Construction of a stable. Planning.

Our time provides a lot of conditions and opportunities for the construction of stables for horses. You can purchase a ready-made structure, order it on a turnkey basis, hire a team for construction, or carry out all the work yourself. The most budget-friendly way is to build it yourself.

Preparing for the construction of a stable

In each of these cases, it is worth relying on the purpose of horse breeding and its volume. To keep several animals involved in economic activities, a small building is sufficient, but you can also keep horses in a barn with the rest of the cattle and small cattle. For sports horses, breeding horses or for mass rearing for slaughter, spacious, comfortable stables are needed.

Before construction, make an estimate based on the stable design plan and prices for materials and labor. This will save you from alterations during the construction process and unnecessary expenses, and will clearly show the entire volume of necessary funds and work. It would not be a bad idea to consult with experts and study a lot of additional literature.

Site selection

You should carefully consider the choice of site for the construction of housing for horses. It is desirable that it be a plain or a small hill. In the lowlands, the animals will be protected from the wind, but dampness will settle in the stables. Increased humidity will have a negative effect on horses' hooves.

If the site is located on a hill, then the water quickly leaves it, but the weak point will be the accessibility to the winds. Constant drafts are harmful to animals. This is inevitable, so it is worthwhile to provide natural barriers of trees that form so-called forest belts.

Selecting a site for construction

Proper maintenance and placement of horses (especially in winter) is the most important condition in breeding. The premises under construction must meet veterinary requirements for both horses and people in order to prevent diseases in the horse and prevent infection of local residents and adjacent lands.

Although there is currently no special supervision over the construction of livestock buildings on private farms, emerging trends with the inventory of livestock, the ban on obstructing veterinary service workers and the tax on livestock are leading to tougher measures. Therefore, it is now important to comply with the standards for the construction of stables in order to avoid their further demolition. Sanitary gaps in the placement of buildings for horses:

• to residential premises - at least 100 m;
• to objects with other animals (pig sty, poultry farm, dairy farm) - from 50 m;
• to an unequipped manure storage facility – 100 m;
• to the equipped manure storage facility – 50 m;
• distance to the road – 100 m;
• rivers and streams – 50 m;
• reservoirs, drinking water intakes – 150 m.

SanPin requirements regulate the construction of stables for reasons of human safety. They are important, but not the only ones - it is also important to consider the safety of the horse’s placement. To do this, ensure that the area is well lit and protected from winds. You should not choose low-lying areas near swamps and other bodies of water - these are breeding grounds for blood-sucking insects that are carriers of many parasites that are dangerous to horses. In addition, wet soil and air provoke maceration of the skin and the development of inflammatory diseases.

An excellent option for placing a stable is a natural hill. This will avoid dampness, and the wind will remove accumulating harmful gases and dust particles. If there are no hills on the site, it is recommended to make a small embankment. It is also necessary to make drainage to remove groundwater and rainwater.

Selection of material for construction

Be responsible when choosing materials for building housing for horses. To build durable, warm and dry stables, brick and wood are especially often used; as an alternative, adobe, bulk mixtures and insulation materials are used for frame construction.

Do not use stone and concrete blocks. Such a structure will not be able to provide and maintain the necessary microclimate for animals. Adobe structures are warm, but short-lived.

Brick

The most popular material for construction, which has a lot of positive arguments:

• buildings are built to last, independent of the influence of environmental factors;
• minimal heat loss, moisture does not accumulate;
• The thickness of the walls in the climate of Central Russia should be at least 2 bricks.

A significant disadvantage of this building material is the cost of construction and the low speed of construction work.

Tree

Wooden buildings have a more respectable appearance. Working with such material is not difficult, and the speed of work is at a constantly high level. Wooden rooms retain heat well and conduct air. Animals will feel comfortable in such stables. When building a wooden dwelling, you should use logs or beams no thinner than 20 cm, covering them with clapboard.

The use of wood in construction has its disadvantages:

• Short service life of the stable. Wood tends to deteriorate when subjected to physical impact.
• The building has a high level of fire hazard.
• Fungus, wood-boring beetles, etc. can ruin a structure and make it life-threatening in a short period of time. The problem is partially solved by the use of wood impregnations and treatments. These are additional operating costs.

