The world of horse breeding, whether as a professional or an occasional enthusiast, is filled with unique challenges and immense rewards. From sleepless nights awaiting a foal’s arrival to the joy of nurturing a new life, every moment is part of a captivating journey. A crucial element that can significantly impact the safety and well-being of your breeding stock is the design of your horse barn. This article draws on extensive experience in developing horse breeding farms to offer essential tips for designing a barn layout that mitigates risks and promotes a healthy environment for mares and foals.
Stall Size and Configuration for Foaling
A pregnant mare requires ample space to move comfortably, especially during parturition. Once the foal arrives, the need for space doubles. Standard 10×12 or 12×12 foot stalls are often insufficient, increasing the risk of a mare accidentally stepping on her foal, leading to injury. Furthermore, a confined space can make birthing difficult if the mare cannot position herself favorably.
To address this, consider designing your stabling with removable wall partitions. This innovative approach allows you to convert two adjacent stalls into one larger space when needed, providing adequate room for both mare and foal. If your business involves offering mare care and breeding services, a majority of your stalls can be designed with these flexible partitions, reserving fixed configurations for stallions. For those who breed only occasionally, one or two such adaptable stalls may be sufficient.
It’s also important to avoid excessively large stalls. While it might seem counterintuitive, enormous stalls can encourage horses to run and play, which can be dangerous for foals with their developing balance and awareness. The risk of injury increases when a foal cannot quickly move out of the way of an excited mother. Additionally, oversized stalls can pose a safety hazard for caregivers entering the space, as horses have more room to move unexpectedly.
Witnessing foals with leg injuries from being stepped on in cramped, unforgiving stalls made of materials like breezeblock is unfortunately not uncommon. Barn elements that invite disaster include stalls with low walls that foals can get hung up on, grills with excessively large gaps, or walls and doors that leave an opening at the bottom, creating a risk of a tiny hoof becoming trapped.
Kickboards, Grill Design, and Stall Doors
Foals are naturally energetic and prone to exploring their surroundings through rearing and bucking. Therefore, stall walls should be constructed with robust kickboards made from substantial lumber. Grills should be positioned high enough, considering the specific breed, to prevent young, delicate feet from becoming caught. The distance between grill bars should be less than three inches to minimize the chance of injury.
Similarly, stall doors must have no gap at the bottom and be sufficiently high to prevent a young horse or foal from jumping over or getting a hoof trapped at the top. The structural integrity and height of walls and grills are also critical for safely managing stallions, especially when a mare in heat is nearby. All windows should be secured with grills that can be easily removed for cleaning, and screens can help deter flies from entering the stalls.
Sliding stall doors are generally the safest option for interior use. In a center aisle barn design, sliding doors prevent the door from swinging back and potentially hitting a horse’s hip or face, which can be particularly important when leading mares and foals that may be anxious about being separated from each other.
Cohabitation and Additional Breeding Provisions
While housing a mare in season next to a stallion can be stressful, a well-planned barn layout can significantly alleviate these issues. For instance, an L-shaped shedrow barn allows for the separation of mares and stallions at opposite ends of the structure. Training stallions to associate specific halters with breeding time versus routine handling is key to successful cohabitation.
Beyond obvious veterinary supplies like enemas and antiseptic solutions for umbilical cord dipping, ensure adequate storage space for specialized hay and bedding for gestation, parturition, and lactation. If a mare requires blanketing as delivery approaches, avoid blankets with tail or leg straps, as these can pose a serious entanglement risk for the foal.
Mares in late gestation and during lactation have increased nutritional needs. You may need to supplement their diet with higher-quality hay, such as second-cut, which is also more palatable for foals beginning to nibble solid food. Consulting your veterinarian for dietary recommendations is always advisable.
When it comes to bedding, wheat or oat straw is often preferred over shavings for foaling. Straw is less abrasive and less likely to be drawn into the mare’s reproductive tract during birth. However, straw can make rubber mat floors slippery, so switching to pine shavings after foaling is complete can be a prudent measure. It’s important to note that the cleanliness of the stall and the prompt application of antiseptics to the foal’s navel are the most effective ways to prevent navel infections, regardless of bedding type. Be aware that straw can sometimes obscure a foal’s leg when it lies down, increasing the risk of the mare accidentally stepping on it.
Consider incorporating an empty stall in a central, easily accessible location within the barn for convenient storage of supplies. A wooden floor in this area can provide a clean, dry, and easily swept surface, preventing moisture from seeping up from the ground. When selecting straw, prioritize wheat straw, as oat and barley straw can be ingested by horses and potentially cause choke.
Turnout Options and Stallion Collection Areas
Providing exterior doors to stalls with adjacent, foal-safe enclosures allows mares and foals the freedom to come and go as they please. However, this setup may reduce daily handling opportunities for the foal. Consistent handling, including halter and lead rope training, is crucial for a foal’s future training and temperament. Imprint training, a method that involves early handling and desensitization, can be highly beneficial.
If your operation includes stallion breeding, a dedicated, safe, and spacious collection area is essential. This space should be separate from the main barn’s daily activities, located either at the end of the building or in a distinct structure. A small office space equipped for semen evaluation, extender preparation, and laboratory work, complete with refrigeration and storage, can be a valuable addition.
Viewing, Ventilation, and Lighting
While large-scale Thoroughbred operations might utilize octagonal stalls for optimal foal watch from a central point, modern technology offers effective alternatives for smaller breeders. Birthing alarms that ping your phone and live video streams of the birthing stall provide continuous monitoring.
Adequate ventilation and lighting are beneficial for all horses and their caretakers, even in colder months. Soffit venting, ridge vents, gable vents, cupolas, and windows all contribute to excellent airflow. Barn designs like shedrows and High Profile or Monitor barns without lofts naturally promote good air circulation. Shedrow designs also offer the advantage of easy expansion as your operation grows. Ensure your barn is pre-wired for lighting and outlets to accommodate veterinary equipment, fans, and vacuums. Always check with your local code enforcement for necessary permits and requirements.
Prioritizing safety in all aspects of horse housing is paramount. When selecting or designing your new horse barn, don’t hesitate to ask numerous questions about custom options and upgrades that will meet your current and future needs. Flexible design choices, such as easily removable adjacent stall walls, can be invaluable not only for foaling but also for rehabilitating injured or sick horses.
The horse breeding business offers years of profound enjoyment. With careful planning and a focus on safety and functionality, you can create a barn environment that supports the health and well-being of your breeding stock, paving the way for a rewarding and successful career.
