Which Stable would be best?

[meleeka]

Neither stable is ideal, but I have a choice of two. Horse is 16hh Friesian and will be stabled overnight only.

Stable 1 is 12 x 12 but the roof is low. If she puts her head right up it just touches the joists, although she rarely does lift it that high. This option would also mean moving another pony into a different stable.

Stable 2 is only 12 x 10 The roof is a proper pitch roof so plenty high enough.

I can’t decide which would be worse, although I suspect the horse is going to tell me anyway. Which would you have?

 

[cauda equina]

The least worst sounds like stable 1

 

[Sealine]

I'd go for stable 1. Is it possible to wrap or attach some foam around the joists if you're worried she might bang her head?

 

[Laurac13]

I would go for option 2, I would hate a horse to hear a loud noise lift it’s head up quickly and get knocked out

 

[dorsetladette]

I'd say option 2.

 

[milliepops]

hmmm that really is an awkward one. it doesn't sound like a big difference but 10x12 is a lot smaller than 12x12. How many joists are there in the stable that has the low roof?

 

[HeyMich]

I had my 16.2 beast in a 10x12 stable (nights only) for 6 months or so and she actually really liked it - settled, ate and drank well and rolled/slept every night. I'd go with option 2 as the low headroom of option 1 would concern me more.

 

[atropa]

Tough choice, I think I would pick stable 2 for now and make it clear that you would like a bigger stable with a normal height roof ASAP.
I could very well be wrong but do Friesians tend to have a slightly higher natural head carriage anyway? I'd worry that would perhaps make her more likely to bump herself.

 

[meleeka]

hmmm that really is an awkward one. it doesn't sound like a big difference but 10x12 is a lot smaller than 12x12. How many joists are there in the stable that has the low roof?

it’s sort of a grid so 2 down and 2 across.

 

[meleeka]

Tough choice, I think I would pick stable 2 for now and make it clear that you would like a bigger stable with a normal height roof ASAP.
I could very well be wrong but do Friesians tend to have a slightly higher natural head carriage anyway? I'd worry that would perhaps make her more likely to bump herself.

Yes they do. She looks fine when she’s standing normally but her neck is like a giraffe!

Horses are at home. Smaller stable was supposed to be 12 x 12 bought from a friend. I didn’t see it before it was delivered so i’m stuck with it really. it’s 12 x 12 including overhang). I can change who has it but they are my options.

 

[Jellymoon]

I would go for the bigger one. I had my horses in cattle sheds once with low rafters, one of them was 17.2! I worried about it at first, but then every morning he was still standing, and we were there for 4 yrs! The only issue was, he could reach them to chew….

 

[meleeka]

I would go for the bigger one. I had my horses in cattle sheds once with low rafters, one of them was 17.2! I worried about it at first, but then every morning he was still standing, and we were there for 4 yrs! The only issue was, he could reach them to chew….

I’m pretty sure she’s far too ladylike to chew anything luckily.

 

[splashgirl45]

if its yours cant you get someone to make it higher and put her in the smaller one for now. i would be more concerned about her damaging herself in the low roof one so if the other one cant be changed i would go for the 12 x 10

 

[meleeka]

if its yours cant you get someone to make it higher and put her in the smaller one for now. i would be more concerned about her damaging herself in the low roof one so if the other one cant be changed i would go for the 12 x 10

The low one is in a block of three so can’t be changed. They are perfect for the ponies that currently have them.

I’m glad there are mixed views and I wasn’t just being my usual indecisive self anyway ?

 

[I'm Dun]

I have my 16.1hh in a similar stable to stable 1. Hes fine. The doors are left open and they can come and go as they please and he has no problems going in himself. Hes not a scatty head in the air type of horse though and hes only ever in for medical reasons, so not sure if thats colouring my view.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I'd go stable 2, personally.

 

[Lois Lame]

Stable 2 for me.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Stable 2

 

[fawaz]

Stable 2, horses don't need a huge amount of space to stand in at night. The low roof with get hot and stuffy especially in summer.

Back in the day they were tied up in a stall 24/7.

 

[PurBee]

I built my open stable with plenty of head room - only when the horse rears they hit their head on the very few joists there are….yep..i witnessed them hooliganing around, couldnt believe it! That head bang mustve been plenty warning not to rear in there -its fairly roomy 20x18 area - i havent seen them do it since.

So yours will probably like the more roomier sized one, being the horse size she is, and if you wrap some thick white tape along the joists she’ll easily see them and learn to ‘know her limit’….i wouldnt be so concerned unless she’s spooky/flighty natured who flies her head high when spooked?

Its their stable, they should be chilling in there with a relaxed low slung neck ?

P.s its now annoyingly common for stable sizes to be given including overhang…sorry you got stung by that. The actual stable size is all we primarily care about!

 

[Equi]

To me higher rafters mean more air circulating. Id rather have more air/circulation about.

 

[Lois Lame]

Back in the day they were tied up in a stall 24/7.

And it was horrendous.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I have a Friesian……headroom is important so smaller area stable with headroom for me.

 

[Reacher]

If horse is at home, will he be locked in overnight? Is there any way you can make a pen outside stable so he can stretch legs? Eg using electric fence post stuck into buckets of concrete if it’s a concrete yard? In which case I’d go for the smaller stable.

 

[Trouper]

Oh dear - we seem to be giving you such a mix of replies!!. I would be more worried about a 16hh horse getting cast in a smaller area than possibly banging his head, so I would be looking to foam-protect the headroom.

 

[ycbm]

2 definitely. Watch horses getting up from lying down. Many of them throw their heads up as their forelegs get to full height when they get up.
.

 

[ycbm]

I would be looking to foam-protect the headroom

I think this would just make the headroom more claustrophobic. It would be better, maybe, to keep a poll guard on the horse.
.

 

[cauda equina]

As it's your own set up I would try both and see where she seems more comfortable

 

[meleeka]

If horse is at home, will he be locked in overnight? Is there any way you can make a pen outside stable so he can stretch legs? Eg using electric fence post stuck into buckets of concrete if it’s a concrete yard? In which case I’d go for the smaller stable.

This might be a plan.

I don’t really want to shut her in at all, they are usually free range, which has always worked with ponies, but she keeps holding my poor cob hostage! He goes in his stable and she stands half in taking up the whole doorway, so the poor boy can’t get out until she moves. He’s not brave enough to try and go past her.

 

[meleeka]

As it's your own set up I would try both and see where she seems more comfortable

Being a mare, I have a feeling she will tell me strongly either way. She likes the low one already so will see what she thinks of the other and let her decide.