Frame-and-fill design

Buildings of this kind are characterized by the lowest cost. The frame is built from wood or metal. Double walls are erected, and the voids are filled with a mixture of sawdust and expanded clay, mineral wool and other insulation.

If there are gaps on the walls between the joining material, then the internal bulk filling will spill out through them. This creates air pockets inside where rodents and pests can live. In addition, due to voids, the thermal insulation of the stable will be reduced. Heat loss, condensation formation and the appearance of dampness in this situation are inevitable.

Materials

There are many options for materials for building a stable. There are debates about which one is better, there is no consensus. Even the best materials have their drawbacks.

Generally speaking, materials with the following characteristics are suitable:

• the presence of pores that facilitate effective gas and water exchange with the external environment;
• good heat retention in the room;
• high thermal resistance coefficients;
• moisture resistance.

Brick stable lined with wood

The best materials for building a stable are considered to be wood, brick, and, a little worse, foam blocks. Backfill frames can only be used in extreme poverty, and stone and concrete are unsuitable materials for construction.

Tree

This material perfectly retains heat indoors, at the same time, buildings made from it are permeable to atmospheric air, which allows for natural gas exchange. If you compare a brick and a wooden wall with the same thermal conductivity, the brick wall will be several times thicker. Wood costs relatively little, and building with it is easier and more convenient.

Ideal would be logs with a diameter of 20-25 cm, or timber covered with clapboard.

Wooden stable

This material has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. These include:

• fragility. The service life of a wooden building is several times lower than that of a brick one;
• fire hazard;
• susceptibility to rotting and the destructive action of living organisms, for example, wood-boring beetles. This problem is partially solved by impregnating lumber before construction.

Video - Step-by-step construction of a stable from lumber

Brick

This material also has many advantages. It is strong, buildings made from it are durable and resistant to environmental influences. It conducts air and water well, without creating the effect of heat loss and excess humidity. Brick buildings retain heat well inside, preventing excessive condensation and the “greenhouse effect”. However, they retain heat worse than wooden ones, so in central Russia, for the construction of stables, the walls are laid in 2 bricks, their width must be at least 40 cm.

Brick stable

The disadvantages of brick as a material for construction include high cost and low speed of work.

Video - Stable made of foam blocks

This material does not rot, does not burn, and retains heat well.

Frame-and-fill design

The filling component is usually sawdust mixed with expanded clay or slag. The slightest crack causes it to spill out, which leads to the formation of voids in the wall. This reduces the thermal insulation of the room, and it begins to lose heat in winter. In addition, rodents live in voids.

This design has one advantage - price. The frame-and-fill design is the cheapest. This explains its relative popularity.

The following materials are not suitable:

• stone. It is difficult to process and construct, does not retain heat well, and contributes to the formation of dampness. Despite the durability and resistance of stone buildings, this material is not suitable;
• concrete blocks. They crumble easily, remove heat well from the room and do not protect against dampness.

Example of a frame-fill wall

When choosing a material, you should proceed from the climatic conditions of the place where you plan to install the stable, as well as other factors (depth of groundwater, presence of ventilation and heating systems, etc.).

Construction of stables

The size of the stable and the rooms inside it depend on the number of horses and the purpose of their breeding. So, in the case of sports stallions, large pens are needed, and when breeding the breed, you cannot do without a maternity box for females and fences for foals. But still, the main set of premises has a constant composition.

Dennik

A separate room for a horse with loose housing is called a stall. Some conditions apply to its arrangement:

• The stall size is at least 9 square meters. m. Ceiling height 2.5 m.
• Lighting in every stall. The lamp should be out of reach of the animal.
• Partitions between stalls. It is possible to leave small gaps in them so that the horse does not stick his hoof into it.
• The thickness of the wooden partition should not be less than 3 cm. Otherwise, the animal will break it with a careless movement.

Stalls

Each individual must have its own stall, where the animal is located with its head to the wall. The horse is tied in it with a medium-length rein. To limit the movement of animals, a plastic or belt harness is placed on the back of the body, including the legs, in the stall.

