Survey of the designs of racehorse stables in the south west of England.

The research examines the design of 96 racehorse stables in South West England, highlighting the typical living conditions of racehorses and comparing current designs with those from the 19th century, which is suggested to be superior.

Survey Overview

• The research study aimed to analyze the design of 96 racehorse stables in South West England in order to discern the living conditions provided to racehorses in the region.
• The surveyed area focused on the south west of England, covering a significant proportion of stables in that region.

Living Conditions of Racehorses

• The study identifies the ‘typical’ conditions for a racehorse, stating that these animals are usually kept in a loose box, bedded on straw, and remain indoors while the stable is cleaned.
• Each horse typically has a floor area of 12m2 and shares its airspace of 39m3 with approximately seven other horses, highlighting the spatial conditions of stables.

Airflow and Ventilation in Stables

• The study found that the predicted minimum rate of air change by natural convection in calm winds is 6.6 air changes/h. This indicates the rate at which fresh air replaces stale or contaminated air in the stables.
• This rate drops significantly to 2.2 air changes/h if the top door of the stable is closed, showing how the design and use of the stable doors can substantially affect the ventilation within the stable.

Comparison with 19th Century Stable Designs

• The study concludes with a rather surprising finding: racehorse stables in use today are seemingly based on designs that are generally worse than the best available designs from the 19th century.
• This comparison seems to critique modern stable designs for potentially not offering the optimal living conditions for racehorses compared to historical standards, suggesting a need for improvements or changes in current practice.