Pole barns make great horse stables thanks to their affordability, adaptability and wider clear span from post-frame construction. While there are a few different styles of pole barn horse stables, the design of tack rooms, horse stall doors and horse barn windows requires just as much planning as the overall horse barn layout.
What is a tack room?
A tack room is where all of the tack is stored inside a horse stable. Riding tack is any equipment that is used to ride a domesticated horse, such as saddles, reins, bridles, saddle racks, halters, bits, etc.
Pole Barn Tack Room Ideas
Some horse barn builders like to combine the tack room and the feed room to save space and money. If you have the space and budget, however, it’s best to keep these rooms separate to protect clean tack from feed dust.
Light
While direct sunlight can dry out your tack faster, windows that let in natural light can help reduce mildewing. Overhead lights are also necessary for the dark early mornings and late evening hours, as well to provide adequate lighting for cleaning and tack maintenance.
Even though tack rooms can be purely functional areas inside a horse barn, they’re also a place to artfully hang beautiful riding accessories, display stud records and showcase prizes or other honors. Special lighting or spotlights can help accentuate your tack room design.
Storage & Counter Space
The tack room is usually the one area that is horse-free in a pole barn stable. You will want plenty of counter space to work and efficient storage – a well-planned tack room has a designated space for everything.
Refrigerator
Many horse medications require refrigeration, so a mini-fridge is a good investment to keep expensive medications from spoiling. If you have the room, a full-sized refrigerator can also store cold food and drinks for workers and riders.
Horse Tack Room Lounge
No matter if your pole barn horse stable is for personal or commercial use, the tack room can be expanded into a comfortable space in which to gather and socialize. Seating areas, televisions and even a full restroom with a shower can elevate a horse tack room from a functional storage space into one that encourages comradery and conversation – and allows you to add your own personal design touch to your horse barn.
Horse Barn Doors
Horse stables require a few different types of pole barn doors. In addition to stall doors, there are also man doors, sliding doors and other options to consider.
Exterior Sliding Horse Barn Doors
Most pole barns have either manual or automatic overhead doors (e.g., garage doors). While these doors are extremely secure, easy to operate and great for moving large vehicles in and out of a pole barn, they may not be ideal horse barn doors. Horses can be easily spooked by loud noises, including the sound of the opening and closing of a metal overhead door.
Sliding doors, however, are much quieter and can be opened and closed right next to a horse without any effect.
Horse Stall Gates
Horse stall gates are the most affordable option for stall doors. Whether you prefer a half gate, a full gate or a full stall gate with a drop-down yoke, this style of horse stall door may help anxious horses feel less “trapped” in their stall.
Sliding Horse Stall Doors
Full sliding horse stall doors provide the opposite comfort for horses who prefer more privacy. Similar to exterior sliding horse barn doors, these doors run on a horizontal track and quietly slide open and closed.
Horse Stall Dutch Doors
Dutch doors for horse barns provide the best of both worlds. Popular for shed row horse barns and for their traditional aesthetic, the top half of Dutch doors swing open while the bottom half stays closed. When both sections are locked in place, a Dutch door acts as a standard man door, allowing for people and horses to enter and exit.
Horse Barn Window Options
A lot of natural light can make the long hours of stable work and horse care feel much more pleasant. Thankfully, there are a number of window options for your pole barn horse stable, including sliding windows, single- or double-hung windows and picture windows.
What are the best windows for horse stables?
Good airflow is vital to keeping horses happy and healthy – and windows can help foster good flow. Horse barn windows should be placed high in the stalls to encourage hot air to exit the barn while protecting horses from direct sunlight in the hot summer months.
So, the best windows for a horse stable are windows that can open – sliding windows, single-hung windows or double-hung windows – placed high above the horse stalls. Picture windows and skylights can be great for letting in a lot of light, however, they must be strategically placed to not trap a lot of heat or expose horses to unrelenting sunlight.
Your Custom Horse Barn Builders
Beehive Buildings has been providing horse lovers in Utah, southern Idaho and southwest Wyoming with the horse barns of their dreams for more than 25 years. If you’re ready to get started on a pole barn horse stable of your own, or if you have any questions for our team of pole barn experts, please request a free quote or contact us today!
