Taj Mahal of Horse Barns

So NOT my Barn

By Alison Hart

How fancy does a barn have to be?  Laura wrote about a good barn cleaning session and showed some pictures of her set up that works for a California horse keeper. Her horses (and Laura) are content and healthy with the arrangement. Environment plays a huge part in how horses are housed and kept, but I must confess the simpler the better for me.

Here in Virginia my horses can graze almost year round--I fed about twenty bales last winter, and only because we had so much snow. Run in shelter with access to several large pastures that I rotate works beautifully.

Barn aka Shop

We also have a nice barn that is perfect for summer with large fans to keep the flies away (the biggest problem here.) However, it was recently taken over by my son and husband and turned into a shop. They left me two stalls, but with a giant lift (you gotta be a car person), dismantled vehicles and many tool boxes and carts, it was not hospitable for horses (or me.)   I didn't mind that much--they needed a place to work, and the horses were often across the street at the neighbors, but something needed to be done to make it more practical for me.



I suggested, and my husband agreed, that we add outside doors and a mall feed/ tack room. That way, the horses and I did not need to clomp through the car parts. All it took was money (what doesn't?) but my husband was feeling slightly guilty about pushing us out, so we came up with our version of the Taj Mahal of horse barns.

On the outside wall of the barn, an overhang was built with two bays and a middle 'room.'  The far left bay would be for the tractor. The right bay would be a loafing shed and entrance into two stalls.  This arrangement is so much better than before when the horses had to be led down a middle aisle into the barn. The tack/feed room will be steps away so when I get older, it will be easier to saddle up and ride as well as do chores.  A small amount of hay will still be kept in the main barn in the loft.


On the left is a photo of the almost-finished version. So cute and practical! The stall doors are dutch, so the horses can look outside as well as keep an eye on all the car work. The fans will still blow in summer and the overhang will protect the area from most bad weather.  I wish we had done this twenty years ago when we first built. The doors need painting and there's some trim work, but those projects can be easily tackled.

Not fancy, but perfect for me and my two coach-potato horses.

What is your version of a 'fancy barn.'  What would you like that you don't have? What do you love about your own set-up?