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Veteran
Posts: 118
| We are in the process of building a new 8 stall barn. The stalls will all have individual runs attached to them so the horses will not be confined to just the stalls themselves. I am wanting opinions on the best stall flooring (runs will be sand). I have looked into multiple options and cannot come to a decision yet, some are cheap and some are pricey. This is our dream barn and I want to do it right the first time. Our main concerns are keeping ammonia fumes out, ease of cleaning (8 stalls) and of course comfort for the horses. Any and all suggestions are welcome! |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
   
Location: South Georgia | Growing up, we had a barn with wood floors in the stalls. When they built it, they graded the stall area 8" lower than the rest of the barn and filled it with pea gravel. Then, they build a deck-type of frame and topped it with 2x6's laid with a 1/4" slot between the boards. The stalls were topped with shavings. Easy as can be to clean. Less waste of shavings because they didn't get ground into the dirt like they do in clay stalls. No smell. No ruts and holes that would have to be leveled out every so often. It was the easiest, no maintenance barn I have ever had. We had gotten the idea from a Morgan barn I rode at as a child. It's my favorite type of stall.
Here's a thorough article I just found:
https://extension.psu.edu/horse-stable-flooring-materials-and-drainage
Edited by horsegirl 2018-02-26 11:52 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Duvall, WA | The best thing you can do in that kind of setup IMO is make it so you have to use little or no bedding. Not only does that save a ton of money but the horses end up going out in their pens to potty so it is way less work! I would put crushed rock down, level and tamp and cover with stall matts. |
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Veteran
Posts: 118
| NipntuckLR - 2018-02-26 11:33 AM
The best thing you can do in that kind of setup IMO is make it so you have to use little or no bedding. Not only does that save a ton of money but the horses end up going out in their pens to potty so it is way less work! I would put crushed rock down, level and tamp and cover with stall matts.
This is one option we were considering, thanks! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | I have Humane Loktuff mats in my 12x12 stalls. I also have 12x36 sand runs out the back of each stall. They will poop in their stalls which is easy enough to scoop up with a shovel. And they quickly learn to pee out in the sand runs. This also allows for a nice, clean, dry area keep to keep them clean while they dry after a bath, keep their feet dry if you are having to medicate, and yet you can still leave the back stall door open for them to lay down in the soft sand. If I just absolutely have to keep one confined to the 12x12 stall I will put shavings down. The mats are great, horses can eat up any feed they drop on the floor and there is very little to no hay waste. They will drag sand into the stall but I just sweep them out or use a leaf blower to blow it out. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 747
| I wish we had runs off of our stalls! But since we don't all of our horses get turned out and exercised while their stall is being cleaned daily. Our barn is 20+ years old but our stalls are backed dirt, with a layer of tamped sand on top of that, with rubber mats over that. The natural ground is a good base, and the sand and mats add some cushion. We also bed them down with shavings that we get in bulk from the local mill. Years and years ago we had a horse that could get their stall super wet, and then we had something we called 'stall dry' to sprinkle under the shavings in the stall to eliminate odor and whatnot. But, we haven't had to use any of that for a long time. Our horses are pretty good about keeping the mats level, which makes cleaning really easy. Every once in a while a mat will get worn out and we just pull it out, level under it with sand, and put a new one in. Our horses seem happy with it! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1520
Location: Illinois | I've always dug my stalls down about 6" and laid a flooring system down like a deck. 4x4s in the ground and decking on top. Gravel or rock under the decking. Then cut the mats to fit the floor and screw them to the decking. Seal the mats together with caulk and to the wall edges with caulk. It's virtually waterproof and its always level. Around here it costs about $300 per stall to do but in the long haul it's well worth it. Holds up forever and only maintenance is just touch up the caulk every couple years if you notice peeling. |
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Veteran
Posts: 118
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 Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | I have this, and while its a bit of a pain to install I have saved on bedding over the years. As for the smell I sprinkle some lime down once a week and it helps if it gets too bad but as long as they have airflow and are kept clean it's good.
https://www.systemfence.com/product/00/07-SC10X12/K-Stable-Comfort-1... |
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Veteran
Posts: 234
| one of our local vets built a new facility 4 years ago and ended up putting a different flooring in about every 6 to 8 months finally the 4th attempt is what worked best for them. They put in the wood flooring as described above and love it. They are using paper shavings now also as they decompose faster |
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