How do you feel about your barn? Are there things that could be more efficient? Are there conveniences you’d love to have but can’t afford? Or maybe you just haven’t gotten around to doing the necessary work. I have always wanted a barn with an aisle way.
We recently left Washington and our place we had lived in for nearly 36 years. My dad build my 60’ x 24’ barn when I was a teenager. At various times it housed anywhere from 2 to 7 horses. We had tie stalls at one time and even cows on one end.
Over the last few years we changed things quite a bit. We added EcogreenGrid to our two inside stalls, with Behlin stall fronts. Outside we purchased a used 12’ x 24’ Noble Shelter with two separate stalls. That was the best solution for our horses, since they had the freedom to go in and out as they pleased. It worked well, and I enjoyed the barn and all its memories.
I am starting all over in Colorado. The area we’ve moved to has quite a bit of snow in the winter and lots of wind. We will start out by remodeling a garden shed for shelter for the two horses until we get a barn built. I’m shooting for Castlebrook Barn’s 6-stall Raised Center Aisle Barn. It will have all the things that I need/want such as a wash rack, tack room and hay storage. Then three stalls for my two girls and one for the new horse I’ll be looking for next year.
There are some things that are super important to me when planning a facility. Here are a few of my must-haves:
- Water supply in the barn
- Heated/insulated tack room.
- 16-foot concrete aisleway
- Tool storage
- Parking for tractor, assorted trailers, ATV, equipment
- Covered parking for horse trailer
- Good ventilation
- Power/lights
- Convenient manure disposal
- Runs off the stalls
My list could be much longer, but these are just a few items that make life easier and more chore efficient. Please read the feature article on page 6 where Northwest Horse Source Editor Kim Roe, who runs a boarding and training facility, writes on what she finds important in a training and boarding facility. Wendy Croney, who has experienced many different barns, adds her suggestions for making good choices when choosing a barn for the person who keeps horses on their own property.
Have fun dreaming of a new barn and enjoy our tips on fixing up your current barn to make it the most efficient for you and your horses!
Quote: Love the life you have while you create the life of your dreams.
Hal Elrod – Writer-Author
See this article in the August 2021 online edition:
Owner / Publisher | Canfield Certified Trainer
Karen Pickering is a lifelong horsewoman and the founder of The Northwest Horse Source, which began in 1995 as a small equine newsletter and grew into a respected industry publication. With more than 30 years of experience serving the horse community, Karen now focuses on helping equine businesses and organizations build visibility, credibility, and lasting relationships through online marketing, digital promotion, and educational platforms.
As a Canfield Certified Trainer, she blends proven success principles with real-world industry experience, supporting both businesses and individuals navigating change in today’s digital landscape. Karen remains deeply connected to the horse industry and is passionate about serving the community she has helped build for over three decades.
