Buying a horse box in Switzerland: indoor or outdoor stall, ranges and dimensions at a glance
Whether you're converting an existing stable or adding new outdoor stalls at the paddock, this guide walks you through the key decisions before you request a quote.
Quick decision: what to clarify before you request a quote
- Location: existing building (renovation, refurbishment) or new build / free-standing solution outdoors?
- Number of horses and size: how many stalls, what withers heights, which breeds?
- Use: private stable, livery yard, riding school, breeding operation or seasonal competition stabling?
- Dimensions: available length, depth and ceiling height — including load-bearing beams, posts and windows?
- Accessories: tack room, wash bay, waterers, feed troughs, solarium — now or in a later stage?
- Implementation: self-assembly, partial assembly or full assembly by us or our installation partners?
- Budget: what order of magnitude is realistic, and how should it be staged?
1. Indoor or outdoor stall: the first, biggest decision
- Indoor stalls are installed inside an existing or new stable building. They consist of a front wall, partitions and a door — the roof, floor and outer walls are provided by the building.
- Outdoor stalls are free-standing, covered units with their own roof structure. They stand at the paddock, in the yard or directly at pasture.
| Criterion | Indoor stall | Outdoor stall |
|---|---|---|
| Structural prerequisite | existing or newly built stable building | level, load-bearing ground, foundation if required |
| Components | front wall, partition, door, optional feed wall and window | complete stall unit incl. roof, rear and side walls |
| Roof shapes | dictated by the building | lean-to, gable or Texas (corrugated sheet) roof |
| Extension | additional partition and front wall per stall | add-on module per additional stall |
| Typical use | riding facility, livery yard, barn conversion | paddock stall, pasture access, outdoor keeping, mobile stall |
| Permit in Switzerland | depends on the build (change of use, renovation) | depends on project, location, canton, municipality and land-use zone |
- Indoor stall if you have or are building a stable where the roof covers the stall anyway.
- Outdoor stall if you need an additional location, lack a suitable indoor space, or want to stay mobile.
- Combination if a riding facility uses outdoor stalls at the paddock during the day and indoor stalls in the main stable at night.
2. Standard, Profi or Excellent: a question of use, not prestige
For indoor stalls, the catalogue offers three ranges. All three are solidly built stalls made of galvanised steel with plastic boards; the difference lies in profile strength, grid dimension, stall height and fittings. None of the three ranges is "objectively the best" — each has its own field of use.
| Feature | Standard range | Profi range | Excellent range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame profile | 40 × 40 mm | 50 × 50 mm | U-profile 50 × 50 mm, Ø 48 mm tube on top |
| Grid spacing | 50 mm | 55 mm | 55 mm |
| Grid thickness | Ø 22 mm | Ø 25 mm | Ø 27 mm |
| Standard height | 2.20 m | 2.30 m | 2.30 m |
| Galvanising | fully galvanised | fully galvanised | full hot-dip galvanised |
| Door width (sliding door example) | 1.14 m | 1.30 m | 1.40 m |
| Typical use | private stable, smaller livery operations, budget-focused projects | livery yard, riding school, ambitious private stables | representative facilities, breeding operations, competition stables |
- Standard range: solid, durable base fittings — sensible when budget is the priority.
- Profi range: the all-rounder — higher ceiling height, sturdier profile and grid, wider door.
- Excellent range: highest mechanical reserve, full hot-dip galvanised, visible tube end on top.
3. Dimensions and Swiss requirements
Stall dimensions follow the horse's withers height (Wh): the Animal Protection Ordinance (TSchV, SR 455.1) sets the minimum values in Annex 1, Table 7. For a horse with a withers height of 148–162 cm, that means at least 9 m² of floor area and 2.3 m of clear height in an individual stall. The stall width must also be at least 1.5 times the withers height; the TSchV sets no separate minimum depth. The full table for every size class, the rules for mares with foals and the turnout areas are covered in our dedicated guide.
4. Front wall, partition, door, material: the many small decisions
- Front wall: determines the look towards the aisle — sliding door, hinged door, safety glass or tack-room wall.
- Partition: "grid on top", "closed for 1 m", "closed for 2 × 1 m" or "fully closed", depending on the desired visual contact.
- Door: 2-part, with safety glass or plastic boards, sliding or hinged system.
