| Running a horse boarding stable properly entails | | | | that horses do not injure themselves if they play |
| managing both horses, people, workers and the | | | | or fight over or between the fencing. Normally |
| stable and can be a daunting task to be done | | | | there is a panel between the two runs. The panel |
| properly. This is one part in a series of articles to | | | | needs to be heavy enough that it does not bend |
| learn how to design a boarding stable using the | | | | or brake if a horse runs into it or gets cast. The |
| Historic Nelson Ranch in Woodland California as an | | | | rails need to be close enough that a horse cannot |
| example. | | | | get its head stuck between the panels. The panels |
| When deciding to open a horse boarding stable | | | | need to be high enough that the horses cannot |
| consider the horse stalls. Stalls can be box or with | | | | get over the top. If you are running a boarding |
| runs and range in size. Standard size is 12 x 12 | | | | facility, a minimum of 5 feet is recommended and |
| and is based on dimensional lumber. Box stalls can | | | | 6 -7 foot is the best. The panels with no climb |
| cost more as they take more shavings as the | | | | built into them are the best, but these are pricey. |
| horses cannot go outside to go to the bathroom. | | | | Stall mats help cushion the horses legs and are a |
| Box stalls need to be cleaned at least once daily | | | | must in box stalls to keep the flooring level. You |
| or twice to keep ammonia from building up. Box | | | | can line the flooring underneath the mats with pea |
| stalls are beneficial for horses being kept in show | | | | gravel and lime. The gravel allows the stall to drain |
| shape and keep their coats from fading in the sun. | | | | and the lime is used to keep the urine smell down |
| Horses in box stalls need to be turned out or | | | | and kill pests. The stall cleaners should level the |
| ridden daily to get the exercise to stay healthy. | | | | mats daily if they shift as they can break down if |
| Stalls with runs need to be organized so that the | | | | they are not level. |
| horses get along and are not fighting. There need | | | | My next article will be about choosing hay and |
| to be adequate barriers between the stalls so | | | | forage for a boarding stable. |