If You happen to be a horse lover like me, more than likely you will agree with the idea that horses ought to be treated like part of your family. And on that note, let's talk about finding just the right horse barn floor plans for you.

So whether you happen to be constructing a small horse barn or a great big ole' barn, you should put just as much time and energy into constructing a home for your horse that will be safe comfortable, roomy and pleasant.

Building a high quality barn by spending a bit more money in the beginning will really help to save save money and time in the future. So precisely what factors must you take into consideration and not skimp on when designing your floor plans?

Barn Location

Choose a location on your property which has good water flow and drainage, is close to utilities and easy accessibility for trucks and cars as well as your horse trailer.

Layout

If you are planning on being the main one doing the cleaning feeding grooming and in general taking care of the stalls then try and minimize your work load by thinking carefully about your style and floor plan designs. If you're planning on creating a new kitchen area as an example, you'd plan precisely where you would want to have each and every element you need for making cooking and cleaning convenient. The same rule applies to your barn.

Stall Size

You shouldn't compromise on size. Allow for at least 12'x 12' for a single stall and in most instances even bigger if you are going to stable a mare and her foal.

Feed Room

You will want to keep our feeding area separate because the meal and hay can produce a lot of dust and adds extra work to keep the tack clean. If you're constructing a smaller horse barn you may not have this luxury. If you have to build one area for both feed and tack then do your best to keep the feed on one side and your tack on the other side.

Tack Room

It is always useful to have your tack located right where you're grooming and getting ready to ride so if you can afford to,include a small room or space for your tack. If at all possible add a small window that allows for fresh air circulation. Saddles and bridals are made from leather and can be vulnerable to mold and mildew so some fresh air, ventilation and light may help to minimize this.

Materials

Lumber that's been treated for the foundation of the stalls as well as the basic framework costs a bit more but could save you a lot in the long run as the manure, horse urine and water from cleaning won't rot this area if it has been treated. According to news.google.com there are lots of eco-friendly options available. The rest of the barn could be constructed with plywood or rough cut 10'x12'.

Doors

You want to try to avoid heavy metal doors since they are usually creaky if it's windy and especially if your horse has a tendency of head butting, or likes to kick and play with it. Dutch doors are generally more popular and people like the idea of the horse poking their head over the top of the top portion of the door, but if you plan on always keeping your horses in there all night, I'd personally opt for a single door on hinges.

Airflow

Good air movement is crucial. Buy some good vent style windows, 2 by 2 or even two by four feet and hang them out of reach of your horses. This allows the hot stagnant air to move up and out. For those who are in a very hot climate, you will probably need to install a roof exhaust fan. They don't cost too much, usually around $200 or so.

Light

If you need electric equipment and lighting for the barn, place the lighting at the rear of every stall, high up and out of the way. Windows can do a great job for allowing in natural light and skylights are best. Naturally, you will want to take into consideration the location of the sun and if it is likely to let in extremely strong sunlight at the hottest time of the day, then you'll want to put them in another place.

Floors

I suggest you use ten to eighteen inch gravel around the stall floor. Later on you could buy some rubber mats and place those on top. The perimeters of the stall should have cement to ensure that water can't get in or out and to also stop the horses from digging holes in the corner of the doorway. If you have an aisle then you may want to consider putting in cement with asphalt over the top. Asphalt is significantly less slippery.

The only issue with this is the effort needed to gain the end results you want. While these steps can get you great results and certainly a wonderful barn that your horses will love, the time its gonna take to complete all these steps by yourself can be overwhelming.

The great news is there's an incredibly effective resource that is sure to help!

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