Size Matters when building a barn!

A barn is used for many things besides shelter for your livestock. Evaluate your needs before you begin building a barn.

Loft Benefits	No Loft Pros
Separate hay building is not an option Close proximity of hay Convenience Extra storage space Includes: Gable door for hay elevator access Gable window for light and ventilation Full-size wooden staircase with railing Consider: Add gable vents and/or a ridge vent for additional ventilation. Choose a partial loft or hinged trap door(s) to drop hay to the lower level. Incorporate one of our cupolas with windows to add light upstairs.	Reduced fire hazard Easy to unload and access hay More stall headroom in barn Reduced insurance costs Consider: An extra stall to store hay Creating a ground-level storage area in your barn Another shed or simple lean-to for hay
See Horizon Structures horse barn hay loft additions here: Monitor horse barn Monitor barn – partial loft High Profile horse barn Gambrel style roof
Tip: Generally, you can fit about one hundred 30 to 35 pound hay bales into a 10×12 area. For ground-level storage, stack the bales on wooden pallets so moisture from the ground doesn’t affect the hay. This is a good idea especially if you have a cement floor.

Tack and Feed

All tack/feed barn additions in Horizon Structures horse barns include a wooden floor, window, and hinged access door. It’s always a good idea to have a separate, enclosed room in the barn to store you tack and grooming supplies. An enclosed room cuts down on dust and dirt and helps keep your things cleaner. While almost nothing in a barn is totally “critter proof”, four walls, a floor and a ceiling will keep them to a minimum. A lockable door protects your belongings as well.

We recommend a room of at least 8′ wide and 10′ to 12′ deep for really usable space. If a separate tack/feed room isn’t feasible, at least consider a large cabinet, tack trunk or grain bins for barn storage.

There is no guesswork if you call us for a FREE consultation or No Obligation Quote. Just be prepared to answer a few simple questions about the barn design, or barn additions, you have in mind: overall size, number of stalls, loft or ground level storage, width of your center aisle. We’ll email back a proposal that will get your horse barn plans off to the right start!