minimum stable size for a bigger horse

[poiuytrewq]

Having managed to sort out a bit more grazing I'm thinking of maybe getting another horse.
Mines retired and although I've tried a few times recently to go for a plod I don't think his heart is in it.
Daughter has finally admitted the reason she never rides much is just boredom of riding alone all the time.
We are currently living on a farm with OH ' S job and have amazing riding and horses at home so I need to make the most of it as it won't be ours forever and i'll be gutted if I don't actually ride the whole time we live here!
I've messaged about a wonderful sounding horse and have arranged to chat properly on the phone after work tonight.
It's occurred to me however I don't think my stable is big enough to accommodate him! He's 17hh .
Stabling currently consists of a block of 12 x 36, never measured but I suspect the measurement is external split into 3 the middle one being big but taking space from the one side (as a Shetland lived in it) shetland now has a friend and a field shelter and will stay out. I thought I'd move the wall and even out the stables making three equal but still not sure it will be sufficient.

 

[Blurr]

Ideally I wouldn't want less than 12 x 16 for that size horse (and the American mini also likes it as she can trot round in it!) I think 12x12 is a bit of a squash for bigger horses.

 

[JanetGeorge]

Width is at LEAST as important as length. One of my biggies was constantly getting cast in a 12 x 16 - then a 14x16. SO far she hasn't managed it in a 15x23! (Barn conversions are FUN!)

 

[poiuytrewq]

mm, as i figured. Sadly may have to cancel and keep looking for similar but smaller!

 

[eggs]

My friend's 16.3 has lived perfectly happily in a 12 x 12 stable for many years - in at night and out during the day in winter and swapped around in the summer.

 

[LCH611]

I have a 17.2 that is very happy in his 12 x 12 (would far rather be out then in). He is either in all night and out all day or vice versa and not what you would call a box walker - he either has his face buried in his hay bar (has ad lib hay), is supervising yard antics over the door or is lying down asleep.

 

[Abacus]

My big-all-over 16.3 is also really happy in a 12x12. I find he is wet, but he is just that sort of horse - he was the same in a bigger stable.

I don't know if it's a human perspective but there's a lot you can do to make the space seem bigger and more sociable - put bars instead of solid walls and put windows in the back as well for light. Obviously it doesn't create more room but might make a more settled horse that is happier to stand still and not box walk.

ETA - maybe ask what he is in at the moment?

 

[Birker2020]

My horse who stands at 17.1hh has a stable measuring 12 x 14 which was the same as his previous stable at the other yard. He has also temporarily been in a 12 x 12 stable but it did feel rather small for him.

 

[abbijay]

My 18.1hh heavy horse is in a 14x14 and has tons of space, previously in a 12x18 and was fine although not ideal but he never had any trouble from it.
There is an 18hh dressage horse on my yard in a 12x12 who only goes out for an hour or two a day and he copes just fine. It does vary from horse to horse though.

 

[Makemineacob]

There are plenty of big horses kept in "standard" 12x12 stables and they do absolutely fine, have done it myself with a 17.3hh short term with daily turnout and he was absolutely fine. Wouldn't want to do it on a yard with restricted turnout (winter and no turnout etc). Preferable to have a larger stable but not always possible. Just make sure head height isn't an issue, some stables I've seen have ridiculously low joists (recalling a riding school I once went to a few years back with a 16.2 crammed into a 12x12 with joists so low they had wrapped them in duvets as the horse was obviously unable to stop banging its head!

 

[blood_magik]

My 17.3 is in a standard 12x12 at the moment and he can lie flat out just fine.

 

[Micropony]

My 17.1 was perfectly content in a 12x12 and was actually in a 10x12 when I first met him on loan and coped fine with that too. Obviously I would have preferred bigger but it wasn't available.

 

[JenJ]

My 17hh is low-withered but long and tall - and is in a stable that's not even 12 x 12. Probably 12 x 11-and-a-bit at a push. He's fine in there. It helps that he's an idle slob anyway, but he does manage quite happily to lay down and have a very long, sprawled out sleep every night. Never had any trouble getting down or up. It is quite open on 3 sides though, so 'feels' bigger, not that that alters him being able to get down or up.

 

[Enfys]

When I had liveries I told a lady that I thought my 10 x 11 stables were too small for her hackney/clyde crosses, both over 17h. She was adamant that the size was adequate. As it was, never got cast, laid down each night (out 10 -12 hours a day) the only thing was thst they were incredibly messy no matter how much bedding they had I was taking virtually all of it out daily.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Most of the wooden 12' x 12' stables are measured from the outside. When you take into account the thickness of the outer boards, the frame work & the kick board inside the internal measurements are nearer to 11'02" square. Significantly smaller than you imagine. This is verified when you try & fit rubber matting & you have to large pieces off when 6 x 6' x 4' mats should just drop in.