Horse barns offer wildlife shelter from adverse weather and predators, and often provide a handy source of food and water. Limit the attractions available and you can limit the amount of wildlife cohabiting with the horse.

It is prudent to keep horses and wildlife apart as the latter can transmit diseases such as Rabies, West Nile Disease and Potomac Horse Fever to equines.

Remember it is much easier to prevent wildlife from taking up residence in the barn in the first place, than having to remove its presence once it has set up house.

If in any doubt as to how to safely handle the removal of a species from the environment, always consult a pest control professional. Certain species are protected by law from eradication and require special needs for rehabilitating and re-homing.

Number 1 Attraction ~ Food

It comes as no big surprise that dropped grain from feed buckets, poorly stored grain supplies and stacks of soft 2^nd cut hay offer fine dining delights to a myriad of critters.

Animals big and small can pose a hazard to horses not only through their ability to spread disease. Wildlife visitors can also wreak havoc chewing through wood and metal and digging channels under barn walls and stall floors. From black bears coming out of hibernation to rascally rabbits setting up house in the haystack, the best way to manage the wildlife is by to avoid provision of an available food source for their enjoyment.

In the case of hay storage it is always difficult to limit access to a haystack, especially if hay is stored in a loft space above the stables. If hay is stacked in a stall and the floor is either concrete or compacted stonedust with mats, keeping the stall door closed will help mitigate unwanted visitors. If possible, store your hay supplies a distance away from the horse barn.

To help deter discovery grain storage should be in heavy gauge metal or plastic with sealable (even lockable) lid or cover. Keeping the barn doors closed at night may be necessary to help defray the number of nighttime wildlife visitors. Especially during Spring when critters are looking for places to nest or catch up on their food needs after a long winter sleep.

Photo Credit www.stablestyle.net

The food chain is a necessary component for all life. It is wise to remember that food sources are not just grain and hay in the horse barn. For example, a rodent infestation provides and attractive meal for snakes. You may start off with a minor mouse problem and end up with snakes nesting in the neighborhood.

Don’t forget that garbage left in the barn also invites investigation and consumption by wildlife. Keep the barn free of open garbage containers and don’t leave sugary soda cans/beverages and food leftovers in the barn.

Another food source around the barn is manure. Manure can not only provide a meal treat for wildlife in and around the barn, when piled up it can also be utilized as a living space. The warmth that emanates from within a manure pile make it a particularly attractive abode for snakes and other reptilian species in addition to amphibians.

Manure and compost piles can also attract the attention of mammals such as bears, rats, raccoons, skunks and opossums. It is wise to site manure and compost piles away from the barn for these reasons as well as the possibility a manure/compost pile may catch fire.

Manure spreaders are a good option for recycling this nutritional resource but take care not to spread manure on grazing pastures that are actively being utilized. Manure and pasture management are an important facet of horse keeping.

Number 2 ~ Water

The best way to encourage snakes to visit or mice to inadvertently fall into a water bucket is to set the bucket on the ground. Most barns will hang buckets on the wall at a height suitable for the resident Equus to drink, but this is not ideal for the purposes of deterring wildlife from sharing the water supply.

Birds can perch on the rim of the bucket to drink and if bird nests are built in the barn chicks may even fall into the buckets when learning to fly or if pushed out of the nest.

Photo Credit www.nelsonmfg.com

Automatic watering systems are the preferred way to water horses from the standpoint of prevention of other wildlife ingesting water from the same source.

Cleaning up puddles and spills can also eliminate a handy water supply for wildlife

Provide the Predator

Cats and dogs can be mousers and ratters and can effectively deter and catch a bounty of vermin and other wildlife in and around the barn including snakes. However, it is important to also consider that vermin can transmit diseases to cats and dogs.

Re-homing a cat from a rescue as a farm cat can be an efficient way to keep down the vermin and snake population. Dogs such as terriers and hounds can hunt down their fair share of wildlife fare too.

Be especially diligent about how you manage any other methods of wildlife deterrents if you have a resident ‘predator’ in the barn. Mouse/rat traps or mothballs (these are poisonous) placed in cubbies or small spaces around the barn in an attempt to manage wildlife should not be used around cats and dogs. These products can also pose a hazard to children.

Smart Horse Barn Design and Select Siting Can Help

Horse barn design smarts measure highly in the fight to mitigate the number of myriad migrant wildlife invaders that can spread disease and cause damage at an equine abode.

