Horse Stall Size Guide - What’s Best for You & For Them

Did you know that, according to Learning Horses, many horses spend 12 hours a day or more in a stall? Ensuring the right horse stall size is crucial not only for your horse’s comfort, but its health, and happiness.

We also understand that cost plays a huge role in the amount of space you can provide for your horse, so making the most of your budget is essential.

At J&N Structures, we’ve been building horse barns and stalls since 1999 and have hundreds of projects under our belts. In this article, we’ll share our expertise on the horse stall sizes that work best for both you AND your horses.

Ready to create a safe and comfortable stall for your horses? Keep reading to learn more!

What are the Average Horse Stall Dimensions?

The average horse stall dimensions are typically around 12 feet by 12 feet (144 square feet). However, the size can vary depending on the horse’s breed and size. Here are some common stall dimensions:

1. Large Horses (over 16 hands): 12’ x 14’
2. Standard Horse (14-16 hands): 12’ x 12’
3. Mare and Foal: 20’ x 20’
4. Ponies and Small Horses: 10’ x 10’

These average horse stall dimensions ensure that the horse has enough room to lie down, get up, and move around comfortably. Providing adequate space contributes significantly to the horse’s overall well-being and safety.

While some horse breeds tend to be more energetic than others (Thoroughbreds and Arabians, for example), they can typically fit comfortably in the average horse stall dimensions.

Standard horse stall sizes are critical because if there isn’t enough room, your horse is at risk of a number of problems, including:

1. Injury: Inadequate space increases the risk of a horse injuring itself on walls or other stall components, especially when lying down or rolling. The limited moveability can also lead to joint problems.
2. Stress and Anxiety: Being confined in a tight space can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and behavioral issues such as cribbing, weaving, or stall-walking.
3. Hygiene and Cleanliness: Smaller stalls can become dirty quickly, increasing the risk of infections and hoof problems like thrush. Poor air quality can also cause respiratory issues.

Best Horse Stable Designs Based on Size

You love your horses, and there’s nothing you wouldn’t do to extend and enhance their lives! With the right horse stable design, you can help ensure their quality of life – and your convenience – reaches an all-time high. Let’s explore a few of the most popular options…

Open Stall Options: If you plan to keep your horse outside for extended periods, you’ll want to provide some sort of shelter to keep them safe from inclement weather and insects. A run-in shed can do just that! You’ll just want to ensure that they have good fencing around their field.

At J&N, we have run-in horse stable designs that also have interior stalls, giving you and your horse the best of both worlds! They can stretch their legs as they please, AND they’ll be protected from severe cold, heat, and wind.

Small Stall Options: For horse owners who have fewer or smaller horses, a lean-to-horse stable design could be right for you! In addition to providing standard horse stall sizes, these stables also provide a generous amount of coverage outside, letting your horses escape rain, sun, or snow.

Due to the small footprint, these structures are more affordable and well-suited for smaller horse stall sizes. We can also provide additional amenities for your stable, including:

1. Tack rooms
2. Hay storage
3. Windows
4. And more!

Large Stall Options: If you have many horses, large horses, or mares that may become pregnant, you’ll want higher than average horse stall dimensions in your stable. The best horse stable design for this is a modular barn. The structural components of these barns are built off-site and then put together in person.

Because we custom-build all of our barns, we can give you the exact number of stables, amount of storage, and horse stall sizes that you need. Click here to start customizing your horse barn today!

Get Custom or Standard Horse Stall Sizes for Your New Barn!

Since horses spend so much of their lives in their stalls, you’ll want to give them enough room to move around comfortably. At J&N Structures, we give you the resources to do just that!

Based out of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, we are a trusted builder with projects spanning from Florida to New England. Our buildings are structurally sound, we use quality materials, and we offer a 30-year warranty on our roofs.

Our barns are custom-built, meaning we can give you standard horse stall sizes or cater the build to your horses’ needs. Plus, we can work with you to build within your budget, meaning you’ll be happy too!

If you’re ready to give your horse a comfortable home, find your nearest J&N dealer and get your custom modern barn quote today!

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