Horse Barn Design Influences Horse Wellbeing

At Equimade, we’re passionate about creating environments that benefit both horses and their handlers. Horse barn design is revolutionizing the equestrian world, offering a host of advantages for our equine friends.

In this post, we’ll explore how horse barn design influences horse behavior and health. From improved respiratory function to reduced stress levels, the impact of eco-friendly stables is far-reaching and significant.

The best thing for the horse is to be able to move freely over as large a space as possible, and not to be restricted by too many barn walls or bars- keeping the environment as far away from a prison as possible.

For a lot of horses and handlers it is not possible to operate this way, as they have to make use of limited space. In this case it is important to have your horse barn designed as efficiently as possible and to cover all angles when it comes to wellbeing and safety.

What Makes a Horse Barn Design Sustainable?

Sustainable horse barn design is more than a trend – it’s essential for horse well-being and environmental protection. Let’s explore the key elements that make a barn truly sustainable.

Enhanced Overall Well-being

Sustainable horse barn design creates an environment more aligned with horses’ natural habitat, leading to numerous health benefits.

A comprehensive Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) study, completed in 2022 and some more publications in 2024, found that horses kept in sustainable, open-concept barns showed:

1. Lower incidence of health issues: Horses kept in the active open barn had fewer cases of lameness and colic compared to those in single boxes.
2. Injury concerns: While there was a higher incidence of kick-related injuries in the open barn, this did not result in more training days lost.
3. Lying behavior: Larger lying areas in the open barn increased lying time, lying bouts, and overall use of lying halls compared to smaller areas.
4. Movement benefits: The decreased lameness and colic were likely due to the increased free movement allowed in the active open barn system.
5. Lower cortisol levels (indicating reduced stress)
6. Increase in positive social interactions
7. Reduction in stereotypic behaviors (like cribbing or weaving)

This comprehensive research evaluated the effects of group housing horses in an active open barn system on their behavior and welfare, focusing on health, rest, and feeding aspects. The study was conducted at the Swedish National Equestrian Centre sites Strömsholm and Flyinge.

This research provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of open-concept, group housing systems for horses, challenging some common concerns while highlighting areas for improvement in sustainable horse barn design.

These findings underscore the profound impact sustainable horse barn design has on horse health. Creating environments that cater to horses’ natural instincts and needs promotes healthier, happier equines.

They Physical Flow Makes a Horse Barn Design Efficient and Safe

The physical flow of goods in a horse barn is crucial for efficiency and safety. Here are key aspects to consider:

Harnessing Natural Light and Air

The foundation of sustainable barn design maximizes natural lighting and ventilation. Large windows and skylights reduce electricity usage and provide horses with a more natural day-night cycle, vital for their circadian rhythms. A plentiful supply of clean air can benefit horses’ health, fitness, and, therefore, performance.

Windows in horse barns are essential for providing natural light, ventilation, and a view for the horses. However, they must be designed and installed with safety as the top priority. Here are key considerations for windows in horse barns:

Windows Design and Placement

1. Safety glass: Use tempered glass that’s at least 1/4″ thick. This type of glass breaks into small, manageable pieces rather than sharp shards if broken.
2. Protective grills: Install sturdy metal grills or bars on the inside of the windows to prevent horses from pushing through or breaking the glass.
3. Height placement: Install windows at the horse’s eye level when standing, so there is no risk that the horse try to jump through it.
4. Size and proportion: Choose windows large enough for horses to enjoy the view, but not so large as to compromise the barn’s structural integrity.

Additional Safety Features

1. Easy-to-clean design: Opt for windows with smooth surfaces that are easy to clean, maintaining hygiene in the barn.
2. Proper ventilation: Ensure windows can be opened to provide adequate airflow, which is crucial for the horses’ health.
3. Durable materials: Use impact-resistant materials like polycarbonate or sturdy metal frames to withstand various weather conditions.
4. Secure latches: Install horse-proof latches that are still easy for handlers to operate.

