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Galway-based company, Monaghan Brothers, are one of companies grant-approved by the Department of Agriculture to supply and fit the internal fixings for stables.

T he family company has a long history with horses, having been involved in blacksmithing and metalwork since 1849. Many people will be familiar with the Galway horsebox, manufactured by Joe Monaghan and his sons Kevin and Thomas from 1950 until 2005.

However, with the cost of steel and labour on the increase, Kevin and Tom decided to move into stabling and are inundated with work. Tom explains that many of their clients are converting old sheds into stable units as they move from cattle production into horses. While exact costs are difficult to determine without looking at the individual sites, the cost of a 12x12ft front stable panel is roughly €1,075 (plus VAT) for a department-approved PVC panel. Wooden panels are slightly cheaper at €975 (plus VAT) and the panels are made from treated pine.

A 12ft dividing panel for between stables costs around €650 (plus VAT). Wooden partitions cost around €600 (plus VAT).

The dividing panels are most often used with bars on top so that horses can see each other, although Monaghan Bros can supply full height wooden and PVC panels. "People prefer the bars on top because there is more air and ventilation," explains Tom.

Although wood is cheaper, the PVC panels have the advantage of being more durable and less prone to damage when being transported. As well as that, horses will not chew the plastic.

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