Yes, another stall question - Dividers, grills or solid?

[EquusMagnificus]

Are grills sufficient to keep horses from bickering each other?

I don't have anything between my stalls here and while I like the idea of a solid wall, I am not sure I am ready to leap to that level yet!

What about barns with visiting horses?

Many thanks in advance :winkgrin:

[goodhors]

We have solid walls between the box stalls, windows on the aisle. No bickering, they can see each other a bit between the boards that shrank over time.

We have solid dividers between heads on the tie stalls, so no fighting over food or "He's LOOKING at me!!" stuff. Two tie stalls have fancy old bars, like Black Beauty tie stalls. The other two stalls have 5ft walls, no grill bars above. All horses can reach back and touch if desired with or without the bars. Bars prevent pesty geldings bothering the older mare, who just doesn't want them leaning her way over the 5ft wall. She actually grinned when she saw the bars we installed.

Horses can view each other across the aisle. I hear too many stories about fights with bars or wire panel between box stall. Horses kicking the walls even if other horse is doing nothing. Solid walls gives them time to get away from others, window in front is for social times, they have a choice.

[FoxChaser]

It really depends a lot on the horses you'll be housing. My boys HAVE to see each other. I have two who were left in stalls to rot prior to being rescued, so they get claustrophobic if they can't see the other horses easily. We have mesh panels at the back of our dividing walls, about 4'6" high I think. I figured that was high enough that no one could paw the grills and that kicking would be minimized. Also, I used another COTHer's idea about putting them to the back so that there were no arguments at feed time. Here are ours: http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2233497510101472710feSvsH

[JB]

Depends on your situation. If you have lots of horses coming and going, solid is probably better. But if it's the same set of horses for long periods of time, slats can be very nice for company.

I have horizontal boards - tongue and groove up to 4.5', and then 2" spacers between regular boards up to 9'. It helps airflow too.

But, mine all get along, and are not in stalls except for meals (and occasional longer term for really nasty weather).

[Angela Freda]

The other thing to consider is potential resale.
Your horses may get along fine, but the next person may have a meanie-head in the bunch who will stress his/her neighbor.

I would do full wall myself, with spaces between boards above horse head height.

[Maude]

My barn has 3 stalls on one side of the aisle and the feed room and tack room are across from them. I originally had solid walls between the stalls so no one (all mares) could make nasty faces and kick the wall. The, I moved my yearling over to that side of the barn. Because there are no horses across from the stalls she was having seperation anxiety because she couldn't see another horse. So, I had "friendship" grills made for the dividing walls. The dividing walls are solid for the first 4 feet at the front then the grill extends to the rear and stops one foot from the back wall. This allows for visiting and horses to see through the barn. When they eat, they have their privacy as the wall is solid by the feed tubs. Filly is happy and it really opened up the barn and allowed more light in the stalls. The barn is a bank barn so the rear wall is also solid. Hope this gives you more ideas.

[NCSue]

Depending upon the tenants in your barn you have a few choices. If my barn held only my personal horses I would have open stall fronts. I like the solid walls between stalls. It adds stability to the stalls but more importantly I think the horses like the secure feeling -- especially the timid ones -- that their stall is their own personal refuge.

[saddleup]

My barn is like Maude's, with the front four feet of the walls solid, then grill on the back 2/3's. My horses are all friends, and they have the privacy when they eat but can visit and see each other. I keep the back doors open to their runs and the gates open to their communal paddock, so they have open access to each other, anyway. But on the rare occasion I've had to confine them, they're happier because they can see each other.

[Gloria]

My partition stall walls are solid at the bottom and grill at the top. I like the arrangement and my horses enjoy it. It makes the barn looks airier, bigger, and brighter. It also makes ventilation better. If I "have to" to put two enemies next to each other, it's easy enough to attach a thin plywood to the grill to create a temporary solid wall.

[Equibrit]

You horses will be much better adjusted if you have grill partitions between stalls (above about 36"). It will prevent them from developing stall vices also.

[greysandbays]

If you INSISTS on the grills, don't put feed contraptions in adjacent corners of stalls so horses are eating "head to head".

