Stable design help please!!

[KatieLovesJames]

Ok I can't decide whether to put the stable doors in the middle or in the corners, in the middle would mean haybars on one side auto waterers on the other. What is the ideal layout of a stable? Does anyone have haybars at the back of the stables?
There will be windows front and back.
Your thoughts and advise welcome

 

[LaurenM]

I don't think I've ever seen a stable door in the middle of the frame. I would prefer to have the haybar and water at the front for convenience. My horse also likes to nose whilst he eats so he prefers it at the front too.

 

[MrsMozart]

I like the door in the middle, then can have water one side and haybar the other. Had this with one of Dizz's stables and it worked very well

 

[Bryndu]

Not had any experience of doors in the middle but if you put them at the side, put the haynets/rack opposite so beaties can munch and nosy park at the same time, otherwise they are always looking at a wall.
If you have windows of the 'not covered by the top door' variety, you can put the haynets/racks next to these and they can also nosy park.
Good luck
Bryndu

 

[Maesfen]

Are they ooutside boxes or in a barn, that will make a difference?
Personally, if outside boxes, I prefer the doors set off about a foot from the corner (and opening out towards that corner, hinge towards the middle of the wall) which makes a handy nook for the water buckets, manger in the other front corner and hay at the back in the opposite corner to the door as that way, if the wind is blowing in they have their bums towards it rather than in their faces.
If passage boxes, will make a difference if they're a single or double passage. If a double, I'd prefer the doors to open odds and evens (not opposite each other) unless you have oodles of room, 15 ft or so and not many can afford that much room! Opposite doors are slightly more awkward if there's not much room and others are likely to be working in there apart from you (think wheelbarrows etc)
If a single side, also makes a difference if only one end door, no middle doors etc. Ours is single, five boxes in an old shippon with top and middle narrow doors (still 4 ft wide so horses can use too) plus double width end door. Doors are opposite the top and middle doors, the bottom box opens at the big doorway, the other two boxes have doors in the middle as they're also opposite windows too. All mangers are in back left corner, hay racks, back right corner. I wanted all water bowls to be in bottom left corner but tight plumber wanted to only have three lines across from the main water pipe so four boxes have them opposite sides of their walls with one single if that makes any sense at all.

You're going to get loads of suggestions but that's what works for me. Will look forward to seeing the finished pics.

 

[3DE]

I like the door in the middle too. A haybar at the back would make it a nightmare to muck out!

I also prefer stables that are longer than wider so you can have a gap in the bedding at the door end.

This is what I want

 

[KatieLovesJames]

Great thanks all. Mmm maybe keep hay bars at front then. They will be outside wooden stables with a large window at the front and also a large window (I think) in the centre at the rear.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

was going to try and explain ours but drew a little picture instead.

Perhaps something you havent thought of is a tack room at the back of the stable - an absolute godsend and if i ever designed my own stables in the future they would all have private tack rooms.

 

[KatieLovesJames]

Wow thanks for taking the time to do that drawing! My stables will have windows in the back though so we're having one large heated tackroom and separate rug drying room.
There was an ideal yard thread somewhere about someone who was building a super dooper yard complete with indoor arena etc but I can't find it!