Here are some useful ideas to consider in your barn building plans (some of which can be added after the horse barn is erected if overlooked at time of construction) that will help deter wildlife:

• Doors should be installed to the ground surface without gaps beneath. This will help deter possums, rabbits and rodents from entering the barn.
• The barn site should be compacted both beneath and around the barn apron area with effective covered drainage methods installed to mitigate standing water and provide a hard surface that will deter digging critters such as woodchucks.
• Site the barn away from standing water such as ponds that will provide a natural attraction to wildlife.
• Flashing or netting around the perimeter of the structure that is buried to 1” below the ground surface can negate animal intruders under the building.
• Site the barn away from foliage such as tree cover and bushes that will harbor wildlife and/or provide an entry way to roofs and soffits. Flying squirrels, chipmunks and raccoons like nothing better than jumping off a bough to a roof.
• Wire mesh or net all soffits, gable vents, roof ridge vents to help defray birds and bats from gaining access to the barn.
• Screen all windows and doors to protect the interior of the building from flying insects. Mosquitoes, pesky flies, biting bugs and stinging insects like bees, wasps and hornets can easily be kept at bay with the inexpensive provision of screens.
• Deter nesting by birds by eliminating any high flat surface. For example, the top surface of a 6”x 6”post is the perfect setting for a swallow nest. The simple addition of a piece of tent shaped or angled wood secured to the top of the post can provide a permanent solution to deter birdlife from nesting.

Be Vigilant 

Don’t doze on the job when it comes to tracking and managing wildlife activity in your horse barn. It is much easier to manage wildlife invaders if you take action the minute you see evidence of intrusion.

Be sure to research non-poisonous options for wildlife management. There are many wildlife management options available and some work better than others. A bevy of online suggestions are available with novel ideas. Some examples include spreading sulphur around the perimeter of a barn to deter snakes and placement of dried potato flakes in piles to attract mice to ingest the dry product that may then die when they cannot locate water.

There are many ‘villainous’ methods of wildlife control. Remember that poisoned critters that go off to die in a barn wall or under a stall or tack room floor can pose a health hazard to horse, human and even to other animals that may ingest them. At best their decay can provide awful aromas for long periods of time.

Good barn management practices such as keeping the barn clean and tidy by sweeping or vacuuming aisles and feed rooms, prompt pick up of spillage of food and water sources and regular emptying of garbage containers can all help keep wildlife away.

Wildlife presence in the horse barn can be effectively managed in a myriad of ways. Don’t be shy to reach out for professional help from your local Dept. Of Agriculture Extension personnel or pest control service.

When it comes to making a choice between a pavilion, pergola or gazebo, the amazing variety of options makes it a truly mind-boggling decision. You can choose to party hearty with an elaborate pavilion that offers flexibility in the size of the gathering and a solid ‘ceiling’ of protection from adverse weather; opt for a garden destination retreat that offers privacy from the prying eyes of neighbors with a graceful gazebo that reflects the peace and quiet of a bygone era; or channel your inner gardener and lounge in a scented wisteria or honeysuckle vined pergola.

Boundless options come with the pergola and pavilion, as size and height can be adjusted to match a roof eave to truly extend indoor/outdoor living, or simply stand alone in a solitary setting to provide an architectural focal point. The gazebo necessarily provides more privacy and the ultimate in shelter from wind, rain showers and glaring sun.

If you prefer a quieter lifestyle and would enjoy a spot to gaze at your garden, converse away from others or seek a spot to retreat to reflect on the day, then the gazebo might be your best choice. The space can easily be screened to remedy any pesky buzzing insects from upsetting your tranquil environment, and it can also be large enough to enclose the perfect dining location.

Size does matter when it comes to seating and set up of a dining space. Ideally any side of the dining table selected would be 36 inches from the side of the structure to allow for people to get up and down from the table and for folks to pass behind them to serve or pass by. Seating wise the rectangular table offers the most seating space, so if choosing a gazebo as a dining location consider how a rectangular shape will fit into the design. Figure that family seating might be comfortable at 20-24 inches apart but for formal occasions a large distance might be better. Oval tables, round tables and the most limited, square tables, are also dining space options.

Obviously with a pergola or pavilion the lack of exterior walls is blessing when it comes to sizing the seating arrangements. But it is prudent to allow enough floor space of the same floor covering that is laid under the structure to surround the table for 36 inches or more all around, to mitigate the likelihood of people tripping up or taking a bad step and falling when coming and going to the space.

While gazebos can be purchased with or without floors, (the latter requiring a 4” concrete pad be poured as a base rather than the usual simple compaction of a gravel surface that is level), the pergola or pavilion will require some sort of stone, gravel, tile, concrete other surface be laid in the interior space, rather than left as grass which will quickly become dusty at best and muddy at worst during high traffic use.

All 3 structures can be purchased as kits and assembled by a handy do-it-yourselfer or bought as kits and delivered and assembled by the manufacturer’s crew. Be careful of companies that employ 3^rd parties for delivery and assembly as they may not be experienced and familiar enough with the product to do a good job of construction on site.

Smaller gazebos offer the opportunity to be shipped assembled and trucked over the road. Utilizing a company that offers its own nationwide delivery and assembly option is a great idea.

