How to Build a 4 Stall Horse Barn

4 stall barn

Owning horses is a fulfilling experience that requires dedication, time and a lot of money. Horses do not need a fancy barn, but often horse owners enjoy supplying their animals with top-of-the-line housing and the latest in equine gadgetry. If you are a horse owner who takes the time and expense to show your horses in competition, it is a necessity to have stalls. Horses that need to stay in show condition must be protected from sun, elements, parasites and other horses; they often have to spend large amounts of time stalled.

Things You'll Need

• Cement
• 4-by-4 lumber pieces, 12 to 15 feet long
• 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 lumber, 10 to 12 feet long
• Saw
• Drill
• Hammer
• Nails
• Sand
• Hardware for doors
• Screws
• Roofing nails
• Aluminum siding

Instructions

1. Plan your barn carefully. Design it yourself on paper or buy pre-made plans. Barn kits are also available, and can be a perfect choice if you want a quick install or a do-it-yourself choice. Plan for your stalls to be about 12 by 12 feet, as this is the standard box stall size and is comfortable for the horse.

2. Choose a building site. It should a well-drained area of your pasture and will need to be raised at least 12 inches higher than the surrounding ground by bringing in sand. In the case of a higher-cost barn, you can pay to have this brought in by the truckload.

3. Set your corner stakes, which will allow you to keep your lines straight for your barn. Mark the corners with paint in preparation for digging the corner posts, and then dig the post holes at least 24 inches deep. Set your 4-by-4 posts in the corner holes and cement them. Allow the cement to cure for at least 72 hours. Make sure your posts are long enough to give you a roof that is at least 10 feet high. If you are going to have a cement aisle in your barn, this is where you will have your cement poured and leveled.

4. Create the frame with your lumber, or in the case of a barn kit, erect your frame. You will need at the minimum, a base board, a mid level board and a roof board. Fill in the base board to the middle frame board with lumber or plywood to a height of at least 4 feet. This will keep the horses from kicking through the siding of your barn. Once you have filled in your framework with lumber or plywood, side your barn with aluminum siding or other material, such as lumber or plywood. If you choose wood as a cover for your barn, you will need to paint it to protect it from wood rot.

5. Roof your barn. The roof can be flat, which is the simplest type of framework, or it can be at an angle. Barn kits will almost always have an angled roof. Whichever roof you choose, create the framework carefully, using 2-by-4 boards every 2 feet, to make it as strong as possible. It will need to withstand all the forces of weather, wind and time. Once you have created the framework, cover it with aluminum roof slats. If you use lumber, cover it with tar paper and shingles to prevent wood rot. Use your roofing nails for this step to make certain the siding is secured to the framework.

6. Build your inside stalls. The same type of framework you used on the barn will be needed here: a baseboard, middle board and top board, which is then filled in with lumber or plywood to prevent the horses from kicking through.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the time to pre-plan carefully. It can save you a lot of time and heartbreak later.