Horses grow thick winter coats and typically handle cold temperatures well, but they still need protection from strong winds, rain, and snow. A pole barn is a simple and effective way to shelter horses in the winter. It can be built quickly and customized to suit your needs.
How to Design a Pole Barn for Horses
If you have several horses, you can purchase a pole barn and partition the interior into stalls. Set aside space for feed, hay (if you don’t have a separate shed or loft), and saddles and bridles. If you think you might get more horses at some point in the future, buy a pole barn that is a little bigger than you need now so you will have extra room if and when you need it.
Horses can suffer respiratory problems if they don’t get enough fresh air. You might be able to leave windows or doors open if the weather isn’t too cold and if it isn’t snowing, but there will probably be times when you need to keep the barn sealed uptight. Make sure there are enough vents spaced throughout the pole barn to allow a gentle breeze. You can use a combination of the sidewall, eave, and ridge vents.
You don’t need to install heat in the barn since horses can tolerate cold temperatures. In addition, heating systems sometimes cause problems with bacteria and mold that can affect horses’ respiratory systems. Insulation is important, however, especially if you live in an area where the temperature plummets and stays low in the winter. The outer walls, ceiling, and roof should be insulated to protect your horses from the bitter cold.
Run electricity to the pole barn to power overhead lights, as well as equipment to keep water from freezing. Faulty electrical work could spark a fire that could destroy the pole barn and endanger the lives of your horses. If you don’t have the training and experience to install electrical wiring yourself, hire an electrician.
Get a Quote for a Horse Barn
CHA Pole Barns offers shelters in a wide range of sizes and designs to suit a multitude of purposes. We can build a horse barn to protect your equine livestock from cold temperatures, wind, and snow this winter.
You can choose from sliding, overhead, or Dutch doors so you can move your horses and their feed and hay in and out easily and control the amount of ventilation. The inside can be divided into stalls in the number, size, and configuration of your choice. A pole barn can be customized with electricity and plumbing to make it easy for you to care for your horses in the cold winter months and keep them healthy.