Indoor stables v outdoor stables

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Morrigan_Lady

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www.teamterrellshowjumping.co.uk

Which one do you prefer / think is better for the horse?

I only ask as Arch had come down with a virus, vet thinks he's caught it as lots of new horses have come to the yard recently and as he is the youngest on the yard (6) he cant finght the bugs off.
It got me thinking, as our yard is in a barn and air circulation isnt very good, should I consider looking at other 'outside' yards?
 
I think barns are fine as long as they have good ventilation. If you have big doors either end that are left open there shouldn't be a problem. I don't really mind either way though TBH.

Can't you move to a stable near the door or where the ventilation is better?
 
I've had both, but I have to say overall indoor stables are far easier to work in; no wet hay, no blown away by bitter winds etc. I wouldn't have outdoor stables again.
 

Unfortunatly, I cant move him nearer the doors. The ventilation is rubbish in our barn, the other barns are ok, but they are for part or full livery only, but they do have much better ventillation as they have doors either side
 
Is there any chance a door could be put into the outside wall for him, similar to a top door only? This would give him his fresh air, it would also give him a window on the outside world. A lot of barns are built with them in nowadays, a big improvement for ventilation, you only need to close them in extreme weather if it is blowing in.

I prefer inside boxes simply for the convenience but mine are quite high and light even though they were originally the cowshed! Some can be too low and dark or not have enough room in front of them so that you can walk past without being attacked!
 
My mare is kept in an incredibly high roofed agri barn that was converted into big stables - it's fab - I wouldn't want an 'outdoor' stable now. Still get wet though having to go to the feed/hay barn next door
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id love to have an american barn if i ever get my own yard, but you have to make sure they are really well ventilated.

My two stables at my current yard have a large overhang, so its like being in the dry- but you get teh benefit of the fresh air!!
 
My girl is in a large indoor stable, but eventhough quite airy other people on the yard keep closing one of the doors so it can get quite stuffy, I hopefully will soon be moving her to one which is indoor again but she will have her own window, so will have the best of both worlds, nice and dry to do jobs etc but with as much fresh air as she wants.
 
The stables where I ride at weekends are built in what can only be described as a warehouse! It's a huge metal construction but very tall and airy, lots of light as well. Can be a bit noisy when windy but apart from that it's fantastic. The stables are all huge (there are currently four stables and two tack rooms) with room for one more stable, but a horsebox is currently in that space.
 
I prefer outdoor tbh I just think it's less boring for the horse. The way my two are at the moment (converted cattle shed) they don't see anything other than the horse opposite or either side. Plus the YO has an annoying habit of shutting the door!
 
My current horse has a dust allergy so its outdoor all the way for me, preferably as PG has with a large overhang so you don't get soaked.
 
I think I prefer outdoor stables too, if horses are in they can watch the world go by (or just farm traffic
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) However, I do like the look of the big american barn style ones with lots of ventilation though and at least you can tie up in the dry.
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O god, now Im confused, I think a stable in each would be perfect!
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Sorry not much help matey but if I were in your situation Id try to find an outdoor one...
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A year ago (having never had anything to do with indoor stables, except for Halsdon and I could never aspire to those!) I would have said outdoor stables all the way, but now, forget it. For sheer comfort and convenience I am converted.

I love my shabby barn with it's big end doors, it isn't very high but it's cosy in the winter and cool in the summer and has a massive 15' wide aisle. It doesn't just shelter horses, the cats live in there, so do the feral rabbits, one stall has Turkeys in and another goats, the ATV usually lives in there too, plus my husbands workshop. The stables aren't vast either, just 10' x 11' but they are adequate for the amount my horses are in. I have a foaling box that is 20' x 11' which my vet thinks is ridiculously big, he jokes that I need a lassoo to catch the horses!

Best of all, mine is 40' from the back door.
 
Outdoor all the way for me. Indoor stables are much easier from a human's point of view, but the ventilation can be dreadful and as the horses all share the same airspace, it can be difficult managing dust allergies and also any viruses spread quickly.
 
I have the best off both, as my stables are in an old farm building so are sort of indoors in that we have a covered corridor running along in front of them about 4 feet or so wide, the outside wall has huge holes in it so the horses can still see out into the yard and field but are effectively indoors for mucking out.
 
outside stables I think ar epreferable. I have sen an American barn system with half doors to the outside, so each box has a front and backdoor so to speak, it gives loads of air flow.
 
I despise indoor stabling - firstly if a virus hits one horse it can more easily sweep through the yard.
Secondly and my main problem is any horse that is susceptible to breathing problems will be agrivated in internal stabling where there is a huge lack of air flow.
 
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