Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Flooring
You will probably end up with three or more types of flooring in your barn. Stalls, aisles,
the tack room, the feed room, the wash rack, and the office all have different flooring
requirements. Things that you need to consider for any floor are cushion, absorbency or
drainage, cleaning convenience, traction, odor retention, moisture retention, appearance,
and, of course, that pesky item, cost.
Some floor areas will need to be sloped to encourage surface drainage, but not more than
1 inch in 5 feet. Other areas should provide level spots for work, such as the farrier's slab.
Too much slope or irregular footing here makes accurate work difficult and is uncomfort-
able for both the farrier and the horse. Most floors must provide adequate traction, but es-
pecially those that get wet, such as stalls, wash racks, and grooming areas. When choosing
floorings for various areas in the barn, remember that they must be raked and/or swept reg-
ularly and occasionally washed and disinfected.
