Horse Farm Facility Design and Management
Vaughn W. Henry & Associates
I have been frequently asked to share perceptions on concepts, facilities and various design ideas I have encountered, so I selected a few slides that made up part of a three hour lecture on horse farm equipment, barn design and management covering both good ideas and errors. This is a collection of images (they are ALL copyrighted) that may be used, with attribution (Vaughn W. Henry & Associates - 2000), for equine and animal science students doing research papers on equine facility design. The images were scanned in 150 dpi resolutions that are higher than that needed for a computer monitor to display properly, but are not in a high resolution format suitable for professional printing. The image size and resolution was a compromise between speed of loading from the web and image quality - clarity needed for college student term papers.
In my opinion, one of the most productive things you can do when touring a horse farm is to look extra closely at their facility. While horses and employees come and go, the farm design and all of its flaws live on. Whether the layout creates or solves problems depends on the way the builders made their ideas work, so learn and adopt other farm's good ideas and avoid making the same mistakes on your own facility. The best question I could ask is, "if you had it to do over again, what would you do differently?". I also make sure I ask the people who actually work on the farm and not just the owner, their perspectives are much different and both are important.
First Impressions
Vistors to a farm see an entrance and get an introductory sense of the farm's purpose and style, those first impressions are often the opening marketing tools to encourage buyers and breeders to consider that the farm is a full service professionally operated facility. While farms are designed to house horses, they are also places that people 
visit and employees labor; so besides function and utility, there is often a sense of accomplishment and history present.
Fencing
In areas where rainfall supports small grass 
paddocks for turn outs, these provide an excellent source of exercise and allow the horse to graze in a more natural environment, in other parts of the country such small paddocks are only useful for exercise unless they are irrigated. Many farms are moving away from the higher maintenance white board fence to a pressure treated black board fence. Aesthetically, it's more pleasing to the eye if the boards are nailed to the outside of the posts, but it's a less secure way to keep horses from pushing the boards away from the posts, thus the use of a vertical board to help secure the horizontal four or five panel fences. Larger pastures may use a wood post and top rail to provide visibility and as a 
framework for a nonclimbable v-mesh fence or rectangular mesh fence that has become more popular with horse owners. Since corners in fences may cause injuries, many farms stipulate their fences be rounded or they build fences so corners are reduced. This no-corner philosophy is good when some individual horses bully less dominant animals, but it does present a problem when horses don't wish to be caught; in that case, a corner is helpful for the staff.
To prevent horses from fighting over fence boundaries, fenced pastures with a "devil's lane" may be built. Wood 
pasture fences are relatively easy to construct, the materials and labor are more commonly found than those for steel pipe fencing, and wood fences don't require a lot of expensive equipment to maintain them. Welded 
pipe fencing requires skilled welders and farms near oil field activity may be able to buy steel pipe reasonably priced, but to reduce the cost of steel pipe fencing, some farms have used steel cable
as a way to confine horses. In closely-confined areas or where there is a lot of traffic, steel cable should not be used as horses may kick through and become trapped in the cable when it twists over a leg (see injury typical of such accidents in cable). In the search for easy to maintain fences, some farms have turned to plastic which offers low maintenance and aesthetic appeal and others have used chain link and galvanized steel pipe as the basis for their fencing. In my experience, this type of fencing is much too light to hold horses in any congested areas, but might be a workable, although expensive solution for larger fields, especially if uninvited children and pets are frequently wandering into horse areas.
In large pastures, simple post and 
wire fences may suffice if there's not a lot of pressure from horses testing the limits. For congested high-density areas, steel pipe fences are durable, easy to paint once built and last a long time. Posts generally should not project above the top rails or halters or neckbands will get caught on them. If posts do project above the top rail, the tops should be 
"orange-peeled" or capped so there are no sharp projections to injure horses. Fences for stallions need to be taller and generally more durable. Not many farms have gone to a high tensile 
wire fence, similar to that used in New Zealand for sheep operations, even though the material costs and erection time are much less than traditional fences. I suspect the lack of visibility and the reluctance to use small gauge wire with electric fence chargers around horses are two principal reasons. Those fences can be quickly erected once the supporting posts are driven into the ground. Portable steel panels are popular because of their price, flexibility and ease of use. Special care should be taken in the purchase of these panels, as there are many ways horses can become trapped and injured. This particular panel might trap a foreleg of a horse that rears and slides a leg along the top surface until it drops down and becomes trapped between two connecting panels. Since there's no way to extract the leg but by lifting, it's nearly impossible for one person to free a trapped horse from one of these pens. When mares and foals are located in the same pasture, a creep feeder is often built to provide access to grain and supplements for foals. This particular model is portable, so its frame is built on skids of welded pipe with steel siding and has entries on four sides that may be adjusted for different sized foals. There is also a feeder built against the back wall. There are special guards around the base of the creep to prevent sharp edges from coming in contact with the horses.
