8x8 stable?

WelshD

WelshD

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I have two full size stables (one is used for one of my ponies snd the other is currently a feed/rug room) and a 5x12 tackroom (currently housing chickens)

I want to juggle the accomodation to provide a stable for my other pony should he need one. Last winter i left the door to the 5x12 space open and he used that to shelter on the worst nights but it is so narrow!

I have worked out that by evicting the chickens and moving the feedbins etc i can make an 8x8 pen in the second stable using the rest for storage. This is the stable size at shows so it seems do-able in theory

Pony is only just under 12hh and would be able to hang his head over the pen on three sides and see the other pony easily. He only had to be stabled ten or so nights last winter so its not a long term thing

Any thoughts about this? Would i make banks to prevent casting or make the bed flat to create more room?

Or is it just not big enough?
 
If he's only little and it would be a temporary arrangement I'm sure he will be fine. My Sec A is in an 8 x 12 but he often sleeps across the short side so clearly feels that's enough room to get up and down. I don't have banks in mine but it's never been a problem. :)

What would you make the pen out of? I think it would be better to have solid sides so he doesn't get his legs caught if he rolls too close to the edge.
 
Oh I think it is a bit too small even for a small pony, its a little bit like a cage. Fine for tacking up in or grooming but I think for over night it is a little too small.
 
Id say it depends on the horse. My TB 15.2 used to hate being stabled until he had an injury and instead of him going beserk in his own stable I put him by the yard tack room in a 10x10 pony box. He was the happiest id ever known him, seemed to prefer a little space.
 
It is small but for only a couple nights of the year and seeing as the pony is quite small I think it would be fine! Its not like hes going to be cooped up there for long periods of time
 
Our old 12h pony lived in a 8x8 stable for two years without issues. She went into a new 12x12 wooden stable, and seemed lost in it and missed her lower door! A local livery stable has all their small ponies in such stables. Never heard of any issues and used to work there when it was a riding school, and never saw any problems.
 
Given that 10 x 10 is FEI standard for eventers a 12hh pony in 8 x 8 should be fine. Certainly my Section A managed very happily in a similar size.
 
My 17.2 regularly stays out at shows in weeny stables with no problem. Many stables on the continent are also tiny, I don't think you'll have a problem.

We don't all have king size beds, do we? Most of us survive pretty well!
 
I would give it a try and see how it works out. A small pony in a small stable - lordy, i worked at a riding school where the poor horses still has STALLS !
 
Thank you all. I will clear out the stable and experiment with partitions, to get it bigger would mean evicting MORE chickens but if it isnt big enough thats what I will do, that would make it 12 x 8
 
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