Stable Design

Question 1

What is the role of a loose box?

Answer 1

To provide the horse with a safe, comfortable and long lasting place to live.

Question 2

What are the general features of good stable design?

Answer 2

• The box should be large enough for a horse/pony to move around in, especially if they are in the stable most of the day.
• Boxes should not be so close that neighbouring horses can fight or bite, and not so far away that the horse cannot be regularly checked on.
• Isolation boxes should be within reach of the yard to allow regular attention if in use.
• In general the box should be built away from any hazards; ideally no large trees should hang over the box. Access should be clear, and the floor best on a concrete base.
• If the access floor is prone to be wet/muddy/slippery, then shavings should be laid so the horse doesn’t trip.
• The door and window should face away from the wind: a north face box would be cold/dark and south hot during the day. Depending on the winds, best is south-east or south-west.

Question 3

How should the stable floor be constructed?

Answer 3

• Drainage is important, so it should ideally be slightly sloped so that any liquids such as urine and water will drain to the back and into a drain. If drained to the front the horse will be standing in it.
• The floor should also have drainage channels.

Question 4

Name 4 types of flooring.

Answer 4

• Packed-down earth
• Concrete
• Brick
• Rubber matting

Question 5

What are the pros and cons of packed-down earth?

Answer 5

The most basic, but not ideal as can become med, muddy and slippery.

Question 6

What are the pros and cons of concrete?s

Answer 6

The most popular, as quick to construct, hard wearing and when roughened is not slippery. However it’s cold in winter and hard on the horse’s feet unless there is a deep bed.

Question 7

What are the pros and cons of brick?

Answer 7

Possibly the best option, but very expensive. It’s rot-proof, hard wearing, fireproof, cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It does take time to construct and may chip.

Question 8

What are the pros and cons of rubber matting?

Answer 8

Many designs which sit on top of the main floor. They are rot-proof, non-slip, softer and can be used without bedding. Without bedding they don’t offer much comfort for the horse to lie down in, if the may doesn’t fit or get cleaned properly, it may become very dirty.

Question 9

Name the options for wall material.

Answer 9

• Wood
• Brick
• Brick and wood combined
• Concrete breeze blocks

Question 10

What are the pros and cons of wood walls?

Answer 10

• Cheap, easy to construct, lightweight, easily available, durable if properly maintained.
• Rots easily, harbours germs and ringworm, fire hazard, some horse’s will eat/chew it and damaged easily by kicks. Hot in the summer, cold in the winter, prone to weather damage and needs a lot of maintenance.

Question 11

What are the pros and cons of brick walls?

Answer 11

• The most ideal as rot-proof, fireproof and allows temperature regulation.
• Expensive and takes a long time to build.

Question 12

What are the pros and cons of brick and wood stable?

Answer 12

• Quicker and cheaper than building a complete brick stable and gives a rot proof base. It consists of 3-4 layers of brick and the rest is made of wood.
• Still fire hazard and wood needs to be maintained.

Question 13

What are the pros and cons of concrete breeze blocks?

Answer 13

• Cheaper than brick and wood. Rot proof, fairly horse proof, fireproof and need less maintenance.
• The blocks need to be heavy, as light ones can collapse. They are time consuming and not as warm as brick.

Question 14

What are the four options for roofing?

Answer 14

• Plywood and felt
• Corrugated iron
• Slate
• Tiles

Question 15

What are the pros and cons of plywood and felt roofing?

Answer 15

• The felt is laid atop the plywood. It’s waterproof, easy to maintain and allows temperature regulation.
• It can be a fire hazard.

Question 16

What are the pros and cons of corrugated iron roofing?

Answer 16

• Cheap
• Offers poor insulation, can be noisy, and rusts easily

Question 17

What are the pros and cons of slate roofing?

Answer 17

• Provides good insulation
• Can break easily, get dislodged in high wind and can let the wind in.

Question 18

What are the pros and cons of tiles?

Answer 18

• Ideal as offer good insulation.
• Expensive, and they can be a hazard if they fall.

Question 19

How should guttering be fitted to the stable?

Answer 19

• It’s essential at both the back and front of the box.
• Down pipes should be fitted away from the window and door.
• An overhang is useful as it offers shelter from the wind and rain to both horses and people.

Question 20

What are the minimum measurements of the size of the box for each size of horse?

Answer 20

• Small ponies: 8ft x 8ft
• Ponies up to 15hh: 10 x 10ft
• Horses up to 16hh: 12 x 12ft
• Horses over 16hh: 12 x 14ft
• Foaling box: 15 x 15ft

Question 21

How high should a stable be?

Answer 21

• The ceiling or roof needs to be high enough so the horse doesn’t hit its head.
• About 12ft to 15ft high is ideal.
• If the horse is too low and the horse was to hit its head, it may mistrust the stable environment. By using A-line roofs, plenty of headroom is provided.

Question 22

How should the stable door be constructed?

Answer 22

• A minimum of 4ft wide and depending on the height of the horse, approx 10ft high, can be smaller for ponies.
• Doors are normally split in half, so the top half so the top half can be left open, whilst the bottom is shut. This allows ventilation and for the horses to look out.

