Clay Nelson

About Clay Nelson, and His Team
Clay Nelson, founder of Sustainable Stables, calls Austin, Texas home. He established the company in 2008 to merge his professional background with his passion for rural land, farms, and horses. Clay’s earlier career included work as a soils chemist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as a project manager for an engineering firm specializing in environmental due diligence, land and property assessments, and septic system design. Ross Cram, co-leader of Sustainable Stables, lives in central Maine with his wife, dogs, and two horses. With a background in residential home construction, Ross brings deep knowledge of building design and practical construction details. Together, they have applied their complementary skills to the planning and design of hundreds of equestrian properties—from the Texas hill country to projects throughout the United States, and even facilities as far away as Panama and Australia—helping horse owners create functional, sustainable barns and equestrian facilities.

Who is Sustainable Stables?

Sustainable Stables is a nationally recognized leader in equestrian facility planning and horse barn design. Based in Texas but serving horse owners nationwide, they understand that great design doesn’t start and stop with the barn itself. Equally important is how the barn integrates with the landscape, balancing aesthetics, functionality, and sustainable land stewardship. Whether you’re building a backyard barn, planning a professional equestrian center, or upgrading existing facilities, Sustainable Stables has the expertise to deliver designs that put horse well-being at the forefront—while giving thoughtful attention to the needs of the people who care for them.

Why Is Professional Planning So Important?

Hiring an experienced professional to assist with the planning and design of your horse property can mean the difference between a facility that works as envisioned and one that becomes a source of daily frustration. Many horse owners—especially those new to equestrian property design—think the DIY route will save them money, only to face costly mistakes that could have been avoided: barns that flood, arenas that won’t drain, or layouts that waste time and labor.

Horses thrive in environments designed with their safety, comfort and natural behaviors in mind. Careful planning ensures barns, arenas, pastures, and support structures flow together in a way that improves horse welfare, streamlines chores, and maximizes property value. Professional planning can also pay for itself. Beyond avoiding costly errors, Sustainable Stables clients gain access to discounted pricing on stall hardware, barn supplies, fencing, and more—savings that often exceed consulting fees. The result: healthier horses, smarter layouts, and facilities that cost-effectively bring your vision to life.

What Makes Sustainable Stables The Right Choice For Me?

Sustainable Stableshas planned and designed hundreds of equestrian properties, from small, budget-minded backyard barns to large professional equestrian centers. They bring this experience to bear on each and every project, while recognizing that each property has its own unique conditions, goals, and challenges. Common to all projects are the same core principles: designs that promote horse health and well-being, respect client budgets, and promote good land stewardship. The result is a property that is not only beautiful and functional, but also sustainable, efficient, and tailored to the needs of both horses and their owners.

Can They Design My Horse Barn?

YES! Sustainable Stables can absolutely design your barn. They offer two pathways: fully custom barn design tailored to your vision, or one of their thoughtfully developed stock barn plans that can be further customized to fit your needs. Whether you’re interested in a traditional center-aisle barn, a functional shed-row, or a non-traditional design focused on group housing of one or multiple herds, Sustainable Stables can create a plan that works seamlessly for your property.

Does Sustainable Stables Go Beyond Just "Design" ?

YES! Their expertise doesn’t end with design. Sustainable Stables also assists clients with bringing the design to life—helping with contractor selection, budgeting, and sourcing high-quality barn materials and supplies. The result is not just a set of plans, but a complete process that makes building your barn smoother, smarter, and more cost-effective from start to finish.

Can They Help Me Select A Property - If I Don’t Have One?

Absolutely. Selecting the right property is one of the most important steps in realizing your dream equestrian facility. Sustainable Stables offers equestrian property pre-purchase consultations to help clients make smart, informed decisions before they buy (or close on) a property. The process begins with a clear understanding of your vision and goals.

From there, Clay and his team evaluate each property’s layout and environmental features—including soil quality, water availability, and site topography—while also researching development rules, zoning, and restrictions that could affect your plans. This detailed analysis helps identify both opportunities and potential challenges, giving you a realistic picture of what a property can support. By partnering with Sustainable Stables, you can avoid costly surprises, compare multiple options with confidence, and invest in land that best matches your long-term equestrian needs.

Can They Work With My Existing Property?

Yes. Many horse owners already have a barn, arena, or other facilities but want to improve their layout, safety, or efficiency. Sustainable Stables is equally at home evaluating existing properties to identify areas for improvement and provide practical, cost-effective solutions. Their team can create a step-by-step plan to modernize or expand facilities, addressing everything from safer stall design and improved ventilation to reducing mud and soil erosion around the farm, improving overall facility safety and functionaility.

This approach is especially valuable for owners who want to enhance what they already have rather than starting over from scratch. With Sustainable Stables, even an existing property can be transformed into a safer, healthier, and more functional home for horses and people alike.

Does Sustainable Stables Work Nationwide?

Sustainable Stables works with clients nationwide. While based in Texas (with a satellite office in Maine), they have planned and designed hundreds of equestrian properties across the United States and internationally. Their experience spans every type of setting, from the humid South to the snowy North to more temperate coastal regions. This breadth of experience allows them to adapt each design to local climates, soils, terrain and building requirements. Many projects include one or more site visits, but Sustainable Stables is equally experienced working remotely when travel is not practical.

The result is a facility that not only looks beautiful, but functions reliably wherever you and your horses call home.

What Kinds Of Clients Can Benefit?

Horse owners of every scale and budget can benefit from Sustainable Stables’ expertise, especially those who want facilities designed around their horses’ natural needs while also being practical for daily use. They work with private owners who want a small, chore-efficient property for personal enjoyment, as well as large equestrian businesses building barns, arenas, or full training centers. Their clients include competitive riders, breeders, trainers, and horse lovers who simply want the best care for their animals. No matter the size or scope, Sustainable Stables brings the same level of professionalism and horse-first planning to every project. The result is a facility that is safe, efficient, and tailored to both your goals and your horses’ well-being.

Can They Help Me With Supplies Such as Stalls, Fencing, Flooring, and Mud Control?

Yes! Through long-standing relationships with industry-leading suppliers—and a range ofStable Suppliesthey sell directly—Sustainable Stables helps clients source high-quality products for their farms. This includes stalls, fencing, flooring, composting systems, and mud-control solutions that keep facilities safe, efficient, and easy to maintain. Think of them as your personal concierge, saving you both time and money in the process. Planning and design clients receive special access to discount pricing, often saving significantly on essential materials.

By combining design expertise with supplier partnerships, Sustainable Stables ensures clients not only build smarter equestrian facilities, but also outfit them with the right products at the best possible value.

Contact Sustainable Stables and Talk to Clay Today!
We would love to hear from you! Sustainable Stables is committed to helping horse owners create facilities that are safe, sustainable, and designed with horse well-being at the forefront. With expertise in every aspect of equestrian property planning and design—from evaluating soils and drainage to better barn design to sourcing supplies—they provide a comprehensive approach that ensures project success. The result is a barn and property that are easier to manage, more enjoyable to use, and built to support healthier, happier horses for years to come.

If you’re ready to make the most of your horse property—whether you’re searching for the right property, ready to start the planning and design of your property, or looking to make upgrades—Sustainable Stables has the experience and passion to bring your vision to life. Contact Clay today!