You may love to host large family and friend gatherings. Your lifestyle may include a love of cooking and an outdoor kitchen and dining space may be your dream outside living space. The addition of BBQ’s, full outdoor kitchens, hot tubs, swing sets, are all possibilities when you construct a pavilion structure. You can add shade/sun curtains and blinds for the sides, or even metal shutters to secure the space from inclement weather when not in use.

The flexibility of a pavilion means there is shelter from rain showers and the heat of the sun from above, and the area can be set up in advance with buffet style or formal dining that can accommodate larger numbers and variant numbers of people. This makes a pavilion the perfect choice for hosting family events such as weddings, graduations, birthdays and wedding anniversaries as well as holiday get togethers with neighbors and friends.

The Money Factor

The main factor in the decision of which of the 3 options to choose is the matter of cost. As you might expect, in general terms the most budget friendly is the simplest to build, the pergola. Followed by the gazebo with the pavilion option generally being the most expensive. However, there are so many options to choose from in size, style and materials (traditional wood or maintenance free vinyl, shingle or metal roofs) plus add-ons such as cupolas and weathervanes, it is easy to manipulate the price point between the three options to favor the individual’s budget.

A major consideration in the decision-making process should be the planned use of the structure. Remember to consider both your present and possible future lifestyle needs and preferences when making your selection.

Here is a quick look at the pros and cons of each structure:

Gazebo Pros 

• Reasonably budget friendly (when ordered with floor minimal site preparation required)
• Portable (especially useful for varietal placement within a competition jumping area)
• Aesthetic appeal of traditional design
• Full shade and shelter from rain
• Can be screened to provide bug-free environment
• Offers privacy
• Less distraction to horses from the movements from occupants
• Optimal 360-degree view
• Enclosed space secures safe space for children and pets

Gazebo Cons

• Size restriction of the enclosed space limits size of gatherings
• Permanent concrete pad required if ordered without floor
• Hard to keep clean of dust and dirt
• Site must be level and well drained

Pergola Pros

• Cost effective
• Myriad of options regarding size and shape
• Can be built adjacent to existing structures for ease of access
• Offers benefit of ‘green’ living with climbing vines and scented plants
• Can be easily combined with pavilion to extend covered space
• Easy to keep clean
• Minimal site preparation needed

Pergola Cons

• Offers some shade but no protection from rain
• Limited options on roof style
• EZ Shade or some other blind or shade curtain may be needed to defray sun glare on sides
• No protection from pesky bugs – may encourage nesting of wasps/hornets or other unwanted visitors
• No protection from wind
• Must be permanently sited
• Lack of privacy

Pavilion Pros

• Large choice of styles, sizes and roof shapes available
• Superior protection from rain and sun, but not from wind.
• Easy to add cooking fixtures/TVs/hot tubs under cover and easy to clean
• Sides can be sealed with overhead style doors for all season weather protection and security of contents
• Supports multiple size gatherings and pergolas can easily be added to each side for more space
• Effective extension of living space when placed adjacent to existing building’s entry points

Pavilion Cons

• Requires permanent siting
• May require shades or blinds to protect interior from sun glare or driving rain
• No protection from flying bugs or nesting insects
• Generally considered a more expensive option than its counterparts
• Requires careful choice of location in areas where high winds are common and/or additional engineered securing of rafters/roof to supporting members.
• Lack of privacy

Ask A Professional

There are so many variables in the world of outdoor living structures that affect the price. It is wise to resource a professional company that offers a complete selection of all types of structures in a myriad of materials. Don’t be tempted to just buy something you see down the road. It pays dividends to explore all your options and if buying multiple structures a discount is often available.

Here are some of the important factors that Horizon Structures offers:

• High quality builds that utilize first class materials and offer a huge variety of options
• Clear ‘to the penny‘ written quote (not estimate), that includes set up (if not a kit) and delivery
• Clearly written, easy to understand contracts with reasonable deposit requirements
• A specific timeline for delivery
• Informative website that is interactive and quickly provides options
• Friendly customer service that addresses your concerns and offers solutions
• No 3^rd party delivery services/set up. Work with a professional entity that has ‘hands-on’ product knowledge and will both deliver and assemble on site.
• 5 year manufacturer’s warranty
• Good references and unedited/tamed reviews
• Financing options

Remember it is not always the cheapest initial price you find that should dictate the decision-making process. A good quality product that is properly installed will offer better longevity, lower maintenance expenses and more enjoyment than a poorly constructed or conceived structure.

Are the plans for your new horse barn the magnificent creation you envisioned? Did you choose to dress up the interior design of your horse barn with a hard look at hardware options for stall fronts, stable doors and dividers?

