Horse Shed, Instead of stable?

Question

Hi !

I might be getting a horse(around 15hh) and I really need to keep the price to a minimum. I have been looking at stables and tackrooms and the stable it's self is £1200 so I was wondering if thsi shed would be ok.

http://www.shedstore.co.uk/itemdetl.php/itemprcd/cou2010wor

I was going to split it into two bits, so that I could have a tack/ haystore and a stable, all in the one building. since the sheds 20" by 10" I'd have a 12 x 10 stable and a 8 x 10 tackroom/ haystore.

I would make the dived out of fencing pannels or wooden planks.

What do you think?

Also any other ideas are welcome.

I

p.s- have a MASSIVE garden about 1 acre, so the horse would have a stable and 1/2 an acre of pasture. We have a arena size playing field beside our house.

Thanks for answering!

Answer 1

that shed looks an ok floor size but you would need to adapt the doors and fit all the soecial requirements and also u need a higher roof so in my opinion it would be worth getting a proper stable (a horse if NOT cheap you cant keep costs to a minimum because everything needs to be sutible) also that shed without half for store is an ok size but WITH the hay storeroom it would be to small (also if your horse needs a companion try getting a free adoption horse from bluecross or something because some of them cannot be ridden for various reasons but still make perfectly good paddock pals for your horse (as long as they have a good temprament and ye u have to feed and xtra mouth etc. but ure hrs needs a horse frend really  and think of what a new life you would be giving a horse who had a bad start :) its killing 2 brds with one stone ... a pal for your horse for free and giving it a good life (its not free 2 own u have to pay for it like a normal horse -eg. vet bills etc. but when u get it to own u dont pay anything :) gd luk

Answer 2

You will be good with the shed, your horse can run in and out whenever it wants to, I personally prefer that anyways, and the size 10/20 is enough too. Just make sure that the direction you have the opening is not where the wind is usually coming from. The only thing that bothers me right now you're talking on horse only, it will not be happy by itself...

Answer 3

If correctly designed, a shed could be suitable. It must be weatherproof, have no draughts and be able to withstand the horse kicking it (this often happens). It must also be, of course, safe with no sharp edges! The floor must be suitable for supporting half a tonne of horse too!

By the way, 1 acre is no where near enough for a horse. To keep one horse (which isn't fair, as they are herd animals and should never be kept alone) on turnout all year (even living in at night) you need AT THE VERY LEAST 3 acres (1.5 acres for summer and 1.5 acres for winter) though the field would offer very little nutritional value to the horse and would also require expert management to keep damage down. The fields would need poo-picking daily, ideally twice if it's only 1.5 acres, as well as rotivating, fertilizing, harrowing, rolling, etc etc if you want your horse to actually have grass to eat. It should be rested for at least 6 months of the year and ideally be rested fully every 2 years for 1 year. I don't mean to be rude or anything, but seriously, find your horse a livery yard. Living by himself on a postage stamp of a "field" will be no life for him at all. Horses get lonely, and a lonely horse will get depressed resulting in depreciation of the immune system which leads to increased susceptabilty to disease and infection.

Do the best thing and find somewhere else for the horse to live, or don't get one.

ADD: No, he won't be ok even if you ride him every day. Horses have a physcological need to be with other horses, to bond with them and play with them. A dog is not a horse. Your horse will bond with you but you can never take the place of another horse - he WILL be lonely and he WILL NOT be ok, just because you ride him. Also, it takes time for horses to get used to a new environment, putting him on another yard for a month once a year would actually be cruel. For a start, he'd have to be quarantined for a week before he could be turned out (standard procedure incase of disease). Then he'd spend the next three weeks scrapping with the other horses while they sorted out a pecking order (this always happens, it's normal). Then you'd cart him back off home again to be lonely!

I'm sorry if my answer sounds harsh, I don't mean to be offensive; it's just the truth. By asking these questions you sound like you genuinely care for your horse's best interests but you just aren't very experienced. Please, put your horse on a livery yard.

ADD: (again) - A shetland would be fine! So long as it gets on with your horse and you provide adequate shelter etc. However, it still doesn't solve your problem of lack of space.

Answer 4

No way would the shed be suitable.  For a start the floor would not hold her for five minutes once it got wet.  Too much glass, walls to flimsy for a horse etc - when they get hungry or excited they might kick the walls and also will definitely kick when rolling.

an acre of garden and playing fields next door is not enough for a horse of this size or any other!  The garden may have had poisonous plants in it, which have a habit of regrowing even if you have pulled them up and seeds are spread by wind and birds etc.

Do not assume anything with a horse.  A dog is not company for a horse and grooming and riding is all very well but not enough for a horse.  A shetland would be good company, but your space is not really big enough for 1 horse, let alone 2.  I would not recommend a donkey as they have a propensity to lung worm which can have devastating affect on a horse.

Really you need somewhere to keep your horse better than this.  Sorry to be such a killjoy but I do know about these things.

Answer 5

This is not a horse shed.  There is no way you can use this shed for a horse.  There are standards for horses that this shed does not meet.  I can tell by looking at the doors that they are the typical storage shed quality...absolutely dangerous for a horse, who would put a leg right through it (as well as the walls) with one kick.  No height is given, and minimum door height should be 8 feet from the ground up.  You don't want a wood floor...it will rot , and retain ammonia creating a toxic environment for breathing.  

You have to find a shed that is built for horses...there are many sites that have them online.  Look for shed row barns, or run-in sheds.  No storage shed will be acceptable for keeping a horse.  Sorry...but I know what it takes to build a proper shed strong enough to house horses.

Answer 6

It might be okay but i think it would be better to invest in a real stable. There are too many things that could be wrong with the shed, and at least with a stable you know that it is designed to keep your horse warm and safe. It has to be strong enough to withstand your horses weight and kicking. You could probably find a cheap shed to use as a tack room though.

Answer 7

The shed looks good except I would be concerned how the floor would withstand the manure and urine and the  weight of the horse after X amount of time.  If you are looking to save on money why not build a 3 walled shelter with a roof and opened on the direction that has the least amount of wind on a regular basis, here at home it would be the south end.  It does not have to be fancy and your horse will be better off, than cooped up in an enclosed barn or stall and alone,   He can run out when ever he feels like it and go in likewise.  He has some room to run, which is great, with all the hay and feed he can eat he will be fine with it.  As for company, If you have no other horse, then any warm body would be better than none.  Goats are known buddies for horses, minis are good too, donkeys.  Keeping the radio on in the barn also helps keep them company.  This is also good to have the open shelter if the horse is alone, he can see what is going on outside which will help with not getting bored.  

Answer 8

Dont forget the shed floor would get urine and poo on it daily.. is it really suitable?

If the horse was to live outdoors all the time, it might be better with a walk-in shelter.

A dog running in and out of the pasture will not suffice as company. You should get a goat or something to be its buddy.

Have you had lots of riding lessons etc already? if so, talk to your instructor about it.

Answer 9

don't you have a big farm? or is it your big cousin? ..why don't you keep your new horse on your big cousins livery? i'm sure she would make room for 'one' more.