Sheds/Runs
Run in sheds offer shelter to breeding stock and youngsters. This shed is steel on a concrete block foundation offering a good blend of durability and economy. Since horses will gather here frequently for feeding, good drainage is important and the orientation should accommodate the slope of the land and the prevailing winds if shelter from storms and inclement weather is desired. Other farms build sheds of wood and use steel panels for roofing and siding. A good loafing shed offers plenty of access, easy entry for horses and employees. The 
feeders should be protected from the weather and offer a safe way for several horses to eat without fighting.
Pipe runs with hay and grain feeders were under a single shed roof. This is an efficient way to handle broodmares with an artificially controlled light program. Sheds designed efficiently will provide for individualized feeding and care, and will help keep labor expenses minimized, this steel covered structure was built with wood posts and trusses, but it suffered too much damage from horses chewing on the wooden supports, it would have been better to use steel framing where horses have easy access and makes for a better welding surface when pipe fencing is used. In case farms are in cold climates where waterers are subject to freezing, this approach to setting up individual waterers with a frost free hydrant and constant flow waterers makes an excellent way to prevent icing. The stream of water breaks surface tension and is controlled by a petcock valve to keep the water free of ice, excess water is collected through a PVC sewer line connected to perforated pipe in a leach field and the little quantity of water lost to the process is much more economical than running individual circuits with a ground fault interrupt (GFI) and the electricity needed to heat water through a cold winter. The individual hydrant shuts off each waterer not in use, and avoids any chance of freezing inactive lines. One other note when constructing farm facilities, consider building a pad by hauling in dirt so the barn is slightly elevated above the surrounding ground to provide improved drainage. It's much easier to move dirt before a barn is built than afterwards and have to deal with all the buried utility lines that may now be too shallow or even exposed when dirt is removed from around the building. Much of successful facility's construction is infrastructure that remains unseen by most visitors. Simple things like adequate water storage if electric power is lost, stand-by electrical generating capacity, stand pipes and hydrants for fire department use; conduit for phone, computer and electrical cable so new ditches don't have to be dug through driveways and foundations, driveways and gates wide enough to allow large trucks and trailers to enter and turn around, room for expansion that includes properly sized water and power sources, utility areas for feed, bedding and manure disposal, etc., are all often overlooked. Too many times horse owners will scrimp on the functional features to spend money on glitz and finish; it's my contention that the horses don't care much whether the stalls have brass hardware fittings, but do need adequate water during the hottest and coldest times of the year. Farm employees might appreciate the deep pile carpet in the reception area, but they'll be more grateful for a facility that has good flow and is easy to maintain. I'd vote for practical and useful design features any day over luxury items when the budget is limited, and how many farms are built without some limits on expense?
In an effort to reduce labor, other farms will offer individual box stalls with attached pens as an alternative to housing horses inside all day.
Portable individual stalls in a clear span barn. This would require more labor. When using portable pens inside a steel sided barn, make sure the pens are far enough away from the siding that if a horse kicked at a lapped joint where two steel panels overlap that there is no way a leg could penetrate the gap and become trapped between the two sheets of siding. It's best to erect a wood liner panel on the inside of all steel sided building to avoid injuries.
Individual runs and shaded shelters make for easy to use structures on many farms in the southern part of the U.S. The welded steel fence panels are constructed with heavy 2" x 4" openings and are welded to steel pipe frames. Each pen has an independent automatic waterer. Other farms use all pipe construction to confine mares by type and more efficiently manage their needs.
