Sunday 5th July, 2015
When it comes to working out what size a horse’s stable should be, it largely depends on the height and build of the horse. Our horse stable size guide recommends a minimum of 12ft x 12ft for standard horses and 12ft x 14ft as the ideal size stable for larger horses, including a 16.2 horse, to ensure they can turn and lie down safely. For ponies, we recommend a minimum of 10ft x 10ft of 10ft x 12 ft for larger ponies.
As horse owners, of course we want the biggest, most spacious stables for our horses, but of course bigger stables come at a greater cost, and with the ever-increasing price of land, many horse owners are finding that they have to compromise on their dream stable yard designs for a more realistic and cost-effective solution.
Accommodation size is a vital factor in the welfare and well-being of your horse, as they can be stabled for a long period of time, particularly during the extremes of summer and winter or following periods of illness or injury. Whether you are looking to design and build your own stables or rent a stable at your local livery yard, you need to carefully consider the size and building materials of your stable and its suitability to you and your horse. Your stable needs to be sturdy and made of strong, durable material that will withstand your equine as well as the elements.
A key feature to assess when choosing a stable for your horse is, of course, space. The current British Horse Society regulations are that horses require a stable measuring a minimum of 12ft x 12ft for horses and preferably 12ft x 14ft for larger breeds. The height of the stable should be 9 – 11 feet, with a minimum of 3ft clearance of the roof, so you must also consider the height of the stable and any low beams or light fixtures that could pose a problem.
An ideal-sized horse stable for a 16.2 horse is 12ft x 14ft to ensure they can comfortably turn around and lie down.
For ponies the recommended minimum stable size should be 10ft x 10ft, or 10ft x 12ft for larger ponies.
By nature, horses are extremely social animals that do well when stabled with others, particularly field mates whom they will know and recognise. There are, of course, advantages and disadvantages to using busy working yards over quieter private ones; however, your horse’s emotional wellbeing will certainly be improved if he is in the company of other horses and people. This is especially true of horses that are stabled for extended periods due to illness, injury or chronic conditions such as laminitis and sweet itch during the summer months.
If you are thinking about stabling multiple horses, here is our guide on what size stable they would require. Therefore, for two horses, we recommend 12ft x 24ft and for three horses, we recommend 12ft x 36ft. It is generally recommended to add an additional 12ft for each horse.
When assessing stable size and height, don’t forget to allow for bedding. Once bedded down, a stable can seem a great deal smaller, and although high, deep banks are desirable to prevent a horse becoming cast in the stable, they can also decrease the floor space considerably. Stable matting will also slightly raise the floor of your stable, so this coupled with a deep litter bed can significantly reduce the overall height of your stable.
You will also need to consider where your feeding buckets, hay nets and water troughs are going to be placed to allow for easy access while maximising the available floor space. More compact stables may benefit from having wall-mounted water and feeding troughs to keep the floor free for the horse to move around.
Do you need further assistance with getting the right-sized horse stable? Get in touch today, and our friendly team will help you with your enquiry. Additionally, you can view our horse stable pricing guide to give you a good idea of prices.
