Planning the layout of your horse barn is hugely important, and you’ll want to be sure that the barn is the right size for your intended needs and uses. Deciding just how much barn you need can be a challenge, though, especially when you want that barn to last you for decades. If you’re beginning to plan out your barn, these tips will help you decide how much barn is the right size for you.

Look at the Future

A well-built barn, when properly maintained, should last for decades, but your situation will likely change over time, too. Think about where you are today versus where you see yourself in 10 or 20 years. You might have two horses now, but has it always been your dream to own 4 or 5? If you foresee that dream coming true 5 or 10 years down the road, then it’s in your best interest to build a larger barn now. Expanding an existing barn can be costly, so if you have the funds to build a right-sized barn initially, you will be saving yourself money in the long run.

Decide How Much Barn You Can Manage

While it might be tempting to create a large barn to be gradually filled with horses over the years, don’t underestimate the amount of work that goes into maintaining a horse barn. A barn too large for you will either sit with unfilled stalls, or you will find yourself overwhelmed with the amount of work that goes into caring for the horses that it can house.

Determine the Size According to Function

A barn’s size will partially depend on its intended function. If you are building a barn to house show horses, your stall design and barn components will be different from those of a breeding barn. A barn used for training or rehabilitation will almost certainly require a round pen, and an indoor arena might also be a necessity depending on the climate. In some situations, a custom barn might be the perfect solution to your individual plans for your barn and property.

Leave Room for Expansion

When designing your barn, remember that the unexpected might happen and, in a few years, you might be in a position to expand your barn. In a case like this, initially designing your barn’s layout and location on the property so that future expansion would be easy can really pay off.

Do you have an idea of how big a barn you’ll be needing? The next step is to make sure that all of the stalls and inner components are also the right size for their use. Check out our blog on the dimensions of the right-sized barn.

Original Source: Building the Barn That's the Right Size for Your Needs