You are lucky enough to have realized the dream of owning your own horse property! You have bought a house with land but no barn. Probably the first thing you need to think about is the location to put the barn. There are many things to consider when selecting the location.
Drainage is so important. Sometimes the best way to pick the best area is walk the area during a heavy rain storm. You can terra form, but the less you do, the more you will save. The highest ground is not always the best spot. If you live in a cooler climate or hilly area, you may not want to build on the crest of the hill, but let it shield the barn from direct winds. Ideally the spot should be fairly flat at top of a rise.
Convenience is a huge consideration. The barn should be close enough to the house to run out and feed after dark. Plus, you want the barn conveniently located to your turnout. It is nice for the horses to be able to go in and out by themselves.
Proximity to a road or driveway is great in an emergency. When the vet has to make a farmcall at 2 a.m. he can get in and out much easier if he can drive to the barn.
Security is unfortunatley a consideration today. The best scenario is the barn being inside of a locked gate, and the driveway to the barn running beside the house. This may keep break-ins at bay.
Close proximity to electricity and water will save you money. The closer you can put the barn to exsisting utiities, the cheaper it will be.
Direction of the barn should be based on climate considerations. Barns in hot climates should not have the stalls facing west, and the aisle should be positioned to catch a nice breeze.
Check your zoning laws. Laws will dictate where the barn can be placed and how close to the property line it can be set.
Think about where the manure pile will be. If you make it convenient, any friends who might be gardeners can come and haul the manure away.
A more in depth discussion to this problem and others are available at Five Star Ranch, Practical Horse Information, www.fivestar ranch.com.
Drainage is so important. Sometimes the best way to pick the best area is walk the area during a heavy rain storm. You can terra form, but the less you do, the more you will save. The highest ground is not always the best spot. If you live in a cooler climate or hilly area, you may not want to build on the crest of the hill, but let it shield the barn from direct winds. Ideally the spot should be fairly flat at top of a rise.
Convenience is a huge consideration. The barn should be close enough to the house to run out and feed after dark. Plus, you want the barn conveniently located to your turnout. It is nice for the horses to be able to go in and out by themselves.
Proximity to a road or driveway is great in an emergency. When the vet has to make a farmcall at 2 a.m. he can get in and out much easier if he can drive to the barn.
Security is unfortunatley a consideration today. The best scenario is the barn being inside of a locked gate, and the driveway to the barn running beside the house. This may keep break-ins at bay.
Close proximity to electricity and water will save you money. The closer you can put the barn to exsisting utiities, the cheaper it will be.
Direction of the barn should be based on climate considerations. Barns in hot climates should not have the stalls facing west, and the aisle should be positioned to catch a nice breeze.
Check your zoning laws. Laws will dictate where the barn can be placed and how close to the property line it can be set.
Think about where the manure pile will be. If you make it convenient, any friends who might be gardeners can come and haul the manure away.
A more in depth discussion to this problem and others are available at Five Star Ranch, Practical Horse Information, www.fivestar ranch.com.
