Renovation makes happy

Modern horse stables offer social interaction, activity, and exercise. With good ideas and a little skill, even an old stable can be turned into a wellness paradise at an affordable price.

New scientific and research findings are revolutionizing stable construction for horses. Stall housing, in which horses are permanently restrained with a chain or rope, has been deemed unacceptable and prohibited by law. For horses kept individually, a distinction is made between four different types of stalls. While indoor stalls do not allow direct contact with the outside, horses in outdoor stalls at least have the opportunity to look outside with their heads and necks. Paddock stalls allow horses access to the adjoining outdoor area. Exercise stalls are designed so that horses visit different areas several times a day, because drinking, sleeping, and eating are spatially separated. Indoor stalls are no longer considered modern. Window stalls are the minimum, and paddock stalls the standard. In group housing, the trend is moving away from simple group stalls toward exercise stalls with automated feeding. Regular paddock access with social contact with other horses is essential for all housing types. However, because not everyone can immediately consider building a new stall, existing structures need to be optimized. Every horse farm has opportunities to improve the housing conditions in terms of safety and comfort. Depending on the location, condition and age of the buildings, the intended use of the horses, and the farm's financial resources, there are many design options. Sometimes just a few adjustments can help optimize the horses' living space. If the measures are well thought out, both humans and animals benefit from the changes.

Daylight and fresh air for everyone

Where possible, indoor stalls should be converted into window stalls. This brings more light and air into the stable. Ideally, windows should be installed that can be opened fully, allowing the horses to look outside. In addition to improving air quality, they can curiously observe their surroundings. This variety helps prevent behavioral problems caused by boredom, such as cribbing or weaving. In some cases, it is also possible to install doors in the exterior wall to create a passageway to a directly adjacent paddock or run. When making such a change, the drinking system must be checked for frost resistance. If doors and windows have to be closed when there is a risk of frost, the horses have not gained much from the conversion. Using windbreak nets instead of conventional windows sustainably improves the climate in horse stables. There is an unhindered exchange of air between inside and outside, and harmful gases and moisture are removed. In summer, the fine mesh of the nets keeps insects out. Depending on the manufacturer and the chosen mesh color, the net also offers good light transmission. This allows the horses to participate in their surroundings outside the stable. Installing a skylight in the roof brings more daylight into the stable. Electricity bills are reduced because less artificial light is needed to illuminate the stable. It has proven effective to use heat-insulating materials to prevent the stable from overheating in strong sunlight. Skylights that refract the incoming daylight are a good option for evenly illuminating the stable.

Horses need horses

By removing partition walls, individual stall housing can be converted into a loose-stall/group housing system, provided there is permanent access through at least two doorways to a sufficiently spacious run, i.e., at least 150 m2, preferably 200 m2. This allows the horses unrestricted social contact with other horses. If there is only one access to the outside, higher-ranking horses may block it. This then prevents lower-ranking, usually smaller or weaker horses from accessing the outside. If removing the partition walls is not an appropriate solution, redesigning the stall partition walls can improve the situation for the horses. The lower section, usually made of wood, can be provided with small gaps (1-2 cm). This allows for better air circulation near the floor. This improves the air quality for the horses, even when lying down. If there are frequent horse changes in the stable, vertical bars with a clear width of no more than 5 cm are the solution of choice in the upper stall wall. If the clear distance between the bars is too large, this poses a safety risk. The horse can get stuck between them. If the number of horses in the stable remains constant over the long term, half-height partitions without bars have proven to be effective. This gives the horses the opportunity for extensive social contact. Depending on the width of the stable aisle (single-row boxes: width at least 2.50 m, double-row boxes: width at least 3.60 m), the upper front wall on this side of the box can also be left open. This gives the horses a direct view of the stable aisle and allows them to participate in what is happening in their surroundings. In a narrow stable aisle, crossbars in the front can limit the reach of the horse's head in the stable aisle. Compared to box compartments with longitudinal bars, crossbars have the advantage of giving the horses a wider field of vision. A clear distance of 17 cm between the crossbars is recommended.