Design is about more than creating curved lines and inviting aisleways in light and airy barns. The choice of materials and their construction must be carefully weighed against budget constraints and safety issues and the ergonomics of the space must be front and center in the decision making process.

For example, selection of the right gauge high quality cold rolled steel provides the best option for both safety (due to its innate strength) and clean finish when paint or powder applications are added. The downside is its expense.

The longevity of the beautiful initial appearance should be considered when choosing the materials to be incorporated into the building. Metals should be powder coated/galvanized or otherwise protected from rust. There are choices of pre-galvanized or hot-dip galvanizing methods, powder coating and paint. Know the difference and know what you are buying.

While standard features such as grilled sliding stall doors and kick-boarded walls may come without upgrade fees, the addition of some personal design touches can make your new horse barn a true reflection of your taste and give it a unique feel.

It is a fallacy that modular and prefabricated horse barn manufacturers don’t offer all the high-end style stall fronts, metal work and full customization options that on site construction companies may offer.

Leading modular construction companies encompass a litany of customization options in hardware design and the purchaser can still enjoy the sincere advantage of a ‘to the penny’ quoted bottom line that includes both delivery and set up on a pre-ordained timeline.

In reality the majority of clientele of leading modular horse barn producers opt in for customization of some sort. Metalwork and hardware are key components when it comes to creation of a visually appealing and highly functional horse barn.

While functional and simple designs offer a ‘plain Jane’ option that is affordable, the addition of customization features can truly make the barn unique. Colors, curves and design styles that mix wood and metal can all be blended to create a special feel that individualizes the horse barn.

More Than Just A Pretty Face

Savvy shopping for horse stalls and their design requires diligent research. Stall walls and all barn doors both interior and exterior, take a lot of punishment over the years. For safety’s sake be careful that the materials and construction methods chosen for any aspect of barn building are up to the task, including the weakest points such as latches, hinges and rails.

It is also prudent to look for seamless welds including on all connection points on crosshatch and grilled framework. It is essential that wherever metal is welded together it is compatible. For example, spot welding an aluminum mesh grill or crosshatch sheet to an iron frame on a door will easily break at the weld points if a horse lands a kick on its surface. Such accidents can cause severe injury to the horse.

Stall doors in particular are prone to damage and need to do more than just present a pretty face or façade to the horse barn. Certain styles of mesh and metal materials are not suited to the abuse a 1500 pound animal can bestow upon them.

Mesh, grill or crosshatch gates designed for goats and sheep might suffice as a visual barrier but may not be of a low enough gauge metal or good enough construction method to stand up to an errant kick from a horse as noted above. Styles such as low cut front stall walls may invite equine occupants to lean, rear up over the top of attempt to jump out of the stall.

The bars on all grillwork should be safely distanced to eliminate the possibility of hooves being caught between the space and horses’ not being able to bite or nip each other through the bars. Injuries may otherwise occur such as one horse biting another horse’s tongue or a foal’s tiny hooves becoming hung between bars.

Industry standard is for bars to placed 3” on-center. This allows for a 2 ¼” gap between bars for ¾-inch grills, and 2” gap between bars for 1” grills.

Here are some custom features to consider when designing your new horse barn:

Freestanding Stalls

The self-supporting nature of a freestanding stall makes the design perfect for large width span buildings with multiple aisles or corner stalls at the ends of stall lines.

Many stall designs require the support of the posts and pillars that provide the integral strength to the framework of the building as these components offer substantial capacity to withstand undue force and bear the weight of the doors and walls.

Semi-freestanding stall designs are also available that rely on minimal structural support from framing members.

Front Wall Stall Design Options

Custom arched tops to the front stall wall can lend a European polish to the style of a freestanding stall and can include brass finials, V-Yoke doors, fold up blanket bars all made from heavy tubing.

Low cut stall fronts add even more opportunity for horses to interact with activities in the barn and facilitate great views of the stabled horses for the visitor or caregivers. Be aware that as mentioned above, these front stall walls can allow stabled equine inhabitants too much access to the aisleway in times of excitement or unruly behavior.

Front Stall Door Designs

Sliding stall doors are a popular choice for center aisle barns for good reason. Many manufacturers offer a variety of styles that can feature a wooden “X’ design, a metal “X” design and grilled front stall doors can have a v-yoke option.

V-yoke stall doors with a drop yoke invite the horse to interact more fully with his surroundings. The barn posts may be used to support the modular stall construction. The front stall wall is technically not freestanding in this case as it does require the barn posts to hold it together.

Consider adding feed corner cut-outs in the stall front grille for easy feeding that saves the time required to open and close front stall doors.

All doors should have stops and guides both top and bottom to ensure horses are not able to kick out the door and that sliding doors cannot be run off their tracks.

Substituting hinged doors for sliding doors is also an option, and may be required if you opt for a low cut front stall wall design. Ensure that the quality of the hardware and support structure used for the hinged doors have the capacity to support the weight of the door, especially if the doors are made of wood.

