There are many ways to create atmosphere in your barn, such as the use of high ceilings, wide aisles, and plenty of natural light with barn windows and skylights. But one factor will have a significant influence on the atmosphere of your barn: stall partitions. Before you just settle on any stall partition, consider these ways that the partition will affect your barn.

The Effects of Solid Partitions

Solid wood partitions make popular options for many barns. Solid partitions completely separate the horses, which can be beneficial when the horses stalled next to each other tend to pick fights. Solid partitions can create a more divided feel in a barn, as each stall is sealed off from the others. Remember, too, that solid partitions create barriers to air circulation, so the air won’t flow readily through a line of stalls.

Solid partitions create a solid barrier, which also affects the way that light moves through the barn. When you use solid partitions, you will need to make sure that each stall has its own independent light source, since the partitions reduce the amount of light that can flow into stalls from either the aisle or from adjoining stalls. While solid partitions can give a barn a slightly darker atmosphere, you can reduce this effect by opting for lighter colored wood in the partitions.

The Effects of Grilled Partitions

Stall partitions with a grilled or more open top portion offer barns a more open feel. With stall grills, a horse can interact with those stalled on either side of him. This increased interaction can help to reduce boredom and minimize negative behaviors like cribbing and weaving. Grilled partitions can also maximize air flow between the stalls, improving the barn’s ventilation and leading to a healthier atmosphere.

Because of their open design, grilled partitions naturally make a barn’s interior lighter, as light can flow between the stalls. If you opt for a partition with a grill, though, you must make sure that the bars of the grill are spaced properly to prevent a horse’s hooves from becoming stuck if the horse ever rears up or strikes out. All of Classic Equine Equipment’s grills feature 1” bars set on 3” centers to keep even the smallest hooves from getting stuck.

Additional Partition Options

If you want your barn to have a more open feel than a full wood partition offers, but if the full grill top portion gives your horse too much freedom and interaction, consider opting for a partition that features a grill on only 1/3 of the top partition portion.

Full grill options are also available, in which the entire partition is made up of a grill. This option is particularly helpful in maximizing ventilation, and it can help to keep stalls in hot climates cooler.

The stall partitions that you choose have a large effect on your barn’s atmosphere, so make your choice carefully.

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Original Source: Use Horse Stall Partitions to Create Atmosphere In Your Barn