DIY Horse Stalls
There are a variety of styles in which horse stalls can be built. American style horse stalls aim for practicality and cheaper costs while European stalls are more about form than function. While there are plenty of pre-made horse stalls, the highly satisfying sense of accomplishment after building your own is worth the work.
Tools
- Garden square
- Measuring tape
- Post-hole digger
- Spray paint
- Square
- Twine
- Four wooden posts (six-by-six-inch)
- Drill
- Hand saw
- Quick drying concrete
- Level
- Knife
- Three five-inch lag screws
- Drive four garden stakes into the ground to mark the positions of the stall posts. They should be one, two-feet apart and should make a one two-by-one two foot square. Stretch out the twine at the four positions and use a carpenter’s square to ensure the corners make a perfect square. Mark each corner point with spray paint and pull out the stakes and twine.
- Use the post-hole digger to dig holes at the marked pole positions. They should measure three-feet deep.
- Prepare the quick drying concrete using manufacturer’s instructions. Insert the fist post into the dug hole and hold it upright, then pour some concrete until the post can stand firmly. Place the remaining three posts and set concrete to dry for two days.
- Build the walls: hold one two-by-four-inch one, two-foot long board across two posts, with the wide side touching the posts. Lower the board so that the bottom edge touches the ground. Ensure the board is level and screw it to the posts with three, five-inch lag screws.
- Align the second board on top of the first board and make sure their edges touch. Screw the board on to the posts. Work your way upwards till the top of the posts to make the first wall.
- Place supporting boards: mark two points on the center board two-feet away from either post. Mark another point six-feet from any of the two wall posts still on center board so that you have three points.
- Place a six-foot long board in line with the first mark across the wall, making nine-degrees with the wall boards. Nail the board on to the wall boards. Repeat for the other two marks to create support for the wall.
- Build the other two walls by repeating steps four to seven.
- Install the door and finish: at two-feet and three-feet height on the right post, screw the two hinges of the gate. At a height of three-feet on the left post, fix the gate latch on to the post. Hold the gate into the opening (you may need assistance here) such that it fits into the hinges and drive nails through them to secure it tight. Ensure it freely swings to open and close.