Some barns are steel sided, other have concrete 
block walls with individual runs outside the stalls. Both offer easy maintenance, as steel construction expenses are usually less than concrete or block facilities, since horses can be hard on metal siding at ground level, and occasionally they may be injured by getting a lower leg caught under the edge of the siding if some protective guards aren't installed. I prefer to use concrete or block walls as a base and steel siding above, if steel is going to be used. I personally like concrete block construction in a foaling or isolation barn because of the ability to disinfect it, and this is an important consideration if you rotate a lot of foaling mares through a facility and want to avoid illnesses in your late Spring foals.
Some farms convert existing buildings and use them to house broodmares under artificial light. The aisles in this barn are a little narrow and the design would require more hand labor than desireable. Other farms have a free standing clear span structure and place portable stalls inside for housing mares, again, this approach is very labor intensive.
Stallion Barns
Stallion barns are supposed to showcase the major residents on a breeding farm, and for many farms, all of the revenue is generated by their stallions. That generates concern about protecting their investment from weather, fire, vandalism and the horse's own proclivity for self injury. This stall has a plexi-glass front over the bars to cut down on drafts and contact with the public. Some barns are constructed of stone, block, brick, steel or wood. Material choice is a function of cost, durability, aesthetic appeal and safety. This farm houses no outside mares, standing stallions only, and the farm's 
stallion facility is more park-like with its circular arrangement for stalls surrounding a central courtyard. While the second farm offers visitors a central grassy presentation area to view the stallions and make decisions about bookings. This spread out approach offers the horses an opportunity to see one another, something that many barns don't provide in a conventional stallion barn where too often the horses are isolated. Horses are social animals and many behavioral problems may develop when stallions are completely isolated from other horses, although a few stallion respond better to privacy, it seems more natural to allow for some interaction. Rather than stable a stallion in a confined 100 to 160 square foot stall, a designated paddock with shelter might be a useful and more natural way for farm stallions to be housed.
Safe facilities with adequate room to work and handle their expensive charges should be a primary consideration. Stallion barns need feed and tack storage and there are activities that require a lot of staff involvement, so providing a "people friendly" design is important too. Some facilities have tried an indoor-outdoor type carpet, but durability and ease of cleaning probably make it a less attractive option for most farms. A 
rubberized flooring is an option for a nonskid surface. Stall doors should be at least 42 inches wide and with durable smooth construction, they must safe and easy to open with one hand. If stall doors are hinged, make sure the doors and stall guards swing out and not in, as a cast horse caught against an inward swinging stall door means the door can't be opened. Make sure any latches won't protrude out as the horse exits the stall and cause injuries. If sliding doors are used, make sure the rollers and guards on the floor won't cause injuries.
Breeding Areas
Live cover farms have different needs than those using only artificial insemination. While there's still a need to prepare mares, examine sperm cells and record mares bred, there's also more staff to deal with.
Many farms have opted to build 
steel pipe stocks for breeding and examining horses, as a rule, the managers estimate that such stocks reduce by one or two employees the number needed to run a breeding operation with a large herd of artificially bred mares. Note the slotted drains in the concrete floor for drainage and ease of cleaning. When constructing stocks, keep in mind the occasional horse will get trapped in them, and so have a plan to extricate the horse. Also, pay attention to latches that are easy to operate one handed and open if there's a horse leaning against the swinging door. Since some mares fret when separated from their foals, some stocks have separate compartments for the foals. It allows them to accompany the dam without being underfoot during breeding and examinations. Also, separate holding areas in different barns or pastures in an artificial breeding program means that it's easier to transport the semen than it is to move the mare and foal and risk injury.
Stocks and chutes may be of a free standing design or built into the facility, this pipe structure is hinged and designed to open wide to encourage the mare to enter, and this holding area is designed to hold a number of waiting mares. Most stocks for multiple horses are built 
side by side (note these have a mechanism to allow the sides to swing away if necessary), this facility has stocks that are in tandem with both the front and rear side panels that open to allow for easy ingress and egress. Other stocks are padded and placed in a lab setting for restraint during surgical procedures.
This 
lab and breeding area has concrete block walls, is easy to clean and offers good storage. An area like this should be in a heated barn or in areas not subject to freezing because of the sink's uninsulated water lines; while the cabinets and equipment are convenient for treatments, it is a concern if you're working with unruly horses in such a confined area. Many farms incorporate the breeding and collecting area into one part of a barn to keep traffic localized to one area. Floors need to be surfaced so manure, urine and water don't make the footing slick; unfortunately, good traction generally means the floors are harder to sweep and keep free of debris. Additionally, because of all the traffic, it must be durable, contain no obstructions and be easy to clean after a long day's struggles.
