Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Zingerstandsundertheroofoftheloosestocks:68”wideby90”longwithmultilevel
tie rail and rubber mats.
AISLES
Aisles should be a minimum of 8 feet wide, but 10 to 12 feet is better. Any wider is a waste
of space and can allow a horse to turn around in the cross ties. In the aisle there should
be safely designed and well-located hooks for halters and lead ropes, and storage racks for
blankets. Be sure not to hang any items where a horse can reach them.
TIE AREAS
Your barn should have plenty of safe places to tie horses: at hitch rails or posts, in cross ties,
in loose stocks, and in stalls. An outside tying area is a handy training device, allowing you
to teach a horse that he must stand relatively still for several hours at a time. This teaches
a horse to accept restraint and be patient, and it will be reflected in his attitude about many
other activities. The tie area should be strong and tall enough that you can tie the horse at
the level of his withers or higher so that if the horse does pull back, he will not be able to
get very good leverage.
Loose stocks limit sideways movement of the horse that is tied or cross-tied at the head
of the stocks. Such an arrangement is ideal for young horses or for cooling out any horse
after work. The loose stocks are also handy for veterinary work, such as backing the horse
into the stocks so that the veterinarian can float the teeth. Ideally, there should be a roof
over any tie area for the comfort of the horses and the people working with them.
FARRIER WORK AREA
Be sure there is an area in your barn for your farrier to work that is protected from rain,
wind, and direct sun. A farrier works out of his truck, so his work area should be in a place
that he can back up to. Often the cross ties of a grooming area or a covered hitch rail work
fine. The floor should be level, smooth, and uncluttered; have good traction; and be kept
free of gravel and other debris. It's best if the area is lighted from the sides or corners,
rather than from overhead, so the farrier's shadow won't shade the hoof that he's working
on. Most farriers use electric tools, so access to a 110-volt outlet is essential.