Stalls are used for educational purposes, teaching animals to discipline, during taming and training horses. While in the stall, attention and observation skills develop.

Passages

The width of the passage in the stable depends on the size of the room itself and the number of horses contained in it. Most often, 3 m of free space is left to make it convenient to transfer animals to sanitary boxes, stalls, or simply take them out into the open air. In addition, the passage of carts during feeding and cleaning, or mini tractors should be taken into account.

Auxiliary premises

In addition to the main premises where horses are kept, the stable must be equipped with the following premises:

• Feed compartment. The room is used for compiling and assembling the animals' daily diet, so it should be dry, light and clean. The location of the room is as close as possible to the stalls.
• Hay storage . Planned to be adjacent to the aft room. General hay supplies are stored here, so fire precautions must be taken.
• Storage room for working tools. All equipment for caring for animals must be in one room.
• Harness room. All equipment for animals is stored here, there are refrigerators with medications, washing machines, etc.
• Sanitary box. Includes a room for veterinarians to examine animals, a horse shower and a solarium.
• Storage for bedding material. The size of the room is at least 4 square meters. m. Dry, clean room with low humidity.
• Corral for walking horses. The size depends on the number of animals in the stable. The floor in the pen is made of special rubber or covered with sawdust.
• Location of the fire shield.

Arrangement of the stables inside

A stable implies the presence in it of such components as stalls (the place where the horse is while sleeping, feeding and in bad weather), a passage, and a tack room. The correct number and location of windows and doors is important. A floor that carries a significant load must be properly calculated during construction.

Denniki

Since the horse is a large animal weighing about 500-700 kg, it is important when building your own stable to provide her with comfort both while she is awake and while she sleeps. This means that the dimensions of the room in which she will be located should allow her to move freely, lie down, and stand up.

On average, the size of the stall is 3x3 meters, the ceiling height is not lower than 2.8 m. High ceilings help prevent the possibility of injury if the horse stands on its hind legs (makes a “candle”).

Passage or corridor

The passage inside the stable is also important: this is where many grooming and saddling operations will be carried out. The width of the passage is on average 1.5-2 meters, which will allow two horses to separate, if necessary, and to comfortably saddle and unsaddle the horse.

If there is a passage, the stable will become warmer: with its help, all the cold air from the street does not reach the stalls. This is an important point that should be taken into account when designing a stable.

Windows and doors

The stable is ventilated using windows. However, their location should not cause frequent drafts, which can be detrimental to the animal. Often the windows are positioned so that the horse can watch what is happening outside.

This will add entertainment to her while she is in the stall. For safety, it is recommended to install bars on the windows.

Doors that provide free passage for the animal are a prerequisite for comfortable horse keeping. Usually, when planning them, the need to transport wheelbarrows through them for manure removal is taken into account.

When pouring the floor, you need to be aware of the significant weight load of the horse. It can be wooden, clay, concrete. In the latter case, a sufficient amount of sawdust will be required to protect the horse’s hooves from microtrauma.

Proper planning of construction, competent budgeting and skillful arrangement of premises will make a home for your beloved pet convenient and comfortable.

Design and measurements

If there is a project, construction proceeds smoothly and without problems. Therefore, preparation, calculations, measurements and selection of materials take a lot of time. But it’s better to fix something in the project than to redo the construction later during the process.

Foundation

Before constructing the foundation, site preparation will be a necessary measure. It is cleared of any type of vegetation, trees are uprooted as much as possible, and the top layer of soil is removed.

If the plans are for a brick stable, then the foundation will have to be poured with a concrete strip type. Waterproofing material is laid on top of the concrete to protect the walls from dampness. For other types of structures, a gravel cushion is poured and a pillar foundation is installed. To do this, corner supports are installed and from them, using a beating cord or level, even rows of a columnar base are built. The number of pillars depends on the area of ​​the proposed building.

A protective layer is laid on the foundation. Pressed wood lining will prevent rodents and other unwanted guests from entering the stable.

Construction of the frame

When building a room made of brick, there is no need to build a wooden frame. In other cases, you cannot do without it. There is no point in saving on materials used in such work. The wood must be of the best quality, because the service life of the entire stable depends on this.