I was once in a fancy show barn that did this, apparently for the convenience of the person doing the feeding (they had feed doors so horses could be feed without entering the stalls). At feeding time, the whole barn just seethed with uneasiness and stress as horses were forced to choose between going hungry and eating in non-mutually-agreed-upon shared personal space when neither horse was overly friendly toward the other.

[mkevent]

I did exactly like Gloria-if you do grills, it's easy to add a piece of plywood later to prevent snarky faces at mealtime.

[mickeydoodle]

Hilltop Farm in MD has solid walls to about 4 feet then bars up between all their stalls, even the stallions. The horses seem to love being able to see each other, and it works well in this busy barn of about 40 stalls, with lots of in/out/visitors, etc

[SimpleSimon]

We did 2/3rds grill, 1/3rd solid wall. Hay feeders are on the solid portion of the wall.

Again, my barn is a private barn so minimal visiting traffic. I like the 2/3rds grills because it allows privacy for feeding purposes and also allows light and air movement to filter between the stalls.

These are what my stalls look like:
http://gregh.smugmug.com/gallery/5029490_T7yDt#430350679_7soMs

[Angela Freda]

If you INSISTS on the grills, don't put feed contraptions in adjacent corners of stalls so horses are eating "head to head".

I was once in a fancy show barn that did this, apparently for the convenience of the person doing the feeding (they had feed doors so horses could be feed without entering the stalls). At feeding time, the whole barn just seethed with uneasiness and stress as horses were forced to choose between going hungry and eating in non-mutually-agreed-upon shared personal space when neither horse was overly friendly toward the other.
Exactly what I think happened to my horse who ended up with ulcers [and DSLD] and Vet bills in the thousands trying to figure out why he would not eat, or when he did why he was still losing wt. Fecals. Blood. Lyme Titers. More Blood. $200 bottles of Doxy dosed at not enough to actually treat Lyme. Gallons of gas driving an hour and a half each day to hand graze him to get something in him.
9 months later he's got the weight [finally!] back on.
Alas DSLD has no treatment and does not go away.
Make note this barn had wood all the way up, with just small spaces at about shoulder height to allow airflow. A nasty horse can make a sensitive one uncomfortable even without grilles.
Present horses might get along, but what if the next horse is not buddy-buddy?

[kimball1]

I have grill work between stalls in my current 4 stall barn. In my new barn (36 stalls) we are doing a mix of grill work and solid walls. Some horses like to see their neighbors, some don't.

[Altamont Sport Horses]

We have stalls that have a frame where you slide the wood in from the top. We have wood going all the way up so it is solid. The horses that prefer to see and touch others without fighting we just slide out a couple of boards from the top. It's really easy to do.

This is the brand that was already installed in our barn. We do not have the grills that they show (all wood on the sides as I mentioned) but it will give you an idea of how the channels work. http://www.handi-klasp.com/h_stall.html

[JSWiley]

We have 3 stalls that have wood solid dividers, and 5 stalls that have the wood on the lower half and grill dividers at the top. As mentioned, it really will depend on what you will be housing. Several years ago when we were breeding, our foaling mares were always put in the solid walled stalls, which was nice since the mares usually wanted privacy with their foals. Then again some other horses like to see their buddies. If you have the choice to do some solid, and some grill, it may be worth it to have both.

[subk]

Your horses will be much better adjusted if you have grill partitions between stalls (above about 36"). It will prevent them from developing stall vices also.
Not just prevent them from developing habits, but stop existing ones! I had a serious stall walker (runner!) who completely quit the day he moved to a barn that had grills between all the stalls. He could touch noses with three other horses.

My private 6 horse barn has solid walls to 4' then vertical grills. Because of the way the stalls are laid out I have two sets of two stalls with a common grill (feed buckets on opposite walls.) Then there are two stalls across the aisle in opposite ends that can't touch anybody, but have vertical grills in front, so I can always move one that doesn't play well with others to a more individual space. The aisle stall doors are also mesh.

I love how open and spacious the barn feels when you can see all the way through it end to end. The ventilation is fabulous and not only can the horses see all the other occupants, I can see everybody (if they are standing) the moment I walk in the barn! I'm just not a big believer that herd animals really want their privacy all that much.

