What is the ratio to the amount of horses to the size of a field shelter?

Question

Hi, How big does a field shelter have to be depending on the amount of horses in the field? Sort of like the ratio Horses:Square meters

My friend is thinking of building a field shelter for her land that she rents out to people with horses. She's not sure how many horses there bringing but she wants to be ready for when they arrive. So she will find out how many horses and then timesing it by whatever sq2 meters it s for 1 horse. ( I know at least one of the horses is a thoroughbred?!)

Any other tips for building a shelter would be welcome!

Thanks xx

Answer 1

For a pasture, you need about 1 acre per horse.  This ensures that each horse has enough space for themselves, and enough grass to keep them happy.

12 by 12 is not nearly enough space, think what that would look like if you had 10 horses in the field.

Your shed needs to have a slanted roof, needs to be tall enough so a horse can rear without banging their head on the roof, and needs to be big enough for all the horses.

Answer 2

At a minimum of one acre per horse, multiply (minimum) 10'x10' times number of horses. 12'x12' would be better.  For heavy draft breed it would need to be bigger.

Your friend needs to limit the number of horses she's expecting to turn out on this field.  Is it good pasture or just a field?  It seems to me that she's expecting to throw a bunch of horses out there, put  up a run in shelter and it's all cozy horses together.

Has she considered the feeding issues?  She needs to think this through before she makes a decision.

Answer 3

Space for the horse is secondary, your friend needs to find out what her pasture quality is, which horses are grain fed and how much work they are getting. Some horses, with enough exercise only need minimal pasture.

I'm an aussie and i'm not sure what a 'field shelter' is, i think 1 horse to live on quality pasture only is roughly 1.5 acres per horse. But it is NOT a good idea to base a horses diet on pasture only at this ratio because the nutrition levels change with the season, you will find in the winter, horses need much more protein through hay or hard feed because they use so much more energy just to stay warm.

I'm not sure what you mean, but i hope this isn't a rescue situation, rescuing a horse/s takes so much more than a giant paddock.

Answer 4

I think that as long as each horse has a twelve by twelve foot area, you should be fine.  (Sorry, I'm terrible with conversions... that would be about 3 1/2 to 4 square meters?)  Think in terms of the average stall size.  This should be no problem, especially if the horses get along.  You may want two separate shelters in the field depending on the amount of horses and how well they get along with each other.

I may be repeating what you know, but other tips:  The back wall of the shed should face to the north so that the open side faces south.  Roofs that slant backward are a plus.

What I said above was twelve by twelve PER HORSE.  So for four horses you need an area that is twelve by twelve multiplied by four.

Answer 5

I keep 3 big horses and a pony on 4 1/2 acres of very rich grazing in the far north of Scotland, and as we don't have proper stables (just a barn for the really horrible weather) a field shelter is very important here!  I built a huge shelter, (12 ft or @ £ 3 1/2 - 4 m each) plenty of space for the 4 of them.  

But, the pony gets bullied out all the time and stands in the open in pouring rain, blazing sun, not to mention wind, hail and snow!  So with hindsight I would say that two smaller shelters are better than one big one!

However, before going to massive expense, (we're talking a few thousand pounds) I suggest your friend has a good look around the field.  Is there any natural shelter? We have one border on the river that is banked quite high, we have a beech hedge down one side of the field, then up the hill at the top of the field we have an assortment of mature trees providing good overhanging canopy.  After all the recent rain, I've found them all under the trees, completely ignoring the (very expensive) shelter!  

Then think hard about rugs and fly control.  If the horses are well rugged, they will only seek shelter if really cold and wet.  Flies and biting insects are a different matter, as they need some where to get away from them.  But usually most horses are too busy grazing to bother much as long as they are warm and dry (in winter) and well sprayed and masked as neccesary in summer!

Also, think about ways to compromise on shelter.  It doesn't have to cost a fortune!  I have seen shelters built from bales (although horses will eat these eventually)  A few stratiegically placed fence panels can do the trick very cheaply.

The thing to remember is, horses are happiest out in the field, eating!  They don't mind the sun, rain, snow, etc but hate the wind, snow, rain combination.  They will always put thier butts to the wind (not much feeling there)

So, if you decide to build a shelter, face it back to the prevaling wind.  If you can afford it, put down a concrete base, (I've seen shelters standing in mud and water) Fix tie rings in and out so that you can put up hay nets to keep them happy in bad weather.  Make sure it's strong enough, and will stand up to the worst of the gales you might get in your area, and don't forget to treat the wood against rot!

Good luck, hope the horses are fine and happy and winter out real well!