The frame, 3-3.5 m high, is assembled from timber, with diagonal beams attached for greater stability and strength. Before assembly, be sure to study the design diagram so that unnecessary questions and time-consuming moments do not arise during the work. When assembling, consider the location of window and door openings.

Walls

The first step when building walls is to determine their thickness. This parameter is directly dependent on the climate of the region where it is located. The lower the winter air temperature, the thicker the stable walls. A 25 cm wall preserves the microclimate even in the most severe frosts. The minimum wall thickness is 10 cm.

When assembling wooden walls, it is recommended to use several types of fastenings, and keep the distance between them the same. This will increase the strength of the structure. Consider installing waterproofing between the foundation and the wall.

Divide the stable area into stalls using wooden partitions. They can be mounted at ceiling height by making window openings on both sides and inserting grilles into them. Another option is to construct wooden dividers with a height of 1.3 m to 15 m.

Keep in mind that each animal requires a minimum stall size of 3x4 m. A space of 4x5 m is considered optimal.

Roof

To protect animals from bad weather, precipitation and keep the room warm, installation of a reliable roof is required. The most popular are single-pitched and gable roofs with a water drainage system. The first option is the cheapest, because it requires a minimum amount of materials. A layer of vapor barrier is laid on the wooden beams, and then a slate, metal-profile or other roof is assembled.

When building a gable, more building materials will be required, but the advantage will be the possibility of using the attic space for household needs. You can store hay, straw, accessories, or any other material there.

Sew the ceiling with a board no thinner than 5 cm, and insulate it with expanded clay or mineral wool. This will additionally keep the room warm.

Floor installation

In the construction of stables, 2 flooring compositions are used:

• Clay. Comfortable for horse hooves, as it is quite soft in composition. Its cost is inexpensive, you can repair and correct defects yourself, without spending a lot of time and effort. Grooves for manure flow are easily formed. But, such a floor tends to absorb moisture well. To destroy germs from horse excrement, sanitary cleaning of the floor is necessary. In this case this is not possible.

• Concrete. It washes well and does not absorb liquid animal waste. In stalls, the floor is poured at a slight angle so that the liquid flows into the sanitary openings behind the compartment and is removed from the stable. The main disadvantage of a concrete floor is its hardness and low thermal conductivity. Therefore, it is recommended to lay a layer of boards on such a floor. This will protect the horses' hooves and prevent them from freezing on the cold surface.

• Wood. Often used in the construction of frame stables. To install it, a pit is dug, which is later filled with coarse crushed stone. There is no need to leave a cushion of air under the floor. It will make the building unstable. A ditch is provided along the perimeter for drainage, the depth of which is at least half a meter. This type of floor requires periodic replacement due to wear and tear of the material.

Windows and doors

The optimal width for a door is considered to be 1.5 m. If the size of the stable allows, then it is better to use hinged swing doors. They are more reliable in terms of resistance to animal attacks. Otherwise, you'll have to settle for sliding ones. They save space, but are less reliable in operation. Among all the options for locks and latches, the favorite is the regular lock.

The area allocated for window openings is calculated as 1/8 of the total area of ​​the frame walls or 1/15 of the floor area. The standard window size is 50 cm by 70 cm. They are installed at a height from the floor of no less than 1.5 m, but not higher than 2 m. To protect against excessive sunlight and for safety reasons, it is advisable to provide shutters on the windows. Be sure to cover opening window openings with mosquito netting to prevent insects from disturbing the horses.

7 more dream stables!

This article is a continuation of our previous article about the most unusual equestrian clubs around the world.

We bring to our readers 7 more wonderful stables with wonderful architecture and design!

1. A very intricate shelter for horses is located in Valle de Bravo (Mexico). El Mirador stable shelter combines several styles and is made of wood and stone; Inside there is a water trough for horses and a hitching post. The shelter is located at the very top of the hill, offering a wonderful view of the slopes and the park. From the shelter, horses can freely walk along park paths to their pasture and return back to drink water and rest in the shade.

The El Mirador stable itself is even more amazing.