A teaching 
facility offering space for several examinations and breeding, note the grated floor drains in the concrete floor, the electrical outlets, writing desk and water hose attached to the stocks which keeps everything off the floor and away from almost any chance of injury. Not all stocks are constructed of steel pipe; some very old stocks have been made of wood timbers and have been around for a long time. These latches are harder to open if the horse is leaning back against the door, so I'd suggest a different latching mechanism and wood does have a tendency to absorb fluids and odors and is difficult to keep sanitary. Other breeding stocks are hybrids of wood and steel.
This combined breeding facility has a working area near their lab, the extra padding and a more open set of chutes seems to provide adequate restraint if there are experienced handlers, nut it does pose some concerns. While the 
open front and rear is less confining, and it may offer the mare an inviting sense of security, it doesn't provide much protection for the breeding staff. The floor has a nonskid soft surface for improved traction.
The collection area has a phantom (or dummy) with some unique features. It's cut away on the back end and has an extension on the front to keep the stallion from going too far forward. An estrus mare in the chute in front of the dummy may be all the stimulation needed to encourage the stallion to mount the phantom once he has been trained to mount and be collected in this environment. If space is at a premium, some farms install a dummy (these two models are sloped) in areas used for more than one purpose. Try to avoid structures that do too many things at one time, as this 
phantom is a little close to the arena fence if a wreck occurs during the collection process, and dust would certainly be hard to control in this environment. Unless all training activities stop, it might be more of a distraction than many stallions can tolerate when being collected, so my preference is for an isolated collecting facility. It makes the process more consistent and is a better training tool to keep breeding activities segregated from showing and riding. On the other hand, this phantom is well made; it's generously padded and has a durable, washable cover to make cleaning easier. This model does not have a mechanism for changing height and it is built level.
Foaling Barns and Stalls
Steel pipe and 2" x 2" welded steel panels make up the framework for these stalls. Their open design and electric ceiling fans provide good flow through ventilation. Used as a foaling barn it provides good visibility, but shavings can be a little dusty. Barren and maiden mares can be efficiently housed in individual 
pipe stalls with artificial light programs designed to encourage early cycling activity for those early foals. Special areas in a foaling barn might include an incubator room for premature or dysmature foals, with access to oxygen and respirators, observation areas allow attendants the ability to watch a foaling mare without distracting or disrupting the process.
A 
traditional barn with hay storage above the stalls does provide convenience, if the fire hazards are properly addressed. An asphalt aisle makes the traction better than many types of flooring and offers ease of cleaning. The stall fronts have a nice finish and even the sliding door hardware is concealed from view. While an aesthetically pleasing facility, this would require a lot of hand labor. Another view of the traditional stall, this one has chutes from the loft for hay and bedding, and a fire sensor in the ceiling. There is also a sliding guard to cover the window.
Stall fronts can be built of a number of materials and offer a wide degree of fit and personalized finishing touches. Some traditional barns offer good ventilation and an airy, bright 
open appearance. Wood framed stalls and partitions are economical, but not as sanitary as those made of impervious materials, like this precast concrete barn. Any time stalls are used; hand labor will increase the cost of care.
This steel stall door is set inside a concrete block wall, the latch mechanism can be operated with one hand.
Built of concrete block with a wide concrete aisle and overhead passageways make this an easy barn to service, it still requires hand labor with a lot of intensive work. Observation room next to a 
foaling stall. Concrete block barns offer an excellent surface to power wash and disinfect the facilities to avoid contamination among mares. Crash carts, oxygen and supplies should be nearby for foaling mares and newborn foals. A well-organized facility means less time is wasted searching for needed equipment in an emergency. Besides housing horses, some farms cater to guest by showcasing the results of many years of breeding successes.
Labs
This lab has numerous cabinets for supplies and equipment, is separate from the breeding area and equipment should remain clean and dust free. Besides plenty of lockable storage, there should be hot and cold running water, refrigerated storage and adequate space to work. Since labs have a lot of traffic, 
working surfaces should be easily cleaned and disinfected.
