Step Inside a Thoughtfully Designed 5-Stall Barn in Canada

This European inspired horse barn is dreamy, inside and out.

Otto Valley Farms is a private, family owned barn in Foothills, Alberta. Lisa Otto grew up in a quiet town in Midwest Canada. Horse obsessed at an early age, her supportive father bought Goldie, a Quarter Horse and Arabian cross to be Lisa’s first teacher. Lisa fully immersed herself in the equestrian lifestyle, learning how to ride and care for her mare. Lisa’s childhood best friend also had a horse and the young equestrians grew up together, sharing memorable adventures.

Fast forward to adulthood, Lisa and her husband Peter settled down in Alberta and surprised their daughter Tasha with riding lessons for her eighth birthday. Soon after, Lisa also started riding again, realizing how much she missed her days in the saddle. She began to focus on hunters while Tasha gravitated towards the jumpers. The Ottos had become a horse loving family and never looked back.

Photography by Dina Sutherland of Creativity in Action

Currently the Otto family has two Warmbloods and a young buckskin Paint reining prospect in their barn.

This beautiful 5-stall barn was built in 2020 by Denco West, operated by Dennis Martin and his three sons Darcy, Nolan and Durrell. The project took a year to complete from start to finish. Lisa designed the entire barn, arena and paddocks. She had a wonderful experience working with Denco West who flawlessly helped bring the Otto family’s vision and dream to life. Denco West’s incredible craftsmanship and attention to details are seen throughout the space. They also built a small hay shed nearby capable of holding 200 square bales.

The barn’s design and inspiration stemmed from the Otto’s horse shopping experience in Europe, Lisa explained.

“The dutch doors were a must, as the horses seemed delighted by the natural light and air in their stalls. Moreover, a trip to the Kentucky Derby in 2019 sparked some barn design ideas, and I cannot forget @stablestyle, where I found myself saving Instagram inspiration pictures weekly!”

The barn has two Sunshine garage doors at each end. They bring the outside in and provide ample natural light.

The centrally located wash/grooming stall has a set of double dutch doors directly behind it. These doors open up to outdoor grooming stalls next to the riding arena.

The stable features five 12′ x 12′ stalls built by Dennis and his sons. They have a small manufacturer that makes custom stalls.

White-washed Douglas fir tongue and groove wood throughout the interior lends an “older barn” feel, which is warm and inviting.

Security details include a NEST camera system set up to view each stall. The family can easily check on their horses 24/7 from their phones. Additional technology includes an Internet-based sound system which runs throughout the barn’s interior and exterior. Music can be enjoyed from the arena directly in front of the barn.

Wall-to-wall seamless interlocking rubber mats were suggested by their builder, making cleanup an effortless process. The barn also has in-floor heating throughout, which consists of three zones. This allows the barn to maintain a suitable temperature for the horses while keeping the tack room lounge warm and cozy.