How to Build an Affordable, Amazing Horse Barn

Posted by Kristina Law on Dec 21, 2012 in Main | 1 comment

According to the American Horse Council, there are nearly 9.2 million domesticated horses in the United States, and each one needs a warm, comfortable place to call home. An ideal barn is bright and airy with plenty of space for each horse, but how do you reconcile your animal’s needs with your budgetary restraints? Before starting
construction on your horse barn, there are some questions to consider. What is your budget? Is the potential build site close to a water supply? Building a functional, affordable and amazing horse barn is possible with careful planning, construction and knowing when to splurge and when to cut costs.

Determining Your Budget

When it comes to formulating a realistic budget for your horse barn, it’s all about determining your long-, medium- and short-term costs and needs. For instance, a list of realistic short-term needs should include the cost of lumber, concrete, hardware, lighting fixtures and any other construction necessities. As the years pass and the horses begin to tear up floor boards and Mother Nature does a number on the shingles, you’ll need to have money set aside money for repairs. You might be tempted to take a
“cross that bridge when I come to it” mentality, but this is a mistake. Investing in quality materials and understanding the overall costs of building and maintaining the horse barn must be considered when creating a budget.

Find the Ideal Location

With a budget in place, it’s time to find the best site for your horse barn. Ideally, the site would be close to an access road or your driveway and feature easy accessibility to utility hook-ups. Aside from this, the online publication EquiSearch recommends spending a few hours at the barn’s potential location to determine the wind direction. If the prevailing winds come from the north, consider building a door facing this direction to allow for greater airflow. If a strong wind blows from all four directions, EquiSearch recommends constructing a square building featuring entrances on every side. This way, you can open and close the doors accordingly, which allows for optimum circulation.

Areas That Require More Attention and Money

As with constructing a home or office building, there are certain areas of a horse barn that deserve more attention than others. It’s never wise to skimp on the structure’s size. Each horse stall should be 12 feet by 12 feet or 12 feet by 14 feet, and the aisles between should be 12 to 14 feet wide. Purchasing screen doors is also a consideration if flies are a major concern in the summertime. When it comes to hardware — including latches, locks and hinges — always purchase the highest-quality materials. It might require tweaking your initial budget, but putting extra capital toward a few key components isn’t just an aesthetic or structural necessity, it’s also about the safety and well-being of your horses.

The Importance of Proper Illumination

You may not place much importance on barn lighting, but not properly illuminating your horse’s living space can be detrimental to the animals and the people who care for them. Your veterinarian requires adequate lighting during an examination, especially if the horse is sick. Have you ever tried clipping horses or looking for a groundhog snacking on feed in a poorly lit barn? The list of reasons behind the value of lighting goes on and on, but where do you begin? Natural light is always the best option, but
Mother Nature won’t always satisfy your needs. This is where supplemental lighting comes into play, and there are many options and ways to save money.

While constructing your horse barn, don’t forget to accommodate the needs of humans as well. For instance, installing a bathroom in the barn is a great way to save time during working hours and clean up before heading home. Equip the bathroom with Lutron switches to save on energy bills and help offset the cost of this convenience.

About the Author: Jacob Monroe is a guest blogger and professional equestrian. He is currently helping a colleague save money while constructing his first horse barn.