Keeping Stalled Horses Happy with Social Stimulation

5:15 am
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Most of the horses in today’s modern world spend at least some of their time in stalls. Whether it’s due to land constraints and limited pasture, to keep a working horse handy and clean during the day, or to protect valuable horses from injuring themselves during unsupervised playtime, stalling horses is a reality we all face. At the same time, as horsemen we are tasked with keeping our horses healthy and happy–and we know that social interaction with other horses is important to this mission. How do you keep your stalled horses happy? Providing social stimulation is […]

Why Natural Light Matters to Your Stable (And How to Get It)

Horses are outdoor creatures. Frequently, however, they’re living indoor lives. And while some horses will let you know they really prefer the sheltered experience — we’ve all known that horse who demands to be returned to his stall the moment a cloud appears in the sky — the fact is, their physiology is still designed for wide open spaces. They require motion, fresh air, and natural light.

Natural light is superior to electric light for a number of reasons, and its effects on both horses and humans is well-documented. Exposure to unfiltered natural light allows the development of Vitamin […]

Should Your Barn Include a Loft?

7:04 am
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Hay lofts and other overhead spaces are a historically proven way to add valuable storage space to your barn without eating up square footage that you can devote to your horses’ living space, working space, and paddocks. There are also conveniences to keeping bulky items like hay on the second level — once you’ve got it up there, of course! But there are some cons to lofts as well. Let’s dive in and take a look at the pros and cons of hay lofts and overhead storage in your barn.

Hay loft pro: An easy hay-to […]

Should My Indoor Arena Connect to my Stable?

8:56 pm
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Indoor and covered arenas are becoming increasingly popular for horsemen across the country. There’s really no climate in which a trainer or even casual rider can’t take advantage of a roof over their head while riding. Protection from rain, snow, and blazing hot sun — all of these conditions can significantly impact your training calendar, as well as your enjoyment of your horses. They also come in handy for turn-out when paddocks are inaccessible or unsafe.

To maximize the benefits of covered or indoor arenas, many barn owners are opting to connect them to their stable, or even […]

Monitor, Raised Center Aisle Barns

8:56 pm
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Choosing a barn that’s right for you starts with your horses and their comfort. Second only to happy horses, though, is the way the barn will affect you: do you need extra storage? Easy access to arenas in all weathers? Accommodations for you or your staff? As we continue to look at different barn styles, one style that particularly lends itself to living quarters and extra storage comes to mind: the monitor, or raised center-aisle, barn.
Frequently built around pole construction, lending longevity and sturdiness to the structure, monitor barns are distinctive from typical center-aisle barns thanks […]

Barn Design Pros and Cons: The Center-Aisle Barn

8:21 pm
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The center-aisle barn: one of the most adaptable and popular equine stabling options in the United States. Many people’s brains simply default to this style of barn when they think about stables. It’s the preferred choice for horsemen across the country, spanning a variety of disciplines, breeds, and climates.

But is the center-aisle barn right for you? Last week we looked at the good and the bad of the shed-row style barn. This week, let’s look at some of the pros and cons (yes, there are cons!) to the center-aisle barn.

The pros […]

Barn Design Pros & Cons: Shed-Row Barns

7:39 am
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Having a hard time deciding what kind of barn to build? There are so many options and floor plans out there, it can make such a serious decision extremely difficult to make! Like any tough decision, the best place to start is with a solid list of pros and cons. Let’s take a look at different barn styles one by one, starting with shed-rows.

Shed-row barns include a row of stalls opening onto an open breezeway, such as our Gilroy stable project. You might find one row of stalls, or the stalls can be back-to-back […]

5 Easy Ways to Make Your Barn Safer in Minutes

We all know there’s nothing like too much safety around your barn. Did you know you can make your barn just a little safer in a few minutes? Add an extra layer of safety (and improve your peace of mind) with these quick fixes.

Evacuation Halters: Does your horse live in an urban area, or even a relatively rural one, where it’s likely civilians or emergency personnel might be responsible for evacuating the animals? Unless you live right upstairs and always have a barn-sitter, there’s always the possibility that disaster could strike with no […]