Key considerations when buying a new stable.

Are you thinking of building a new stable on your yard? Building a stable requires careful planning and consideration of a whole variety of factors to ensure your build meets the needs of the caregivers, horses and overall operation of your yard. You need to consider how many horses you will be housing and the utility rooms you would like to include.

Location

The first step to buying a new stable is deciding on the location and size of your new build. When picking a location you need to consider the accessibility, drainage and utilities of your site. A stable needs to be easily accessible for deliveries or waste collection, for visitors such as the farrier or vet and also in case of emergency.

Planning Permission

When considering a building you will likely need to get planning permission. As a brief overview, for all stables and American barns you will most likely need planning permission meanwhile in most circumstances you will not need planning permission for our mobile field shelter or our mobile stables. Please see here for more information on planning permission.

Factors to Consider

Staying dry – It is crucial to ensure that your stable is watertight. You will need a secure roof, we use onduline corrugated roofs with a life expectancy of 12 years with overhang to keep those who like to keep their heads out over the door dry and protected. We offer optional guttering on all our build and all our exterior walls are lined internally with 18mm moisture resistant particle kickboards.

Lighting – Natural light is essential for horses to thrive. It regulates their circadian rhythm, provides them with vitamin D for their bone health and calcium absorption and also for their mental and behavioural health, reduces stress and promotes natural behaviour. Including plenty of windows, keeping top stable doors open and using clear roof sheets is one way of improving the natural lighting.

Ventilation – It is important to use sufficiently sized windows and stable doors, a high roof and plenty of vents to ensure your stable is appropriately ventilated as stale air and dust can cause several health issues for your horse. As a standard we offer mesh windows however you are able to upgrade to metal bars in window to improve airflow as well as the option to upgrade to a six blade Louvre window with the option to control ventilation. All trusses above partition walls are left open to further increase the ventilation. Roof sheets allow full ventilation to all eaves and ridges. Managing ventilation in your stable is also a great way to control your horse’s temperature.

Safety and Hygiene – You will need enough space for your horse for to lie down and turn around with no difficulty, click here for the BHS recommendations on stable sizing. All our materials are safe and easy to clean, we use Perspex windows rather than glass to prevent shattering and also we include kickboards that don’t splinter to reduce chance of injury. 

Companionship – Horses are herd animals therefore it is important for them to be able to see and ‘communicate’ with one another. For horses who spend the majority of the time in a stable, it is beneficial for their mental health to engage with and watch other horses and yard activities. Including talk grills between boxes is a great way to allow horses to feel safe and involved.

At Ashcraft we have meticulously considered these factors in our stable designs, ensuring safety and sustainability throughout our projects. This comprehensive approach allows you to focus on what matters most, your horses, without worrying about the stability and functionality of your stable. By utilizing our expertly crafted solutions, you can create a stable that meets all your needs and provides a safe and comfortable environment for your horses.

For further information, please view https://www.bhs.org.uk/horse-care-and-welfare/health-care-management/stable-safety/