Key things to consider when building stables?

fools_ gold

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 November 2011
Messages
143
Location
Back of beyond
Visit site
Hi Everyone,

I would like some advice on building a stable yard... What are the main things to consider? What would you have in an ideal world?

So far on my list...

- Wash room, with heat lamps - (for wimpy warmblood)
- 4m x 4m stables
- Tack room with space for hanging rugs
- Storage space for bedding/ hay/ feed
- Over hanging roof so horses can be tied outside stables when it's raining and not get wet :)

Specifically I would like some advice on what the best options for drainage in the stables are, I have stabled my horses and many different yards over the years and I only remember one having proper drainage in the form of herringbone type channels running through the concrete floor. Is this still a good option?

Also at the moment I am thinking of using majority breeze blocks to build them, how do you solve the problem of the horses potentially kicking through the walls, are good kick boards sufficient? Or do you have to lay the blocks in a certain way?

Many Thanks In advance for your advice!
 

lachlanandmarcus

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 November 2007
Messages
5,762
Location
Cairngorms!
Visit site
get concrete base done with mixer lorry concrete, will last longer and you can have fibres added for strength and chemical to resist frost and horse urine
get cast iron drainage channels not the horse hoof slicing thin clip in ones most places have
only need slight fall in floor esp with modern stables and modern bedding/mats
insulate water pipes, even can have electric tracer tape to stop them freezing.
dont have a line of loose boxes, have a mini barn, best thing i ever did - it has outside top doors too so horses arent shut in, but it means they are snug and warm and so am I. Mine even has windows inside the frame of the outside facing top doors so if I ever have to close them in a storm (we are in Cairngorms) they can still see out!
Plan at least 1/3 or 1/2 of space for storage, feed, rugs, tack, hay/haylage
plan for electrics costs, has to be signed off and inspected (or done by) a qualified electrician
Concrete blocks at least 2 thick in wall. You can get ones with hole down the middle and steel rods thread through. Make sure some blocks are set at right angles across both block widths.
DONT build it on a slope like we had to - becomes a very major and expensive civil engineering project!!!!
but we only had slope!!

heres ours
WesterBraeheadAutumn2008264.jpg

WesterBraeheadAutumn2008182.jpg
 

Honey08

Waffled a lot!
Joined
7 June 2010
Messages
19,570
Location
north west
Visit site
Have you already got planning? It would be impossible to get breezeblock stables round here - they only allow wood...

We had wooden stables with the large overhang, and built them with their backs to the prevailant winds in an L shaped design (with foaling box in the corner that we use as straw store and rug rail room..

Re the floor, we just slightly sloped the floors to the front of the stables, and took a brick out of the foundation line of bricks that the wooden stables sit on.. The yard slopes very slightly too. Really make sure that whoever does the concrete does this right, as one of our stables was slightly off, so the slope goes to the side, and its a real pain!

We have some breeze block stables in our older internal stables. We never had kick boards on them, and never had any problems, but they were mainly pony stables. We put the last level of breeze blocks on sideways, so the hole shows - they made great shelves for putting grooming brushes down on when in the stables!

Like I said, beware of planning! I got a great plan of what I wanted, with loads of storage etc, and the council knocked most of it back, and we ended up with the bare minimum! We put up two portables afterward, and nothing has ever been noticed or said!
 

BeepaStar

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 January 2009
Messages
211
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
My wish list would include:

Hot & cold running water
Heated rug room or rug drier
Insulated automatic water drinkers
Heater in tack room
Fold down saddle rack and bridle hook outside each stable
And a toilet!! total luxury! LOL!
 

fools_ gold

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 November 2011
Messages
143
Location
Back of beyond
Visit site
Hi Everyone...

Thanks so much for all your help... Great to see photos too.

Luckily I have builders and electricians in the family who have also given me some great advice, and I can trust them to do a good job.

It's so difficult to try and plan for everything you need now and maybe a few years down the line, whilst keeping your planning officer happy!

Thanks again guys! :)
 

Booboos

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 January 2008
Messages
12,776
Location
South of France
Visit site
Air flow is also pretty crucial, go for as many air vents and windows as you can afford as it will minimize both heat in the summer and general dust all year round.
 

KatieLovesJames

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 June 2006
Messages
356
Visit site
Don't have roof lights as they will be too hot in summer, add a window instead. One which opens is perfect.
Do you want grills between stables? Will depend on what type of horses you have.
I've got a u shaped block overlooking the arena and I love it. Each stable has 2 windows plus grill to next door, they're SO airy and the horses can see all around them.
Use solid blocks not hollows.
Have as large overhang as possible as it stops the wind and keeps the stables cool.
Make sure the concrete outside runs to a drain.
You can clad the outside to keep planners happy. Wooden stables pose more of a fire risk.
Air flow for fresh air big make sure there are no draughts. Monarch make a door catch which is filled in for those who worry about the 1" wind hole!

That was a ling QR! I could go on and on ....
 

KatieLovesJames

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 June 2006
Messages
356
Visit site
Edit Long reply!
Put a wall plate on which will help keep the walls strong if you have a shire that likes to rub ;-i have reinforced the blocks with steel mesh too.
I put my wash box next to the tack room for quick access. Then the stables altogether so the horses in don't get bothered by the goings on in tack/wash/feed area.
Haven't solved my muck heap dilemma yet though if anyone has any bright ideas for a way to make it all magically disappear?!
 
Top