When it comes to buying a new horse barn it’s easy to get carried away with the excitement of it all. And that’s a great thing because something this big should always be a fun ride. The reality of following your heart and passion to keep horses at home is an experience to be savored. And the great thing is, you don’t need to go overboard to do it.
As in many things in life, simpler is often better. The ‘little barn’ that does it all in style comes with all the amenities you need to happily house two horses or ponies, alongside each other with companionship – enjoy the benefit of having a storage area within the structure for feed, hay supplies and/or tack and equipment, plus have a neat overhang space that allows both human and animals to stay out of adverse weather when it strikes.
A Sense Of Style
The beauty of the 2-stall barn, with its adjunct storage space and overhang is that everything is neatly contained in one small footprint. A space that can easily be adjusted to accommodate larger or smaller critters. The 12’ x 10’ stall size is a popular choice as it is a good size for an average horse. The two stalls also offer a good divide for keeping pet livestock such as goats or alpacas. Males and females can be bedded down separately, or when it comes time for the kids/cria to arrive and be nurtured, the Mom’s and babies can be housed together and kept separate from the non-bred females.
The tidy design means the ‘little barn’ can easily fit into any existing landscape without being obtrusive or upsetting the neighbors. Handily, it also keeps everything animal oriented in one convenient space. And yet, to the onlooker, the barn has presence and offers a professional feel that imparts confidence that you know what you are about. In short, the 2-stall barn provides a sense of style for a lesser spend than say a center aisle design.
Versatility For Seasonal Use
Any structure that offers versatility of purpose is always a boon but having one that can also sit quite happily inside a paddock or field or be orchestrated with exterior stall Dutch doors that open to independent paddocks means seasonal use can easily be accommodated.
Consider for example, the heat of summer arrives and with it the incessant buzzing flies and insect life. The ‘Little Barn’ offers better protection from the annoyances of heat and bugs for its occupants than a run-in shed.
When winter arrives with its blasts of cold bitter winds and blizzard snows, the multiple options to shield animals from the weather become apparent. Animals can shelter under the overhang, or you can opt to shut them in and secure them from all weather extremes including high winds during hurricanes where flying debris is a significant enemy to their well-being.
When You Need It Most
If you’ve ever owned any animal then you know first-hand that there are times when confinement or limited activity is required due to a medical situation. Be it of emergent nature or a longer-term rehabilitation, being able to keep your critters secure within walls is key to managing their care. The attending vet will certainly appreciate the safe space, and you, the one ultimately responsible for the day-to-day medical care such as changing dressings or administering medications, will certainly find having an actual stall space makes the required care activities less challenging to successfully perform.
Farriers are another group of professionals that are often asked to work in less-than-ideal conditions in order to complete their valuable tasks. When I started out keeping horses in the backyard and only had just one huge run-in shed set in a paddock to call home for the horses, the reality of standing in wind and rain in the muddy entrance to the shed holding a horse for the blacksmith to shoe was not fun for anyone. Least of all, the person doing the job. It certainly wasn’t long before a second barn was built. One with doors and an overhang!
The Quarantine
If you run a larger equine facility then you know the importance of having a ‘sick bay’ or quarantine space for poorly horses, and/or for those equines arriving on the farm. Especially those animals coming in from a kill pen or auction house from which horses are being rescued or off a trailer transport where horses have been mixed together.
The adaptability of the ‘little barn’ is perfect for intermediate use and provides a quiet sanctuary for animals in recovery periods. It offers an invaluable place for worn and weary critters to retreat, refresh and reboot themselves, without being forced into the busier high traffic horse and human areas of an equine facility.
Balancing The Budget
The ever-increasing costs associated with boarding a horse at livery combined with the need to commute and follow other people’s schedules and routines, can all add stress to the horse owner who simply wants to have a horse or two to hang out with in the backyard.
A simple 2-stall barn structure will readily do the job of housing the horses and provide a space to tack up/groom, without breaking the bank. Consider buying a barn directly off the lot if you need something right away and sign up for newsletters and get on the mailing list at your favorite modular barn company, because there are savings to be had.
Larger companies also offer a variety of financing options that can make sense if you own your own property. Instead of paying an endless form of rent to house your horse or horses somewhere else, you can take that payment and pay down a barn purchase, that ultimately adds property value that you can later leverage as you see fit.
The Deciding Factor
For many horse owners the breaking point comes when they want to increase their horse or Equid ownership from one to two horses. This may be because another family member wants to join in to enjoy the significant pleasures of horse/pony/mule ownership, or it may be because the original horse that is owned has aged up or suffered a life-changing injury and needs to be retired but the owner doesn’t want to part with him. A replacement may be wanted for riding or showing, but selling or giving away ‘Horse Number One’ is off the table.
It is often not viable to pay board and livery for two horses especially if one has limited use but requires a full-service board situation. In other instances the family member joining in the equestrian activity maybe a child, and the boarding facility may not accommodate youngsters and be adult-oriented only.
Most horse owners are of course women and getting hubbie or their significant other on a horse can be a challenge but getting him/them to take part in front of a barn full of accomplished riders that are mostly women is probably beyond his/their comfort zone. When you bring horses home, the learning curve to caring and riding horses can be taken at a slower pace and offers more privacy. There are lots of benefits to making horse care and equestrian activities a part of family life.
The 2-stall barn with its handy extras makes perfect sense in this situation.
The “Little Barn” Is User-Friendly
The smaller barn is also user-friendly for other purposes, as well as housing alpacas and critters other than equids as mentioned above, it can also be utilized for storage of equipment and a workspace. In some cases, folks have used them as farm shop spaces and craft studios. From lavender farms to vineyard tasting rooms, to vegetable and fruit farmstands to petting zoos, the little barn blends well into any project use.
Even if the small barn starts out as a home for horses, in its later life when the horsey lifestyle has been outgrown or abandoned, the small barn conveniently lends itself to other purposes.
It is not uncommon in Agri-tourism settings for the ‘cabin-like’ designs to be converted into living spaces with the storage area making a bathroom space and a hot tub set under the overhang.
When purchasing your barn look for low maintenance options for siding and roofing; a sturdy build with plans specifications provided and of course, a ‘to-the-penny’ quote that includes delivery and set-up. Nationwide footprint companies like Horizon Structures offer lots of customization options so you can complement existing buildings on the property and also offer financing options (including an interactive option so you can identify monthly payment amounts etc.), and a good depth of warranties and testimonials.
Take a look. I think you’ll be surprised at how affordable this ‘little barn’ option is to own. It may be small in stature but it certainly offers great advantages over other designs.