[SaddleFitterVA]

I prefer open above about 3-4' level. Mine has grills.

I also feel that horses are calmer with them open.

[Chief2]

We have older oak stalls. They are solid to 4-feet up, and then the boards are placed with 1 inch of daylight each board all the way up to the ceiling. The horses can see through the spaces to their neighbors, but cannot touch noses. I don't know if you can find this in a ready made stall kit though, if that's what you are looking at.

[Angela Freda]

Exactly what I think happened to my horse who ended up with ulcers [and DSLD] and Vet bills in the thousands trying to figure out why he would not eat, or when he did why he was still losing wt. Fecals. Blood. Lyme Titers. More Blood. $200 bottles of Doxy dosed at not enough to actually treat Lyme. Gallons of gas driving an hour and a half each day to hand graze him to get something in him.
9 months later he's got the weight [finally!] back on.
Alas DSLD has no treatment and does not go away.
Make note this barn had wood all the way up, with just small spaces at about shoulder height to allow airflow. A nasty horse can make a sensitive one uncomfortable even without grilles.
Present horses might get along, but what if the next horse is not buddy-buddy?
You know what?
I rethought this post.
Even if there are solid walls, horses who kick and rake their teeth on the walls because they hate their neighbors will do so.
I still prefer semi solid walls for me... but now just because.

[Guilherme]

Are grills sufficient to keep horses from bickering each other?

I don't have anything between my stalls here and while I like the idea of a solid wall, I am not sure I am ready to leap to that level yet!

What about barns with visiting horses?

Many thanks in advance :winkgrin:

We have a combination. About 1/3 of the stalls are solid, the rest non-solid. The non-solid dividers are actually part solid and part barred.

Where is it written that a barn must be all one thing or all other?!?!?!?! :lol:

G.

[YankeeLawyer]

We have tongue and groove Southern Yellow pines to about 4 feet, and then stall grills above that on the fronts and between the stalls, except that we have one stall that has solid walls on both sides (it is the first stall when you walk in and it is located between a storage room and the tack room). I think it is important, if possible, to have at least one stall that can function as a quarantine stall for new arrivals or sick horses.

I have not had any problem with having grills on the partitions of the other stalls. They allow for better ventilation, and I find it helpful for introducing horses before they are turned out together (e.g., we'll place a newbie next to its turnout companion and let them spend a day or so as neighbors in the barn before turning them out together).

[Home Again Farm]

Here in Florida, I'd never have solid walls. We need the cross ventilation. The horses are happy and get along fine.

[Mary in Area 1]

We have grills between all the stalls and on the front. It makes for WAY better ventilation, and you can check on all the horses with just one look around.

Some of our stalls have one solid wall if they are on the end, and that is where some of the grumpy horses go. We take a lot of time finding out which horse is happy next to which horse, just as we do with turnout, and that makes the whole barn a much calmer place!

I think a horse CAN get ulcers next to an aggressive or nasty horse. It is important to take personality into consideration in stall design and assignment.

[Plumcreek]

We have 3 stalls that have wood solid dividers, and 5 stalls that have the wood on the lower half and grill dividers at the top. As mentioned, it really will depend on what you will be housing. Several years ago when we were breeding, our foaling mares were always put in the solid walled stalls, which was nice since the mares usually wanted privacy with their foals. Then again some other horses like to see their buddies. If you have the choice to do some solid, and some grill, it may be worth it to have both.


As a barn designer, I totally agree with the above. All stall partitions do not have to be the same, as all horses are not the same. I have seen as many problems from solid dividers as from all grilled dividers. I like a couple 2" spacing between upper boards so they know a horse is next door. Put those more solid divided stalls where there is more activity (grooming racks, etc.) to watch, or at the end where they can look out the aisle doors.

My personal choice is to have a 1/3 (3' to 4') grill section at the back end of a solid divider. I think the 2/3 grill still allows intimidation. The 1/3 lets a horse choose to be social or not and totally eliminates feeding time snarking when they are all towards the front. If a grill is a problem, a sheet of polycarbonate (Home Depot) can be mounted with metal screws and oversize washers to one side. That is unrippable (by most horses, ahem) vs plywood.