The main building, with its wide aisles, contains horse stalls; in front of him is a huge “barrel” with a very interesting wooden fence. The highlight of the entire complex can be called two additional wings of the stable for 10 heads each; the stalls in them are located below ground level (they are, as it were, “recessed” into the ground) and consist of two independent stalls, which are separated by a wooden partition with a door. The “internal” stalls are quite ordinary, measuring 3x4 meters, but the “external” stalls do not have a roof, so they are open to light and air. They are designed for drying horses after work and sunbathing. This strange, controversial, but amazing and unparalleled project was carried out by the architectural bureau SS Arquitectos.

2. And here is a wonderful equestrian club in Wellington (USA, Florida, Palm Beach County): on the territory of this complex there is a residential building, a swimming pool, a stable for 12 heads, a house for grooms and horse handlers, an open barrel, a parade ground with Euro-soil and herbal levadas for horses. The horses grazing in the shade of the palm trees are clearly happy!

3. Solana Stables is located in the province of Soriano (Uruguay). This is a very interesting project from 2013 by architect Nicolas Pinto da Mota. The stable was built on a hill, among levadas and fields, has a minimalist design and occupies only 240 sq.m. The stable has 8 stalls measuring 3.4 x 3.5 m, a tack room and a rest room. The entrance to the stable is closed by a sliding wooden door; in the dark, when the lights are turned on, the stable is very beautifully illuminated thanks to the “openwork” walls.

4. The very beautiful and bright “La Victoria” is located in Wellington, Florida, USA: the territory of the complex includes a residential building, a stable, parade grounds, a “barrel”, levadas, and also a pond with a fountain!

5. This beautiful residential building with stables, swimming pool and levadas is located in Colorado (USA). Cozy lighting, a swimming pool, wooden stalls, horses grazing in huge levadas against the backdrop of the mountains... A great place for any horseman!

6. Children's equestrian complex " Miracle - Kony" is located 10 km from the city of Yoshkar-Ola, the capital of the Mari El Republic. A huge arena building with a turquoise roof, comfortable large stalls, a large number of levadas with shelters - although the complex was built in the style of a Russian estate, all the buildings and areas for working and walking horses meet European standards.

7. Château Font du Broc is located in Vars (France). Fonds du Brocq is a wine estate and stud farm where the Lusitanian breed of horses is bred; and the playpen of this castle is practically a work of art!

Communication design

An important component at the planning stage is the presentation of various types of communications. Do not rush, consult with specialists, because such work depends on the comfort conditions for the animals.

Electricity

For horses, daylight hours must last at least 8 hours, so in winter and inclement weather, additional lighting powered by electricity will be required. In addition, the artificial ventilation system and other automated systems, refrigerators operate from the network.

All light bulbs must be in closed shades so that if one of them bursts, the horses will not be injured by fragments. In addition, it is advisable to protect all lighting and other electrical devices with metal bars to avoid physical impact of animals on them.

The wiring must be hidden under cable ducts, and the switches must be placed in a place inaccessible to horses.

Ventilation

Ventilation is a system designed to optimize gas exchange in the stable and maintain humidity levels and a sufficient amount of oxygen.

Natural air flow comes from ventilation shafts left under the ceiling and open windows. But with a large stable area, it is recommended to install mechanical artificial ventilation. There should be 1 ventilation pipe per 12 horses.

Gaps must not be left under the ceiling for ventilation. This will lead to constant drafts and animal diseases.

In mechanical ventilation, the air flow is driven by fans. Their work should be with the lowest possible noise level, so as not to concentrate the animals’ attention on themselves and to remain calm in the stable.

Water supply and heating

Conducting water into the stable is desirable, but this condition is still not necessary. You can bring water from the street, which will require much more time and effort. If the water supply is connected to the horses’ homes, then it will be possible to organize automatic drinking bowls, and the cleaning process will be facilitated. You can use a hose and wash away all the dirt.

On the coldest winter days, the air temperature in the stable should not fall below 6-8 ºС. Horses, with their breathing and body heat, usually maintain the temperature in the room themselves. If located in harsh climatic zones, you cannot do without a heating system. For a large stable, the optimal solution would be to install a boiler, but for a small home, an electric or other heater will suffice.