Labs require plenty of secure storage for supplies, medications and bulk bandaging materials. They don't have to be fancy, a good working facility is a utility area in the barn, not a place to entertain clients. It should offer a secure area for expensive equipment to avoid damage by being placed near horse traffic.
Therapy
Swimming in an equine rehabilitation facility needs a swimming pool especially designed for horses. When entering the pool, a long sloping approach with few opportunities to refuse entry is important. Swimming therapy allows rehabilitation to occur without putting undue strain on injured legs. Round 
pens are often used for light exercise and as a place to get young horses started, good soft surfaces and a sloping approach will keep footing safe and dry.
A shed-row barn provides the staff an area to hand walk injured horses around the perimeter of the barn in all weather conditions. Stallion exercise facilities can be quite elaborate and some farms even have nice covered exercise areas for resident mares. Other farms have indoor exercise arenas for training and conditioning of younger horses.
Physical Plant
Labor saving techniques have been slowly introduced and adapted to horse farms. While some hand labor is always necessary, any mechanical tools (small skid steer loader) used may be a way to reduce expenses over the long term. There are still farms operating today that have employees clean stalls with hand tools, empty the soiled bedding into a manure basket that's then carried out to a central collecting point where it's is later hand loaded into a wagon and then unloaded with a pitchfork onto a pasture or field. This extra handling is an expense that can not be sustained by most farms. While traditional training farms have extensive hand labor requirements, some may opt for more modern techniques. Bedding and manure are placed in a retaining pit for storage and disposal. Some farms stockpile and sell their bedding for nursery mulching, here's it's loaded mechanically into a semitrailer for transport to a processing plant.
Hay and straw storage probably should be segregated from areas where animals are housed. Besides the obvious fire hazard, there's also an increased level of dust and mold in some barns that may lead to respiratory problems. Exposed wood surfaces eventually will be destroyed by bored horses and if flammable bedding and feed are stored in livestock areas, explosion proof light fixtures and wiring in conduit is strongly recommended. While 
hand labor hasn't been completely eliminated, a separate hay shed does offer a more economical way to protect roughage from the elements and still provide a safe fire zone away from livestock facilities. The use of bulk storage for grain has become more popular as farms buy in quantity to reduce cost and waste. Grain bins with augers reduce labor and allow for more efficient handling of grain and feed products.
Horse 
grooming and washing areas need to be well designed for safety, ease of clean-up, good traction on wet flooring and safety for both the handlers and horses. This second photo of a wash area shows where a portion of the steel siding has separated and exposes a sharp edge; while steel siding is less expensive to use as building material, it won't withstand the wear and tear of a lot of activity and provides an opportunity for injury, especially if the floor is slick. Drain lines that transport a lot of dirt, hair and soap may cause problems with typical sewers and septic tanks; it might be wise to consider building traps and directing the effluent away from small septic tanks.
Scales are an important means to monitor changes in weight, prescribe medications and group horses according to nutritional needs.
Sales arenas have different requirements than training or multi-purpose arenas. Those used solely to 
present and house sales or race horses have a need for easy access and cleaning, but aren't used year round. Training facilities often have walkers and turn out areas to give the employees a chance to work on stalls while the stabled horse receives some restricted exercise. There may be a need for a covered preview area that allows auction buyers a chance to keep an eye on both the horses and the sale activities.
With hired labor an increasingly hard asset to conserve, many farms provide more than just salary to encourage employees to take a vested interest in the farm and its horses. Some farms never do make an effort to upgrade staff living facilities, while others choose to retire them as historical oddities of a bygone era.
Vaughn W. Henry
Henry & Associates
Farm Management Planning Services
Springfield, IL 62703 USA
Phone: (217) 529-1958 or Facsimile: (217) 529-1959
E-mail: VWHenry@aol.com
Last Updated: June 30, 2000
Henry & Associates © 2000
paddocks for turn outs, these provide an excellent source of exercise and allow the horse to graze in a more natural environment, in other parts of the country such small paddocks are only useful for exercise unless they are irrigated. Many farms are moving away from the higher maintenance white board fence to a pressure treated black board fence. Aesthetically, it's more pleasing to the eye if the boards are nailed to the outside of the posts, but it's a less secure way to keep horses from pushing the boards away from the posts, thus the use of a vertical board to help secure the horizontal four or five panel fences. Larger pastures may use a wood post and top rail to provide visibility and as a 
framework for a nonclimbable v-mesh fence or rectangular mesh fence that has become more popular with horse owners. Since corners in fences may cause injuries, many farms stipulate their fences be rounded or they build fences so corners are reduced. This no-corner philosophy is good when some individual horses bully less dominant animals, but it does present a problem when horses don't wish to be caught; in that case, a corner is helpful for the staff.
