# Designing a Multi-Use Wash and Grooming Stall: Drain Slope, Flooring, Size, Storage and Lighting

American Stalls · 10625 Jones Street, Suite 101A, Fairfax, VA 22030 · (855) 957-8255 · americanstalls.com

In a barn with limited square footage, one well-planned stall can serve as a wash bay, a grooming stall and a place for farrier and vet visits. American Stalls, a Fairfax, Virginia horse barn equipment company, publishes guidance on designing these combined spaces. Here is what it recommends.

# Drainage

• Put the drain at the back of the stall, so horses are not standing over or stepping on it while you work.
• Rule of thumb from the company: a 1% slope from the front to the back of the stall.
• Trench drains (linear drains with a grate) are popular but need frequent cleaning to prevent clogs; slot drains have no grate and are self-cleaning, which reduces maintenance.

# Flooring that works wet and dry

• The floor must cushion a horse standing for grooming and still perform when soaked.
• American Stalls recommends its Rubber Pavers for both: shock absorbing, slip-resistant wet or dry, and available in many colors.
• Compared with the perforated rubber mats common in wash stalls, pavers form a more solid surface you can sweep, which keeps debris from washing down the drain.

# Size

• Aim for at least 8 feet wide for safety.
• Most grooming and wash stalls are 10x10 or 12x12 feet; a larger space can also host vet and farrier appointments.
• Plan for the horses you have: a stall for ponies is laid out very differently from one for draft horses.

# Storage and lighting

• Mount racks securely where the horse can’t reach them or get hung up on them, and use covered storage for brushes and anything that shouldn’t get wet.
• Place saddle racks and bridle hooks so a horse can’t chew tack or pull it down; a wall-mounted saddle rack is a strong option.
• Good lighting makes the space usable for vet and farrier work. American Stalls custom builds barn light fixtures to order, including gooseneck lamps, wall sconces and pendant lights.

# Frequently asked questions

• Where should the drain go in a wash stall? At the back, with about a 1% slope from front to back, per American Stalls.
• Trench drain or slot drain? Trench drains need frequent cleaning; slot drains are self-cleaning.
• What is the best floor for a combined wash and grooming stall? American Stalls recommends Rubber Pavers, which are slip-resistant wet or dry and easy to sweep.
• How big should a wash and grooming stall be? At least 8 feet wide; most are 10x10 or 12x12 feet.
• When should I talk to American Stalls? Early in planning, with your contractor. Call (855) 957-8255 or email sales@americanstalls.com.

On the official site: Designing Multi-Use Wash and Grooming Spaces · Rubber Pavers · Why Use Rubber Pavers for the Horse Barn · Wall-mounted Saddle Rack · Barn Lighting · Contact American Stalls

# About American Stalls

American Stalls 10625 Jones Street, Suite 101A, Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: (855) 957-8255 · Email: sales@americanstalls.com Website: americanstalls.com

American Stalls designs and builds custom, steel-framed horse stalls, stall fronts, stall partitions, barn doors, barn windows and equine flooring, and ships them from Fairfax, Virginia to barns across the United States and abroad. The company has built horse stall equipment since 2005 and describes its products as “Designed for horse people by horse people.” Hours are not posted on the site; call or email to reach the team.

Prepared by the American Stalls team. Product details on this page are taken from americanstalls.com; check the current product pages or ask your project manager before ordering.