- Infill: plastic boards (32 mm) in brown, black or grey — durable and easy to clean.
- Galvanising and powder coating: all ranges galvanised, or full hot-dip galvanised (Excellent).
- Wall accessories: contact hatches, top grids, hay racks and waterers can be integrated.
| Component | Standard material | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Frame / grid | steel, galvanised or hot-dip galvanised | long service life, corrosion protection in humid stable air |
| Infill | plastic boards, 32 mm | splinter-free, hygienic, hose-cleanable |
| Upper door (optional) | safety glass | brings light into the stall, clear view to the aisle |
| Floor (by owner) | concrete with rubber mats or impact-absorbing screed | sure-footed, thermally insulating, hygienic |
5. What to provide for a precise quote
- Floor plan or sketch of the existing stable (or new build) — a hand-drawn sketch with dimensions is enough.
- Number of stalls and planned stall widths in metres.
- Ceiling height and details of load-bearing beams, posts and windows.
- Photos of the location — inside and outside.
- Usage concept: private, livery, riding school, breeding operation, seasonal use.
- Desired fittings: tack room, wash bay, waterers, feed troughs, solarium, competition stalls.
- Implementation: self-assembly, partial assembly or full assembly by us or our installation partners.
- Timeframe: by when the facility should be operational.
6. What a horse box costs in Switzerland
- All prices on the website are non-binding indicative figures in Swiss francs.
- Final costs depend on dimensions, fittings, choice of materials, assembly effort and local conditions.
- Thanks to modular construction and industrial manufacturing, you get a good price-to-quality ratio.
- The concrete quote is drawn up after reviewing your details, broken down transparently by products, finish, assembly and transport.
7. How your project runs in four steps
| Step | What happens | What we need from you |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Discuss the project | by phone, e-mail or the form | your plans in a few keywords, photos if available |
| 2. Send dimensions & documents | rough planning, feasibility check | sketch, dimensions or plans |
| 3. Receive a quote | proposal with products, finish, indicative price | follow-up questions on fittings |
| 4. Delivery & assembly | date by arrangement, Switzerland-wide | site access, coordination on the building side |
8. Step-by-step recommendation
- Decide indoor or outdoor — a look at the structural situation is usually enough.
- Narrow down the range — use, budget and requirements determine the choice.
- Put together rough dimensions and numbers.
- Preselect the front-wall model — sliding door for a narrow aisle, hinged door with glass for a more inviting look.
- Rough out an accessories list — tack room, wash bay, waterers.
- Request a quote — with photos and a sketch.
- Decide at your own pace — the quote is non-binding.
Frequently asked questions
Is a "horse box" the same as a "horse trailer"?
No. In this guide, a horse box is a stationary stall — indoor or outdoor, for the stable. Horse trailers are a separate category in our range and are not covered in this article.
Indoor or outdoor stall — what does the choice depend on?
On the structural situation. If a building exists, an indoor stall is usually the right solution. If no building is available, or the stall should stand at the paddock or stay mobile, an outdoor stall comes into play. Both variants can be combined.
What distinguishes the three ranges Standard, Profi and Excellent?
Mainly profile strength, grid dimension, stall height and fittings. Standard is a solid base specification, Profi is the all-rounder for livery yards and riding schools, Excellent is the representative range with maximum mechanical reserve.
What dimensions must a horse box have in Switzerland?
The minimum requirements are set out in the Animal Protection Ordinance (TSchV, SR 455.1), Annex 1, Table 7, based on the horse's withers height: for example, at least 9 m² of floor area and 2.3 m of clear height for a horse with a withers height of 148–162 cm, and at least 10.5 m² and 2.5 m for larger horses. The stall width must be at least 1.5 times the withers height.
How long does it take from enquiry to an assembled stall?
That depends on project size, product availability, assembly effort and your own timeline. The quote processing time is communicated when you make your enquiry.
Sources and verification
- Animal Protection Ordinance (TSchV), SR 455.1— Annex 1, Table 7 (Equidae), minimum dimensions for horses. No official English version exists; German text is authoritative.
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)— Fact sheets on horses. Specific fact-sheet URL could not be automatically verified — confirm manually on blv.admin.ch before publication.
- Cantonal and municipal building authority— Responsible for outdoor-stall building permits; responsibility varies by canton and municipality.