Safer Stalls

Preventable injuries can be avoided in the stall by following these safety tips from the pros.

- BY KIM MACMILLAN

One of the best ways to show love for your horse or pony is to make sure he has a safe place to live.

Experts Stephanie Simpson, head groom and barn manager for eventer Boyd Martin since 2018, and Bernadette Smith, DVM, assistant professor of Clinical Equine Field Service at University of Pennsylvania’s acclaimed New Bolton Center, share their advice for making a safe, comfortable, and secure stall.

“At the very minimum, a horse’s stall needs to be big enough for him to lie down and get back up with ease,” Stephanie says. “It needs to have hay, water, and ample airflow. Once these things are established, the finer details make a big difference as far as comfort.”

STALL SETUP

Stall size is important. Dr. Smith says the bigger the stall, the less likely the horse is to get stuck upside down (which is called being cast). Also, make sure ceilings and light fixtures are high enough to allow clearance for a rearing horse.

Slow treat feeders help keep a horse engaged and happy in his stall.

“It is nice to have at least a 12-foot by 12-foot stall for most horses, but larger may be even better,” she says. “I would like to have a 4-foot opening in doorways. More than one way to get to a horse if he gets into trouble in a stall is ideal, so two doors, or a door and a window. I actually prefer mesh tops to stalls rather than bars.”