FARM&BARN NANCY S. LOVING, DVM

TheHorse.com/FarmandBarn Building a Vet-Approved Barn Whether building from the ground up or retrofitting existing structures, prioritize your horse’s health and safety

barn is a wonderful shelter for a horse and makes a nice workplace A for people to do horse-related chores. Barns range in shape, size, materials, and age. Some come with a property; some owners build after mov- ing in. Regardless of whether you have an existing structure or are planning a new one, consider equine safety and comfort when retrofitting or designing it. Over decades in equine practice, I have encountered innumerable injuries and health issues, some quite serious, that owners could have avoided with practical design modifications of their stabling and management. Matthew Johnson, architect and owner of Equine Facility Design, in Portland, Or- egon, has devoted his career to designing equestrian facilities and barns with an eye for the details. He offers barn construc- tion suggestions to help optimize horse health and reduce accidents and injury. ALAYNE BLICKLE ALAYNE A horse-safe stable should have ample airflow, aisles that are flat and offer good traction, and Stalls durable stalls without protrusions or gaps that could snag skin or ensnare horses’ limbs. Walls Stabling a horse inside a confined area can be hazardous at times; careful angle metal with countersunk attach- magnet that minimizes exposed hardware. consideration of materials and design ments. Protect horses from sharp metal “Door construction—how it’s mounted, goes a long way toward preventing injury. edges by ensuring the metal fits well its strength and design—to avoid limb en- “Typically, stalls are made of either wood with no protrusions. You might also trapment is essential,” he says. “Spacing of or HDPE (high-density polyethylene) re- choose nonwood materials with deburred stall grill bars needs this same attention. cycled plastic tongue and groove lumber,” (smoothed) or grounded edges or hem- Bars need to be strong, welded securely, Johnson says. “HDPE material is safe, ming that forms dull edges and won’t and positioned no wider than 3.25 inches doesn’t splinter, is durable, nonabsorp- cause injury. (apart) so a horse can’t get a hoof through tive, and easy to clean, making it a low-­ Size “A minimum stall size of 12-by- them. Use door-mounting­ hardware that maintenance option for barn owners.” 12 feet is about one-and-a-half times a allows the door to be secured flush to the To protect horses from each other in horse’s length and allows an average- stall without gaps.” adjacent stalls, he recommends installing sized horse to walk in a circle, roll, and The ideal stall door latch is difficult for grilled partitions with solid walls adjacent sleep without getting cast,” says Johnson. a horse to open and isn’t likely to impale to feed or water. “This gives horses pri- Warmblood and draft breeds benefit from animals (or people) as they pass through. vacy while eating but allows safe social 12-by-16-foot stalls. “Latches with two-sided operation are an interaction.” Doors and latches Johnson says the important safety feature for people enter- To discourage horses from chewing on minimum industry standard width for ing and exiting horse-occupied stalls,” wood edges in their stalls or paddocks, he stall doors is 4 feet. Secure sliding door he says. “Finger latches with minimal suggests using prefinished chew-guard­ panels with a high-strength wall-attached hardware are effective.”

