Size of a Haybarn

[dieseldog]

Hi, I am putting in planning for 2 stables and a haybarn and I have been asked what size haybarn do I want. I want the biggest I can get away with, but I have been advised that you need some evidence to back up your requests and I need to base it on how much storage I need for 2 horses. Has anyone done this before and how did you work out what size barn you needed, and what did you end up with.

Many thanks

DD

 

[TBB]

If you have to give evidence of how much you need for 2 horses be sure and include storage for straw rather than shavings, (takes up more room and can't be stored outside) even if you use shavings. The same for hay rather than Haylage (although you probably use hay if you want to build a barn) Can you include storage for a two horse trailer undercover?

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

One 1 side of my yard i have a purpose built 40 x 12 building.
This has 2 x 12 x 10 stables for ponies (bigger boxes opposite) and 20 x 12 for hay/storage.
This holds approx 100 balex on one half, the rest taken up with bedding on 1 pallet, rug hangers, ekec fence posts and other gubbins.
I used to get 300 small bales in it when not putting other things in it
Still not enough storage. ....

 

[ChwaraeTeg]

Hi DD,
We needed stables and storage for 3 horses when we moved house and applied for slightly space more than I thought we would need.
4 stables 12'x12' (plus one 12 x 16), tackroom 8' x 12', barn 12' x 24'.

It has worked out well and even room for livery .
('though there is never enough room in the barn when it is used for multi storage stuff ! )
We could not get planning permission for stone built though, had to be wood (as we are close to the coastal parks)

 

[dieseldog]

Thank you for your replies - we are in an AONB - so it needs to be wooden too. It is really hard to know what to go for!

 

[shetland pony]

To up the needed size could you say something like in the future my horses could weigh up to maybe 700kg, if you get draughts, (even if you never plan to) then add in bedding for stabled year round and some for events when they may require up to 6 months box rest, ad-lib hay (with lots more than you need to include wastage) and supplemented grazing. Could you also use it for bulk buying feed, need some room to store a few pallets, and to store made up hay nets etc.

Also someone mentioned on here earlier in the hay making thread, that they keep a years worth or crop, so if it goes wrong when they make it, they aren't left without, so could you try to use that as a reason why you need extra space.

 

[Polos Mum]

I can fit 150 bales in a normal height 12 x 12 stable - I'd bank on an average horse eating 150 ish per year so you need at least 2 stables worth just for hay - same again for bedding, feed, wheelbarrows etc etc.

I promise you will use all the space with all the junk you collect/ need - so convince them say 2 stables of storage per horse

 

[Merlin11]

I have a 24 by 12 hay barn and have 3 horses.

 

[Dry Rot]

When the contractors put up my barn, one of the workers turned to me and said, "You know, you're going to have a problem with this building". "What's that?", I asked. The reply, "It isn't big enough. They never are!"

You know what, he was right. Over estimate the fodders storage, then there's straw, feed bins, tractor, mower, tedder, trailer, spare tractor.... Just be inventive!