Stall Walls

Doc-t July 8, 2015
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The images in this gallery will demonstrate the variety of designs and materials.  There are a few principles to stall walls.  They must be durable so that a kicking horse will not punch a hole through it with a kick.  I have seen plywood and canvas used and have seen the hole made by a kick.  Damage can occur to the horse on the other side if in the way.  Damage can happen to the kicking leg.  Once I saw a horse kick through plywood AND sheet metal, leaving a hole through both. Miraculously the horse had no damage.  Not even a hair was missing.

While not principles, there are other things to look for in a stall wall.  Ventilation between stalls is good when all horses live in a closed community.  However, the ability of a new horse to cough and sneeze through a vent between stalls helps to spread diseases.

Most horses like to see other horses and require this ability.  On the other hand, some horses do better behind solid walls.  This can be especially true when feeding horses or when you have a stallion on one side and any other horse he might like or dislike on the other side. 

When selecting a way to provide vision or ventilation, you need to decide if the adjacent horses will be allowed to touch each other.  A half-wall is ideal for friends but out of the question for horses attacking each other.  I used hog paneling between my stalls which was ¼ inch (6.3mm) solid galvanized steel.  It never was damaged in decades of use, and because it was placed on top of a half wall, no horse could kick it.

Solid walls made of hardwood, thick softwood, or cinder block are suitable materials.  If you haven’t read about sandwich boards, please do now.  The stacked boards mustn’t be allowed to move individually.  However, if the boards are nailed to the frame at each end and tongue and groove boards are used, then sandwich boards are unnecessary.

I have seen galvanized steel sheeting covering thick plywood used by some commercial barn kits.  This seems to work, but these eventually rust through exposing sharp edges.

Most stall walls eventually become a place to hang things such as salt licks and hay nets.  These are now things that can injure a horse or the people working with them, especially when they break or rust, developing sharp edges.  I have also seen nails and screws driven from the other side of the stall wall penetrate and extend into the stall.  Not only do these rip skin, but they also ruin a lot of shirts (personal experience).

One last thing.  If you make a double wall between 2 stalls or between a stall and a barn wall, there is a place for rats to live.  If you place rat bait that kills the rats, they often die between these walls.  This stinks.  If you can, seal this gap or don’t create it.

Stall Wall Sandwich Boards

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The wire mesh used for these stall walls is sturdy to withstand a kick (no dings seen anywhere) yet allows for free air flow in south Florida.
The wire mesh used for these stall walls is sturdy to withstand a kick (no dings seen anywhere) yet allows for free air flow in south Florida.
Note how thick the stall wall is. The verticle studs within the wall are tied in with steel ties into the cement footer, then covered on both sides with pine boards. A custom grill sets on top of the half wall.
The stall wall is extended outside of the stall to prevent the horses from attacking each other over the gate. This is made of thin wire which is being destroyed by the horse’s attacks.
Sandwich boards used on this stall’s half wall. Verticle bars are strong, allow air to flow, allow horse interaction, but are also a possible cause of jaw fractures. Note the position of the long florescent lamp between the stalls which avoids damage from horse heads. A hay rack sets in the corner.
Hurricane proof doors close this stall fro the outside storms. There are two morw located on the front of this barn.
CBC of stalls with a large front opening allowing the horse to look around. Every stall had little damage from “horse ware.”
Stall turn out made of panels
Hog paneling (¼ inch steel rods welded) used as stall wall paneling
Hog paneling (¼ inch steel rods welded) used as stall wall paneling. This type with wide boxes throughout was susceptible to damage from horses. Hog panels with smaller spaces on the bottom does not damage nor can the hoof get caught in the large box.
Hog paneling (¼ inch steel rods welded) used as paneling for the stall door. NOTE the exposed edges of the panel that can catch halters, blankets, or skin.
Chanel for guiding boards to divide this stall into 2 smaller stalls.
Tail board around the stall is common in a Saddlebred’s stall. It prevents the horse wearing a tail set from rubbing the equipment off.
Wood sawdust bedding piled in a corner is a source for quickly adding bedding to a stall plus it helps to prevent the horse from becoming cast. Tail board is attached to the stall walls to prevent Saddlebreds from rubbing off their tail sets.
Stall wall with a sandwich board and the upper boards separated for ventilation. Carriage bolt heads do not need recessing
Rebar stall partition undamaged because there is no horse on the other side.
A broken rebar of a stall partition
Rebar used as a stall partition – collects a lot of dirt and notice 2 bars are missing (kicked out?) and one is broken off at the top.
Steel stall wall partition with wide spaces that can be dangerous to the horse. Legs and lower jaws can become entrapped with catestrophic results.
Bent steel bars. The owner has seen horses kick through these and miraculously escape entrapment.
Bent steel bars. The owner has seen horses kick through these and miraculously escape entrapment.
CBC stall wall topped with a steel partition and enhanced with 3 stall door screens attached to the partition with zip ties.
Stall wall has 2 sections providing stability in a steel frame. They are placed on a large beam laid across the stall floor.
Jog track inside the barn and going around the interior placed stalls. The wall seen here is the back wall of the stalls. Birds are kept out by the chicken wire covering the ceiling joists.
Barns built into the side of a hill often have their back wall made of stone like this one in Massachusetts. The right side wall also has a stone foundation. The left side wall has a large wood beam laid across the floor with vertical tongue and groove boards.
Sandwich board is sprung and not doing its job.
Metal trim in a brand new barn in Loxahatchee, FL – Outside wall has ventilation slats which is good for this south Florida barn.
Stacked boards make up this wall. They are nailed at each end but are starting to bow in places
These stall walls are panels attasched to a post at 2 anchor points
The base board of this shed has become rotten creating an eyesore and a hazzard
The base board of this shed has become rotten creating an eyesore and a hazzard
These short boards are firmly anchored with 2 bolts at each end into steel plates. Hurricane proof in Florida. The spacing between the boards allows ventilation and sight with other horses.
These boards are starting to bow and would benefit from a sandwich board.
A well built stall wall.
A beaytiful stall wall that is smooth and interesting to look at.
Stall dividers are often vertical bars. Unfortunately several horses have broken their jaw when biting them and then suddenly twisting their head before removing the jaw from the space.
Air holes in the cinder block wall allow for ventilation and seeing another horse.
Holes in a cinder block wall for ventilation
Holes in a cinder block wall for ventilation
Stall walls. A unique stall wall made of roadside guard rails and vertical boards. I am not sure why there is a hole between stalls at the bucket but maybe it is for sharing water
Chain link for stall walls looks like trouble and I would not recommend it for safety reasons.
Permanently attached ends prevent these boards rising but they can still bow. Note the lower wall have unspaced boards and the upper boards are spaced vor ventilation and vision of other horses.

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Categories: 2_Topics, Barn Topics

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