Dividing Walls 

The more mesh/crosshatch or grilled surfaces between horses the better the ventilation and the greater the opportunity for contact both physical and visual for the stabled horses on each side of the wall.

It is wise to consider future use of the barn may include visiting horses, sale horses or horses that simply don’t get along and intimidate each other.

To avoid mealtime stress always place feed rations on the same side of each stall to ensure maximum distance between horses when they are eating.

Quick-take down systems for dividing walls that facilitate doubling up a stall space for use for rehabilitation of a horse, for foaling out mares and for use with mares with foals at foot are also an option.

Other types of partitions such as swinging dividing walls are also sometimes available, but consider carefully how these will operate on a daily basis and how safe they will be for use around horses. If the barn is being utilized as multi-purpose for horses and livestock such as cows, goats or sheep the swinging door option can be very useful for corralling the herd when a caregiver is working alone.

Dividing walls may require additional bracing to prevent warping or damage due to leaning or rubbing on their surfaces by the equine occupant.

Exterior Door Options

Plain wood works well for both stall Dutch doors and barn entry doors but wood by its very nature can be heavy and it requires strong hardware to both hang the doors and support the swing or slide of the doors when opened. There are other options that are more user friendly.

Pressure-treated plywood coated with a panel of galvanized metal that is painted to a color preference is a budget friendly way to introduce color to the barn design.

Doors can also be made of more than one panel and have a tongue and groove beaded aluminum panel that can be made of solid wood rather than a laminate like plywood. A variety of wood choices including exotic woods from a sustainable resource are available.

The use of aluminum alloy can provide a strength equal to steel that requires no maintenance and is a lightweight option that makes the doors easy to operate.

Aluminum doors can be made in any color and offer rust and rot protection. Special hardware is required and should be included with the pre-hung doors.

Many features within the barn can be changed from the ‘usual’ specifications. Always ask if there is a cost saving involved. Changes to barn design do not necessarily cost more money. In fact, some can actually save you money. For example, removing Dutch doors from the exterior stall walls or building an entry door of wood versus having a mullioned glass window incorporated.

If your dream barn build is coming in over budget, don’t be shy to ask where you can save costs.

Door Shape Counts

Door shapes run the gamut from fancy arched entry doors to one-piece sliding entry doors and customizable window designs and panel sizing.

The addition of windows with or without mullions to entry doors provides a great deal of natural light.

Spin The Color Wheel

Most manufacturers will offer a vast array of color options but custom paint and stain choices are also often available.

Don’t be shy to add color to the interior as well as the exterior of a horse barn. Color choices made with the aid of a color wheel help mitigate the chances of making a blunder in the color choice that might be regretted later.

Look for durable finishes for all surfaces that are UV and weather resistant.

Finishing Touches ~ Details Count

Interior designers know that small details that show the property owner’s personality can add much to the enjoyment and appeal of a space.

The addition of hand-polished or lacquered brass finials to the top of posts can provide a beautiful classic touch to the horse stall.

Door latches with extra style such as horseshoe shaped handles can add a neat detail to a line of stall doors. Special twist latches and ‘Houdini’ defeating latches are also something to consider especially if the horse inhabitant of the stall will have access to the stall door latch.

Don’t forget to add a metal chew guard to any wood surface a horse may be able to reach. Gnawed wood is not only unsightly, wood can be ingested by an equine and cause colic or other health issues. Chewable wood corners also invite bad habits such as windsucking and cribbing when a stabled horse becomes stressed or bored. Most modular barn building companies include chew guard with their standard barn designs or charge a small upgrade fee to cover its installation. It is well worth having!

Bridle/halter hooks, tie hooks, fold down blanket bars, saddle racks and hay racks can all be added to improve functionality.

Take Home Message

Don’t be shy to be adventurous when it comes to color palettes and changing up stall styles when it comes to the interior design of a horse barn. Always make your selection based on safety with ergonomic design in mind as a priority.

Design the space with a keen eye to your own preferences but also to the possibility of resale of the property too.

Remember, a barn can quickly become obsolete to service the horse housing needs if some forethought doesn’t go into the design. For example, kids will outgrow ponies and suddenly a 10’ x 10’ stall with no grills and half walls may not be sufficient to safely house a full-size horse.

The stronger the color palette chosen for the barn the higher the likelihood you may tire of the color. Light and dark colors affect the light, feeling of space and atmosphere within the barn significantly. It is well worth reading up on the topic for both interior and exterior color selection.

