A well-designed horse barn is the perfect mix of form and function. Designing your horse barn so that you can focus more on your horses and less on tripping over tack and searching for a lost item will help maximize your enjoyment and will help keep your animals safe.
Many factors need to be considered when planning your horse barn, starting with site placement, barn size, and desired building style. Important decisions also need to be made around details like the types of rooms you would like to include.
Here are 8 types of rooms you may want to consider when planning your horse barn.
1. Feed Room
Some feed rooms are designed to be part of the utility room or tack room, but it’s important to create a space where your food will not spoil and where pests will not have easy access to helping themselves to a snack. The feed room should be well-lit and equipped with convenience outlets. Provide 150 watts of light and at least two convenience outlets in the feed room. The entrance door to the feed room should be at least 4 feet wide and equipped with a latch so that a loose horse cannot get into the feed.
When building a separate feed room, the size of the space will depend on the size and number of horses that need fed. Make sure walls and flooring are tightly fitted together to prevent unwelcome vermin from entering, and keep feed stored in sturdy containers, preferably metal containers with tight lids.
2. Tack Room
A tack room serves as your primary storage space for all types of equine equipment, like saddles, bridles, stirrups, reins, and other items. Many tend to overlook this room and not make it a priority — but you will be spending a lot of time in the space, so having an exceptional tack room is important. If you have ever owned a horse barn without a tack room, you will know the annoyance of being on the brink of being ready to ride and the realization that you have forgotten a girth or key piece of tack. The inclusion of secure storage for your expensive tack and equipment, the handiness of all in one spot for last minute needs when tacking up and training is a smart.
Tack rooms should be both beautiful and functional, so keep these design ideas in mind. Include a large island with baskets, bins, and hooks that make it easy to access your equipment. Incorporate shelves with hooks to store and retrieve boots. And maximize wall space with a variety of cleaning racks for cleaning your saddle and other tack items.
3. Storage Room
When it comes to your barn, maintaining a clutter-free space is more about safety than aesthetics. Debris, clutter and disorganization can spook your horse, increase the risk of injury and lead to other safety hazards. As you embark on your barn cleaning and maintenance, organization should be a regular part of the routine. Whether you have a barn that houses two horses or 20, those horses require lots of “stuff!” How do you keep everything organized and handy? Expanded storage space can be used for supplies that are not typically stored in a tack room (more on tack rooms below). This could include water storage, feed, hay, and practically any other type of equipment that does not have a dedicated home elsewhere in the barn.
4. Wash Stalls & Groom Stations
Any horse owner knows that horses are not the cleanest animals. They sweat and get muddy, which leads to them needing a bath. There is no better way to wash your horse and keep them clean, than with a functional wash stall. A well-designed area for bathing horses and treating injuries can do wonders for a busy farm’s work flow.
Your horse-washing area sees lots of use year-round. It is best to decide if you want something as simple as a bucket, sponge and tree to tie the horse to, or if you have the money and space to design a fully enclosed wash stall with a boom arm hose that is temperature controlled and has an adjustable flow rate handle.
Take the time to design a wash area that fits the needs of your barn and your budget, and you will have a low-maintenance amenity that is the envy of your horse loving friends. From large considerations, such as actual placement of the wash stall, to small, fun choices such as the color of buckets and the arrangement of organizing hooks and shelves, there are many decisions to be made regarding your wash stall’s design.
5. Foaling Box
Getting ready to welcome a foal? Most mares will foal with little to no human involvement, but setting up a foaling stall can help ensure the experience is a safe one. And should any emergencies arise, you’ll be better prepared.
Pick out a spacious stall; 12’ x 12’ or larger is recommended so the mare will not accidentally step on the new arrival. Keep the space free of any hazards that could injure the foal (nails, shelving, gates, ropes, etc.). Before prepping any flooring and laying down bedding, disinfect the stall and let it dry. Safety and comfort are the priorities here.
6. Laundry Room
Laundry rooms are often seen in barns where horse hair needs to be kept from the clothes people wear. Washing horse blankets requires a heavy duty machine. Where there are a lot of horses using leg wraps, saddle pads and blankets, having a washer and dryer dedicated to the barn is almost essential. It can keep other areas of your barn cleaner because you have a dedicated space to store all your dirty saddle pads, towels, blankets, and wraps. A laundry room will also save you the headache of traveling off-site to do your laundry, whether at home or at a laundromat.
If you do add a laundry room, consider a commercial-grade washer and dryer, which are better equipped to handle equine laundry. Although more expensive than residential appliances, commercial washers/dryers are more durable, run faster, and also reach higher water temps, giving you cleaner items.
7. Changing Rooms & Showers
Your horse barn likely already feels like your home away from home. Incorporating a changing room and shower can make it just that. If space allows, consider adding changing rooms for staff and riders where they can easily change in and out of gear when arriving or departing. A shower area provides extra convenience and can be easily designed into the rest of your plumbing and drainage infrastructure.
8. Dog Kennels
It is not unusual to see dogs roaming a horse farm property. But there are times you need to separate the dog and the horse. Some dog breeds are more horse-savvy and comfortable around the large animals than others, and it is important to keep both horses and dogs safe. Adding dog kennels to your horse barn site is one smart solution. When planning a dog kennel, whether inside your barn or in an adjacent space nearby, choose a safe, convenient location away from high-traffic areas. Provide easy access to water for drinking and cleaning purposes.
The Castlebrook Difference
Castlebrook’s barns have a warm, inviting look which adds to the beauty and value of your property. All Castlebrook round pens and round pen covers and designed and manufactured on site at Castlebrook’s facility. That is why we can provide you almost limitless choice of sizes and styles. Castlebrook can manufacture a round pen and cover to suit your exact needs.
Castlebrook never misses a ship date. We are so confident in our on-time guarantee that we are willing to guarantee it — in writing! Castlebrook understands how important it is for your project to go as smoothly as possible. This begins with your structure shipping on the date we’ve promised. Castlebrook knows of absolutely no other barn company offering this guarantee. Where other companies disappoint, Castlebrook guarantees to be on time, every time!
Please contact our professional team today at 1-800-52-BARNS. We gladly accommodate Saturday appointments!