pasture fences are relatively easy to construct, the materials and labor are more commonly found than those for steel pipe fencing, and wood fences don't require a lot of expensive equipment to maintain them. Welded 
pipe fencing requires skilled welders and farms near oil field activity may be able to buy steel pipe reasonably priced, but to reduce the cost of steel pipe fencing, some farms have used steel cable
as a way to confine horses. In closely-confined areas or where there is a lot of traffic, steel cable should not be used as horses may kick through and become trapped in the cable when it twists over a leg (see injury typical of such accidents in cable). In the search for easy to maintain fences, some farms have turned to plastic which offers low maintenance and aesthetic appeal and others have used chain link and galvanized steel pipe as the basis for their fencing. In my experience, this type of fencing is much too light to hold horses in any congested areas, but might be a workable, although expensive solution for larger fields, especially if uninvited children and pets are frequently wandering into horse areas.
wire fences may suffice if there's not a lot of pressure from horses testing the limits. For congested high-density areas, steel pipe fences are durable, easy to paint once built and last a long time. Posts generally should not project above the top rails or halters or neckbands will get caught on them. If posts do project above the top rail, the tops should be 
"orange-peeled" or capped so there are no sharp projections to injure horses. Fences for stallions need to be taller and generally more durable. Not many farms have gone to a high tensile 
wire fence, similar to that used in New Zealand for sheep operations, even though the material costs and erection time are much less than traditional fences. I suspect the lack of visibility and the reluctance to use small gauge wire with electric fence chargers around horses are two principal reasons. Those fences can be quickly erected once the supporting posts are driven into the ground. Portable steel panels are popular because of their price, flexibility and ease of use. Special care should be taken in the purchase of these panels, as there are many ways horses can become trapped and injured. This particular panel might trap a foreleg of a horse that rears and slides a leg along the top surface until it drops down and becomes trapped between two connecting panels. Since there's no way to extract the leg but by lifting, it's nearly impossible for one person to free a trapped horse from one of these pens. When mares and foals are located in the same pasture, a creep feeder is often built to provide access to grain and supplements for foals. This particular model is portable, so its frame is built on skids of welded pipe with steel siding and has entries on four sides that may be adjusted for different sized foals. There is also a feeder built against the back wall. There are special guards around the base of the creep to prevent sharp edges from coming in contact with the horses.
Run in sheds offer shelter to breeding stock and youngsters. This shed is steel on a concrete block foundation offering a good blend of durability and economy. Since horses will gather here frequently for feeding, good drainage is important and the orientation should accommodate the slope of the land and the prevailing winds if shelter from storms and inclement weather is desired. Other farms build sheds of wood and use steel panels for roofing and siding. A good loafing shed offers plenty of access, easy entry for horses and employees. The 
feeders should be protected from the weather and offer a safe way for several horses to eat without fighting.
