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Cobble stone floored horse stalls????

J

JDseller

Well-known Member
The horse stable here on the farm has the floors cobble stones with red brick stones. It was built in 1892. I just always assumes they cobbled it because they would not have had concrete. Now I wonder if they did it because of drainage. The cobbles stones would not hold moisture like a solid floor.

The cattle barn was cobbled too. The only ones left are in some small calf pins. The rest all have been replaced with solid concrete floors. When we got our first skid steer loader they all got torn up using it on them. So in the early 1970s we torn them out of the main parts of the barn.

I have toured the horse barns at Anheuser-Busch
and they had tiled floors in the Clydesdale's stalls.
 

Clean at least once a day and keep a little something in there for moisture.... We have a couple horses that use the same corner and just get a couple scoops of sawdust there..... Rubber mats are a nice investment after you decide that the horses aren't a shortterm whim.....
 
I would think, depending on the soils underneath, it may have drained, percolated, but after all the years of being in use, organic matter, hard to say now.

If those cobbles are projecting, or the floor is concave, not the best thing for them to be on, nor is concrete, though our old barn had concrete floors, you would have to ask a vet or someone knowledgeable as to the problems associated with these kinds of floors in stalls.

One thing you might be able to do it put in stone dust, (like what they sprinkle on those cold applied pavements) like 6", compact, I've mixed portland with it and kept it moist to bind. That will provide some cushion and drainage, but its a maintenance item too, the stall will get concave, due to erosion from urine streams. Its a good concern, because being properly bedded, including whats underneath may very well save you a vet call or problems. Ours get concave and irregular and I think they get hock sores, or wear em down til the become same. Matting 3 stalls might also be the way to go, at least its only 3.
 
The horses should have rubber mats or 6 inches of bedding to avoid foot and leg problems.The oldtimers would have used a thick layer of straw.
 
There is always a thick layer of bedding over the cobbles. I just was thinking the moisture can get out the bottom of the bedding. Maybe not. They have been here for over one hundred years so I guess they are holding up all right.

I have had stalls long ago for cattle that where just gray clay lined and they would get soft/muddy. They where hard to clean by hand.

I am willing to bet that these horses will get really babies.
 
Baby orses are not a good fit with children. Experienced horses (broken to saddle, and gentle) are as good as it can get. Spirited young non broken "cute" horses are dangerous and will take substantial financial effort to bring into useful ridable condition. I lived with horses for 20 years (from birth to away to college) care is not even close to good enough with the ages of the children. Where will the tack be stored? Who pays the vet? Who is grooming them.
I would put into writing the specific responsibilities they will be charged with doing. I would also be sure there were consequences for slacking on the chores.
(presonally one 4 year old or older horse, Gelding or mare, with a history of good behavior is much preferable to 3 horses with three "owners". Best of luck, growing responsibility too quickly is difficult. Jim
 
I have an old building study book from the 1800's with all different designs of barns. It is detailed in the construction of barns, houses and out buildings. All the designs call for plank floors in the horse stall areas with drainage instructions.
 
When I was a kid there was several farmers in our area that farmed with teams of horses. Can't remember seeing one rubber mat. Hard to imagine all the dumb horsemen of yesteryear keeping horses from being among the extinct to allow the smart horsemen of today to have horses.
 
Well Dick, if you look around I suspect all those old horsemen from your childhood are dead and gone.

Perhaps if they had used mats...

Just thinkin outloud.
 
Our barn was built in the early 20s. The horse stalls were of wood blocks inset like bricks with a floor beneath them.
 
I think planks would be excellant,more work to put in. The horse tie stall floors in our old 1890 barn were concrete,might have been plank originally tho.Barns gone, we're gone,the whole farms been cleared into one big field.That was in Ontario.
 
That has happened a lot around here as well. The horse stall section of my old barn at the farm had been converted into stantion milk stalls with cement floor and gutter before I bought it. I had it bulldozed to build to build a 100 by 100 foot warehouse.
 
Janicholson I had a typo. I meant that the horses will get BABIED not babies. T and S key are side by side. I missed typed.
The horses they got are older well broken saddle horses. They are not very tall. I would bet that they don't stand four foot at the shoulder. They seem very calm horses. Should be good horses for the girls.
The girls have all been riding for several years now. They also will be watched out for by myself and my wife.
 
(quoted from post at 14:58:52 01/01/12) When I was a kid there was several farmers in our area that farmed with teams of horses. Can't remember seeing one rubber mat. Hard to imagine all the dumb horsemen of yesteryear keeping horses from being among the extinct to allow the smart horsemen of today to have horses.
Click to expand...

exactly.... Bet they didn't measure 8 inches of bedding and cover them with blankets either... I like the rubber mats because #1 they are reasonably priced here for some reason and #2 they require just a little sawdust to soak up moisture......
 
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