How to Build a Barn for Horses

A big, beautiful new barn is an exciting project. It is a structure that will give your horses shelter from weather and you a comfortable place to care for them. Whether you are building it yourself or having it built for you constructing a horse barn is a big and expensive endeavor. It is a permanent structure that will last for years with proper care and requires a lot of planning to provide you with a building that will be comfortable for your horses, and useful to you.

Things You'll Need

• 4x4s 2x4s 2x6s ¾ inch plywood or metal sheeting for sides ¾ inch plywood, tar paper and shingles, or metal sheeting for roof Roof trusses Stall door hardware kit (available at most farm supply or home improvement stores) Barn door hardware kit (available at most farm supply or home improvement stores)

Instructions

Planning To Ensure The Best Environment

1. Dig corner post holes 6 feet deep for 6x6 support posts. The posts should rise above the ground at least six feet in height. Plant additional support posts every twelve feet in between your corner posts along the length and width of your barn. If you desire more than two stalls and build a barn with stalls on each side of a row allow for a 12 foot aisle way between stalls for ease of cleaning.

2. Nail 2x4 framework to your support posts leaving a 12 foot space on both ends for entry doors.

3. 

   Attach the siding material of your choice (metal or plywood) to the framework on all sides leaving the doorways open.

4. Use the help of one or more extra people to assist you in hoisting the roof trusses into place on the supporting posts and attach. Nail 2x4 planks between each roof truss every two feet from top to bottom for maximum roof support. Attach the roofing material of your choice (metal or plywood). If you use plywood cover with tar paper and shingle for weather resistance.

5. Mark the corner posts for your 12x12 stalls and sink corner posts down the aisle of your barn for the number of stalls you have planned (using the main barn supports along the sides for rear stall braces.

6. Attach 2x6 planks to the sides and rear stall walls to a height of at least six feet to prevent stall occupants from fighting one another. On the front stall wall plant a door support 4x4 four feet in from one corner post for a door and attach 2x6 planks from the opposite corner post to the stall support post to a height of at least four feet in height to allow your horse to be able to look out from their stall into the aisle.

7. 

   Using your stall hardware kit build your stall door and attach all accompanying hardware to your stall from a 2x6 plank hung from corner to corner across the top of the stall.

8. Using your barn door hardware kit assemble the doors and use accompanying hardware to hang from the upper roof truss support.

Tips & Warnings

• Give your horses room to move in their stalls. The average stall is 10x10 and most breeds will be comfortable in them. Don't shave corners by installing 8x8 stalls even if you own smaller horses. You will never be able to own a larger horse if you do and it cuts your resale potential. Larger breeds are more comfortable in 12x12 stalls and if breeding is in your agenda incorporate removable dividing walls into your plans so that you can create foaling stalls from two units.