Pipe runs with hay and grain feeders were under a single shed roof. This is an efficient way to handle broodmares with an artificially controlled light program. Sheds designed efficiently will provide for individualized feeding and care, and will help keep labor expenses minimized, this steel covered structure was built with wood posts and trusses, but it suffered too much damage from horses chewing on the wooden supports, it would have been better to use steel framing where horses have easy access and makes for a better welding surface when pipe fencing is used. In case farms are in cold climates where waterers are subject to freezing, this approach to setting up individual waterers with a frost free hydrant and constant flow waterers makes an excellent way to prevent icing. The stream of water breaks surface tension and is controlled by a petcock valve to keep the water free of ice, excess water is collected through a PVC sewer line connected to perforated pipe in a leach field and the little quantity of water lost to the process is much more economical than running individual circuits with a ground fault interrupt (GFI) and the electricity needed to heat water through a cold winter. The individual hydrant shuts off each waterer not in use, and avoids any chance of freezing inactive lines. One other note when constructing farm facilities, consider building a pad by hauling in dirt so the barn is slightly elevated above the surrounding ground to provide improved drainage. It's much easier to move dirt before a barn is built than afterwards and have to deal with all the buried utility lines that may now be too shallow or even exposed when dirt is removed from around the building. Much of successful facility's construction is infrastructure that remains unseen by most visitors. Simple things like adequate water storage if electric power is lost, stand-by electrical generating capacity, stand pipes and hydrants for fire department use; conduit for phone, computer and electrical cable so new ditches don't have to be dug through driveways and foundations, driveways and gates wide enough to allow large trucks and trailers to enter and turn around, room for expansion that includes properly sized water and power sources, utility areas for feed, bedding and manure disposal, etc., are all often overlooked. Too many times horse owners will scrimp on the functional features to spend money on glitz and finish; it's my contention that the horses don't care much whether the stalls have brass hardware fittings, but do need adequate water during the hottest and coldest times of the year. Farm employees might appreciate the deep pile carpet in the reception area, but they'll be more grateful for a facility that has good flow and is easy to maintain. I'd vote for practical and useful design features any day over luxury items when the budget is limited, and how many farms are built without some limits on expense?
block walls with individual runs outside the stalls. Both offer easy maintenance, as steel construction expenses are usually less than concrete or block facilities, since horses can be hard on metal siding at ground level, and occasionally they may be injured by getting a lower leg caught under the edge of the siding if some protective guards aren't installed. I prefer to use concrete or block walls as a base and steel siding above, if steel is going to be used. I personally like concrete block construction in a foaling or isolation barn because of the ability to disinfect it, and this is an important consideration if you rotate a lot of foaling mares through a facility and want to avoid illnesses in your late Spring foals.
stallion facility is more park-like with its circular arrangement for stalls surrounding a central courtyard. While the second farm offers visitors a central grassy presentation area to view the stallions and make decisions about bookings. This spread out approach offers the horses an opportunity to see one another, something that many barns don't provide in a conventional stallion barn where too often the horses are isolated. Horses are social animals and many behavioral problems may develop when stallions are completely isolated from other horses, although a few stallion respond better to privacy, it seems more natural to allow for some interaction. Rather than stable a stallion in a confined 100 to 160 square foot stall, a designated paddock with shelter might be a useful and more natural way for farm stallions to be housed.
rubberized flooring is an option for a nonskid surface. Stall doors should be at least 42 inches wide and with durable smooth construction, they must safe and easy to open with one hand. If stall doors are hinged, make sure the doors and stall guards swing out and not in, as a cast horse caught against an inward swinging stall door means the door can't be opened. Make sure any latches won't protrude out as the horse exits the stall and cause injuries. If sliding doors are used, make sure the rollers and guards on the floor won't cause injuries.
steel pipe stocks for breeding and examining horses, as a rule, the managers estimate that such stocks reduce by one or two employees the number needed to run a breeding operation with a large herd of artificially bred mares. Note the slotted drains in the concrete floor for drainage and ease of cleaning. When constructing stocks, keep in mind the occasional horse will get trapped in them, and so have a plan to extricate the horse. Also, pay attention to latches that are easy to operate one handed and open if there's a horse leaning against the swinging door. Since some mares fret when separated from their foals, some stocks have separate compartments for the foals. It allows them to accompany the dam without being underfoot during breeding and examinations. Also, separate holding areas in different barns or pastures in an artificial breeding program means that it's easier to transport the semen than it is to move the mare and foal and risk injury.
side by side (note these have a mechanism to allow the sides to swing away if necessary), this facility has stocks that are in tandem with both the front and rear side panels that open to allow for easy ingress and egress. Other stocks are padded and placed in a lab setting for restraint during surgical procedures.
lab and breeding area has concrete block walls, is easy to clean and offers good storage. An area like this should be in a heated barn or in areas not subject to freezing because of the sink's uninsulated water lines; while the cabinets and equipment are convenient for treatments, it is a concern if you're working with unruly horses in such a confined area. Many farms incorporate the breeding and collecting area into one part of a barn to keep traffic localized to one area. Floors need to be surfaced so manure, urine and water don't make the footing slick; unfortunately, good traction generally means the floors are harder to sweep and keep free of debris. Additionally, because of all the traffic, it must be durable, contain no obstructions and be easy to clean after a long day's struggles.