Considerations for Window Types

1. Avoid single or double-hung windows, as they can be difficult to open when located behind a grill.
2. Steer clear of casement and awning-style windows that open to the exterior, as they can be damaged by high winds or pose a hazard to passing horses and humans.

By implementing these safety features and considerations, you can provide your horses with the benefits of natural light and fresh air while minimizing the risk of injury.

Ventilation is equally important. A well-designed barn should have a ridge vent along the roof’s peak and openings at the eaves. This creates a chimney effect, allowing hot air and ammonia to escape while drawing in fresh air. Horses should have the possibility to look out of as many sides as possible to give them the feeling of freedom.

Eco-Friendly Materials: A Smart Choice

Selecting the right materials is key for sustainability. Proper forest stewardship is essential to ensure trees grow for years. For flooring, rubber mats must be made of as eco-friendly materials as possible. The materials are going to be close to the horses respiratory system which is very sensitive.

It also needs to be durable enough to withstand the horses biting, scratching and defication, provide excellent cushioning and easy cleaning.

Insulation plays a critical role. Natural materials regulate temperature effectively, keeping the barn cool in summer and warm in winter (which can lead to a nice environment for the horses and humans and contribute to significant energy savings).

Energy Efficiency: Small Changes, Big Impact

LED lighting transforms barn design. These bulbs use up to 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer. Motion sensors can further reduce energy consumption by ensuring lights operate only when needed.

Solar panels gain popularity in equestrian facilities. By harnessing the power of the sun, you can generate clean, renewable energy to run your farm more efficiently while saving on costs.

Water Buckets and Conservation: Every Drop Counts

Water management is vital in sustainable barn design. Rainwater harvesting systems can collect thousands of gallons of water annually, useful for irrigating arenas and pastures.

Low-flow nozzles and automatic waterers can significantly reduce water waste. Some modern systems even incorporate sensors to detect leaks, preventing unnecessary water loss. Always make sure that pipes are well constructed and protected, so that horses can’t be injured by them, leeks don’t occur and that they they are well insulated, so that you don´t run into challenges when temperatures drop.

When considering water buckets for horses, it’s crucial to prioritize both size and ease of drinking. Larger buckets are generally better, as they allow horses to drink without restriction. However, the ease of drinking is equally important for ensuring proper hydration.

To optimize a horse’s drinking experience:

1. Bucket placement: Hang water buckets just above the horse’s chest height. This allows for a natural head position, encouraging more drinking.
2. Bucket type: Horses prefer drinking from buckets over automatic waterers (if they are not of bucket-type). Given a choice, they almost exclusively choose buckets.
3. Water surface area: Buckets and larger waterers with a larger water surface and depth are preferred by horses, as they more closely resemble natural water sources.
4. Color: Horses prefer consuming water from lighter-toned buckets, particularly those that are turquoise or pale blue.
5. Drinking rate: Horses have a naturally high drinking rate, likely due to evolutionary factors. Automatic waterers with low flow rates may not be consistent with their natural drinking behavior.
6. Head position: Allow horses to drink with their heads slightly lowered, as this is more natural and comfortable for them.
7. Bucket Size Matters: Water buckets or automatic waterers should be as large as possible to ensure horses have unrestricted access to water. Horses drink significant amounts of water daily (typically 20-30 liters, depending on factors like activity, diet, and weather), so larger buckets minimize the risk of dehydration and reduce the frequency of refilling.
8. Routine Cleaning: To maintain hygiene and ensure the water remains fresh, it’s essential to establish a regular cleaning schedule for water buckets or automatic waterers. Dirty or stagnant water can deter horses from drinking and may lead to health issues such as colic or dehydration.
9. Cleaning Larger Automatic Waterers: The larger the size of an automatic waterer, the more important it is to clean it thoroughly and consistently. While larger systems reduce the need for frequent refills, they can accumulate dirt, algae, or debris over time if not properly maintained. Regular cleaning prevents contamination and ensures a constant supply of clean, fresh water.

By considering these factors, you can ensure that your horses have easy access to water and are more likely to maintain proper hydration levels.

By prioritizing and making things as easy as possible for horses to drink, the bucket size and maintaining a consistent cleaning routine, you can promote better hydration and overall health for your horses.

