When building a horse barn, seemingly hundreds of small details become very important. Stall doors are pawed, kicked, thrown open and closed several times a day, and frequently get hit by pitchforks and wheelbarrows.
These doors need to be strong and durable enough to stand up to this abuse. Let’s examine some of the options:
Yoke
Stall doors are pawed, kicked and often thrown open several times a day. They must be strong enough to withstand resistance and designed with safety in mind. They should not have any loose pieces or sharp edges and should be positioned high in the wall for security during cleaning, feeding and tacking. They also need to be able to close easily, without the handler having to change hands or throw off balance.
A sliding door is the best option for efficiency and safety. It saves a lot of time opening and closing the door every time it’s needed and makes it easier for horses to get into their stalls. It’s also better for the handler who may need to keep an eye on the horse to prevent them from pushing or kicking at the stall door.
Another option is a mesh stall door, which provides great ventilation in a barn. You can choose to have the doors completely made of steel mesh or a combination of mesh on the bottom for strength and bars on top for visibility. Some people also like to add a bedding guard across the lower panel to help avoid horses kicking shavings through and into the freshly swept aisle.
Including a yoke in the grill part of your stall door can allow horses to stick their heads out for socialization and can help reduce boredom. However, be aware that some horses may try to stick their head through the yoke when it is opened, so this is not a good idea for all stalls.
Dutch Door
Dutch doors are a beautiful addition to a barn and accomplish several goals. They provide natural light and fresh air into the barn, give a horse free access to an adjacent paddock or pasture from his stall and can help to keep the stall cleaner by eliminating the need for the horse to leave his stall through a window.
The split design of a Dutch door allows the top half to remain open while the bottom is closed. This provides ventilation inside the stall, allows horses to stick their heads over for greater socialization and can prevent wood damage such as chewing and cribbing. There is often a latch mounted on the outside of the door to prevent the top from swinging closed and hitting a horse in the head.
A hinged stall door should be strong enough to withstand daily use. Stall doors are pawed, kicked and thrown open several times throughout the day. They are also subjected to the force of wind and if not built correctly can become dangerous if the hay bales inside are caught in the frame.
To ensure the stall door is sturdy, it should be built with galvanized or powder-coated steel and have a solid wooden frame. There should also be at least two guides located on the stall wall to stop the door from being pushed too far away from the wall and a latch that keeps the door closed when not in use.
Sliding Door
A sliding door provides more flexibility for a horse’s environment and is easier to operate. It can be upgraded to have a mesh top or bottom that increases airflow. This can help control dust, reduce the amount of shavings kicked into the aisle, and may even calm a horse that is anxious or agitated.
Some barns use full-height solid partitions to increase privacy and security, especially for show horses. Others use a combination of solid and grilled walls to offer privacy portable horse stalls, encourage socialization and enhance airflow. Stall fronts can be either solid or grilled and are often made from precast concrete panels that are parged with white stucco for aesthetics.
When designing a new barn, it’s important to consider how you’re going to manage the stalls. For example, if you want to provide an environment where horses can move freely from inside their stalls to outside runouts, you’ll need a door that will be opened more frequently. This type of door will also need a heavier-duty hinge and floor-level guides to prevent the door from becoming stuck or getting damaged by kicking, pawing, or leaning against it.
In addition, natural lighting is important for proper observation and care of a stalled horse. To avoid shadows, windows must be placed high (5 feet or above) and constructed of tempered glass that is protected on the horse side with bars or Plexiglas.
Grills
A grilled door, which has metal bars in the bottom half, can be used as an exterior or interior door. It allows air to flow into the stall and reduces heat loss, so it’s popular in warm climates. It can also be used to allow horses to socialize with each other and to the outside world, which helps them get used to their stall environment.
Another upgrade to the stall door is to have it made of mesh on both the top and bottom. This increases ventilation and lets the horse see out, which can help calm it down. It’s a good choice for stalls that are used by younger or injured horses, and also for stalls where the horse might kick shavings into the aisle.
Stalls should be designed to accommodate all sizes of horses, and the hardware and other stall fixtures must be strong, sturdy and easy to clean. They should include a water bucket or automatic drinker, a feed tub and a ring for tying the horse. A bridle hook and/or a blanket rack can be added to facilitate grooming and tacking.
In addition to a solid, hinged or sliding door on a stall, it’s important that there’s a window for each stall and eave and ridge vents to promote fresh air circulation. It’s also a good idea to have an escape ladder for each stall so the horse has a quick way out in case of fire or evacuation.