facility offering space for several examinations and breeding, note the grated floor drains in the concrete floor, the electrical outlets, writing desk and water hose attached to the stocks which keeps everything off the floor and away from almost any chance of injury. Not all stocks are constructed of steel pipe; some very old stocks have been made of wood timbers and have been around for a long time. These latches are harder to open if the horse is leaning back against the door, so I'd suggest a different latching mechanism and wood does have a tendency to absorb fluids and odors and is difficult to keep sanitary. Other breeding stocks are hybrids of wood and steel.
open front and rear is less confining, and it may offer the mare an inviting sense of security, it doesn't provide much protection for the breeding staff. The floor has a nonskid soft surface for improved traction.
The collection area has a phantom (or dummy) with some unique features. It's cut away on the back end and has an extension on the front to keep the stallion from going too far forward. An estrus mare in the chute in front of the dummy may be all the stimulation needed to encourage the stallion to mount the phantom once he has been trained to mount and be collected in this environment. If space is at a premium, some farms install a dummy (these two models are sloped) in areas used for more than one purpose. Try to avoid structures that do too many things at one time, as this 
phantom is a little close to the arena fence if a wreck occurs during the collection process, and dust would certainly be hard to control in this environment. Unless all training activities stop, it might be more of a distraction than many stallions can tolerate when being collected, so my preference is for an isolated collecting facility. It makes the process more consistent and is a better training tool to keep breeding activities segregated from showing and riding. On the other hand, this phantom is well made; it's generously padded and has a durable, washable cover to make cleaning easier. This model does not have a mechanism for changing height and it is built level.
pipe stalls with artificial light programs designed to encourage early cycling activity for those early foals. Special areas in a foaling barn might include an incubator room for premature or dysmature foals, with access to oxygen and respirators, observation areas allow attendants the ability to watch a foaling mare without distracting or disrupting the process.
traditional barn with hay storage above the stalls does provide convenience, if the fire hazards are properly addressed. An asphalt aisle makes the traction better than many types of flooring and offers ease of cleaning. The stall fronts have a nice finish and even the sliding door hardware is concealed from view. While an aesthetically pleasing facility, this would require a lot of hand labor. Another view of the traditional stall, this one has chutes from the loft for hay and bedding, and a fire sensor in the ceiling. There is also a sliding guard to cover the window.
open appearance. Wood framed stalls and partitions are economical, but not as sanitary as those made of impervious materials, like this precast concrete barn. Any time stalls are used; hand labor will increase the cost of care.
foaling stall. Concrete block barns offer an excellent surface to power wash and disinfect the facilities to avoid contamination among mares. Crash carts, oxygen and supplies should be nearby for foaling mares and newborn foals. A well-organized facility means less time is wasted searching for needed equipment in an emergency. Besides housing horses, some farms cater to guest by showcasing the results of many years of breeding successes.
working surfaces should be easily cleaned and disinfected.
pens are often used for light exercise and as a place to get young horses started, good soft surfaces and a sloping approach will keep footing safe and dry.
hand labor hasn't been completely eliminated, a separate hay shed does offer a more economical way to protect roughage from the elements and still provide a safe fire zone away from livestock facilities. The use of bulk storage for grain has become more popular as farms buy in quantity to reduce cost and waste. Grain bins with augers reduce labor and allow for more efficient handling of grain and feed products.
grooming and washing areas need to be well designed for safety, ease of clean-up, good traction on wet flooring and safety for both the handlers and horses. This second photo of a wash area shows where a portion of the steel siding has separated and exposes a sharp edge; while steel siding is less expensive to use as building material, it won't withstand the wear and tear of a lot of activity and provides an opportunity for injury, especially if the floor is slick. Drain lines that transport a lot of dirt, hair and soap may cause problems with typical sewers and septic tanks; it might be wise to consider building traps and directing the effluent away from small septic tanks.
present and house sales or race horses have a need for easy access and cleaning, but aren't used year round. Training facilities often have walkers and turn out areas to give the employees a chance to work on stalls while the stabled horse receives some restricted exercise. There may be a need for a covered preview area that allows auction buyers a chance to keep an eye on both the horses and the sale activities.