Portable Shelters for Horses

A horse is a beautiful animal that is used for many things: work horses, riding horses, racing horses, and pets. Naturally, they also have to travel sometimes and will need shelter against the weather that you may hit on the way. That's why there are shelters for horses that are portable and make it easier to cart them around.

  1. Size

    • When picking out a shelter for the horse, it's important that you focus on the size of the shelter. Measure your horse's length and width, and make sure you get one that is actually big enough to hold the animal. For good measure, get a shelter that is a little bit larger than your horse, so it will be comfortable. However, getting a shelter that is too large will cause the trip to be not so comfortable for the horse. If not strapped in carefully, the horse will get seriously injured in the shelter, especially if it is too big. The shelter should be roomy, but snug at the same time.

    Material

    • There are different materials that a portable horse shelter can be made out of; wood, metal and steel are the most common choices. You should consider which ones are most durable. The wooden shelter may not work so well in the middle of a rain storm, since the water will likely soak through the wood and ruin it. Steel shelters are generally predominantly fabric with only steel bars, which means they wouldn't be durable in harsh weather conditions like heavy winds or rain. All-metal shelters are definitely the way to go.

    Inside Comfort

    • Even though you love your horse and want him to be as comfortable as possible, the worst thing you can do is stack pillows and blankets in with him. While this seems comfortable to people, it poses a tripping hazard to the horse. For the horse, the most comfortable thing you can do on a trip is to make sure his shoes are on tight, make sure he is safely and snugly strapped in, and ensure there is enough room for him to move a little without him flopping around the shelter.

    Color

    • The last thing you should look at is the color of the shelter you want. Even though we want what is best for our horse, we also want the shelter to look nice to the people we drive past. It's best to go with warm and neutral colors. If you pick a white shelter, keep in mind that it will be more likely to get dirty than it would be with a black shelter. Bright colors may have a negative effect on the horse. Neutral colors are generally considered the safest to use.