Did you know horses eyesight is poor when it comes to transitioning between bright light and poor light? Unlike our eyes their vision takes a long time to adjust to significant changes in light. It can take as long as 30 minutes to an hour for the horse to regain his full vision when moving from light to dark environments. This equine visual impediment is why event horses galloping into a shaded forest area to jump an obstacle will have trouble determining distances to the fence or its height. Mounted hunter/jumper riders in the know, collect inside indoor facilities when riding in from outside to compete rather than wait outside if possible, to facilitate their horses having time to adjust to the change in light and see the fences.

In the domesticated horse’s modern lifestyle, a light airy barn makes much sense. The addition of a window to each stall in a horse barn offers your equine partner a room with a view. The benefits of including windows in horse barn design go beyond keeping your horse mentally occupied with the opportunity to see what is going on outside the barn.

Barn windows provide natural light that can save on lighting costs and kill harmful bacteria within the stall. They also offer a valuable resource for passive airflow that can keep horses cooler in hot temperatures and dish up plenty of fresh air to improve the air quality for the horse’s respiratory health.

Fresh air everywhere, can of course be provided by specific horse barn designs such as shedrow barns, a style favored for advanced level performance horses by their astute competitive riders.

Dutch doors that open to the exterior of the horse barn can also improve the quality of life for the stabled horse for some of the same reasons a window offers. Run-in sheds can also incorporate windows in the back wall to improve ventilation and increase light within the interior.

Windows Are a Vital Component of Building Design

Windows also add an aesthetic appeal to the view of the exterior of the horse barn. They can be decorated with window boxes for added color and personal style. Certain herbs can even be planted in window boxes to deter insect activity and provide desirable scents/smells during late evening and early morning hours.

In high profile barns where a loft space is added, windows can be architecturally significant. For example, Palladian style windows (3 segmented arched windows often called a Venetian or Serlian window) placed at the second story level in the gable ends of the structure, can enhance the appearance of the building in addition to providing a valuable light and air resource.

The practice of decorating buildings with windows dates back many centuries. The relief provided from an open space in a wall is shown in drawings as far back in time as in the reliefs in Assyria, Egypt.

Today either translucent plastic or glass, the latter often in 2/3 layers for extra insulation is most common as a cover to the open window space, but in times gone by matting, mica and paper was used.

Windows have long been recognized as an important component of construction for the health of a structure’s occupants. The 1746 British glass tax was a hefty 300% excise tax placed on the value of the glass based on how it was then sold, by its weight. This meant only the wealthy could afford glass windows. Theoretically, the more glass a building displayed the wealthier its owners were deemed to be so large windows quickly established themselves as a ‘must have’ in houses commissioned for construction by the populace in the upper echelons of society. Hence the inclusion of glass conservatories and greenhouses in house construction was prestigious in architectural design during the Victorian era.

Sadly, until the tax was abolished in 1845, the use of glass in cities for low-income housing was limited. The British medical journal The Lancet, even noted the absence of glass in city housing had a deleterious effect on the populations’ health.

“ The deficiency of light in town habitations, in a great measure caused by the enormous cost of glass, is universally admitted to be one of the principal causes of the unhealthiness of cities.”

Thankfully glass tax is not a current issue so window size can be designed for horse barns without consideration for excessive taxation.

The inclusion of a window in each stall is standard when purchasing a modular or prefabricated horse barn, but special window styles or sizing may require an upgrade. On site pole and stick built construction firms may charge extra for each window so be certain to ascertain these extra costs before retaining a construction company for a horse barn build.

What Window Style Works Best in Horse Barns?

Common window styles such as single or double hung windows are not well designed for horse barns. These styles are difficult to open when located behind a grill and are better left to house design rather than horse barn design.

The ideal horse barn window will be easy to open and to clean.

For this reason, picture windows or transom style windows are not favored for use within a stall. Their benefits are that both styles offer a lot of light. Transom windows in particular can provide a lot of natural light when placed along exterior walls of the barn 10’ or more above the height of the stalls in high sided buildings.

However, like any window transoms can quickly become unsightly if not regularly cleaned. If placed high in a building the use of a ladder or long pole window-cleaning product will be required for the task. As vacuums are often used to clean stall windows before glass cleaning begins, high window options should be carefully evaluated.

Skylights above a stall can provide an exceptional quantity of light to the interior of the barn. These must be carefully installed to prevent leaks. Certain manufacturers offer ‘no clean’ glass treatments and provision to open the skylights. The closing and opening of skylights can be an onerous chore.

Within the stall a simple slider window design is a good option. It offers excellent access and is easy to clean with its large area surfaces unimpeded by metal or mullions. The disadvantage is that this style of window must be carefully managed to prevent drafts during winter months, or wind, water and snow entering the stall space during stormy weather.

The jalousie style window offers good ventilation. Airflow can be easily adjusted, and they can be left open during wet weather without the worry of water entering the stall. Additionally, the jalousie style window can also block direct sunlight from entering in the interior space.

However, jalousies offer poor security. The large glass slats are easily removed from the exterior side and are laborious to clean.

