Each of the 12’ x ’12 stalls of this 36’ x 36’ barn include at least one external door, one window and a 10’ overhang to protect the horses from extreme weather.
Photos Courtesy Center Hill Barns
the use of natural lighting and ventilation: doors, windows and gable-end overhangs. They’re not just for “air and sunshine,” he says; they also add curb appeal. He cites one Center Hill barn, just 36’ x 36’, which utilizes many of these features. Each of its 12’ x 12’ stalls includes at least one external door, one window and a 10’ overhang which protects the horses from extreme heat, wind and rain. Windows in the gable-end sliding doors, above the doorframe, and in the loft invite even more light. The reason for all those windows and doors is simple. “We have long winters!” Pitman says. Careful placement of windows and light panels help make those long winters more bearable, decreasing electric and heating costs. A six-foot long light panel on the southeast side of the building, he says, “generates noticeable solar heat in the winter when sun hangs low in the sky.” The opposite is true in the summer, when the sun’s angle is sharper; then the panels let in light, but by the time the sun is high enough to create heat, it’s already past the windows.
The barn’s smart design also includes a feed room and two open spaces, each 12’ x 12’, which can be used for storage or later finished out as stalls. The aisle is a spacious 12’ wide, with steps leading to an overhead loft. The barn is an ideal fit for busy owners who want their horses at home but also need an efficient design that allows the horses to be outside much of the time, even if the owners aren’t home. Opting for a smaller “footprint” saves more space for the horses’ pastures and riding areas. Even with a small structure like this one, Pitman recommends “doing your homework” in the planning stages so your construction project goes smoothly. Working with your local township ordinances and involving them in the process early will minimize problems along the way. Keep your neighbors in the loop, too. If they balk at the idea of a horse barn, he suggests reminding them that horse farms are good alternatives to housing developments taking up precious green space.
September 2011, Equine Journal, 39