Once you have taken the decision to replace your existing stable building or you are perhaps designing one for your new property, there will be a few things that you will need to take into consideration.
Most buildings require planning permission unless they are built on skids to make the building mobile. Craig is a AssocRICS qualified surveyor therefore he can take care of all stages from concept to completion.
One of the first most important and exciting decisions is what will the building look like? Are you looking at a steel framed shed that is clad in timber with internal stables infilled with either timber or recycled plastic. Perhaps a timber barn or a stand alone stable block would suit your site better. There are many different cladding options depending on the look you are after and how much you require it to blend into the surrounding landscape. Similarly there are different roofing options again depending on your requirements.
Once you have decided what you are building the next decision is the size and height of the stables. This will obviously depend on the size of your horses bearing in mind you want enough room for them to comfortably lie down. Horses are natural grazers and are used to spending a lot of time out in the fields in the fresh air. When they are stabled we want to make sure that the space they are kept in is as large, light, hygienic and well ventilated as possible.
Ventilation is essential in keeping your horse healthy by providing fresh air. Stable ventilation is achieved in a number of different ways by providing enough openings around the stable block such as stable windows, doors, vents, and other openings so that fresh air can enter, and stale, dusty air can exit. This is important for removing dust spores, stagnant air, and hot air. Windows are the best natural ventilation and are a great way to let the sunlight into your stable.
As a lot of horses spend much more time being stabled in the winter therefore it's essential to make the space as light as possible. We can include clear roof sheets into your building so that there is as much natural light coming in as possible
When it comes to choosing your stable doors, you need to make sure that they are easy to use and work well in the space that you have. We have various stable doors available including swinging and sliding doors with the option of adding in grills. All our doors are made using a galvanized steel frames to ensure that they are strong and safe.
Then you can start adding all the extra things that will save you time each day. Would you like water drinkers, no more carrying buckets or do you like to see how much your horse is drinking everyday? How about feed mangers, useful when you have a bigger yard and lots of horses. Will you have rubber mats, definitely a saving to be made by not having to use as much bedding. The best thing that i personally added to my stables was hay racks. Not only saving time by not filling haynets but i personally feel it is a much more natural position for a horse to eat from.
I know how much stuff i have in my tack room, it is definitively an essential storage space for me. The other thing to factor in is where you are going to put your feed bins. We all know that feed that is lying around is asking for those little mice to invite themselves in for a small
snack! Another consideration is where will you keep your hay, bedding, and tools. Most of what your horse needs should be stored securely in the stable block. With a well thought out design you can have a stable yard that really works for you and provides everything you need in one place. Happy designing!!
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