These elements create barns that benefit both horses and the planet. As we look to the future, sustainable design will shape equestrian facilities. But how does this impact horse behavior? Let’s explore this in the next section.

How Sustainable Design Shapes Horse Behavior

Sustainable horse barn design doesn’t just benefit the environment – it profoundly impacts horse behavior. Thoughtful, eco-friendly design creates a more natural and stimulating environment for horses, which leads to positive changes in their behavior and overall well-being.

Creating a Low-Stress Environment

Sustainable barns, with their focus on natural light and ventilation, create an environment that’s much closer to a horse’s natural habitat. This similarity to their preferred outdoor settings can significantly reduce stress levels in horses.

Promoting Natural Behaviors

The design of sustainable open horse barns allows horses more freedom of movement and the ability to engage in natural behaviours. For example, the use of larger stalls or group housing promotes social interaction, which is crucial for herd animals like horses.

Studies have shown that horses with unrestricted access to pasture spend a significant amount of time grazing. Research suggests that horses graze about 16-18 hours a day when given unrestricted access to pasture. This is consistent with their natural behavior, as horses are physiologically adapted to consuming small portions of low-energy, fiber-rich feeds throughout the day.

In contrast, confined horses typically spend only around 15% of their time feeding. This significant difference in feeding time between confined and pasture-kept horses suggests that horses in more open environments do indeed spend more time grazing and moving around.

1. In natural conditions, Preswalski’s horses grazed, rested, and moved more than 90% of the time observed
2. Horses with access to pasture have been observed to graze between 14 to 17 hours a day.
3. Even short periods (two to four hours) of pasture access can increase horses’ daily total distance traveled.

These findings support the general idea that horses in more open environments spend significantly more time grazing and moving around compared to confined horses (behaviors that are essential for their physical and mental health).

Horses are highly social animals that thrive on physical contact with their conspecifics. Providing opportunities for horses to touch each other while stabled is crucial for their welfare and social needs.

Benefits of Social Contact in Stables

1. Stress reduction: Allowing horses to interact and touch each other can significantly reduce stress levels and prevent the development of stereotypical behaviors.

2. Improved social skills: Regular physical contact helps horses maintain their social abilities, which is especially important for individually stabled horses.

3. Enhanced well-being: Studies indicate that stable partitions allowing horses to touch may improve overall horse well-being.

Implementing Social Contact in Horse Stable Design

Use partitions that allow horses to see, smell, and touch their neighbors while maintaining safety. When possible, consider group housing systems that provide more opportunities for social interaction. Ensure regular turnout with other horses to fulfill their social needs and allow for physical contact.

By accommodating horses’ innate need for social contact, including touch, we can significantly improve their welfare and reduce stress-related behaviors in stable environments.

Better REM Sleep for Horses with proper Horse Stable Design

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is a crucial part of a horse’s sleep cycle, but it differs significantly from human REM sleep. Horses require about 30-60 minutes of REM sleep daily. Unlike humans, horses can only achieve REM sleep while lying down due to the complete muscle relaxation associated with this sleep stage.

For horses to enter REM sleep:

1. They must lie down, either in sternal (on their belly) or lateral (on their side) recumbency.
2. They need to feel safe and comfortable in their environment.
3. They require adequate space to lie down, especially in group settings.

When horses can see each other, it can impact their REM sleep in several ways:

1. Increased sense of security: Horses are herd animals, and being able to see other horses may make them feel safer, potentially encouraging them to lie down and enter REM sleep. It is important to think about this when for example, thinking about the construction of the dividing walls between the horses, and the overall layout of the barn.
2. Social hierarchy effects: In group settings, lower-ranking horses may have limited access to suitable lying areas if space is restricted, potentially reducing their REM sleep opportunities.
3. Vigilance sharing: Horses take turns sleeping deeply while others remain alert, allowing the herd to maintain vigilance against potential threats.

It’s important to note that while seeing other horses can be beneficial, it’s not the only factor affecting a horse’s ability to achieve REM sleep. Adequate space, comfortable bedding, and a low-stress environment are also crucial for ensuring horses get the REM sleep they need.

