5 Barn-Placement Tips for Horse Owners

Imagine your perfect property. You have your ranch-style home, a field of horses, and a barn off-set from the house about 50 yards. Out past the field, you watch the sunset each and every day. It’s your kind of perfection.

You have the home, the horses, and the sunset, but you don’t have a barn yet. If you’re interested in adding a horse barn to your property, you’re in the right place. In fact, Wholesale Direct Carports is going to share five barn placement tips so that you can get the barn of your dreams exactly where you want it.

Where Should You Put Your Barn?

This is a great question that involves a few different factors. While you may think that all you need are a few stakes, some string, and a general contractor, there is more to the decisions of where to place your barn. Here are the big factors you should consider:

#1. Permits, Permissions, and Processes

For most, they will need to go through the county or city to get a permit to add a barn to their property. While you may want to simply erect a barn, there is a process you must follow. This requires plans and communication with the county or city office. In some cases, you may be able to submit an agricultural exempt permit and build your barn with little to no oversight from the state. Make sure you find out what you need for permits before building.

#2. Views

Once you determine the permitting process, you can then move onto the next important piece of your barn: the view. Now, we aren’t talking about how your barn looks on the property, catching the sunset just right. Instead, we’re talking about what you can see of your barn from your home. You want to be able to see that your horses are safe and comfortable without having to go all the way out to your barn. What’s more, being able to see the entrance to your barn increases security. Obstructed views of doors give criminals more opportunity. Make sure you can see your horses and your doors, Dutch or otherwise.

#3. Climate and Topography

Do you know how the wind blows across your property? Where does the snow or rain come from during most storms? First, you want to determine how to best position your barn so that it can weather any storm. Second, you want to determine where the best soil to build on is located across your property. You want a fairly level piece of land, the soil needs to be solid, and you’ll want easy access to the barn.

#4. Convenience and Comfort

Now that you have the position and alignment of your barn conceptualized, let’s discuss convenience and comfort. You can add utilities and features to your barn that make your barn much easier to work in. For most, lighting and water are the two first utilities added to a horse barn. Others go all out and add heat, living quarters, and a dedicated tack room. Determine if you want anything extra in your barn and plan accordingly so that getting power or water out to the structure is easy and affordable.

#5. Manure Management

Finally, you want to consider the amount of manure that your four-legged friends are going to produce. Consider planning other property structures and features so that you can manage your equine waste. This also includes how you’re going to wash your horses. Will you work by hose or will you have a dedicated washing stall in your barn? How you plan on managing waste will also affect where you place your barn — and what you place around it.

Wholesale Direct Carports is here to help you get the metal horse barn that you deserve. Call today to start the process of ordering your barn. We look forward to serving you.