Advice on run in sheds please

[stb]

So, I added a pony to my herd of two geldings. She is adorable, and she literally hasn’t put a foot wrong, but she is a mare and one of my geldings apparently can’t handle himself around her. They are fine with a fence between them but I am never going to let that gelding in with her - he was gelded late and he is way too possessive acting. I have been keeping her in an adjacent pasture to the boy’s dry lot, but would like to move her into the dry lot since Summer is coming and I’m worried about her being on grass 24/7.

Now that my gelding has figured out that he isn’t going to get the girl he is fine, so I’m not worried about her fence being adjacent to him, but she does need to be separate. Also, this pony is 28, so her teeth are worn and she eats a lot of soaked feed and beet pulp and it takes her a long time to do so, so she needs to have her own space so she can eat in peace.

My plan is to use Priefert panels to close off a corner of my dry lot and to build her a run-in shed in that area. My other horses have access to their stalls 24/7 from the dry lot and I have no other run ins on my property, so I know nothing about what I might or might not want in a run in.

We live in a moderate climate - Coastal, SC. We don’t have much cold weather (especially this year). I would think, though, that I would want at least a North wall so that the pony has shelter from a cold north wind. So, one wall, three walls? Is a three walled shed better for shelter from bugs (big problem here). Do I size it like a stall (mine are 12x12) or not so big? Anything I need to do for her comfort or my convenience? We don’t want to overbuild or spend a fortune, but I do want to do this right. My husband is a builder so he can build whatever I come up with. TIA.

[carman_liz]

@stb

So, I added a pony to my herd of two geldings. She is adorable, and she literally hasn’t put a foot wrong, but she is a mare and one of my geldings apparently can’t handle himself around her. They are fine with a fence between them but I am never going to let that gelding in with her - he was gelded late and he is way too possessive acting. I have been keeping her in an adjacent pasture to the boy’s dry lot, but would like to move her into the dry lot since Summer is coming and I’m worried about her being on grass 24/7.

Now that my gelding has figured out that he isn’t going to get the girl he is fine, so I’m not worried about her fence being adjacent to him, but she does need to be separate. Also, this pony is 28, so her teeth are worn and she eats a lot of soaked feed and beet pulp and it takes her a long time to do so, so she needs to have her own space so she can eat in peace.

My plan is to use Priefert panels to close off a corner of my dry lot and to build her a run-in shed in that area. My other horses have access to their stalls 24/7 from the dry lot and I have no other run ins on my property, so I know nothing about what I might or might not want in a run in.

We live in a moderate climate - Coastal, SC. We don’t have much cold weather (especially this year). I would think, though, that I would want at least a North wall so that the pony has shelter from a cold north wind. So, one wall, three walls? Is a three walled shed better for shelter from bugs (big problem here). Do I size it like a stall (mine are 12x12) or not so big? Anything I need to do for her comfort or my convenience? We don’t want to overbuild or spend a fortune, but I do want to do this right. My husband is a builder so he can build whatever I come up with. TIA.

How big of a pony is she, how much does she move around the pasture now, and is she going to get any pasture turnout during the day or night?

If she is smaller, a smaller drylot, if she is larger, larger lot. Horses like straight lines longways to be able to move. At 28 she may not gallop but she needs movement for her joints, muscles, and gut to stay healthy. If she is in a pasture during the day or night that will help a ton. Even if she has to wear a grazing muzzle. Does she still eat hay well?

Tell us more about her summer turnout plan, is there anyway to section off a piece of pasture off of the run in you want to build and have a tape gate to the pasture area for part of the day?

My little guy is 12.2 and I have a 50x50 area taped off for him to keep him off the grass and to keep him from running my senior, especially when its wet out. Senior falls easily. Depending on the run in material, using tensioners, polytape, and T posts or stepin posts is a great way to keep them moving but restricted from grass and other horses.

[Bluey]

Sounds like a great idea to keep her separate.
Depending on the size of the pen, you can go as large as you want.

Many such standard portable shed sizes are 12’ x 24’, as that is a good size to transport them on highways, where wider than 12’ would require special permits.
You can get by with any size you want for just one horse, since there won’t be fighting for space.

Basically, sheds are best a size that protects the horses but still when the sun is low let it reach the back wall to help dry any wet in there.
I would guess for one horse/pony 10’ x 10’ would be a minimum, bigger always better.

Three sides sheds give a horse the best protection all around and a bit of an overhang helps driving rain/snow not get in there.

[DMK]

The only thing I would add is that as long as you are building a run in, build it horse size. It’s incrementally more expensive to go 12x12, and when the pony is gone, it will be useful for the rest of the full size herd.

[Marla_100]

Since your husband is a builder, I’d build a horse sized shelter minimum 12X12 just in case some day you want a full sized horse to use it.

Here in Central Fl. I built a large double stalled shelter w/ just a roof and fenced sides, no walls. Sometimes when it’s cold
and windy I wish I had put walls up. So for you, I’d do 3 walls and yes overhangs are great for blowing rain.

