rubber crumb is then applied over to ensure that the mattress base is level.
Once the mattress and rubber crumb are applied, it is time for the top cover to be installed. The top cover is cut to be custom fit for your horse stall's size – whether it is a 12x12 stall or a 16x16 stall. Each top cover is slightly larger than the stall's base. This is to ensure that there is enough extra material to be fastened to your horse stall's wall. The below right photo shows a stretched out top cover laid over the mattress and rubber crumb.
Once the top cover is installed, it is time to fasten the top cover to the horse stall's wall. The bottom left photo shows the plastic fastener strips used to then fixate the top cover to the side and back walls. Any excess top cover is then cut off with a blade to provide an aesthetically appealing look. The end result is the bottom right photo – a safe, functional, and elegant horse stall floor.
QUESTION: What is the best type of stall flooring to install the mattress over?
ANSWER: We recommend clients to install their stall mattresses over a flat concrete base. This ensures a level base that is easy to then also fasten the plastic strips to the horse stall walls. That being said, you can also use a natural substrate like crushed. In these cases, we recommend to double confirm that those surfaces are tamped properly and leveled.
Question: All of my stalls are different sizes… Some are 12x12, some are 10x12, and some are 14x15. Can you make this work?
Answer: Yes, we sure can! We are able to outfit custom sizes of horse stalls. When speaking to your Project Manager, please just let them know your approximate stall sizes and quantities. They will accordingly provide you pricing based on each size. Pricing will vary depending on the mattress pads needed along with the top cover size.
Question: How long will this mattress last me?
Answer: The StableComfort Stall Mattress, as any product, requires proper care and maintenance. This means routinely stretching out the top cover every year or so. If maintained right, we have seen that this system stands the test of time – working well for 10-15 years without issues.
Question: What kind of warranty comes with this mattress?
Answer: Each stall mattress system comes with a 3 year warranty. This warranty covers normal, everyday use and proper installation.
Do you have any questions regarding our Stall Mattress systems? Our team is here to help guide you every step of the way to ensure you receive the horse stall flooring. Please kindly feel free to send us an email at sales@americanstalls.com or a call at (855) 957-8255. Alternatively, you can also complete a Contact Us Form.