Arrangement inside the stables

It is worth arranging the interior of the stable in such a way that it is comfortable for horses to be there, and it is convenient for people to carry out cleaning and other work.

Feeder and drinkers

Feeders can be purchased ready-made or made by yourself. The main thing is that it is convenient for the animals to eat from them, and that filling them does not cause inconvenience to the owner. Feeders are often hung on the wall at a height of no more than 1 m from the floor, and a hatch is made above them so that food can be placed without entering the stall.

Never dump horse feed on the floor. There is a high probability that the animal will become infected with tetanus or worms.

Automatic drinking bowls will make it easier to care for horses; otherwise, it is recommended to install special containers, given that animals require up to 50 liters of water per day.

Drinkers and feeders must be periodically cleaned and washed with disinfectant solutions.

Stall and bedding

The stall should be comfortable and safe. The size varies depending on the breed of the horse. The height from the floor is at least 2.5 m. It is advisable to make the walls from wood or metal gratings, so that the animals can see each other.

Sawdust, straw or peat can be used as bedding. They should be changed every few days, carefully cleaning out the corners. The 50 cm thick bedding is changed once every month or two.

Watch the video of the arrangement of a stable using the example of one stud farm:

Start of construction

Any capital, beautiful do-it-yourself stable must begin with a foundation, the depth of which must be determined depending on the type and bearing capacity of the soil, how deep the soil freezes and what material will be used to build the walls.

An ideal plot of land is considered to have groundwater below 1.2 m. If you build a stable on other soil, there is a risk that the animals will develop hoof diseases.

Having built the foundation for the stable, it should be covered with any waterproofing layer. It could be asphalt, roofing felt, roofing felt or something else. After this, you can begin laying out the walls. If brick was chosen as the main material, be sure to use a special building level to avoid distortion.

The next stage of construction is laying the roof. It should be made pitched, additionally equipped with an ebb and a gutter so that rainwater flows freely to the ground. If you decide to make a gable roof, you must take into account that the height of the eaves must exceed 2.4 m, the ridge - 4 m. The design of a shed roof should be carried out taking into account the fact that the minimum height of its lower edge is at least 3 m above ground level.

To build a ceiling, you will need several boards 5 cm thick. You need to apply a 1:1 mixture of clay and sand on them in one layer, then a layer of sawdust and earth. The thickness of each layer should be approximately 5 cm.

Natural ventilation of the stable can be ensured thanks to a small gap between the roof and the walls; it is advisable that the construction plan be drawn up taking this into account.

A private stable must have a practical and safe roof, so it is best to make the roof cladding from wood or brick. A more budget-friendly option is roofing felt or slate sheets. But cheap materials have a number of disadvantages, so if you only want the best for your animals, do not skimp on the project and purchase high-quality raw materials, no matter how much it costs.

Construction of a summer stable and insulation

Summer quarters for horses do not require registration, as they are not permanent buildings. It is easier to build and there are no special requirements.

The most common option for building a summer stable is the frame construction method. Using timber, boards, fasteners and a level, the frame and frame of the room are assembled.

The walls are assembled from lumber using insulation. A wooden floor is being installed. Windows and doors are inserted into the openings.

When laying ceiling and roof beams, take into account the slope to organize drains. The beams are hemmed with a board, a heat-insulating layer is laid on top, and a special film is nailed with a stapler. Plywood with moisture-repellent impregnation is nailed on top. Next, the slate roof is installed.

Levada

Levada is intended for daily walks of horses in the fresh air, exercises and training with them. When constructing it, only safe materials are used. Preference is given to wood.

It is forbidden to use barbed wire or use electric current to fence the levada.

The fence around the pen is erected at least 1.5 m high, with pillars every 1.5-2 m. The locks on the gates should be reliable, but easy to use. The territory of the levada is ideally lined with rubber tiles or a special coating.

Construction of a stable is a necessary undertaking for a horse breeder. The choice of building materials and construction project are discussed at the initial stage. Planning in this process is the key to success. In a well-built room, animals will be comfortable and safe.

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