Are you pondering whether to build a traditional stable block or an American barn to house your horses and ponies? In this article, we compare them to help you choose.
But first, let’s clarify what they are and how they differ.
An American-style barn is a large, enclosed structure that houses multiple horse stalls and other facilities, like tack rooms, hay stores, and wash bays. They have been designed to protect you and your horses from the elements year-round, be it sun, snow, or rain.
When you enter an American-style barn, you see a wide central aisle running the entire building. You can access each stall and room through this corridor.
A large sliding door is at one end of the corridor; on the other, there is a big vent. This design makes creating airflow and letting fresh air through the building easy.
The American barn layout makes caring for your horses very efficient, as everything you need to feed and groom them is under the same roof.
The main difference between an American barn and traditional stables is the size. American barns are much larger than a stable block.
Horse stables are usually built in linear rows, U-shape, or L-shape. Each stall and room has an external door that opens to the outdoors. Facilities can be incorporated into a stable block or built separately.
So, while you can access all the stalls and rooms inside a barn from inside the building, you need to walk outdoors when moving between the stalls and rooms of a stable block.
While the size of your land area and the number of horses you want to house affects your decision, many factors come into play.
Consider these factors when choosing between an American barn and a block of stables.
How private and secure do you want your equestrian building to be?
American barns can be locked as a single unit. Simply lock the sliding door to keep it secure. Moreover, you can enjoy total privacy while taking care of your horses.
Stables have multiple access points, so you need to lock each stall and room individually, which can take time. People will be able to see you when you move between the stalls and rooms.
How quickly and smoothly do you want to handle horse care tasks?
American barns are designed for efficiency. You can visit, feed, prepare, and groom the horses without stepping out of the building. And you can check on all the animals at the same time, which saves time.
Some modern American barns feature amenities such as automatic waterers and climate control, which help streamline horse care further.
Stables are less convenient. You need to move between stalls and rooms, spending all your time outdoors. This might be more enjoyable in the spring and summer, though.
Do your horses fare better when interacting at all times or when they can have some alone time?
Social interaction is key to a horse’s mental wellbeing. However, horses have different personalities. Some do not get along, while others are shy or nervous.
American barns are designed so horses live in close proximity. They can see, hear, and sometimes even touch each other through stall grids. This boosts social interaction. However, nervous horses might become stressed and anxious.
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Stables provide both personal space and social interaction.
Overall, the stable block life is quieter and more private. However, the animals control how much engagement and stimulation they get. If they look out of the windows or talk grilles, they can see life go by and other horses. If they stay inside, they can enjoy some quiet time.
This setup is especially great for nervous, shy, and territorial horses.
Do you prefer to work outdoors, rain or shine? Or would you rather you and your horses were sheltered from the elements?
American barns offer full weather protection. You are all under one roof once you get back to the barn. So you can perform horse care without getting drenched, frozen, or too hot.
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Stables, on the other hand, have limited weather protection. You will need to work outside in the rain, snow, hail, and heat.
You can lower weather exposure by adding a walkway canopy or central shelter where the horses can be groomed out of the elements. Make sure you extend the roof eaves to provide shelter for them, too.
How big an area can you build on?
American barns have a much larger footprint than horse stables. However, they house all stalls and rooms under one roof. So, they are usually built in a rectangular area.
Traditional stalls are less space-efficient because they are more spread out. You might need to build on an area as big as an American barn for a stable block with multiple stalls and rooms. Except, you could house fewer horses.
How much effort do you want to put into ventilation?
Ample ventilation is critical to horse health, letting dust and moisture out and preventing respiratory issues.
American barns generally offer less ventilation, as they aren’t as open. However, if you design yours well, you will be able to provide your horses with plenty of fresh air.
Ensure each stall has an outdoor-facing window or even a door, and include plenty of ventilation grilles throughout the building. Finally, open the main door at least once a day.
Traditional stables offer constant excellent ventilation and sunlight, as they are very open. Most stalls feature a door and a window, letting in lots of fresh air.
What’s your budget?
Naturally, American barns tend to be more costly. That is because they have a bigger footprint and additional structural requirements. However, when you own several horses, the time saved and the comfort gained can offset the initial price.
Stables are more economical, especially if you build them incrementally in phases, adding new stalls when you have the budget.
How big and tall of a building can you erect? Are you building on residential or agricultural land?
American barns have a higher ridge height, so depending on the classification of your land, you might need to hire an architect to help you obtain planning permission.
As they are shorter, private stables built around your home often fall under permitted development rights.
Make sure this is the case by contacting your Local Planning Authority. Remember that permitted development rights do not apply in “designated lands” such as Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and conservation areas.
Both American barns and traditional stables make for fantastic homes for horses and ponies. Whether you choose one or the other depends on your needs.
If you own a few horses you ride every other day, a stable block is the most cost-effective solution. If, instead, you have multiple horses and have staff to help you look after them, an American barn is more efficient.
At Chart Stables, we build both stable blocks and American barns. You can customise yours with different dimension stalls, a wash bay, a hay store, a tack room, a feed store, windows and doors, as well as your preferred roofing, cladding, and lining materials.
We will provide you with a dedicated, experienced planner who will tailor your equestrian building to your specifications, needs, preferences, and budget.
