Horse Stall Partitions

Are you designing your barn from scratch or redesigning an existing structure? You may need new horse stall partitions. Good quality partitions play an essential part in keeping horses safe from injury when they’re in their stables. 

However, you can't rush into a purchase. There are several important factors to consider when it comes to buying horse partitions. 

Here are a few key things you need to consider before you select your partitions and begin installation. 

Keeping Horses Safe

The main reason to put up stall partitions is to keep horses separate in the barn, so they do not fight and injure each other. At professional barns, partition protection is especially important because the sport or breeding horses there can be extremely valuable, and treating injuries is a worst-case scenario. 

And, horses are powerful. Their kicks can pack a real punch, so proper fortification to prevent injuries is essential.

Breeds and Temperaments

The tendency to kick out, squeal and chop, rear up, and fight with other horses depends on breeds and temperaments. Highly bred horses like racing or sport horses tend to be more flighty and prone to injury. 

The level of protection needed usually dictates the type of stall partition you will set up. It is useful to consider the barn’s function:

•          Is it mainly recreational, or are valuable sport horses kept there?

•          What kinds of temperaments do the horses at your barn have?

If they are highly strung and prone to injury, partitions that offer more protection are recommended. 

You may also wish to consider the climate of your area. If it gets hot, airy partitions are better, while solid partitions can help keep in warmth in cooler regions. 

Partition Types

There are generally four types of stall partition. These are: 

•          Half grill, half solid wood

•          Full solid

•          Euro-style partial grill

•          One third, partial grill

If there are a lot of valuable horses coming and going from a yard, owners tend to choose solid partitions. This is because horses can still hurt themselves on the grills if trying to socialize with other horses through them. 

On the other hand, hobby yards like to choose partial grills, so the more relaxed horses can still see and interact with each other. 

Dimensions

A stall’s size is typically 12’ x 12’ for a horse of about 1000 pounds. This means your partition will need to be about the same length so that it will fit into the space snugly and safely. The height of the barn is usually between 10’ and 12’. So, you will need to consider if you prefer the grills to be designed to go right up to the ceiling or not. 

It's best to do measurements yourself or get a professional to do so if you do not have your barn’s dimensions on file. You will then avoid getting the wrong partition sizes, saving you a lot of hassle and expenditure.

Costs

The cost of your partitions will depend on the company that makes and installs them. They’re in the range of $700 for 1 to 9 panels. It’s useful to note solid partitions are cheaper than grill partitions. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, every horse owner needs to think carefully about installing horse stall partitions. Factors such as size, partition type, and cost will influence which stall is best for your property. However, a horse's temperament is the biggest influence on the success of your partitions.

We recommend planning plenty of time to decide which partitions you'll purchase before rushing into a commitment.