In 2016, among the 150-year-old live oaks in Florida, Hearthstone Homes built one of its most heart-warming and prestigious structures— the Ocala Thoroughbred barn.
The owners of the Ocala Thoroughbred barn wanted “something special” for their legacy ranch. After seeing another barn that Hearthstone had built locally, they learned more about Hearthstone’s track record of creating exquisite timber structures and chose to build with them not only for their history, but for their “charming personalities,” as well.
The 7300-square-foot barn houses ten dedicated horse stalls, plus hay, tack, and wash rooms, a foaling stall, laundry room, 1.5 baths and a den wing. It is a rare, luxurious home for rescue horses. The location with live-oaks and distance views is a perfect setting for such a noble objective. However, it is more than just a home for horses. It is a destination and entertainment venue for friends and clientele, as well.
The barn is made from eastern white pine with planed smooth and hand chamfered edges. The barn floors are a mix of dirt, paw pads, and rubber titles. The structure has an R-38 roof in the den and Hardi-board exterior siding. The standing seam metal roof makes the barn as maintenance-free as possible.
The gable end awnings are more than just eye candy; they protect the classic sliding barn doors from weather and exposure. The site was engineered for 130 MPH hurricane-force winds and the soils were engineered to manage the wind loads.
However, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the barn’s design is its cupola, which creates the “Venturi Effect,” a natural ventilation that cools the barn even in the hot summer months of Florida.
The rescued horses who reside in the magnificent barn may have had a hard life in the past, but now, at the Ocala Thoroughbred Ranch, they are living every horse’s dream. Hearthstone is proud to be a part of realizing that dream.
