How to Build Cheap Horse Barns
With a budget in mind, it is more important to build the most "efficient" barn within that cost than a "cheap" barn. Horses are an investment of love, time, money and commitment. The simple barn provides protection from the elements and room to store supplies. Planning is the most important first step for your building whether it is to contain two horses or ten.
Plan before starting to build
Location is as important as the building. View how the natural water drainage is in the area. In mild climates, select the high spot in your pasture. If you live in the mountains or a frigid winter zone, plan to build the barn not on the top, but on high ground below the crest of the hill so the hill can act to shield your barn from the cold northern winds. Decide what flooring to use. Cement is best, but dirt is cheaper.
If possible, you want your barn to be convenient to existing driveways, roads and your home. You want it close enough for security, the joy of watching your horses, but not so close that you can detect that certain smell. Having the barn close to the house is convenient when you have to go out and feed the animal or have the vet to treat a sick horse.
The stall is the bedroom for the horse and the hallway the entrance to all the other areas of his house. Standard stall size is 10 feet by 10 feet. Standard hallway size is twelve feet wide. Consider building the stall 12 feet by 12 feet. The horse will have room to walk away and not stand or sleep in the waste. Extend the hallway width to 14 feet for easier access when moving equipment or horses.
Required Materials
- Cement
- 2-by-4 lumber pieces
- Nails
- Siding
- Roofing nails
- Measuring tape
- String
- Spray paint
- Post hole digger or auger
- Hammer
- Saw
- Level
- Paint
- Paint brushes
- Stall doors
- Barn doors
Building Basic Barn
- Clear the ground of rocks and bushes. Bring in filler dirt where needed for leveling. If using cement, pour the floor at this time. Use spray paint and a measuring tape to mark each spot (12 feet minimum) for the four by four-corner post. Verify the lines are straight from post to post using the string. Dig holes for your corner posts 24 inches deep. Mix your cement, set your corner posts in the holes and allow them to set for at least 72 hours. Follow the same method to measure the stalls, main door entrance, and set posts for them.
- Create the frame for the building and the stalls, hammering in a ground slat, middle slat and ceiling slat into the corner post. Use the level to make sure they are straight. Frame in the doorway by using two by four lumber pieces. Use two by four slats to complete the roofing frame, spacing the 12 inches apart. This completes the framework for the barn.
- Fill in the outside walls with your choice of material. Use lumber to fill in the stall walls for strength to contain the horses and prevent injuries. Use regular nails to fill in the roof with your selected material. Secure the roofing material with roofing nails overlapping the shingle several inches for proper water runoff.
- Use stall doors that have wooden lower sections and bars above. Hang the doors of your stalls and entrance. Use a level to make sure they are level and plumb. Secure the doors with the hardware provided.
The cost of building a small barn may range from $8000 to $10,000. However, a well-planned project will provide you with maximum use for a minimum cost. A "cheap" barn provides minimum use with unending cost over the years.