A horse pole barn can be a small stable, a barn with hay and equipment storage, or a stable and riding arena under one roof. Pole Barns Direct designs and builds post frame buildings out of our showroom and office in East Canton, Ohio, for customers in Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Before you request a quote, it helps to think through the stalls, storage, doors, site, and whether you want an arena included now or planned for later.
Our equestrian buildings page shows horse stables, grooming stalls, hay storage, equipment storage, garages, and riding arenas, including a stable and riding arena complex built in Mogadore, Ohio.
Plan the Stalls First
Start with the number of horses the barn needs to hold. Then add the spaces that are not stalls, such as:
- Grooming stall
- Tack room
- Feed room
- Storage room
- Office or other room
Interior walls can be framed to make an office or room, so include those spaces in the plan from the beginning. Stall material is also available as an option; you can see more on our stall material page.
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC are done by other contractors, and Pole Barns Direct may be able to refer you to them. A concrete floor and gutters can be added through our contractors or arranged separately.
Plan the Doors and Windows
Door placement matters in a horse barn. Think about where horses will enter, where feed and tack will be carried, and whether equipment, a tractor, or a truck needs to get inside.
Available door options include:
- Custom Dutch doors
- Sliding doors with Western hardware
- 3′-0″ x 6′-8″ steel 6-panel service doors
- Nine-light glass doors
- Overhead garage doors in insulated and non-insulated versions
If you need an overhead garage door, size it for the tallest and widest thing that needs to drive through. Garage doors are installed by the preferred contractor after the building is done.
Pole Barns Direct’s on-site consultation covers building placement, site grade, access, water control, features, and size. Your estimator designs and quotes the barn one-on-one and provides 3D renderings to help place doors and windows.
You can also try layouts in our 3D Builder, which starts with a zip code check. The finished design can be sent with your quote request.
All of our windows have insulated glass. Clear panel, about 2′ tall near the top of the sidewalls, is recommended only for buildings that will not be finished inside. Single-bubble vapor barrier goes under the roof steel on every building and is a standard feature in every quote.
Plan the Hay and Equipment Storage
Hay and equipment can go in a ground-floor bay, or you can plan for storage overhead.
For upstairs space, options include:
- A loft, which usually needs extra posts
- Attic trusses, which create a sloped-ceiling room under a peaked roof
- Gambrel trusses, which create a square room under a barn-style roof
- Spread-web trusses, which provide crawl-space storage for light items
Attic trusses and gambrel trusses each provide an upstairs room 12′ to 16′ wide that runs the length of the building. They go 2′ on center and may need a crane. In Ohio, most building departments require stamped drawings from a licensed architect for a building with a second floor.
Our post on second floors in a pole building explains these options in more detail. Hay doors are also available.
Decide Whether to Include a Riding Arena
A riding arena can be part of the same building plan. Pole Barns Direct buildings start at 24′ x 24′ x 8′, can clear span up to 80′ wide with no posts in the middle, and can be as long as the available space allows.
If you may want an arena later, tell us at the beginning. Additions to existing barns are sometimes possible, depending on several factors, and it helps to know your long-term plan while the first building is being designed.
If Your Horses Mostly Live Outside
If your horses mostly live outside, a run-in shed or loafing barn may fit your needs. Both are included on our agricultural buildings page, along with livestock housing, hay storage, equipment and machinery storage, and garages.
A lean-to can also add covered space along the side of a building. Porches, cupolas with weathervanes, and wainscot are available options as well.
Plan the Site and Permits
Before the building goes up, you arrange a level dirt pad and driveway access with an excavator. Pole Barns Direct does not do excavation beyond drilling the post holes, but we can refer a local excavator.
You are typically responsible for zoning and building permits. Check what you are allowed to build before finalizing your plans. Our post on checking what you’re allowed to build explains where to start.
After your quote is final, Pole Barns Direct can provide the documents and drawings usually needed for the building permit. We do not finalize plans or contracts until you have your permits.
Start Planning Your Horse Pole Barn
Pole Barns Direct has built post frame buildings since 2009, and we build all year long. Every building we construct has a 5 year warranty on materials and labor, serviced through Pole Barns Direct. Some limitations apply, so call for details.
You can meet us at your building site or at our showroom and office:
Pole Barns Direct, LLC
505 Nassau St. W
East Canton, OH 44730
We serve customers in East Canton, Eastern Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania.
Call 1-877-712-2767, Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, or request a quote online.
