WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2017-01-04 10:23 AM

We are admidst planning with our contractor for the barn we are building this spring. We are going with a 40x72 pole frame structure, with a 12 ft (side enclosed) lean off the south side. We went with 14ft sidewalls, with raised trusses, to allow a tractor to pull all the way through.  The south side, where they have free access, will have 4ft treated pine kick plates up the wall and on the lean sides. We've decided to install a 12x14 roll up door on each end and each door will have 4 windows in it, to allow more light in. We have a separate door into the tack room, and there will be a sliding door on the south end, under the lean, to allow me to bring the horses into the barn from their corral. We've planned for 6 poly panels on the north side of the barn and two on each end to allow more natural light. We are putting in a 12x16 tack and feed room (concrete floors) and 4, 12x12 Hi Qual stalls, dirt floors, with mats. It's set up to have about a 15ft alley way by the time construction is finished. Not sure yet what I'll do for the alley way flooring..contemplating concrete, covered with mats, but we'll see.  I'll have a 32x40 area in the back to store the bobcat and likely a round bale or two during the winter. I will likely use that area for ground work, round penning, etc. We decided to not insulate at this time. Our horses do pretty good in the winter as long as we can get them out of the wind and keep them dry. To prevent condensation there is a substance that will be sprayed on the steel, while in the factory; I forget what it's called off the top of my head. We have to talk to our electrician about types and where to place the overhead lighting and electrical outlets. So far that is what's in the works. I'm so excited to get started I can barely contain myself.

If anyone wants to suggest good flooring options for the alley and stalls we are most certainly open to suggestions. I live in ND so we have access to pretty much a wide variety of ground that can be taken off our ranch, however sand is the most prevalent in my neck of the woods.
 

hammer_time - 2017-01-06 9:40 AM

I really like the place where I keep my horse and would consider building something similar (with some adjustments). I currently reside in AZ. Heat reduction and airflow is important. The owner has a mare motel setup, but the side walls are cinderblocks. The front and backs of the stalls are panels (built into the cinderblocks). So it feels enclosed, but is still airy and open. We get heavy rains and everyone stays dry but the rain is not usually accompanied with wind. The "barn" is built up quite a bit. There are gutters. I wish there were fans + misters for summertime, and bigger water troughs (not auto waterers). The stalls are 16x16 but 16x32 would be more desirable. He's got a "lean to" on one end of the barn for hay and grain--it's pretty large. And it's accessible for hay delivery. Across from the lean to he's got Waste Managememt dumpsters dig into the ground for manure. He gets it hauled off weekly. The tack room is one of the stalls, just converted of course. But it's in line with the rest of the stalls in the row. Since we're in the desert, a covered area on the other side of the tack room would be nice to saddle up under that way you're not blocking the middle aisle. There's 2 outside wash racks and another hitching post on the other side once the stalls end. I'll attach a sketch. One thing to consider is making a large gate or removeable panel at the end of your stalls so that if you ever needed to excavate or fix your stalls, a tractor can get in and do the work. I'd also make your aisleway wide, ours is at least 14 feet.

sketch obviously not drawn to scale LOL

chasendacash - 2017-01-07 1:29 AM

Mine is 36 x 48, center alley, 12x12 stalls/wash rack/feed room.  4 stalls on east side.  West side is stall (used as hay storage and tool shed), feed room, wash rack, stall.  North opening has a sliding door to close for winter and two short gates to close for summer.   South opening is just one big gate that feeds into pasture.  Overhang on each side.  I park my trailer and tractor under the west side cover and the wash rack is open to that so I can take horses in and out that way straight into the trailer.  I can feed, saddle, hook up, catch the horses, and load up without getting rained on.  I also put an overhang across the front to keep rain out some.

?I love that my feed room is in the middle. 
?I love that my alley is dirt!  And I don't have to sweep it.  That 12x12 wash rack is bad enough.  My previous barn had a concrete alley and I felt like I spent more time sweeping than taking care of my horses.  I can also use my alley for a pen when my horse count gets too high.  I added a gate that I can split the alley into two pens if I need it.  That gate folds back flush with the stalls so it is usually just tied back out of the way.
?I love that the wash rack is in the middle and that all six stalls are only about 12-15 feet away from the water faucet.  (I don't like auto water.)
I love that my stalls are 12x12, not too big, not too small.
?I love that I can open one gate and all my horses walk themselves in and go to their respective stalls to eat.

?I wish I had installed electrical outlets for each stall.
?I wish I had 'windows' I could open along the top of the barn for more ventilation. 
?I wish the top half of the stalls were wire for more ventilation and they could see each other.
?I wish I had built up the building site a lot higher.

?You might notice that I built a barn for up north and cold more than central Texas and summers........  that's OK, I really do love it!

luluwhit - 2017-01-03 7:18 AM We have large plexiglass windows in the east end of our barn on the doors and wish we had them on the west end also.  they let in a ton of natural light and save on electricity. 

Nita - 2017-01-11 9:26 PM

Any preference on which side is better to put your stalls? I'm thinking of putting feed room, bathroom, etc. all on the same side. I'm thinking if I put that stuff along the north wall, it could remain solid, with no windows, and would have better protection from north wind in the winter. But, I don't know if it would make the barn too hot?

Nita - 2017-01-11 11:26 PM Any preference on which side is better to put your stalls? I'm thinking of putting feed room, bathroom, etc. all on the same side. I'm thinking if I put that stuff along the north wall, it could remain solid, with no windows, and would have better protection from north wind in the winter. But, I don't know if it would make the barn too hot?

rodeomom3 - 2017-01-12 5:27 AM

 My north wall is solid to protect from the cold north  wind.  My stalls are on th east and west sides.  The stalls on the west side definitely get hotter but since my barn is open it is not an issue.  There is always a southern breeze in the barn plus I have big fans in every stall -always good air flow.

hammer_time - 2017-01-11 11:34 PM


I would want the airflow. If anything, put them all on the west wall to shade the horses from the setting sun in the afternoon when it's the hottest.

I attached some pics of the dumpster dugout. I think the hole is so big because he was thinking the larger bin would be in there.

Also attached an isle pic just for kicks lol. I'm standing next to the feed room on the right. Tack room is at the end of the stalls on the right also.

Nita - 2017-01-12 8:16 AM


I see now. I was thinking they were low enough that you could dump a wheel barrow in there over the side.

I love that your barn is cinder block. I wish I could do that, but I don't think I'll be able to afford it. I think you get better storm protection with a block barn.