Chew Guards for Horse Stalls: Aluminum Barn Protection Guide

Horses can damage wooden stall doors and posts in a matter of weeks through cribbing and wood chewing. The repair costs add up fast when you have to replace boards, trim, and door frames repeatedly. Installing aluminum chew guards for horse stalls creates a hard, smooth barrier that stops damage at the source and keeps your barn in good condition for years.

Chew guards for horse stalls are aluminum angles and cap channels installed over exposed wooden edges where horses bite or crib. The UC Davis Center for Equine Health reports that 4.4% to 15% of horses in the United States show cribbing behavior. This repetitive action causes real structural damage over time. Aluminum guards form a barrier that prevents horses from gripping wood, which cuts down on repairs and extends the life of your barn. Browse the chew guards category to find the right parts for your stall setup.

Why Horses Chew Wood and How It Damages Your Barn

Wood chewing is a common issue that affects many horse facilities. UC Davis research shows that cribbing is a stereotypy where a horse grabs a fixed object with its front teeth, pulls back, and often swallows air. This behavior appears in 4.4% to 15% of U.S. horses and can lead to significant barn damage over time.

Key causes of cribbing and wood chewing include:

• Limited forage time. Horses evolved to graze 16 to 19 hours daily. When stalled with restricted hay, they redirect chewing to wood surfaces.
• Stress and confinement. Small stalls and limited turnout create boredom that triggers cribbing habits.
• Learned behavior. Horses often copy cribbing from nearby horses, spreading the habit through a barn.

The results are costly. Horses can splinter stall doors, chew through post corners, and damage wall tops within days of starting the behavior. Repairing or replacing damaged wood costs time and money, and chewed surfaces create splinter hazards for horses. Installing chew guards for horse stalls is the most direct way to stop this damage cycle.

Using durable wood protection methods recommended by extension services helps keep your barn safe. Aluminum guards provide a physical barrier that horses cannot grip with their teeth, making cribbing ineffective on covered surfaces.

What Are Chew Guards for Horse Stalls?

Chew guards for horse stalls are aluminum components designed to cover exposed wood where horses crib or bite. They come in several forms to match different parts of a stall. The most common type is the Chew Guard, a 1-1/2 inch by 1-1/2 inch aluminum angle that fits over 90-degree corners and post edges. Armour Horse Stalls makes these parts from all-aluminum material with fasteners included for lumber installation.

These guards serve two main purposes. First, they prevent horses from biting wood by creating a smooth metal surface that offers no grip. Second, they cover areas where cribbing has already occurred, cleaning up the appearance of chewed wood and stopping further damage. Most barn owners find that covering the first few vulnerable spots prevents the habit from spreading to other parts of the stall.

Armour offers standard lengths of 36 inches and 48 inches, with custom lengths available by phone for odd-sized openings. The all-aluminum material is easy to handle during installation without stressing stall walls.

Which Parts Do You Need to Protect Your Barn?

Every barn layout is different, but most need a mix of two or three guard types to achieve full coverage. Horses tend to target specific spots based on their reach and stall layout.

Angle guards are the workhorse of chew protection. They fit over upright post corners and door edges where horses most often bite. The 1-1/2 inch by 1-1/2 inch size covers standard lumber dimensions and includes pre-spaced fastener holes for quick attachment.

Cap channels protect flat top edges of stall walls, door headers, and track frames. These U-shaped pieces slide over the top of a board to create a barrier on horizontal surfaces where horses rest their teeth while cribbing.

The Chew Guard Vee is a specialty piece designed for the V-shaped gaps on crossbuck stall doors and similar angled surfaces. It covers 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch from the center of the V up each side, adding protection to decorative door profiles.

Combining angle guards on posts and cap channels on wall tops provides total coverage. This layered approach stops horses from finding any bare wood edge to grip. Visit the chew guards page to see the full lineup and choose your configuration.

How To Install Aluminum Chew Guards on Existing Stalls

Installing chew guards for horse stalls is a straightforward DIY project that takes about 15 to 30 minutes per stall. The guards mount directly over existing wood using the included fasteners, so there is no need to remove or replace stall components.

1. Measure each area. Determine the length of every corner post, door edge, or wall top that needs protection.
2. Select your sizes. Choose standard 36-inch or 48-inch guards, or request custom lengths for non-standard openings.
3. Position the guard. Place the aluminum angle or cap channel over the exposed wood edge and press it firmly into place.
4. Drive the fasteners. Use the included screws through the pre-drilled holes into the lumber underneath.
5. Inspect your work. Ensure each guard sits tight against the wood with no gaps where a horse could grip the edge.

The all-aluminum material cuts easily with standard tools if you need to trim a piece to an exact fit. No painting, sealing, or special maintenance is required after installation. The guards stay in place for the life of the stall without needing adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Protect Your Barn With Aluminum Chew Guards

Wood chewing and cribbing cause real damage to horse stalls over time. Aluminum chew guards for horse stalls from Armour Horse Stalls offer a simple, permanent solution that saves money on wood repairs and keeps your barn looking professional. With standard and custom sizes available and a straightforward installation process, there is no reason to let cribbing continue damaging your investment.

Browse the chew guards collection to find the right parts for your barn and stop wood damage for good.