This new weekly series talks about the details that matter when building or renovating a barn or equestrian facility. It’s a known fact that horses know a million ways to hurt themselves, and our best defense is to share our knowledge on how to keep our friends safe. Our colleague, noted equine facilities designer Holly Matt of Pegasus Design Group, has generously agreed to write this weekly column. Have tips you’d like to share? Send them to [email protected].
Everyone knows that sound. The hooves banging up against a wall, the shavings flying, and the groan of effort. (Ah! Fresh shavings!) Which begs the question: are they safe when they roll in their stall? One of my worst memories is finding a horse right after an innocent roll, with his foot shot through under an unsecured sliding door. As his hoof had gone through, the harder he pulled, the more he snugged the door up tight, clamping around his pastern. Fortunately, there were people in the barn to respond immediately, and there was an exterior door through which we could reach him to help. He was not seriously injured, but you can believe that, had it happened at 1 am, he would have been.
So, let’s discuss the detail that counts, the strength and security of your stall system, most notably, the doors on the stall. Nothing is more dangerous than a sliding door that has only one point of closure at the bottom, or worse, none.
When selecting or upgrading your stall system, choose doors with two points of contact at the bottom corners of the sliding door. And look for a door that locks into place, to stay centered between those points. They should be set such that they don’t provide a hazard when the door is open.
This door by MDBarnmaster is a good example of a secure sliding door, with C channel guides on both corners that secure the door to the stall front. It meets the requirements above, with the added perk of lower level stall ventilation that is so important for your horses respiratory health (and far more secure and safe than a stall guard or chain).
You want a well-thought-out barn that provides the safest, healthiest environment for your horse, but you also want upscale details that sets yours apart from just another barn. The MD Estate Series builds upon the solid, proven modular structure of MDBarnmaster, then adds a personal touch. Things like tongue and groove wood interiors, enhanced exterior options and interlocking Armor Grip roofing are just some of the features that make this a true Estate barn.