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Windows and ventilation Ideally, your powered automatic waterers or heated ­surface and a barrier to earthen material barn and stalls have windows for light water troughs are grounded. Johnson that doesn’t absorb moisture. “Interlocking and airflow. The air a horse breathes is recommends burying an 8-foot copper rubber mats hold … together so there is integral to his health and performance grounding rod at least 7 feet as a backup less chance of hoof entrapment,” he says. so good ventilation is critical. Johnson if the waterer or heater’s own grounding Alternatively, you might install a com- says good ventilation also keeps things fails—this can prevent harm or death to pacted gravel or dirt base. If using these dry and, so, prevents mold from growing horses and humans. To further reduce materials in a stall or paddock without on tack and feed. He says a design with risk, install GFCI (ground-fault circuit in- mats, watch for and smooth out any ruts plenty of windows establishes natural terrupter) outlets designed to detect faults that might cause a horse to get cast. ventilation through cross-breezes. and prevent shock with electrical water Johnson also recommends using inter- Johnson recommends using safety units. Even the slightest electrical current locking rubber mats or pavers for aisles glass (which is less likely to break and, in a water source will deter a horse from and grooming areas due to the combina- if it does, won’t produce sharp, jag- drinking, which can result in colic. tion of cushion and traction they provide. ged edges) in windows around horse-­ He says interlocking mats work fine for accessible areas. You might add screens wash stalls, but permanent seamless rub- or operable window guards (which make Interlocking rubber ber flooring systems are easier to clean. accessing the glass easy for cleaning) to mats hold … together “When a stall needs to serve both stall windows for safe ventilation. purposes (grooming and wash stall), a “Stall fronts with grills or open parti- so there is less chance solid rubber mat is best, as long as the tions like a Dutch door also promote of hoof entrapment.” floor slopes slightly to direct water to the airflow,” he says. Facility owners can drains,” he says, which prevents the area supplement natural ventilation with me- MATTHEW JOHNSON from getting swampy and slippery. chanical systems such as barn fans. When Provide drainage throughout the rest possible, don’t close the barn up at night Work Areas, Floors, and Aisleways of the barn, too, to avoid standing water but, instead, allow air to flow through. Ceiling height Johnson prefers a that could serve as mosquito breeding 10-foot minimum ceiling height in horse- grounds. Gutters along the eaves of the Utilities trafficked areas of the barn, although roof also move water away from doorways Electrical outlets For safety, sheath 8-foot ceilings work well, too. In fact, an to prevent puddles—slipping hazards for electrical components in metal conduit 8-foot ceiling might discourage unruly horse and human any time of year. or enclose them behind finishes. John- horses from rearing—ears touching the The less clutter in an aisleway, the son stresses that electrical work must ceiling often cause a horse to drop back better. Horses react unpredictably, and be grounded and installed in accor- to the ground. a spooked horse can bump into saddle dance with building codes. Don’t locate Design features such as clerestories racks, tack trunks, or other equipment— light switches or receptacles in horse-­ (high windows), Dutch doors with keep those items in a tack room or accessible areas. transom windows (located above the storage area. Fold-out saddle racks save “Enclose stall lights with guard protec- door beam), attached run overhangs, and space and lie flush with the wall until tion that not only prevents a horse from roof slopes might require a ceiling height time to groom and saddle up. Similarly, breaking a light but also keeps out dust, closer to 12 feet. drop-down-style bars on stall fronts keep debris, and cobweb contact with the Barn floors and aisleways In stalls blankets out of the way when they’re not bulbs,” says Johnson. Johnson says he prefers rubber mats atop in use; just take care in keeping horses’ Water sources Also ensure that electric- a concrete base, which provides a flat teeth away from them. When cross-tying a horse, use break- away materials (such as baling twine) to attach the tie to the wall. That way, a horse that panics gets loose rather than flipping backward when the halter or fasteners break. Johnson recommends placing groom- ing stalls out of the aisle to keep walk- ways clean and clear. Also keep clean- ing equipment, such as wheelbarrows, manure forks, and brooms, in a space separate from where you groom or walk. Additionally, you might design niches or small cubbies into barn aisle walls for storing small items like fly spray and turnout boots. Biosecurity Due to the risk of infectious

