Rules for boxes and paddocks

Hello! How lovely that you are planning your own yard. There are many detailed rules covering the measurements that apply in a stable. The height at the withers of the horse or pony, for example, sets the minimum box size and ceiling height. The minimum floor area for a horse standing over 148 cm but under 160 cm at the withers is 8 square metres, and you work out the lowest permitted ceiling height by multiplying the height at the withers by 1.5.

If you are planning to build, rebuild or extend a stable or storage space for horses, it is wise to apply to Länsstyrelsen (the Swedish county authority) for förprövning (mandatory pre-approval) of your stable plans first. They then go through the drawings and the purpose of the build, and you avoid costly changes if the finished stable does not meet every rule. Good luck!