Types of Horse Shelters

Keeping a horse at home can be a great alternative to boarding, but it is important to provide your horse with the right kind of shelter. There are a number of different shelters available, and it is important to understand the pros and cons of each one.

  1. Bank Barn

    • A bank barn can be a great place to keep a horse, and the barn can be situated so that the horse can go in and out of the barn and pasture at will. While bank barns are a good choice for horse keeping, they can be expensive, so it is important to weigh the costs and benefits carefully.

    Box Stall

    • Box stalls can be great shelters for horses, but it is important to make sure a stall-bound horse is taken out for regular exercise and time in the pasture. At a minimum a box stall for a horse should be 10x10 feet', but a 12x12 stall is even better.

    Lean-To

    • For young and healthy horses, a lean-to set up in the pasture can provide adequate shelter even in bad weather. Older horses, injured horses and those with health problems may need additional shelter, such as stall rest or access to a barn.

    Run-in Shed

    • Run-in sheds are the perfect shelters for those with multiple horses. Several horses can share a single run-in shed when the weather turns nasty or the bugs get too bad. Run-in sheds are easy to set up and easy to move from place to place.

    Age considerations

    • It is important to keep in mind that older horses may be more susceptible to cold and harsh weather conditions than their younger counterparts. Older horses who have always done well in lean-tos and run-in sheds may need to be moved into box stalls or barns as they get older.