A stall curtain can be a simple way to provide more privacy around your horse’s stall—especially at competitions, where there’s often much more activity in the barn than your horse is used to at home. At Unamari, you’ll find stall curtains from Catago and Equipage, which we develop and design ourselves based on our experience with horses.
The models vary because needs vary as well. Some riders want a large, full-coverage curtain, while others prefer a more open solution where the horse can still look out. Additionally, pockets can make it significantly easier to keep track of equipment around the stall.
What is a stall curtain used for?
A horse stall curtain is usually hung in front of or around the stall to provide a screen from the surroundings. It can be used at home in the stable, but is especially popular at competitions.
In a competition stable, there may be people, other horses, and equipment constantly moving in front of the stall. Here, the curtain can create a physical and visual boundary between the horse’s area and the busy stable aisle.
However, this does not mean that a closed stall curtain automatically results in a calmer horse. Horses react differently to their surroundings. Some find it easier to relax with more screening, while others prefer to be able to look out and keep track of what’s happening.
That’s why we recommend choosing the level of screening based on the individual horse rather than simply selecting the largest curtain.
Stall curtains for competitions - More than just privacy
At competitions, the stall curtain also serves a practical purpose. They can help create a clearly defined area around the stall, and if you choose a model with pockets, you’ll also have a place to store some of the small items you use throughout the day.
This is especially handy because competition gear quickly adds up. Grooming brushes, number tags, horse passports, and other small items are easier to keep track of when they have a designated spot close to the stall.
Here, Equipage Adora was designed as a combination of a privacy screen and storage. The spacious front pockets provide room for smaller equipment, while carabiners, metal rings, and lace loops at the top and sides offer multiple options for secure hanging.
Catago Quilted also features a practical zippered pocket located in the center of the curtain. It is also a high-quality box curtain made of a matte, quilted material that gives it a more exclusive and polished look. The curtain is mounted with sturdy Velcro straps and also matches Catago’s bag collection.
How much should the stall curtain shield the horse?
This is one of the most important questions to ask before choosing a stall curtain.
If your horse is easily distracted by traffic in the stable aisle, a more opaque curtain like the Equipage Adora or the Catago Quilted might be the obvious place to start. They create a clearer boundary between the stall and the surroundings.
But more coverage isn’t necessarily better.
Some horses are happier when they can keep an eye on their surroundings. For them, Equipage Adiva might be a better choice. The design allows the horse to look out while still defining the area in front of the stall. Adiva is secured with carabiners and is quick to set up and take down, which also makes this model practical if the curtain needs to be moved frequently between the barn and competitions.
Therefore, view the stall curtain as a solution that should suit the horse’s behavior—not just the appearance in front of the stall.
Which stall curtain should you choose?
The differences between the models become most apparent when you start by considering what you actually need.
- Choose the Equipage Adora if you want a more fully covering stall curtain and also prioritize plenty of storage space. The combination of multiple hanging options and large front pockets makes it particularly appealing for competitions.
- Choose the Equipage Adiva if you want your horse to still be able to look out. It’s the more open solution and therefore a good alternative to a traditional, fully covering stable curtain.
- Choose Catago Quilted if you prioritize high quality, an exclusive quilted look, and a simple solution with practical storage. The zippered pocket in the middle of the curtain provides space for small equipment without compromising the curtain’s clean look.
In other words, there isn’t a single stall curtain that’s right for all riders and horses. The key factors are, above all, how much privacy you want, how much storage you need, and what type of mounting works best where the curtain will be used.
Keep track of your equipment around the stall
If storage is a high priority, not all the pockets need to be on the stall curtain itself.
The Equipage Abelone organizer, for example, is designed specifically for organization and can be attached to a stall door, show ring wall, or trailer bar using Velcro straps. The various pocket sizes make it possible to keep items such as grooming brushes, hoof picks, fly spray, gloves, and your phone all in one place.
This may be a better solution than a stall curtain with large pockets if you want to be able to move your storage separately. Conversely, Adora is practical if you’d prefer to combine screening and storage in a single solution.
For larger equipment, a stable bag will still be more practical. If the horse needs to stay overnight or remain at the show grounds for an extended period, it may also be worth considering stable rug and the rest of your competition gear, so that the equipment around the stall functions as a complete solution.
Find the right stall curtain for your horse
When choosing a stall curtain, we’d first look at the horse and then at the practical details.
If the horse benefits most from more visual privacy, a fully covering stall curtain is the natural choice. If the horse likes to keep an eye on what’s happening in the stable aisle, a more open model makes more sense. Then you can decide on storage, mounting, material, and design.
In other words, the most important thing is not to find the stall curtain that blocks out the most light, but the one that works best for your horse, your stall, and the way you use the stable or show arena.
