Polo Barn

Stabling

Horses have been stabled for thousands of years. Horses are flight animals that live on the plains in the wild. Unlike cattle, horses do not seek the protection of forests when threatened. Stabling is a confined environment similar to a forest. Horses can experience stress when closely confined within the limits of four walls. Horses in the wild graze about 16 hours each day. Most stabled horses are fed two meals a day which are eaten quickly.

Most horses adapt well to being stabled. Stables should be a minimum 12 square yards in floor area and at least 8 feet high. They must be kept clean and dry with proper bedding or shavings. Floors should have a roughened finish. Feed and water buckets should be hung so that injuries cannot occur and they can be easily cleaned. Stables can be constructed of brick, concrete blocks, or wooden boarding.

Stables should have plenty of natural light and ventilation and horses should be able to see each other. They are herd animals and should not be kept for hours in a stable without the company of other horses in adjoining stalls. Stabled horses must be fed, watered and exercised at least twice a day.

Mucking Out

It's important to muck out a horse's stall daily. Mucking out a stall is the removal of all solid waste material and wet, soiled bedding. Clean bedding should be added daily. Sawdust, shavings or straw can be used as bedding. Cost, availability, storage and labor determine the best bedding for your barn.

Bedding material should:

• absorb urine,
• comfortable enough for a horse to lie down,
• dust-free,
• provide a secure footing.