Stable Size

gerbilgirl

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22 July 2009
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Ok, I'm going to have a lot of questions, but to start with is it best to have bigger stables. For example will a 12.2hh pony be happy in a 4.2 x 3.6m box? Really what I'm asking is can the stable be uncomfortably big for the pony?
 
I think a pony would be very happy in a stable of that size. Stable sizes are normally given regarding a minimum size i.e. 12' x 10' for a pony & 12' x 12' for a horse. The size you have mentioned, although larger would be fine.
 
My ponies have 14x16ft stables, I have had one in a 10x10ft but it felt ever so cramped.

Go for as big as you can!! I find it very easy to move around mine in the stables etc.
 
I have my horses in 14ft x 18ft stables and love them. At first I though it was going to be a nightmare to keep clean but they are great for large and small horses. I have Equimat rubber matting from wall to wall and shavings down in the back 12ft of stable. It means I can sweep up any hay they drop and it doesn't get mixed in with the shavings and any water spillage stays away from the bedding. You can also get a good clean out once a week by pilling all the clean stuff to the front and leaving the bed up for the day. Great for putting on boots and bandages too, no shavings stuck in the material and velcro. I would struggle in a small stable now.
 
We've had to work on the take-what-you-can-get basis over the last dozen years and are now building our own. We've got two big hunters and a largish Welsh D and while it's hard to measure happiness in a horse when they've been in smaller stables they poo everywhere and then walk it around.
My 17hh is now in an 18*10 on EVA mats with minumum shavings and it works a treat. He sticks his head out the front to keep up with the gossip until he needs a dump or a wee when he walks to the back. Same spot every time and it makes for a far easier muck-out.

So it won't be a surprise that we're building 4.8m*3.3m (16*11)
 
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