I just built a barn and put up a tiny dry lot paddock and small pasture this year. Mine is like martys, the whole building is 12x24, but I have mine made as 3 8x12 stalls. These stalls are PLENTY big for even my big B horse. I could have done 8x10 and still been in the clear size wise, and I like big stalls. If I were breeding and had to foal out mares, I wouldn't go smaller than 10x12. Funny thing, I only had one horse when I build this barn, I figured, better build bigger in case we make an addition. The third stall was intended for me to store tack, feed, and some hay in.
Well, somehow Im not having to put up another structure for my tack, feed and supplies. We went from one horse to three horses since august. I really suggest getting him a horse friend if you can swing it, a foal around his size so they can run and play. Horses are herd animals, and dont like being without atleast one companion. A lot of people like goats, but Ive never been a fan of them. A while back a forum member had a goat who ate their show horses tail
My barn was built with mostly recycled materials. It took us about two months to "finish" it, although its defiantly still a work in progress. It could have been built much faster if we were using new lumber. All of my 4x4's, 2x4's, and roof rafters were reclaimed from houses that were going to be demolished. I posted ads on craigslist and had someone contact me. Of course, this means we spent weeks pulling nails from wood, scraping spray in insulation out of rafters, etc. My roof is tar paper and that rolled roofing material. That alone cost a couple hundred. I could have never afforded real shingles. Once I save more money, were planning to get that corrugated looking rubber roofing stuff and put over it, so this is just a 1-2 year temporary thing. I also plan to size the 3 sides that arent in my pasture, and put something like T1-11 on the front in the future. I worried the horses would chew the siding, I have some silly horses
It is built on "skids" so technically it is portable, just dont know how we would ever move it. If we built the posts into the ground, we would have been required to have building permits, and would have to pay taxes on it yearly.
I would have to look at all the receipts, but even using mostly recycled materials, we spent around $2,000. I honestly thought it would be under $800 when we started, but I way underestimated. The $2,000 doesnt include things like the french drain we put under it, the stall mats, some of the hardware like stall latches and bucket hooks.
My dividers are 38", I need to measure my stall doors again, but they are right around that size too. I have one horse who CAN jump his door, although he can just reach his head over to look out. I do have dutch doors on the top of my stall doors, but they arent solid, they have an insert that is made of rigid wire "fencing". This way they still get plenty of air, can see outside, but I can close them at night to keep predators out.
Anyway, Ill post a link to my facebook album that has some pictures of my barn in it. The barn wasnt quite finished in these pictures, I just never got around to taking more.
Building a barn
. Anyway, I will let you guys know what we come up with. There will be more questions I am sure.