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disease outbreaks on horse farms, con- sider adding quarantine areas separate Fire Prevention Strategies from the main barn and work areas for housing sick horses or horses new to the Rebecca Gimenez Husted, BS, PhD, of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, in Gray, property. Configure isolation areas with Georgia, offers practical suggestions to mitigate barn fire risks. Ideally, she says, construct your separate entrances; use materials that can barn out of masonry or cinder blocks, with metal or tile roofing, sand or other noncombustible be disinfected and will hold up to caustic flooring, sheath electrical lines in conduit, and paint wood surfaces with flame-retardant paint. agents; separate water, feeding, and Compartmentalize areas of the barn to reduce chances of a fire starting and/or spreading. cleaning equipment; and devise a way to Install carbon monoxide detectors, lightning suppression systems, and flame and heat disinfect people’s feet upon entry and exit. detectors with electronic eyes that signal the presence of heat or flame rising. Cheap smoke detectors aren’t as useful, Gimenez Husted says, because they often give false alerts from Feeding Strategies air particulates and dust. Remove dust and cobwebs regularly throughout the barn. Hay storage Store bulk hay in a build- Check tags on fire extinguishers monthly, and update contents at the local fire depart- ment as necessary. Extinguishers should be at least 10-20 pounds, she says, and placed in ing separate from the barn, and designate multiple obvious locations within a barn. When possible, install an appropriate size and type a small area within the stable to store hay of sprinkler system, such as a dry sprinkler for cold climates. for immediate use. “This is important Gimenez Husted says hay, straw, and bedding are best stored in a building separate from both from a fire safety and horse health the main barn. Hay can combust spontaneously and fuels the spread of fire. perspective,” says Johnson. A hay loft Also develop a fire evacuation strategy for your facility. It takes 30 to 60 seconds to halter over the stalls or arena makes putting up and lead a horse to an exit, Gimenez Husted says. Keep halters by each horse’s stall, and hay a chore and generates dust that ad- never lock a stall door. Fire can turn a barn into an inferno within three to five minutes, she versely affects horse (and human) respira- says, so time is critical. If possible, don’t open stall doors to allow horses to escape, because tory health. Ceiling lofts reduce natural loose horses often return to the barn and can run into people or impede emergency vehicles. daylight and ventilation, he adds. For emergencies it’s essential to have two means of stall egress, even if an exterior run Feeding stations Construct in-stall isn’t attached to a stall. Gimenez Husted recommends installing 8-by-8-foot doors every 50 feeding stations out of safe materials, and feet along the barn’s outside wall to enable horses and humans to reach a run-out lane that place them at an appropriate height (this attaches to a holding paddock a sufficient distance away. Everyone at the barn should know depends on the type of feeder and size emergency response details and practice evacuation plans routinely.—Nancy S. Loving, DVM of horse) that helps prevent injury while keeping airways clear. “While some owners like to feed from Tack and Medication Storage ­owners prefer the classic look of a four- grain bowls, others use permanently Install cupboards and shelves to keep board wooden fence. For foals, quality installed hay and/or grain feeders,” John- tack rooms free of clutter. Place some up mesh fencing is safe and appropriate. son says. “Metal (with rounded edges) is high for storing infrequently used items. “Often, combining these types of fenc- the best material for these because of its You can organize smaller yet more com- ing with electrical hot wire or tape maxi- strength. Some horses grab the edges and monly used items in tack trunks. Large mizes horse safety while also preventing pull on them like toys; metal withstands tack cabinets also create a tidy space. horses from chewing or cribbing on the this better than plastic alternatives.” To keep children, pets, and unauthor- fence,” says Johnson. Feed rooms “Secure feed room doors ized adults away from medications, Some property owners use metal panels with a horse-proof latch and an addition- syringes, and other materials, install a as paddock perimeters. If you choose this al lock to amplify safety,” Johnson urges. locking cabinet and/or a secure refrigera- route, make sure they are designed for Serious health problems, from colic to tor box for drug storage. Most facility horses, because cattle panels are often laminitis, can arise if an escaped horse managers keep these items in the feed constructed with metal “feet” that can en- has free access to grain or supplements. room so they can conveniently adminis- trap a horse hoof or foal head. Check gate When designing for the size and shape ter them at feeding time, says Johnson. connections to fence posts for excessive of a feed room, consider its uses: If you need to store medications in a gaps and protruding bolts—cut bolts flush ■ Will you use a feed cart? temperature-controlled environment, with the fence post. Any enclosure that ■ How many types of feed do you store? install a locked storage area in a climate- includes T-posts should have caps on all ■ What design helps streamline and controlled tack room. the posts to prevent a horse from impaling minimize meal preparation efforts, himself. especially in high-volume barns? Paddocks and Runs Rodent-proof feed containers are musts Fencing depends on a variety of fac- Take-Home Message in feed rooms. “These might be plastic or tors, says Johnson, including: Attention to small details of design aluminum trash cans, although special- ■ The types of horses housed; can make barns safer and more comfort- ized feed containers offer aesthetic and ■ The area of installation; and able for you and your horse, along with ease-of-use advantages,” says Johnson. ■ Barn owner preference. improving chore efficiency. The proactive “Elevating containers off the floor eases Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) rail fencing is measures you implement are invaluable cleanup of spilled feed and prevents known for its low maintenance, pleas- for promoting equine health and mini- rodent attractants.” ing appearance, and safety. Some barn mizing injuries. h

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