Do you plan to run electricity for a fan? I may install fans just for air movement on hot steamy days even with no walls.

[js]

Why not just put up a portable run in shed. For one horse you should be able to find one at a reasonable cost.
You can get one built with a regular stall door or just a gate and an overhang.

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[Bluey]

@js

Why not just put up a portable run in shed. For one horse you should be able to find one at a reasonable cost.
You can get one built with a regular stall door or just a gate and an overhang.

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That one may be a little too closed up for hot country.
Great for cold places, but may want more airflow in there for NC.

This company ships nationwide and will make at a very reasonable price most anything anyone wants:

https://www.gobobpipe.com/horsesheds.htm

Since OP’s DH is going to build it, he can get ideas from websites like that one.

[Arigold]

Carolina Storage Solutions, Hendersonville, NC A friend just bought and had installed a shed row barn from this company. Really well done with lots of options. Worth checking into, for design if nothing else. Who knows may be better than your husband building a shed.
Living in NC I would vote for 3 sides with the top of one or two sides left open for air flow in the summer. Even better electricity for a fan and a light in the winter (for you). And yes to 12X12 size or at least 10X12. And remember to have a raised stone base…

[js]

@Bluey

That one may be a little too closed up for hot country.
Great for cold places, but may want more airflow in there for NC.

This company ships nationwide and will make at a very reasonable price most anything anyone wants:

https://www.gobobpipe.com/horsesheds.htm

Since OP’s DH is going to build it, he can get ideas from websites like that one.

I wasn’t suggesting that particular shed, just something like a portable shed.

I lived in the Deep South, a shed like that isn’t too hot, especially if you get a wood one and not a metal one. If it is you can always put a fan in it, we had one, it had a window and a door, used it as a temporary stall, never an issue. OP lives in Coastal SC, having sufficient protection from rain and hurricanes is also to be considered, not to mention they do get some cold spells in the winter.

[stb]

Excellent questions and ideas, y’all! Thanks!

To fill in the blanks - the pony is 13.2 and relatively fine boned. Since she is 28, she doesn’t move around as much as a younger horse might. I want her to have enough room to keep limber and not stocked up while she is in, but I don’t think she necessarily needs a large area. She is currently in a half acre paddock and she pretty much stays at one end of it and doesn’t wander around much. She does eat hay but she doesn’t eat it very well. Teeth are pretty well gone (just had the dentist out) so she is on a diet of soaked beet pulp and senior feed. She does have hay available always but she doesn’t eat a whole lot of it. She was underweight when she got here a month ago. She has gained 50 pounds since her arrival and is now at a good weight.

She does go out on pasture every day. We are on a daytime pasture schedule now, but sometimes do night time turnout in the summer. No matter the time of year my horses are out for almost half of a 24 hour period. I do not have the option of having pasture adjacent to her dry lot. The geldings have that option but there is no way to work it out for her.

We will definitely run water out to her area but husband says electricity is a much bigger deal. I hate for her not to have a fan available, so that one bugs me, but I figure I will work on one thing at a time here.

I think building a horse size run in is definitely the way to go. That way I have the option of using it for a full size horse if needed in the future.

My little farm is ideally set up for two compatible horses. This third one (and a mare to boot) has thrown a wrench in my previously well oiled machine. However, this pony is a saint. Really a saint. I have 4 and 7 year old grandchildren who want to ride and I really can’t imagine there is a pony more suitable to taking care of these little ones. So, grandma caved. It’s what grandmas generally do, after all.

[js]

Have a couple of windows for cross ventilation in your run in shed, it will be comfortable. If you need light just use a battery operated lamp, so electricity isn’t necessary.

[jawa]

I would do a 12x12 structure, with a north wall and the other a full wall or 1/2 wall on the side with the direction you get prevailing storms.

My horses have access to a lean to that is on the north side of our barn. On the east and west sides of the lean to, I have a section of spaced (1/2"-1") apart boards that run from 1’ off the ground to 4’6" high. This blocks the driving rain from their hay that may be fed under the shelter. I have a shade cloths that hang from the east, west and, during the summer, the south side. This cuts down on the wind a bit and also provides shade and helps to deter bugs from entering. The combination of one solid side with 2 partially ventilated sides and one fully open side has made the lean to a space the horses love to hang out under.

If possible I would make the dry lot a minimum of 24’ wide and as long as you can make it. I would also include some footing in the dry lot. This will make keeping it clean easier and will help to keep your horse’s hooves healthy.

[bdj]

I can’t remember who made it, but several years ago, I saw run in sheds that had a long narrow “window” cut fairly high into the back wall that ran the length of the whole back wall. It was hinged on the top or bottom (and maybe split in the center?), so that you could open it up in warmer weather to help with air flow, but close it in bad weather. I though that was a nice solution to the warm in winter, but cool in summer dilemma.