A three-sided shed or lean-to can provide adequate shelter for a horse. A 12′ by 12′ lean-to can accommodate one to two horses. As horse numbers increase, run-in shed dimensions should increase by 12 feet per horse. Again, these recommendations assume all horses utilizing the shelter get along with each other.
Horse Run-In Shed Sizes
A horse run-in shed should be at least 10×12 or 12×12, which is approximately 120 sq. ft. If you have two horses, you will want at least 240 sq. ft of space or a 12×20 loafing shed.
In some cases, two acres is recommended for the first horse and one additional acre for each additional horse is suggested to prevent over-grazing of pastures.
If you have 2 horses sharing a Field Shelter we would recommend a minimum of 18' x 12' with 2 wide openings to the front to provide an entrance and exit. If more than 2 horses, either a 24' x 12' or even a generous 36' x 12' would be more suitable as there will be plenty of room for your horses to move around/lay down.
Follow these general guidelines when determining shelter dimensions: Height of Opening: At least 10 feet (3 meters) high. Depth of Shed: At least 20 feet (6 meters) deep. Total Area: 100 square feet (9.2 square meters) per young horse and 120 – 150 square feet (11 – 14 square meters) per mature horse.
If you are attempting to figure the carrying capacity of land for a horse, then a good rule of thumb is 1-1/2 to 2 acres of open intensely managed land per horse. Two acres, if managed properly, should provide adequate forage in the form of pasture and/or hay ground.
Graded Gravel and Sand Mix: A combination of graded gravel topped with a layer of angular sand can create a highly permeable footing for runs, allowing for excellent drainage. Advantages: The gravel layer improves drainage, while the sand layer offers a comfortable walking and running surface for horses.
Ideally large enough to safely accommodate all horses in the field. Depth of 3.65m (12ft) and width of 3m-3.65m (10ft-12ft). Extra width of 1.5m (5ft) should be added for each additional horse.
Depends on where the horse lives. In hot, arid climates, the shelter should face away from the sun and the strongest of prevailing winds. In cold climates, it should face towards the sun. It's important to take the lay of the land into consideration.
In general, the approximate pasture needs per average-sized mature horse, with pasture providing most, if not all, of the nutrition is: 1 - 2 acres with an excellent, dense sod, permanent pasture. 2 - 2.5 acres with an average permanent pasture (spring growth will be OK but summer forage is average)
Boarding Facility
“Boarding a horse on a pasture with minimal care can start around $400 per month depending on your area. Boarding a horse at a training/show barn with a stall and full care can average from $1,000–$2,000 or higher per month,” says Dr. Schott.
Thankfully, there are ways to make the introduction of a new horse to an established herd easier – and yes, even two horses living together are an established herd!
The lowest parts of the door opening and roof should be at least ten to twelve feet high, and interior space should allow each horse at least 100 square feet or more. For a field with lots of horses, several small run-in sheds are a better plan than one large one.
If you feed large round bales from October through May (8 months or 240 days), you will need 12,000 pounds of hay for two horses. The average four feet by five feet grass large round bale should weigh 850 pounds. 12,00 pounds divided by 850 pounds equals 14 large round bales.
Aftercare of the body should be arranged in advance whenever possible. Most counties have a local service that is available to pick up a deceased horse and transport him to a rendering plant or to a crematorium. It is not legal to bury horses in most counties because of the environmental implications.
East or West Facing Sheds
Sheds that face to the east are popular choices. An east or west facing shed lacks the extremities of north and south with sunlight, leaving you with some morning sunlight but little direct sunlight that could bother you while you are working.
A good size for a loafing shed will depend on the number and size of your horses. If you have 1-2 horses, a 10×18 shed should be sufficient. If you have 3-4 horses, a 12 x 24 shed should be good.
How Much Pasture Do Your Horses Need? In general, 2 acres per one 1,000-pound horse is recommended if owners expect the pastures to provide most of the horse's nutrition during the growing season.
A 12′ by 12′ lean-to can accommodate one to two horses. As horse numbers increase, run-in shed dimensions should increase by 12 feet per horse. Again, these recommendations assume all horses utilizing the shelter get along with each other.
Topping improves the pasture by encouraging the grass to establish a thick turf, encourages new leaf growth and decreases the opportunity for weeds to grow. Horses must not be allowed to graze the pasture until any cut grass has completely dried out or has been removed.
Run In Sheds can be built to your size specifications starting at 10×10 and ranging to 10×40.
In some cases, a floating concrete pad (4” thick on a base of crushed stone) is sufficient. In other cases, 12” deep footers may be required as part of the concrete pour. For the largest sheds, block walls or other footings may be required to extend at least 12” below the frost line.
For equestrian use, materials should be slip-resistant and able to withstand the impact of horseshoes. Paved surfaces provide little traction for horseshoes, and are not recommended. When the use of pavement is unavoidable, increase traction by using horse-friendly surface treatments.