A horse box is a separate area within a stable that serves as a living space for a single horse. These boxes are designed to meet the specific needs of the horses and provide them with a safe and comfortable place to rest and sleep.
Horse boxes are large enough for the horse to lie down, stand up and move around comfortably. The walls are usually high enough to safely enclose the horse, but also designed so that it can have contact with other horses.
Indoor stalls are located inside a closed stable building and usually have no windows, which provides protection from extreme weather conditions.
Outdoor boxes, on the other hand, have an opening or window that leads outside, allowing the horse to enjoy fresh air and daylight, which helps to improve the horse's well-being.
Paddock boxes are connected to an adjoining small run or paddock, which allows the horse to move freely and get some fresh air without leaving the stable area.
A well-equipped horse box contains drinking troughs, feed troughs and often also bedding that makes the floor soft and comfortable. Ventilation and lighting are also important aspects to ensure a healthy stable climate. The design and care of the horse box are crucial for the health and well-being of the horse, as they often spend many hours of the day in this area. The most important points when designing a horse box are listed below.
Air circulation, temperature and light are crucial for the well-being of horses. A good stable climate with optimum air circulation, a pleasant temperature and sufficient light is of great importance. Stables with high ceilings promote air circulation and provide a bright environment. Good air circulation contributes to the well-being of the horses and helps to prevent respiratory diseases.
The most common diseases include chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB), also known as "hay rhinitis", and allergic equine asthma.
Regular air exchange regulates the humidity and prevents the spread of mould and bacteria. A humidity of between 60 and 80 % is ideal to prevent the mucous membranes from drying out and mould from forming.
Ideally, the temperature in the hutch should be regulated by opening windows and doors to avoid draughts. The animals feel most comfortable at cool temperatures between 5 and 15 degrees, but fluctuating temperatures in the hutch are desirable depending on the weather. Good lighting is also important for a pleasant climate in the hutch. A well-lit stable has a positive effect on the horses' biorhythm and helps them to relax.
Most horses react with stress to a lot of noise and restlessness. As flight animals, they are constantly alert and sensitive to changes in their environment. It is therefore crucial that the stable, where the horses spend a lot of time, is a quiet place. People in the stable should behave in a calm and balanced manner so as not to alarm the animals. It is important to avoid unnecessary noises, such as loud mobile phone ringtones or talking or shouting too loudly in the stable.
Horses are sociable animals. In their natural environment, life in a herd is essential for their survival. This need for companionship also remains in horses kept in stables. It is therefore important when designing horse boxes to ensure that the animals can see and communicate with each other.
Paddock boxes that allow the horses to go outside and move freely are ideal. An adjoining paddock offers the horses additional exercise and promotes their well-being.
Individual stalls for mares with foals must be at least 16 square metres or 2.3 times the height at the withers per square metre. The same requirements apply to stallions: at least 16 square metres or 2.3 times the height at the withers per square metre. Individual stalls for breeding horses should be at least 12 square metres or 2.1 times the height at the withers squared. Large horses require individual stalls with a minimum size of 11 square metres or 2 times the height at the withers squared. For ponies, individual boxes must be at least 8 square metres or 2 times the height at the withers squared.
When keeping horses in groups, it is always necessary to provide sufficiently large areas. There should be at least 100 square metres of exercise area plus 12 square metres of lying area per horse.
Structural elements clearly demarcate functional areas from one another. Rest and exercise areas should be separated from each other. This gives the animals structure. This includes partitions and fences that separate different areas within a stable or pasture, as well as shelters and canopies that offer protection from the weather and allow the horses to retreat in peace. Clearly defined feeding and watering areas help to avoid food envy and conflicts. Different floor coverings on the lying areas and exercise areas can characterise the different functional areas. Obstacles and toys encourage the horses to move and keep them occupied and help to prevent boredom. Paths and walkways guide the horses to specific areas such as feeding stations or drinking troughs. These structural elements contribute to the well-being of the horses by supporting their natural needs for movement, rest and social interaction.
The right floor covering for the horse box consists of stable mats combined with bedding. Many stall floors are made of concrete and are covered with bedding. Although bedding provides protection, if there is too little of it, there is a risk that moisture will not be sufficiently absorbed. This leads to slippery surfaces and the risk of injury. Stable mats protect against slipping. They also prevent too rapid an exchange of cold and heat. They also protect the animals' joints, as the elasticity of the rubber mats allows the floor to give way when the horse stands or moves on it. In contrast to a hard floor, the rubberised surface bounces slightly, which reduces the strain on the horse's joints. This springy property helps to absorb shocks and pressure on the joints, which supports the horse's comfort and well-being, especially during long stays in the box. This reduces potential joint problems and injuries caused by excessive stress on the joints.
The right wall panelling is usually made of rubber. This protects the horses' joints when they are restless in their box and kick against it. At the same time, they reduce the noise caused by kicking. This allows the other horses in the stable to remain relaxed and quiet. Similar to stable mats, wall tread protectors are also easy to clean and only require occasional wiping with water.
Partition walls in horse boxes are usually made of robust and durable materials such as wood, metal, plastic, mesh and wire netting.
Wood is often used because of its stability and natural look, provided it is smooth and splinter-free. Metal, such as steel or galvanised iron, is very stable and durable, but should not have any sharp edges or rust spots. High-quality plastic materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene are easy to clean and weather-resistant. Mesh and wire mesh are often used in combination with other materials to allow visual contact and air circulation between the boxes.
A common practice is the combination of wood and metal, with the supporting structures made of metal and the fillings made of wood to ensure a balance of stability, safety and comfort for the horses.
A popular choice for stall doors is the sliding door, which has the advantage that it is difficult to open even by an unlocked horse. Even if the rider starts to open it, there is little chance of the horse escaping, as might be the case with a conventional door.
Typically, these stall doors have a width of at least 1.20 metres to allow horses of all sizes to enter and exit comfortably. It is also important to ensure that the latch is easy to operate from the outside and inside. In addition, the door should always close completely - a gap could be a potential source of danger.
Ideally, there should be a window above each stall that not only lets in fresh air, but also provides sufficient light. The brightness in the stable should normally be about the same inside and outside. Therefore, a square metre of window area per horse or box is often calculated. Lights can also be installed for the night.
The location of the feed trough and drinking trough are also important for horse boxes. Ideally, they should be on opposite sides or even in diagonal corners to ensure maximum distance from each other. This prevents the horse from soaking its concentrated feed and hay prematurely.
To minimise sources of danger, care should be taken to ensure that the dimensions of the box surface and height are adhered to. You should ensure that the bars are stable and securely welded and avoid sharp edges. Nails, screws or planks must not protrude from the wall. It is also important that water and electrical pipes are securely laid.
There are various aspects to consider when choosing horse boxes, depending on whether the horses are to be kept individually or in groups.
When keeping horses individually, indoor boxes should offer sufficient space, good ventilation and windows for daylight as well as a stable construction without sharp edges. Outdoor boxes should be protected from the weather, well drained, stable and safe. Paddock boxes combine an indoor box with an outdoor area and also require good drainage and stable fencing. In group housing, it is important that a loose stable offers plenty of freedom of movement, sufficient space and a non-slip floor. An open stable should allow the horses constant access to a sheltered area and an outdoor area, be well ventilated and securely fenced. An exercise stable should have different areas for resting, feeding and exercise as well as a varied floor.
EN 
DE 