Enhancing Mental Stimulation

Sustainable horse barn designs often incorporate features that provide mental stimulation for horses. For instance, the use of slow feeders mimics natural grazing patterns, keeping horses occupied for longer periods. This can reduce boredom-related behaviors such as cribbing or weaving. A study compared the effects of feeding free choice hay to a slow feeder and an automated feeder on horses’ cortisol circadian rhythm and behavior. More and more stables also notice that when horses are able to constantly nibble on the forage, other diseases like colic are reduced significantly. Another positive effect is that stable staff reduce the amount of time spent manually delivering food.

Improving Social Interactions

Sustainable barns often feature designs that allow for more social interaction among horses. Group housing or strategically placed windows between stalls enable horses to see and interact with their neighbors. This social contact is vital for their mental well-being and can lead to calmer, more relaxed horses.

Research has shown that horses with visual access to other horses display fewer stress-related behaviors (such as pacing or excessive vocalization). A study by Borthwick et al. (2023) found that stabling horses with visual and physical contact with conspecifics appears to increase relaxation and can maintain social bonds. This research suggests that providing horses with a half-wall stable, allowing for the expression of natural social behaviors, likely has a positive effect on their welfare state, even for short durations.

Encouraging Physical Activity

The layout of sustainable barns often promotes more movement for horses. Features like indoor-outdoor access, larger stalls, or attached paddocks allow horses to move freely and exercise at will. This increased physical activity not only benefits their physical health but also contributes to better mental well-being. Horses that move more throughout the day tend to show fewer signs of boredom and frustration.

The impact of sustainable horse barn design on horse behavior is clear and significant. These horse barn design principles align with horses’ natural instincts and needs, leading to happier, healthier equines. As we move forward, it’s exciting to consider how these sustainable practices might further evolve to benefit both horses and their environment. Now, let’s explore how these horse barn design choices directly affect horse health.

How Sustainable Barns Boost Horse Health

Sustainable horse barn design revolutionizes equine well-being. These innovative structures offer concrete health benefits for horses. Let’s explore how these eco-friendly horse barn designs improve equine health.

Better Air Quality for Respiratory Health

Poor ventilation in traditional barns often leads to respiratory issues in horses. Sustainable barns, with their focus on natural airflow, reduce this risk significantly. A study found that mechanical ventilation improved barn microenvironments, especially in winter seasons, although less so in summer when natural ventilation was more prevalent.

Practical tip: Install ridge vents along the roof’s peak and openings at the eaves. This simple design change can improve air quality in the barn.

Optimal Temperature Control

Sustainable horse barn designs excel at maintaining ideal temperatures year-round and regulate barn temperatures effectively. This matters for horses, as they react sensitively to temperature fluctuations.

A study showed horses in temperature-controlled environments had more stable heart rates and lower cortisol levels, indicating reduced stress.

Injury Risk Reduction

Thoughtful sustainable horse barn design often incorporates safety features that minimize injury risks. For example, rubber flooring provides better traction and cushioning, which lowers the chances of slips and falls. It also creates a nicer work environment that is not as polluted with noise as it would be without the rubber flooring.

Proper flooring contributes to reducing slipping injuries in horses. This keeps horses healthier and can also save owners thousands in veterinary bills.

Final Thoughts

Sustainable horse barn design transforms the equestrian world. It offers numerous benefits for horses and their owners through natural lighting, ventilation, eco-friendly materials, and energy efficiency. These innovative structures create environments that closely mimic horses’ natural habitats, which significantly impacts horse behavior and health.

The health benefits of sustainable barns impress equally. Better air quality promotes respiratory health, while optimal temperature control enhances overall comfort. Thoughtful design elements also reduce injury risks, which contributes to the long-term well-being of horses (and potentially lower veterinary costs for owners).

At Equimade, we commit to this vision of sustainability and horse well-being. Our innovative products complement the principles of sustainable barn design. To learn more about how sustainable horse barn design influences horse behavior and health through our products, visit our website.

Join Equimade