The stable is the basic functional unit of a stable or shelter. At first glance, the simple and pleasant stables in private backyards are different from the horse boarding facilities of commercial equestrian clubs, but both provide suitable environments for the horses and staff. When designing stables, the safety of staff and horses should be the main considerations. The convenience of daily work is closely related to good horse care. No matter what kind of management style or requirements there are, a safe stable has the same basic elements. There are many options for stable features, and different choices are related to functionality and cost expenditure.
The height of the horses and the time they spend in the stable each day determine the size of the stable. Larger horses require more space than smaller ponies and can comfortably turn, lie down and stand up in the stable. A 12-foot (approximately 3.6 meters) stable is the standard stable size for horses weighing 1,000 pounds (approximately 453.5 kilograms). In fact, many stable sizes, although slightly smaller than this figure, are still quite successful, but it is not recommended that the length be less than 3 meters. Overall, the length of the stable should be 1.5 times the length of the horse. The longer the time spent in the stable or the more active the horses are, the larger the stable size needs to be. If it is a stable where a mare and a foal live, the barrier between the two stables can be removed. The standard height of the stable partition wall is 8 feet (approximately 2.4 meters). It must not be lower than 7.5 feet (approximately 2.2 meters) to prevent the horse's legs from being higher than the wall when kicking back. Many horses can kick back to a height of up to 7 feet (about 2.1 meters). Although it has long been recommended that the partition walls of stables be 8 feet (about 2.4 meters) high and the width of the door be 4 feet (about 1.2 meters), this size is not common in stables. The dimensions provided by the manufacturer are usually a little over 7 feet (approximately 2.1 meters). This size is actually the actual size for the horse to pass through and is sufficient to ensure the safety of both the rider and the horse.
The design of stable doors with swinging doors and sliding doors is more common, and there are different types of doors in terms of material and structure. The length of the door can be equivalent to the height of the entrance and exit for horses, or a Dutch door divided into two parts (a Dutch door where the upper and lower parts open separately), or half or three quarters of the size of the entrance and exit (this size is more common for steel wire mesh doors).
Swing doors use less hardware, such as durable hinges to prevent the door from sagging. For sliding doors, in addition to the slide track mentioned above, relevant accessories are needed to prevent the door from opening too wide and to prevent the lower part of the door from coming off the track when a horse kicks it.
All doors and door frames should be durable, use safety pins, and have no sharp edges or protruding parts. The design of the horse door should be such that it can be opened with one hand, which will provide convenience for daily work. The position of the door latch should not be accessible to the horse, but it might be interested in learning how to operate it. The design of the Dutch door might cause horses to try to jump out of the stable. Of course, when designing the stable door, there are also other design methods, such as allowing the horse to stick its head out but not allowing it to jump out, and so on.
The lighting in the stable is very important. Good lighting is helpful for daily care and observation of the horses in the stable. The shady areas and poor lighting conditions not only add difficulties to the stable cleaning work, but also affect the observation and care of the horses. In terms of natural lighting, each stable should have at least about 0.4 square meters of Windows. Glass window design requirements: Horses cannot reach. There are two ways to meet the requirements: 1. The window height is more than 2 meters above the ground; 2. Install sturdy guardrails. It is worth noting that resin glass is a good choice for window materials.
In addition, it is recommended to install the lamps in front of or on the side of the stable to reduce the range of light shadows. When horses stand in front of the stable, the shadow caused by the light on the top of the stables corridor can affect the observation of the horses. A 100-watt incandescent lamp can solve this problem.
Rodents (including horses) may bite unprotected wires, which can cause fires. Electrical lines and the like should be kept as far away as possible from horses, children and pets. The relevant line equipment should not be easily accessible to horses and should be at least 2.44 meters above the ground. To further protect the relevant line devices, a shatterproof lampshade can be prepared. Moreover, wherever horses can reach, all the lines should be protected by metal or hard plastic pipes. Metal pipes can be used, but they tend to rust.
Every horse should enjoy fresh air. Opening the stable Windows to promote air circulation is to make the horses' breathing healthier. However, it is not recommended to store hay and bedding on the top of the stable. This is not only because these may pose a fire hazard, but also because hay and rice husks carry dust and allergens, which can affect air circulation.
In the eyes of every horse owner, the ideal way to feed hay varies. If you put the grass directly on the ground, it will mix with the garbage, soil and bedding on the ground. Building a corner apron of concrete in a corner of the stable can minimize the contact between grass and the ground to the lowest extent. The main advantage of laying grass on the ground is that it allows horses to feed in a natural way.
Grass racks, grass bags and grass pouches can lift the grass off the ground. Facilities related to grass must be handled with extreme care to prevent the legs from getting caught on shelves or bags when the horse kicks or lifts from behind. Before choosing which facilities to use, first consider the horse's habits, personality and behavior.
When installing hay racks, hay bags and hay packs, their bottoms should be at the same height as the horse's armor. The grass trellis must not only be sturdy and smooth, but also all its corners must be round.
There is a lot of controversy about the correct way to feed grass. Some horse owners dislike grass bags or grass racks because of the inhalation of grass ash and the unnatural way of feeding. hay manager can be considered to make the horses feed in a more natural way and also reduce the descent of dust. Grass clippings and dust will remain at the bottom. Regular cleaning is sufficient.
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