Question 23

What fastenings should there be on the stable door?

Answer 23

• A top bolt at the top of the lower door and a kick bolt at the bottom of the lower door for security.
• Some horses can undo a top bolt so having a kick bolt makes it more secure, and there should be hooks on the doors to secure them open.

Question 24

Where should the stable door be fitted?

Answer 24

• Off-centre, to prevent through drafts, and away from the box next door, so that horses cannot bully or bite each other.
• The door should open outwards, so if a horse was cast against the door it can be opened; it is also easier for you to get in and out.
• The lower edge should be flush against the ground to stop draughts and to prevent the horse getting its feet stuck.
• Some yards have a chain to go across the door to stop the horse from barging out and to allow the lower door to be open in the hot summer months for extra ventilation.

Question 25

What can stable doors have to discourage wood chewing and crib biting?

Answer 25

A metal strip along the top of the lower door, which should be thick as thin metal can form sharp edges that stick out and cause injury.

Question 26

What should you do if the hinges of the door have dropped?

Answer 26

The door should be taken off and hung correctly, as if the door gets stuck it could become a hazard.

Question 27

What are the ideal features of a stable door?

Answer 27

• Strong hinges
• Hooks to secure the doors back when open
• Kick bolt
• Metal strip to prevent chewing

Question 28

How should windows be fitted?

Answer 28

• To prevent draughts they should be on the same side as the door and situated 3-4ft from the floor.
• Glass windows should have a metal grill inside to prevent the horse from coming into contact with it and possibly break the glass.
• Perspex or wire mesh across the opening is also used.

Question 29

How can ventilation be properly maintained in the stable?

Answer 29

• It’s important the horse is allowed good ventilation without draughts.
• Windows, doors, roof vents and skylights properly designed and position can offer good ventilation.
• In stable blocks there is often a space between the walls and roof allowing a free flow of air through the boxes.

Question 30

Why should anything fitted inside the stable be kept to a minimum?

Answer 30

If there is too much or objects ae in the wrong place, your horse is likely to get injured.

Question 31

What are kickboards?

Answer 31

• Made of wood, which are placed around the walls of the box up to a height of 3-4ft. Rubber matting may be used to provide more warmth.
• Both of these materials have the same job of preventing the horse from injury or damaging the box if it kicks or gets cast.

Question 32

What feed containers should be fitted?

Answer 32

Ones that are safe, secure, and easily removed for cleaning.

Question 33

What types of feed containers are there?

Answer 33

• Buckets: the most common type used, as they are cheap and easy to replace, but they can become a hazard if they get kicked around and caught in the handle.
• Buckets hanging from hooks: safer option but horse could injure itself on the hook.
• Feed bowl over the door: is safe and easy to clean, but easy to get knocked off my the horse.
• Rubber skips: most efficient as easy to clean and sturdy, even if they get kicked around so can stay in the stable overnight.
• Permanent manger: Not easy to clean and take food out of. Leftover food is open to be eaten by rodents.
• Mangers: corner mangers are good as you can take the feed bucket out to clean, but it has been known for a horse to get its head stuck through the hoop, or it can become loose and fall off/left hanging.

Question 34

What is the difficulty with where mangers are usually fixed?

Answer 34

They are usually fixed at the back of the box, which means anyone doing the feed has to walk past the horse, which can be dangerous if the horse is protective over feed or kicks.

Question 35

How should metal hayracks be fitted, and why are they not popular?

Answer 35

High enough to prevent the horse getting caught in them. They are not seen as much these days as the dust and seeds from the hay can fall into the horse’s eyes and nostrils, when it pulls at the hay. Old hay may go stale if not removed before the fresh goes in.

Question 36

What are rings used for in the stable and how are they fitted?

Answer 36

• To tie up the horse or hay net.
• They should have a small loop of string attached for tying up the horse.
• There is normally two rings, one each side of the wall at a height of approx 5ft. The best place to have a tie up is at the front, so the horse has its head towards you.

Question 37

How should lighting be fitted in the stable?

Answer 37

• Lighting is essential as it’s dangerous to work around a horse in the dark.
• All fixtures must be safe, secure and well away form the horse. Light bulbs should never be in reach, as a naked light bulb with explode if a horse bites it. All lights must be strongly protected with thick glass and metal meshing.
• All cables must be fastened down, out of reach and insulated. They should be regularly checked and maintained.
• Ideally there should be no sockets inside the box, but if there is it must be safely covered and secure.
• Switches should be outside the stable and be protected with a cover against the weather.

Question 38

What can be fitted to hang rugs in stables?

Answer 38

Ropes, fitted high at the back or side of the stable.

Question 39

What is a special purpose box?

Answer 39

A utility box used for clipping, trimming, shoeing or veterinary attention.

Question 40

What is an isolation box?

Answer 40

A box for ill horses that is situated away from the yard but downwind to minimise the spread of illness, and to provide a quiet space for an ill horse.