Building Horse Facilities and Equestrian Spaces

After everything is disassembled, says Mahfouz, the barn can then be moved. "You will have to create a new perimeter foundation, which is 6" wide, 8" deep, and every 12 feet there is a footer channel that goes in," he explains. "Any parts that need to be replaced due to wear and tear can easily be replaced because it is all designed in a modular system."

Temporary Stalls and Barn Structures
If you are not expecting to need permanent structures, or you need stalls that can be easily taken down and reassembled, several stall and barn systems fit that purpose. Chinook Stalls, for example, specializes in temporary and semi-temporary stall and barn assemblies. Often, they rent out large numbers of covered stalls to fairgrounds, or open stalls to large facilities such as convention centers, with large clear-span buildings that are used for everything from car shows to sport expos.

For example, at the Lyons training facility in Parachute, Colo., Chinook Stalls are used in both long, back-to-back covered shed rows, as well as covered breezeway barns, which have a fabric roof overhead and a 10' aisle between two inward-facing stall rows. Chinook, located in <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /?>Canada, both sells and rents the modular stalls/barn setups, which are based off of 10' x 10' stalls.

"The covered stalls and barns are usually bought for permanent or semi-permanent use, for example, if people are renting property," explains company owner Bill Shaw. "Then if they have to move, they can easily take them with them. They also are easy enough to move so they can be moved from pasture to pasture."

Chinook Stalls are made of 1½-inch, 14-gauge high tensile tube, with quarter-inch puck board. This puck board, which is used in hockey rinks, is a high-density plastic. Shaw notes that they have never had a horse kick through the puck board, and the material discourages horses from chewing on it.

The stalls anchor to the ground at regular intervals due to a welded loop every 10 feet that can be attached to an anchor connector appropriate for existing site conditions. Stalls such as these are not appropriate if you are looking for a long-term, totally enclosable barn structure. However, if you are in a warm, temperate climate, or only need them for certain situations, they might be just the ticket due to their modularity and cost effectiveness.

Regardless of what type of barn you build, be sure the structure is compliant and appropriate to the codes in your area, which are influenced by local site-specific elements such as wind, fire, snow, earthquake, and existing soil conditions. It is also advisable to check with design covenants if you live in a development, as there may be certain material or aesthetic restraints.

In the end, flexibility in an equestrian facility often comes down to doing your research to find the best product for the job, while still thinking of how you or another owner might use the operation in the future. It also is wise to get referrals from other horse owners who have been using the products you are contemplating. They will be best suited to give an honest appraisal that has been time-honored.

When it comes to decisions that are driven by budgetary restraints, keep in mind that safety is paramount. It probably will take just one vet bill to offset the difference between a cheaper and a higher quality item.

As David Fillebrown points out, "These are companion animals. If your horse breaks a leg, you have broken a heart - your wife's, your child's, or your own. These are animals that we have come to love."