Safety advice when building your own horse stables

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If you have been browsing the horse for sale section, have made your purchase and are now planning on commencing the build of your own horse stables then there are many issues that you need to bear in mind.

Firstly, there are the practical issues such as what size your horse stable should be, what materials should be used in its construction, where you are going to position it and whether there are amenities close at hand.

Secondly, when building your own horse stables there are many safety issues that should be taken into consideration for the well-being of both you and you horse. A safety checklist is provided below.

Health and safety

regularly muck out to maintain sanitary conditions, prevent slippages and infection

keep all drains clean and see to blockages as a priority

cover any open drains in the stable yard with strong grids

fit a door that measures at least 4 feet (1.2m) wide and 7 feet (2.1m) high so that there is no risk of your horse hitting his head and there is adequate room for his body when he passes through

the door should consist of two halves that open outwards so that your horse will not be struck when they are opened

the top half of the door should fasten back securely to allow free circulation of air and enable the horse to see out

the top edge of the bottom door should be fitted with a protective metal strip to prevent your horse from chewing the wood and getting splinters

the door should have a horse-proof bolt at the top and a kick-over bolt at the bottom for maximum security

Fire prevention

provide adequate water and foam fire extinguishers

have fire extinguishers serviced regularly

keep a fire hose and sand buckets in the vicinity of the horse stables

make sure all electrical wiring is protected with suitable conduits

make sure all light fittings and switches are out of the horse's reach

fit waterproof light switches in case of a roof leak

Injury prevention

make sure the stable floor is constructed with a non-slip surface such as roughened concrete

check regularly for protruding nails, screws, splinters or anything else that may cause harm to you or your horse

minimise fixtures and fittings

regularly check door bolts and hinges, keeping them well oiled

fit protective grills to any windows

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For more information please see:

Practical advice when building your own horse stables

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