It’s possible to build your own horse stall without having to hire outside help. It will also save you a ton of money. Gather your tools and get ready for hard work! It’ll be worth it, though, because you’ll have a beautiful barn without spending a ton of cash!
The Top 6 DIY Horse Stall Plans
1. DIY 2 Horse Stall by Collins Country
| Materials: | Roof trusses, five 4×4 pieces of wood, plywood or 2×10 boards, choice of roofing material |
| Tools: | Saw, hammer, nails, wood screws, roofing nails |
| Difficulty Level: | Advanced |
This 2-Horse Stall plan is quite advanced, but if you are skilled at building, the result is well worth it. This horse stall is essentially a run-in shed, so it can double as a stall and an outdoor shelter if you need it to. The best part is that you don’t need an existing barn to build it.
The plans are adaptable, so you can size the stalls to your specifications. If you are particularly skilled, this idea could be made much bigger to accommodate as many horses as you want it to.
2. Swing-Out Stall Fronts by The Horse Forum
| Materials: | Wood, gate hinges and latches, screws |
| Tools: | Drill, saw, hammer |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
These swing-out stalls are made entirely from wood. There are no rules for what type of wood you use or the size of the stalls, so you can make them to your desired specifications. The stall fronts are essentially 4-foot gates that install the same way that any fence gate would. With a drill, saw, and a few screws, this is a relatively easy stall project for an existing barn space.
3. Horse Stall Floor DIY by ofhorseandhome
| Materials: | Gravel, rubber stall mats |
| Tools: | Jigsaw, shovel |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
A good stall floor doesn’t just affect how difficult it is to muck out your stalls; it can also affect the health of your horse. Stall floors should be well-cushioned and easy to clean and have good drainage.
You’ll need a dirt surface to start with, which can be covered with tamped gravel. Finish off with rubber stall or trailer matting to make the stall floor easy to hose off.
4. DIY Traditional Wood Horse Stalls by COWGIRL Magazine
| Materials: | Wood planks, screws, stall matting |
| Tools: | Drill, saw |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
This traditional wood stall arrangement incorporates both wood and steel. The steel dividers enable the horses to see one another easily, and since they are relatively short, most horses can also see over the top.
These plans provide a few different options for stall fronts. Our favorite involves using screen doors, so you can easily pop in and out of the stall as needed. Since they are transparent, your horse feels less closed in.
5. DIY Horse Stalls by RAMM Horse Fencing & Stalls
| Materials: | Pre-fabricated stall package, screws |
| Tools: | Drill |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
If you prefer fancier-looking horse stalls, pre-fabricated stalls may be the way to go. They cost more than building them entirely yourself, but they’re fairly easy to install.
6. Shipping Container Horse Barn by Container Auction
| Materials: | Sea Can use shipping container, two steel man gates, screws, bolts |
| Tools: | Drill, saw |
| Difficulty Level: | Advanced |
The shipping container horse barn offers a unique spin on how to re-purpose a Sea Can. You will need great handyman skills to make it happen, but basically, you cut out two portions of the container and replace them with steel main gates to turn it into a barn. You’ll need dividers in the middle if you wish to separate your horses.
We strongly recommend installing some sort of fan or ventilation system in this barn. Shipping containers are designed to be sealed, and there are no environmental controls, so they can get excruciatingly hot in the summertime.
Horse Stall Building Tips
There are a ton of details to keep track of when building standalone horse stalls or run-in shelters. If you are building stalls in an existing barn, it’s a bit easier, but you’ll need to be aware of building codes if you are starting a new structure.
Your first priority should be evaluating your level of building expertise. DIY horse stall projects are no joke, so you need to be aware of what you are capable of and when to call in a professional. Know what you’re getting into before you start.
Things to keep in mind:
- Think long-term. You may only have two horses, so you think that you only need two stalls. But will you always have two? What if you get more in the future? Do the “horse math.” Any true horse person knows that horses have a tendency to multiply.
- Build bigger stalls than you think that you need. This goes for alleyways too. You will never be sorry that you have too much space, but you will regret making things too crowded.
- Consider your stall flooring. Straw and bedding can get expensive, so you may want to consider a mat system for your floor.
- Dedicate a space for tack. If you’re building a stalled horse barn, consider putting in a tack room or an extra stall to store your tack. This area is essential for giving you easy access to the tools that you need.
- Be sure to consider airflow. While lumber and steel will play a major role in your construction, ventilation is just as important. A good ventilation system will keep the outside out and the inside in while cycling fresh air through your stalls. If you’re worried about the lack of heat inside your stalls in the winter, don’t. Well-fed horses generate plenty of heat on their own. As long as they have adequate shelter, they don’t need extra warmth to get through the cold months.
- Don’t store hay in your barn. It’s simply not safe. Hay stored inside horse barns has the ability to spontaneously combust and start a fire. It’s rare but if it happens, it happens quickly. If your hay catches on fire in the same building as your horses, you will have little time to react and get your animals out. Always store your hay outside the barn!
Conclusion
Building your own horse stalls can save you a ton of money, but it’s no easy feat. You will need serious building skills to tackle these DIY plans. If you are confident in your abilities, these projects will give you all the inspiration that you need to build your own horse stalls!
Featured Image Credit: Vova Drozdey, Unsplash
