Stabling Ideas

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MagicMelon

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We've just purchased a house with land. There's a concrete pad currently there which used to have stabling on it apparently but the previous owners removed them. We'd like to put some back on it. I'm thinking of 2 stables and a hay store (there's other buildings already in place which can be used as a tack room etc.). I'm thinking along the lines of an L-shape, with a large box at the end (using the corner and the jutting out bit), a stable beside it and a haystore on the end. To save money, we can do some work ourselves like doing the foundation concrete lower walls.

Can anyone advise on suitable sizes for the above (like any plans?)? I've looked online, but its hard to say for example how big the hay store needs to be to be practical. Im also wondering what materials would be practical but cheap? For example, I imagine a timber building would be more expensive than using a steel frame and sheeting? Is there anything I should be aware of / try to avoid?

We have fantastic stables at my mums place which are timber built but there's no way we can afford this sort of thing!
 
Might be worth ringing round some of the stable manufacturers and seeing if they will have any of their show displays available in sept/oct, they might match or be similar to what you are after?
 
Don't know if that post explained properly but what I was trying to say is they might sell off their display units at a reduced price at the end of the season!
 
MagicMelon said:
We've just purchased a house with land. There's a concrete pad currently there which used to have stabling on it apparently but the previous owners removed them. We'd like to put some back on it. I'm thinking of 2 stables and a hay store (there's other buildings already in place which can be used as a tack room etc.). I'm thinking along the lines of an L-shape, with a large box at the end (using the corner and the jutting out bit), a stable beside it and a haystore on the end. To save money, we can do some work ourselves like doing the foundation concrete lower walls.

Can anyone advise on suitable sizes for the above (like any plans?)? I've looked online, but its hard to say for example how big the hay store needs to be to be practical. Im also wondering what materials would be practical but cheap? For example, I imagine a timber building would be more expensive than using a steel frame and sheeting? Is there anything I should be aware of / try to avoid?

We have fantastic stables at my mums place which are timber built but there's no way we can afford this sort of thing!
Click to expand...

Dont assume wood will be more expensive, it may well be cheaper!
Lots of the stables cos will provide you with rough plans free (sometimes you pay and get it back if you order, sometimes free)
Also look at planning apps for stables in your area to get an idea of sizes of stables vs store and layout
Half the cost of stables is the base and services if done properly so you're halfway there already!
Re the hay store it depends on how many horses etc and whether living out or in ie how much hay but if talking small bales you can fit about 80-100 bales in a 10x12 pony box if its stacked to the ceiling. So I would say to be comfy, a 16x12 haystore would be good for a couple of horses, but only if there was a big overhang at the front to protect from weather, if there wasnt, the actual store would need to be bigger so the hay wasnt right at the front getting hammered by the weather.
 
I got a "free for removal" timber stable block which has worked out quite well. (Well, they are only Highland ponies!:D). There are two 12ft x 12ft stables and 6ft x 12ft tack room. The most expensive part was the roof which was replaced with painted box section. For hay storage, you could probably put a lean-to against one side, but I have a separate barn (they are never big enough!).

If you decide to go for secondhand timber, get a sectional one. If the sections don't fit your foundations, you can probably carefully pull the nails on the boards and remove the top and bottom rail and cut or replace as necessary. The great thing about timber is it's easy to repair and cut and add bits.

My book says baled hay needs 8 cubic yards per ton, straw 16 cubic yards per ton. Sorry, I'm all Imperial -- can't even see a millimetre these days!:(

Hope that helps.

My project is at http://www.morrichhighlandponies.co.uk/newprojects.htm
 
If you can have anything other than timber I would - we had to have wood for planning regs, and it takes so much more preserving than our stone stables!

I have two stables for the horses and a foaling box for straw/hay/feed etc. Then if you are having haylage, have a field shelter with a door put on, so you can roll big bales inside and shut the door on the weather. This set up works really well for us. We also have another two 12x12 stables on the yard - one is great for clipping or grooming, drying rugs etc, and the other is full of extra straw. The four main stables are on a L shape, and the other two stables are portables that are across from the main stables.
 
The most important thing is to befriend your local planning officer as to what you "could" have. Then take it from there.
If you are competent you could build your own from timber which would work out cheaper. Or perhaps a local joiner could do it.
There are plenty online bargains to be had. And plenty companies do different ranges. Often the budget range is not too different to the dearer range.
Once you start looking you will become familiar with sizes and what you think you will need.
You will never have enough storage...but well wrapped haylage can be stored outside.
Good luck...you can't beat having the babies at home. Enjoy your project xx
 
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