My big horses have outside runs attached to their stalls. The runs are 16'X32' and 24'X32'. The outside runs back up to a dry lot paddock (can be an arena if I groom it) which is about 120' X 60' which is perfect for a small dressage arena. That paddock backs up to what will be our new south pasture!! Doors between the stalls and the runs are standard stall-door size, on rollers and can be locked from the inside. The runs are made of cattle panels, with the cattle panel gates going into the paddock. The horses haven't damaged the back side of the barn, knock wood. I close the doors only if it drops below 10 or 15 at night, or we have a nasty cold wind coming. The horses HATE having the doors closed.
The ponies don't have runs, as their stalls back up to the driveway. That side of the barn was originally an equipment shed and was turned into stalls when I caught pony fever. If I was to do it over again, they would all have outside runs.
I have also closed the door and used the bigger run as a small training area. It's small but I can do some round pen work with the ponies in there in a pinch.
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