Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Most lumber for construction comes from softwoods, pine and fir being the most com-
mon. Fir is the stronger species but is harder to drive nails into, splits more easily, and will
splinter, posing a possible hazard to horses. Two-inch pine boards would be fine for the
stalls. Choose boards that are straight-grained, free of large knots (where breaking usually
occurs), and not warped. White oak, a hardwood, is more expensive than pine but is a very
strong wood. Plywood, which comes in 4-foot by 8-foot sheets, can also be used for the
lower portion of stall walls if sufficient backup framing is provided and the total plywood
thickness is at least 1½ inches.
The top portion of the front stall wall is generally made of mesh, pipe, or bars to allow
the horse to see out and to ensure proper ventilation. Spaces larger than 2 inches between
bars or in the mesh can be dangerous. A nibbling horse can get his teeth or jaws caught and
inflict serious damage to himself. Because of confined horses' tendency to mouth and play
with stall fixtures, all exposed wood edges should be covered with a chemical chewing de-
terrent and/or sturdy metal strips.
Because mesh or grill partitions allow horses to see one another, they sometimes play
and fight. To discourage fighting between stalls, the dividing partition can be solid and a
minimum of 8 feet high. The ceiling of a stall should be at least 11 feet high.
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