Another factor to consider in the choice of window is that of the effects of wind. Casement and awning style windows that open to the exterior of the building with a latch system are prone to damage from high winds and are generally not suitable for horse barn stalls. These styles of windows can also extrude from the exterior wall of the building and pose a hazard to passing equipment, horses and humans.

The Humble Window

The humble window offers a secure method for providing fresh air when the barn is closed for the night especially during cold weather. Grills or bars should obviously be fixed to the interior side of stall windows to protect the glass from damage/breakage occurring as a result of a horse’s antics. Ideally grills or bars should be placed 4” or more from the surface of the glass to safeguard its integrity.

Grills should be substantially constructed and if made of a type of metal prone to moisture damage it should be treated to prevent deterioration from rust.

Remember to consider how windows will be cleaned from the inside when the bars or grills are installed. While it is essential the grills are secure it is also important that they can be easily removed to facilitate cleaning of the glass and removal of the inevitable detritus of dead flies/cobwebs that will accumulate. A spring action lever that allows the entire grill to be dropped down works well. Don’t forget to screen the windows to help prevent the ingress of pesky flies and biting insects.

The interior framing in which a window is installed offers the perfect dining-in option for a bored horse with their 90-degree angle surfaces. The best option to prevent unsightly and possible harmful repercussions to the horse from chewing of the wood or plastic framework of the window is to install metal edging.

Keep Size and Style Selection in Perspective

The size of the stall window must be viewed from both the interior and exterior perspective. Proportionate size windows are essential to the aesthetic of the horse barn.

The windows should generally not be so large to present as a window wall due to the dangers this might present to a 1500-pound horse stabled inside the stall domain. Specially engineered window walled stalls do exist in high-end designer barns and are occasionally constructed in elite yards. The practicality of large glass windows in horse barn construction is generally beyond the budget of most horse owners even if it was desired.

Whatever size window is chosen, the window should be large enough for horse to enjoy the view. Tiny windows will not only look silly they will also serve little purpose.

Window placement at the eye height of the intended equine inhabitant when standing is common practice. Specially designed ‘diddy’ barns for minis, mules, donkeys, goats or other smaller livestock can similarly be constructed with windows at anticipated eye level for the animals housed within the confines of the structure.

Don’t forget at whatever height the windows are installed cleaning them will be a regular ritual. It is also useful though not essential, for the human caregiver to also be able to see out of the window when working in the stall to assess activity outside the barn.

When horse owners contemplate relinquishing control over their precious equines’ care and custody to others, for even a limited period of time, it is inevitable that a certain amount of apprehension will exist.

Commercial horse farm operations are usually staffed with trained equine care givers ready to step in and take over the well-being of horses kept on the property when the barn owner heads out of town. The backyard horsekeeper does not usually have a team of equestrian professionals well-versed in the equine inhabitants and their needs at hand to take over the reins in their absence. Even on a temporary basis.

Here are some tips on how to best set up your horses and their temporary caregiver(s) for success when you need to leave the farm for whatever reason, family emergencies, planned vacations or days away at clinics/competition. While obviously having a family member or trusted friend ‘farm sit’ and stay at your home for the duration of your absence, sometimes that is not possible. This advice is based on my 25+ years of experience owning and operating a small horse breeding farm and dressage yard.

Make A List And Check It Twice

Most things in life go a lot smoother if you have the opportunity to instigate procedures with forward planning. Think of your list as a “Standard Operating Protocol”, an SOP. Simply put this is a set of written instructions that document a repetitive activity or routine with guidelines as to how that task is to be completed.

These guidelines should encompass the regular procedure that will be conducted in a hopefully normal situation and also what to do should the ’situation’ not appear or be ‘normal’. Naturally, with neophyte horse caregivers recognizing what is ‘not normal’ needs to be addressed.

With animal care there is usually a mandated timeline for the activity to be put into action within a 24-hour timeframe. Activities such as grain feeding hours; check in times for visits to the farm to ensure water level status in outside tanks; ensuring appropriate hay supplies are available.

The list will obviously detail emergency contact information for all relevant resources such as veterinarians, fire/EMS and police. Plus an evacuation plan if the property is located in an area of high risk for hurricanes, fires or floods. Also include a provision/contact information for snow removal services if unpredictable winter weather is likely to occur.

Don’t forget to also include on the list your own contact information for emergency or daily check in contact and those of your next of kin in case anything dastardly happens to you while you are absent.

There is truly no better piece of mind than having a caregiver take a quick video of your horses when visits are made and forward it to you via smartphone. These videos are automatically date stamped and give you a quick personal check in and assure you that your caregiver is in attendance on schedule.

