Horsebox Stalls: How Big Should They Be?

Obviously, this depends on the size of your horse or pony.  It also depends, to a lesser extent, on the shape of your horse (one horse may have a longer body and higher neck than a horse of the same height, measured to the withers).  Let’s use the example of a 16hh horse (with a fairly standard shape!) for the time being.

Are the sizes of horsebox stalls really fit for purpose? 
Scientific research would suggest otherwise.

In the horsebox trade, manufacturers and dealers alike will give you dimensions that have been used for time immemorial.  It’s what has always been done.  It generally works for most horses and most people, most of the time. 

However, packing people into London Tube carriages seems to work for most of the people, most of the time. 

If we want our horses to arrive in top condition for competition, our horseboxes need to exceed these standards.  We don’t like arriving at our destinations tired, dehydrated with aching muscles and a snotty nose, so why should our horses?  Does your horse really feel comfortable in that space?  Does it feel calm and happy facing that way?  Is it going to arrive feeling fit and healthy? 

Sadly, we can’t ask them.  Horses will probably only reject what is totally intolerable in the first instance, rather than just uncomfortable in the long term. 

There has been some scientific research and informed writing on what horsebox stalls should provide for horses to be safe and content.  Much of this has been to analyse and promote the welfare of horses being transported for slaughter – they discuss minimum standard (again, as competitors we need to ensure we’re giving our horses the best.)

Does your horse really feel comfortable in that space?  Does it feel calm and happy facing that way?  Is it going to arrive feeling fit and healthy? 

What is the ideal size for a horsebox stall?

This is a tricky thing to define as we usually only measure one thing:  the height of a horse’s withers.  What about the height it needs from hooves to ears?  What about the length of a horse? 

In a document publised to promote greater welfare of horses in transit to slaughter, World Horse Welfare (WHW), describe the average length (from tail to nose) of a sample of 15 horses (equidae over 14.2hh) as 2.4m.   However, this measurement would have been taken when the horse was standing, its head raised and – critically – not moving.

WHW very reasonably suggest that additional space is needed to permit the horse to move its head and neck freely, so that it can improve its balance. 

Horses have evolved to spend most of their time with their noses to the ground, eating grass.  Being able to lower its head is natural and comfortable. According to scientific research (Cjrieger, 1982; Clark et al 1993), a not only does a horse find it tiring to have their head raised, but it finds it more difficult to keep its balance.

Moreover, in this position, their airways are not able to drain effectively and keep clear of mucus and dirt.  If this doesn’t happen, it increases the chances of the horse developing an infection (Racklyeft and Love, 1990).

This pony shouldn't feel too claustrophobic in his transport.

It is therefore important that horses have stalls that are longer than 2.4m.  WHW recommended that horses should have stalls 0.8m longer than their length (bigger horses will be longer than 2.4m) for a horse to have the necessary space to.  This brings the necessary length for a horse stall to over 3m (10’).

How about width?  Well horses can lean against partitions or walls to improve stability, but evidence suggests horses would prefer to use spread their legs (as nature intended).  WHW suggest 0.3m of space on each side of horse, which seems perfectly reasonable given the size of horses. I’ve not been able to find the average width of horse – I suppose this is even more variable. 

A very interesting book published in the US (Scheve and Scheve, 1998) suggested horses need at least 3’ (0.9m) stall width to provide them with sufficient room.  If you consider most traditional American horses are a little smaller than our modern Warmblood breeds, then perhaps the stall width ought to be a little bigger, say 1m wide or more. 

And what about height?  The WATO (Welfare ofAnimals Transport Order) guidance tends to be a bit limited; just 1.98m minimum height when horses travel in livestock carriers (more usually designed for farm animals like cattle or pigs). 

A small study by Canadian scientists (Whiting and Sauder, 2000) suggests that horses hoof to poll height tended to be up to 135% of their withers height.  In other words, a 16hh horse needs to have a 2.2m high container.  Extra headroom would no bad thing either, as it can only help to improve safety and air circulation.

Your horse may be perfectly OK in your traditional stalls.  But roomier stalls make for healthier and happier horses and the best athletes beat their rivals by making important marginal gains.