How to Plan a Horse Shelter

Horses need not be kept in stables and are happy to live outdoors. However, all horses require protection from the elements, whether that means fierce sun, torrential rain or howling winds, so a strong, convenient, wind-resistant shelter is essential for the animals' welfare.

Things You'll Need

  • Plan for making a shelter
  • Building materials
  • Adequate space
  • Drainage (possible)
Show More

Instructions

  1. The Perfect Shelter

    • 1

      Devise a layout or find a plan to suit your needs. Plans are available at some farm supply stores. A three-sided shelter is best for all weather conditions, and a sloping roofline is preferable to a flat roof because it designed to divert water runoff from the shelter entrance. The shelter will not become unnecessarily muddy as the horse comes and goes.

    • 2

      Determine how large you want to make your shelter. The more horses you wish to shelter, the bigger the structure must be. A shelter with an open front requires at least 64 square feet per horse, with a ceiling at least nine feet high. Horse shelters should be made wide rather than long because horses form a social order. If the entrance is too narrow, an authoritative animal might block the path of one that is less so. Likewise, less depth prevents a weaker horse from becoming trapped at the back of the structure.

    • 3

      Choose your location. The entrance of the shelter must face away from prevailing winds. It also is essential that you build in a well-drained area not prone to flooding. If your horse is based in a region that receives particularly high rainfall, install underground drainage or aggregate surface materials prior to construction of the shelter. A slightly raised entrance and the floor graded with sloping to the sides should ensure that mud does not collect in the center of the shelter.

    • 4

      Choose building materials carefully. Your shelter must be strong enough to withstand abuse from horses, which are less likely to hurt themselves by kicking wood than metal, for instance. In areas prone to snowfall, it is especially important that shelters are made solid and robust enough to cope with heavy accumulations. This is an additional recommendation for a sloping roof, which also would relieve the pressure put on the structure by the snow.