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Stable Safety and Construction & Fire Safety Rules:

Last Modified: January 11, 2001

Safety Within the Stall

Floors

There are several different types of stall flooring available. Of these the most common floor materials used in Canada are wood, concrete, asphalt, crushed stone, dirt or clay. Important factors to consider are the materials' cost and durability, its warmth to lie on, stress factors for the horse's legs, and a non-slippery surface.

Good wooden floors are costly to lay and, because the wood tends to rot over a period of time, are costly to maintain. Wood also gets extremely slippery when wet. The advantage of wooden floors are that the surface has more give so it is better for the horse's legs and is warm to lie on.
Concrete is extremely durable and, in that respect, is cost efficient. Smooth concrete gets very slippery when wet, therefore when laying the concrete it is advisable to make the surface rough. Concrete has no give, it is hard on the horse's legs, and it tends to be cold to lie on unless there is plenty of bedding.
Asphalt tends to be affected by heat and breaks up over time. It also tends to become slippery when wet. The durability of asphalt is close to that of concrete, although it is a warmer surface to lie on.
Crushed stone and dirt floors are porous and have good drainage, therefore, do not become wet and slippery. They are better for the horse's legs and are generally warmer to lie on. Their biggest drawback is that they wear down over time and depressions form where the horse tends to stand or lie. These depressions must be filled in so the animal will not become cast in them.
Low spots on crushed stone and dirt floors are harder to keep clean and bacteria, such as tetanus, are prone to grow in the damp conditions.
The most superior material is blue clay which has similar characteristics to crushed stone and dirt, being porous, good for the legs and warm to lie on. As well, the clay is extremely good for the horse's feet. The only drawback to blue clay is that it is only found in certain parts of Canada.
Lime sprinkled over damp floor surfaces decreases deterioration, and odour, and helps dry the surface; disinfects.

Stall Fittings

Keep fittings to a minimum; do not clutter the horse's space.
Corners of wooden feed troughs should be rounded.
Overhead hay racks are no longer considered the proper way to hay a horse. They must hold their heads at an unnatural angle to eat and there is danger of foreign objects falling into their eyes.
Haynets must be properly hung and tied. The net must be high enough off the floor level when full and empty so that the horse will not become entangled.

Lighting

Light fixtures should be placed high out of the horse's reach
If this is not possible, the bulb should be covered with a strong protective case.
Each stall should have a window that lets in ample natural light.

Door Latches

Latches must be strong and securely attached to the door.
Latches should be easily opened; a sticky latch costs precious time in case of emergency.

Stall Size and Construction

Horses over 15.2 h.h. require a 12' x 12' or a 14' x 12' stall.
Ponies require a 10' x 12' stall.
Hinged doors that open outwards or well maintained sliding doors are acceptable.
Stall doors and walls should be enclosed with wire grills or bars so that horses cannot lean out and disturb other horses or people.

Standing Stalls

Where space is a consideration, standing stalls are acceptable.
They must be at least 5.6 x 11 feet in size.
Horse ties must allow enough slack for horses to lie down.
Make sure leads are not too long or too low that horses can become entangled.
A tie or gate across the hind end of the horse prevents bolting backwards and kicking.

General

Be sure any metal lining on stall walls and door tops is turned under and well secured.
Watch for cracked or splintered stall boards.
Make sure there are no protruding objects (eg. nails) in the walls.
Windows should be covered with bars or wire. They should be hinged at the bottom and open inwards from the top.
Sufficient number of fire extinguishers should be maintained in easily accessed areas. They should be tested frequently to insure that they are working properly.
There should be water taps outside the stalls for general purpose use.

Safety in the Aisles

Aisles should be at least eight feet wide.
Cement or asphalt are the most common flooring materials for aisles. Cement must have a slightly rough surface to prevent slipping.
Cross ties should be well spaced out; avoid crowding in the aisles.
Cross ties should be well fastened to the walls but, by the same token, must be easy to undo or break in case of emergency. Attach the tie to the wall-fitting with something like binder twine that is quite strong but could break if the horse falls down in the ties.
Keep the aisle clear of clutter, never leave pitchforks, shovels etc. where they can be stepped on.

Fire Safety Rules for the Stable

Have an adequate number of stable doors. Preferably one opening to the outside on each wall. Dutch doors that open out from each individual stall are ideal.
Train all horses and ponies to exit freely from the stable.
Exits should open into a paddock so that horses can be prevented from reentering the stable.
Have all stable doors equipped with easy to open latches.
Never house more than one horse in a stall.
Turn electricity off at night. Master switch should be located near the main door so that it can be turned on in an emergency. (It is much easier to remove horses from a lighted barn.)
Absolutely no smoking in or around stable area at any time.
Have someone sleep in or near stable whenever possible.
Do not install electronically controlled doors.
Allow no one under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the stable area.
Post an accurate count of animals in the stable near the main door.
Halters with leads attached should be hung outside each stall.
A long hose attached to stable water supply should reach from one end of the stable to the other.
Do not store gas, ammunition, or any explosive or flammable material in the stable.
Do not store any motor vehicle in the stable.
Avoid the use of plastic materials as they are highly flammable.
Spraying of any type is dangerous (especially polyurethane and polystyrene).
Smoke detectors may be more practical than heat detectors.
Be sure the stable loft or storage area is well ventilated. Never store damp hay or shavings.
Watch for overheating in the manure pile. Regular removal is a good safety and health measure.
Keep lightbulbs clean, dust and cobweb free.
Replace old wiring to avoid electric fires.

ln the Event of Fire...

Ask firemen to keep their flashlights off when moving horses in the dark. The light throwing shadows on walls and floors, or in their eyes, frightens and blinds them. Open all stall doors at once. If the horses are reluctant to leave, remove their water bucket and throw the water behind them. If they still refuse, whack them on the rear end with the bucket; this will tend to scare them forward into action. If a horse is frozen with fear and refuses to leave the barn it may be necessary to cover his head with a blindfold to lead him out of the barn. Finally, because the barn is home to them, keep people posted at the front door to prevent the horses from re-entering the barn.

REMEMBER - in case of fire, time and teamwork is of the utmost importance.

The above article is ©Canadian Equestrian Federation (CEF).
It has been Web-published on this site with the kind permission of the CEF.
The original brochure was printed through the co-operation and financial support
of Sport Canada/Canadian Heritage.