new barn plans

[eagles ring farm]

we are planning a 60 x 120 barn

but to have the driving room indoors we have decided on putting the stalls in the center

and having a driving track around the outside walls

any one have this type of set up and do you like it

 

[coopermini]

We were at a facilty in PA a couple years ago where they had stalls on one side and double row stalls in the center and they rode around the center stalls. Certainly was room to drive minis the way the had everything. Not sure how well minis would drive in it but well trained I'm sure no problem. I think now they only rode in there in winter and bad weather as they had several outdoor arenas availble.

Mark

 

[GlacierRidge]

It's a nice way to combine space, but I know a few people who have stalls/indoor all in one and their biggest complaint is the dust. You really have to make sure you have great ventilation for something like that I guess! But I doubt the minis would bring up as much dust as the bigger ones would!

Angie

 

[Miniv]

I've visited a place that had a huge arena. Along each side of the arena there was an aisle and across the aisles were the stalls. The walls around the arena were high enough that they came up to my chest/shoulders, so with minis kicking up dust there probably wasn't much of a problem.

It was actually a neat set up, but there were some details I probably would have done for making stall cleaning easier, etc..... For example, all their stalls were closed in. I would have had "back doors" to the stalls to the outside which would provide access for cleaning, drainage, and also allow for a turn-out area for the horses.

 

[bonloubri]

This thread reminded me of an arena I saw a few years ago. It was round. Not sure of the size but it had stalls around the outside wall with two openings to enter or exit. That left the center to use for working out horses or whatever.

 

[Genie]

When my daughter lived in Redmond, Washington, we saw some fabulous horse facilities in that area.

I really like the sound of yours, with the training area around the perimeter.

Very interesting concept.

Someone mentioned about the dust, and that's something I would have missed thinking about until it was mentioned, so having the track around the outside walls would help that problem.

We have a 90 acre property across the road and there are no buildings there.

I have always thought that a beautiful equestrian centre in the middle of the property with a subdivision around the edge of the property would be an unbelievable concept for the horse lovers of our area.

Doesn't hurt to dream

 

[ThreeCFarm]

For the dust, you could always hose down the dirt before driving. However, I personally don't like the idea of a "track," as I am always making serpentines, small circles, changing direction, etc. I know many people only drive a track and do just fine, but I like my horses to be flexible and responsive, and just driving a track won't produce that.

 

[wcr]

60 x 120 is a perfect size riding arena for a big horse and the minis would require much less. My arena is that size and when I was driving used a lot less than that. When I set up my ranch for the biggies I put a lot of thought and looked at a lot of other ranches before I set it up. I ordered bars as stall dividers for the tops so they weren't confined by solid walls and helped with the air flow during the summer.

Now that I have minis I have given much thought into what I would do differently. When I have horses in the barn they are in solitary confinement because they can't see over the stalls. My idea now and I will put in the terms of the barn you are building, would be to use an end and not put stalls in the middle. I would find it inconvenient to always be walking through the dirt to feed, clean, dragging hoses to water. I am always thinking about new configurations to make it easier. By having stalls near a door would cut down on a lot of needless footwork.

I don't know how you store your hay but having an area on the corner of the arena by the stalls would make it easier to put hay in the barn and it would be right next to the horses.

I have seen, and loved the idea, of buying premade chainlink panels for the stalls that you just bolt together for whatever size stalls you need(bigger for foaling, smaller for stabling). They can see each other, it gives good air ventilation and the best part is, when you don't have horses in the barn you can easily take them down and use the whole arena.

As mentioned before, most of your driving work is turns, serpentines ect. a "track" would only allow mostly straight work. By having stalls on an end, you could put jumps or a trail course in the middle and still allow enough space for turn work. You could use the inhand obstacles to drive through and around giving another dimension to your driving practice.

I don't know how many horses you plan to stall and how often they would be installs but mine love being out in the rain, mud, snow and if I don't have to always be mucking stalls then I am much happier too.

Hope this gave you something to think about.