- Home
- About Us
-
Custom Products
- Shop by Products
- Resources
- Contact Us
-
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.
Say goodbye to messy barn aisles and wasted bedding. Our new Bedding Blocker system is a simple, safe, and effective solution designed to keep bedding in and mud out—helping you save money and keep your barn clean. Easy to install and built to last, it's a must-have for stalls with in-and-outs or high traffic areas.
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.
True horsemanship begins with being a lifelong student. In this inspiring piece by Melina Poole-Minnillo of MPM Sport Horses, discover how organization, accountability, and purposeful practice transform good riders into great horsemen, and why the best students never stop learning, both in and out of the saddle.
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.
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?”
Horse barns – without the involvement of an equine architect – can still be beautiful and extremely functional.
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 project's 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 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 of our Project Managers would also be more than happy to help answer any questions and further explain the process.
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.
Although many of our projects consist of new barns, our team does many barn renovation projects each year. Our renovations can range widely from private 4-stall barns to large 40-stall barns. Each barn renovation requires something different – including stalls, barn doors, windows, and flooring renovations. Our team works hard to understand your existing barn's structure, the surrounding climate, your horses, and your personal style. This way, we can tailor a renovation project to your preferences and overall project.
Although renovations come in many sizes, we want to highlight three particular renovation projects that we have completed this year. These 3 renovations will give you an idea of what is possible for your own barn. Regardless of your the barn structure, we strive to deliver an end result that leads to a safer, more functional, and elegant barn.
Example 1 – Horse Barn in Ocala, Florida
Our first example is a private horse barn in Ocala, Florida. This barn – in traditional Florida fashion – is a shedrow barn for a client's private use. The client already had their stalls in-place, but wanted to upgrade the flooring around the barn. They then finalized on black 1-3/4" rubber pavers to give their outdoor aisles a new look. These rubber pavers not only transformed the look and feel, but also adds safety with our rubbers' anti-slip traction. You can see the newly installed rubber pavers below.
Example 2 – Breeding Facility in Collinsville, Texas
Our first example (above) showed a client who chose to renovate their barn with only flooring components. Our second example shows a client in Collinsville, Texas. Our client, True North Show Horses, brought our team onboard to help with both their new barn and existing barn's renovation. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the existing barn's renovation.
Our client had existing European horse stalls in their barn constructed with cinderblock. However, they wanted to transform these European horse stalls into stalls for their stallions. We then worked with our client and their barn builder to engineer custom sliding horse stalls. The sliding horse stall doors were built to match the stall doors in their new barn. You can see the transformation of their barn in this one row of stalls.
Example 3 – Private Barn in Virginia
Our first two examples both show barn renovations that chose either flooring or custom stall components. This gives our clients an understanding that their renovation can be done in phases.
Our last example shows a barn renovation that took place in Virginia. This client moved into this new property that had an existing horse barn. The couple chose to overhaul the entire barn to house their four horses.
This particular renovation included the following new additions:
The client chose rubber pavers to add a beautiful barn aisle look, but to also add safety and traction to their aisles. They then chose the particular design for their sliding stall doors based on their horses and the location of the barn. The couple decided that their horses knew each other enough that they were comfortable to allow their horses to hang their head out of their stalls at all time with the v-shaped yoke. Lastly, a mesh bottom was added to the horse stall doors to help with ventilation during hot Summers in Virginia. You can see the before and after of this stunning barn below:
Do you have any questions regarding your horse barn renovation? Are you stuck with where to even start? Our team is here to help guide you every step of the way to ensure your renovation yields the exact result you want. 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.
December is weeks away which means that many competitive riders are already getting ready for the Winter season in Florida. The 2022 Winter Season in Florida brings many of the nation's top competitors to Ocala and Wellington. When it comes to competition, we all know that the value of high performance.
In this article, we'd like to share four products that will add safety and comfort to your horse barn. These 4 products will ensure your horses are well-rested and comfortable – leading to high performance. We have divided these 4 products among
Increase Comfort & Recovery Times
Each of our recommendations revolves around the horse's comfort, safety, and happiness. Our first recommendation is our Stall Mattress System. This is a wall-to-wall waterproof stall mat system. It includes three core materials – a mattress pad, rubber crumb, and a rubber top cover for the horse stall.
While we recommend our stall mattress system for any horse, it is particularly recommended for horses that regularly show at horse shows.
The StableComfort stall mat system provides unsurpassed comfort through a resilient stall surface which simulates natural turf. While your horse stands, this stall flooring system provides a supportive, even surface. While lying down the StableComfort stall mattress decreases the timeline of injury rehabilitation and aids in loosening stiff joints.
Our stall mattress systems are in-stock and ready to ship to ensure they are ready for the Winter Season in Wellington and Ocala. Contact our team for any custom sizing requests as well.
Add Ventilation to Your Horse Barn
Whether you are in South Florida or in the Great Lakes, ventilation is crucial in any horse barn. While you prepare for the winter season, below are two products that work in tandem to ensure your barn has plentiful airflow.
Our second recommendation are our PureCOOL Stall Fans – available in 12", 18", and 24" sizes. Although there are many stall fans on the market, we always strong recommend our PureCool Fans. Proudly made in the USA, our fans feature a deep guard design that helps push an incredible amount of air – compared to a traditional disk fan or box fan.
Our fans also include fully enclosed motors to ensure utmost fire safety for your horse barn. Available in multiple sizes, these Pure Cool Stall Fans are a great way to reduce heat stress, control insects, and decrease condensation in your barn.
Our third recommendation is to add our Stall Gates to your barn. These stall gates feature either a European yoke top or a flat grilled top. They also feature mesh on the gate bottom. This mesh has multiple benefits including:
Our Stall Gates are perfect as a stand alone horse stall door – or they can also sit behind an existing sliding stall door. Alternatively, you can order a custom sliding stall door with a mesh bottom for the same benefits.
If possible, we recommend the vast majority of our clients to add both our PureCool Stall Fans and a stall gate (or a custom sliding door with mesh) to their horse stalls. This combination ensures ample airflow from the fan – while a mesh bottom that allows the passing air to flow through your barn.
Also you can read more about how to improve your Horse Stall Performance here.
Allow Your Horses to Socialize
Our last recommendation is to add stall doors or stall gates with yoke openings on the top. This yoke opening allows your horses the ability to hang their head out of their horse stall and socialize within the barn.
If you operate a busy commercial barn, you can even add a hinged drop down yoke that can be closed. Another option is a removable yoke piece that is a removable piece that can fill yoke. This way, you can achieve both an open stall door or closed stall door opening – depending on the horse and your care goals.
Do you have any additional questions? Our team is here to help ensure you have the most successful Winter Season this Winter 2022 in Wellington and Ocala. 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.
