Our horses live at home and are out 24/7. Sometimes I feel a bit guilty not having a stall to bring them in to in inclement weather (we live in central Illinois), especially the senior citizen, although she is probably better off moving around as she wishes. They have a very nice, three sided, sturdy shelter I had built, but still. I’m wondering what types of shelters others have whose horses live out 24/7. Please share your photos!
I would only feel guilty if there are times they horse can’t get into the shelter when they desire to; for example, a dominant horse hogs the shelter. Or, if there are times the shelter isn’t actually providing shelter, like if wind is blowing the weather into the shelter.
Otherwise, I would not worry. A three-sided shed is shed is perfectly sufficient.
Most horses are good at regulating their need for shelter.
I would feel nervous about not having the ability to confine the horse in an emergency, if you don’t already have a way to do so. But that’s just because I have the worst luck on the planet… like you horse fractures her leg on Christmas Eve just cantering around the field (true story). Most people have less suicidal horses than me I suppose.
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I have an aged STBD mare and 10 y/o paint gelding that are out most of the time. They have a shed.
The mare seldom lies down that I have seen, and needs to be moving around or she gets stocked up around an old track injury. The gelding will lie down in the pasture sometimes.
In a couple weeks I’ll be moving them back to the barn, basically in and out stalls. IME they tend to want to be outside at times when we humans would think otherwise.
I have thought about dividing the shed, it could make 2 decent size stalls, with gates so I could contain them in there sometimes.
My barn has big paddocks next to it, the shed has the full pasture. So when grass is gone, might as well use the barn.
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How many horses?
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Mine have 3 lovely 3 sided shelters spread over 4 acres. They mostly use them in summer evenings to get out of bugs. Throughout all the glorious winter weather we have in Canada, they hardly use them. If it’s raining or snowing really hard, they might stick their heads underneath. They much prefer to go to the low pasture and use the bushes as a windbreak than a shelter.
IME if they have a good winter coat and lots of food, they’ll be quite fine!
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Mine lives out with a 12x24 shed. If I need to confine him (like during the recent hurricane…) I put corral panels across the front.
101217_4289 by Wendy, on Flickr
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Lucky horses! I would be much more worried about keeping my horses stalled and only letting them out “weather permitting.” That is a really nice looking, as well as functional shelter. I wish my guy had as nice a shelter as that. As long as they all get along and nobody forces somebody out of the shelter that looks like it would work well for you guys.
Don’t forget, if you find that they need a little something extra to stay warm, you can always blanket.
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Why feel guilty? If anything, you’re horses are lucky b/c they can CHOOSE if they want to be in or out.
Sounds like your living arrangement is just fine.
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That is lovely @Lolliver ! I would not worry a bit about having them live out with that shelter.
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I totally understand the feeling a bit guilty thing. I have a 27yo senior citizen that lives outside 24/7 with a 12X24 shed all to himself. I started a thread recently here on COTH about turning half of his shed into a more stall-like area - not because HE needs it for any reason, because I felt it was something I should do as his mom (and I am still trying to make that decision).
Years ago (2002), when we moved to our farm, I tried for two years to keep at three of my boys in stalls (12 hours up/12 hours out), just like I’d grown up with at so many different barns… all while being very ill, and a recent diagnosis of MS. It nearly did me in and I finally made the decision to move them outdoors 24-7. Took me nearly two years to forgive myself and stop beating myself up for doing so. But, I don’t think we’d still be here on this farm if I hadn’t. Best decision I ever made.
So it would probably be hypocritical for me to say not to worry and don’t feel guilty. LOL I just wanted you to know you aren’t alone. 
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Agreed. This reminds me, sometimes I look at my guys enjoying their pasture, and then I see the barn next door where the horses seldom get out of stalls. I feel much better about my horses’ mental health, as well as physical.
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I put up a big 3 sided run in for my guys who live outside… every winter I take pictures of them NOT using it. They def use it in the summer to escape bugs. Right now- 45 degrees, rain and they are outside munching on their roundbale.
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My two have a run in shed, about 12 by 30 (not quite deep enough IMO). I’ve divided it in half so I can stall them in it if need be and separate them for feeding, using either aisle guards for the opening or long boards. They come in to eat and will hang out in it if it is hot and buggy. But stormy weather has them marching out to the center of the field, tails to the wind. In fact, in very bad weather it is difficult to get them to come in to get supper! Interestingly, the other horse, who died at age 32 before they came, would do the same thing and during a thunderstorm would end up in just about the same spot. I left him out in the field in a tropical storm twice, he seemed to have a better idea of the wind then I.
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My OTTB had a wonderful shelter, he preferred to stand out under the Douglas Fir.
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Thanks for the replies! If I could, I would bring the senior in my living room! It’s been raining all day today and they DO seem fine. I’ve got several weights of blankets for everyone.
@wsmoak and @HPFarmette how do you attach the panels to the exterior walls? I’d like to get that set up before I actually need it.
@4LeafCloverFarm I think you’re my long lost sister! We think alike!
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Its been raining here all day, with winds of 10-20 MPH. There is hay in the horses nice, dry, sheltered run-in sheds. Where have the horses been all day? Out in their pastures grazing. Go figure.
I attribute my 27 year olds overall health and well being in part to living outside for the past 14 years. I’m sure there are just as many people who would say it’s just luck and has nothing to do with living outside 24/7. But I do cringe every time I drive by one of those massive barns with NO fields, NO paddocks, NO turnout at all, where the horses are stalled 24/7 and think what a sad existence they must have. And don’t even get me started on the stalled horses who live on concrete floors.
I’m just glad to see there are so many other horse owners who also have their horses out 24/7. It definitely makes me feel like my method is more main stream than I had thought. And though I’ve not felt really guilty in years about them living outside, the guilt had started to creep back in about my 27 year old. But I’m his mom, and I love him, and I want the best for him. So maybe guilt isn’t the right word.
And @Lolliver I love your shed! Maybe we can work on our “issues” together! We could start a support group! lol
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Ha! I get told all the time “If you could bring Thunder to bed with you you would”! And they’re right LOL
My one shelter is a ShelterLogic canvas (plastic) shelter. It works, but you have to keep it out of the wind. It’s not durable. The horses do like it r since it’s open at both ends.
My one will opt to stand out in the rain and graze while the other 2 hibernate in the shelter. Horses are so individualistic, they all vary as to what their tastes are. But my 3 rarely hang out in the barn unless it’s raining or really windy.
N. Illinois Three sided sheds freely available, pretty much all are blanketed for my convenience and peace of mind. The older ones seem to keep better wt as they spend more time out eating vs keeping warm in the shed. The windy and rainy days get most shed use. I do double blanket in extreme cold - if I see anyone shivering, which is rare, maybe a week a year?
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Listen to your horse. If you build a lovely shelter and they don’t come then they are sending you a message. Pay attention.
This approach has its limits but is a good way to start.
G.
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I built the World’s Fanciest Run-In - aka Barn with stalls accessible from pastures 24/7/365
View from inside:
(this is when brand new, 15yrs ago. I wish it was this spic & span today :rolleyes:)
I routinely find all 3 of my current herd - 16H TWH, 13H Hackney & 34" mini - sharing 1 12X12 stall.
Usually when it is raining hard enough for them to decide to come in.
Otherwise they pick Out over In anytime.
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