This is especially helpful if during travel your access to Wifi may be intermittent. Security cameras may be active on the property and back up automatically at a later time to the ‘cloud’ after temporary Wifi failures. But there is nothing quite as good as knowing first hand that your nominated caregiver has visited in person and provided human contact with the horse(s), even if that video is not viewable until you are in a location where Wifi service is available.

If you expect to be out of WiFi service areas for extended periods of time, consider asking a family member or trusted friend to receive the data transmitted from your farm security system and add as an additional party on the network.

As you become more experienced leaving your horses in the care of others the specifics of your list will change. Adaptations may need to be made for a horse that needs special attention due to age. Whether rambunctious youngsters or senior equines, gestating mares or mares with foals at foot, or injured/chronically ill horses at the farm, many horses will require special attention.

Whatever the routines you expect your caregiver to follow during their visits, ensure your horses are already established in such routines before you leave. This will lessen any stress they may experience due to the absence of you, their primary and known caregiver. Horses take comfort and security from a regular schedule of events. For example, don’t decide on the day you are leaving that now is a good time to switch a horse to a different field or stop graining or bringing the horse in at night.

Don’t be afraid to include a list of Do’s and Don’ts. This list can be an FAQ guide to your wishes and indicate personal preferences that may not readily occur in the mind of even the most trusted friend or relative that knows you well and steps in to help.

Some examples on the Do’s and Don’ts list might be:

• Don’t enter paddocks with turned out horses unless medically necessary
• Don’t move horses from one paddock to another or mix horses from their existing herds
• Don’t offer more feed rations than indicated
• Don’t bring guests to the farm in your absence (especially unsupervised children and dogs off leash)
• Do check the electric fence(s) is working (provide an electric fence tester and show the caregiver how to use it)
• Do check all gates are locked and all fencing intact and all horses present and correct
• Do check all barn/house doors/windows are closed and locked as appropriate

How to Source Caregivers

Reliability and attention to detail are key traits the caregiver should exhibit, and some knowledge of horses is of course helpful. That being said an over zealous horse knowledgeable caregiver that oversteps the instructions with all good intentions, can be at best annoying and at worst end up inadvertently causing problems at the farm.

Make it clear that you don’t want your caregiver to exercise their judgment without checking in with you first if that is an option. The list of possibilities of how a caregiver can overstep is endless: perhaps it is raining and the horses are consequently wet so the caregiver decides to bring them all into the barn, unsettling horses that are used to living outside 24/7; the weather turns colder and the help decided its best to feed the horses a larger ration of grain; the caregiver determines that it would be a good idea to ride a particular horse to keep it exercised.

Make it clear in your SOP that instructions need to be precisely followed, without adaptations based on the help’s personal preferences. Concerns can be usually be addressed by phone.

It is a good idea to have a back up caregiver in place just in case the first choice lets you down at the last minute or for whatever reason (vehicle breakdown/bad weather/illness etc.) and can’t attend.

Personally I have two different people check in on the farm/horses during my absence, at separate times of day. The primary caregiver is responsible for the care of the horses and the second person simply checks the farm is secure and that all looks well. It is a good idea to have both parties meet in advance of your departure, so each knows clearly what their role is during your absence and everyone is on the same page. This avoids confusion and also doubles up the certainty that the horses’ care will be well attended to while you are away.

Options for holiday horse care can be professional sub-contracted pet-sitting services, a family member or friend, a neighbor. Whoever you choose, don’t be shy to check out their references and do a background check if they are not known to you personally.

If you opt for utilizing a professional service, ensure liability insurance is in place to cover their employees while conducting their tasks on your property. The company should provide you with a Certificate of Insurance that names you as an insured, defines policy limits and indicates the coverage is current and in force.

What To Leave Behind

Here is a general list of things to leave behind when you depart from your backyard horse farm. Obviously each situation is different and the list will need some personalization.

• Supplies for fence repairs including tools
• A dry, secure space to house a horse requiring medical treatment (if not leaving access to the barn, consider leaving a key to the building with a trusted person for emergency use. Tack rooms and offices within the barn can always be kept locked with a separate key or system).
• Halters and ropes
• A basic medical kit for horse and human
• Spare blankets
• A spare water hose
• Add trail cams or security cameras if none on site.
• Access to horse trailer/transport if appropriate

Don’t Second Guess Yourself

It is not easy to leave your horses behind when you leave home, but it is also not good to miss out on opportunities for family gatherings/events, relaxing vacations and travel. When you take time out away from horse care and farm duties it provides a chance for you to reboot, recharge and refresh yourself.

The most important thing to leave behind when you head off down the driveway is guilt.

Everything will most likely go smoothly in your absence and if anything does go awry most issues can be easily addressed. In the unlikely event a major trauma occurs know that you have done everything possible to mitigate the chances of it happening and in all likelihood it would have happened anyway.

Thoughtful preparations enable you to relax, knowing you have done all that you can do.