CHEVAL LIBERTÉ

Layman's Guide to Internal Stabling

16/07/09: This section has just been added and is under development.

People often ask us about the advantages and disadvantages of the internal stabling solutions we offer. We hope this section will be of help, particularly for those who are new to the subject.

Internal stables: advantages over permanent block and yard stables

• Horses are looked after inside, out of the weather
• A better environment for grooms and stable hands to work, whatever the weather
• Stable areas and beyond are contained and easier to keep clean than an external yard, where straw and other materials will blow around
• Lighter and more airy appearance
• Ventilation improved
• Impressive appearance
• Material specification much higher compared with external boxes
• Can be moved for re-siting or re-sale
• Remain an asset as opposed to block stables
• Partition panels take up less space than block walls
• Partitions absorb the kicks of horses better than blocks
• Derelict buildings can be utilised to be transformed into high quality stables
• Security is improved with only one or two doors to lock
• The horse are a herd animal thus the total segregation of block stables is alien to their natural instincts

Disadvantages of Internal Stables

There is a school of thought that maintains that internal boxes allow infections to spread easily because of the ability the horses have to make contact with one another. This is unfounded as most viral infections are spread in ways other other than mouth contact. Airborne viruses are common. If a virus is present, grilles will not worsen the spread.

With grille divisions at feeding time some horses tend to become aggressive and kick.

Points to consider

Walls

• Are they sound enough to withstand the horse being stabled
• Can a rag bolt be fixed
• A minimum height is required for the partition to be fixed
• Are the floors of sufficient strength and evenness to allow the installation of boxes

Stall Size

In a livery yard of twenty horses, 50% are likely to be under 15 hh. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide 12 ft x 12 ft stalls in all areas of the installation. Our systems are flexible in size and we can advise on suitable stall sizes for your specific application.

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