Shelter options

[jawa]

If you do a 20X21 you could divide it into 1/4s. This would allow you 3 stalls and one area for whatever you need…hay/feed storage, grooming stall…

Depending on the spacing of the supports for the carport, you could use gates as the stall front. The sides could be 1/2 walls of wood, with metal or wood studs to provide extra security for the 3 sides of the stall. The gates could be in filled with a mat or wood or tarp to provide a wind block for the colder months. Tarps Plus has a pretty good quality shade cloth with grommets that can be used to provide shelter from the sun, but still allow air flow during the summer.

If you don’t do proper stalls, you may still want to divide the shelter in 1/2 or 1/4s to allow horses to have their own space within the shelter. Sometimes you can have a real brat that won’t let anyone else under the shelter. That could be as easy as adding metal round pen fence panels to the carport. Adding shade cloth on the sides can ensure that all sides are shaded, so no horse gets left out. I used the shade cloth on my lean to/ run in on my barn on the 3 open sides to ensure everybody had a good place to be. The morning sun on the east side and the setting sun on the west side were awful during the summer. The shade cloth on the south side keeps it comfy on those warm days when the sun starts to get a little lower on the horizon.

[wildlifer]

You don’t really need stalls, they are more of a human want than an equine one in most places. It is good to plan ahead for what you would do if you need to confine a horse so you have the materials on hand. I use small pen rest for prior soft tissue injuries, and I designed shed & fencing so I can add in a short run of tape to create a “prison” paddock of half the horses ’ part of the shed (12 x 12’) & a “walk out” area that includes water trough access. I keep that cross piece of tape with a handle neatly bundled with a label so I don’t forget what it’s for & cut it for something else. I hope I never need it again (I’ve done it twice) but uh, I own horses.

I agree with another poster that depending on your herd, you may want the ability to divide your shed. Mine (24’ wide for 2 horses) is open most of the time, but I do put up a strip of tape (not hot) to separate the guys for eating as well as during winter storms (otherwise the boss would steal all the hay for himself) so everyone has a protected place to eat. I unclip & remove it when not needed.

My sophisticated divider is just a strip of my wide Horseguard tape looped between 2 of those fabric bucket hangers. But it’s worked for 5 yrs.

For future readers of this thread, my hesitancy to use shelterlogics for horse shelters was confirmed after talking to a friend of a friend yesterday. Just this past winter they had one collapse on a horse in a freak snowstorm we had-this is central NC, so 12" of wet snow is NOT a common occurrence. The horse had major chiropractic issues for a long while - luckily she is not dead.

[paintedtrails]

@jawa

If you do a 20X21 you could divide it into 1/4s. This would allow you 3 stalls and one area for whatever you need…hay/feed storage, grooming stall…

Depending on the spacing of the supports for the carport, you could use gates as the stall front. The sides could be 1/2 walls of wood, with metal or wood studs to provide extra security for the 3 sides of the stall. The gates could be in filled with a mat or wood or tarp to provide a wind block for the colder months. Tarps Plus has a pretty good quality shade cloth with grommets that can be used to provide shelter from the sun, but still allow air flow during the summer.

If you don’t do proper stalls, you may still want to divide the shelter in 1/2 or 1/4s to allow horses to have their own space within the shelter. Sometimes you can have a real brat that won’t let anyone else under the shelter. That could be as easy as adding metal round pen fence panels to the carport. Adding shade cloth on the sides can ensure that all sides are shaded, so no horse gets left out. I used the shade cloth on my lean to/ run in on my barn on the 3 open sides to ensure everybody had a good place to be. The morning sun on the east side and the setting sun on the west side were awful during the summer. The shade cloth on the south side keeps it comfy on those warm days when the sun starts to get a little lower on the horizon.

Thanks Def nixed the shelterlogic for horses (going to use one for hay)

I actually own portable panels for camping, so worst case I break those out to create a stall - but I’ve “designed out” a few ideas using standard cattle panels per say on how I could make something out of the open space, and adding 1/2 or full walls are drafted up as well - just have to decide! Lol

Right now it will just be 2 geldings, eventually may add a 3rd. One has been in retirement out of state and bringing him back later this month - they will board together for a month or so before our place is ready so hoping they get along well (neither is particularly PITA type but you never know!).

[paintedtrails]

Maybe last question - anyone see any major difference in the different roof types? Vertical/ boxed eave/ regular?

[jawa]

Things to consider. You want to have as much ventilation as possible. That may be something to discuss with the dealer that will be doing the install.

We have one that we use for cart and mower storage. It is a fairly open structure, which makes if nice to be able to access stuff from multiple directions. We put down rock dust on a level-ish area. They installed on top of that.

I have seen several folks put them up for shelter in pastures. Most used plywood and wooden posts to create a wind break.

I know of another that uses it for her horse trailer and camping supplies that is enclosed with metal on the 2 long sides. It is very long and tall. It is cooler in there than in the direct sunshine.

[Charliezmom]

I have a Carolina Carport. I ordered a 26x36 and created a 3 stall barn with a storage area and a center aisle. Its been perfect for us. I upgraded and got one that was 12ft tall in the center, 9ft tall on the short ends, and I ordered, the hurricane anchors, 12ga steel, and the “certified” roof. You asked about roof options, if I were you I’d go with the “Vertical” option as it is the stronger one and would hold up better to snow. Your local sales rep can explain the various options.

We ordered “roof only” and then added 2x6 boards for walls. We used metal stall channels that we bolted to the metal support legs and then slid the boards in. I work at a farm that added 4x4 posts to their barn and then attached the boards to the wooden posts.

[hillary_again]

@wildlifer : Thanks for documenting and sharing your horse shelter! Love your practical ways of creating safe, economical, and effective shelter for your horses. It’s inspiring to read how you researched and constructed your shelter with solid solutions that did not require big $ and did it yourself as well. Love the tip about stone and the wheelbarrow…

[wildlifer]

@hillary again

@wildlifer : Thanks for documenting and sharing your horse shelter! Love your practical ways of creating safe, economical, and effective shelter for your horses. It’s inspiring to read how you researched and constructed your shelter with solid solutions that did not require big $ and did it yourself as well. Love the tip about stone and the wheelbarrow…

Thanks! It’s always a lot of sweating, lol, but it works for us.

[gahorseygal]

Mine is very similar to Charliezmom. We have a Caroline Carport that we built stalls into. It’s super solid and has been perfect for our needs. We currently have 2 stalls with room for a third. We plan to fence around the barn for a dry lot so we’ve chosen to leave the third area open as a spot for them to run in. It’s a 20x30 that fits three 10x12 stalls with an 8 foot aisle. It’s 9 foot on the sides, 12 feet at the peak. We did the boxed eave. We crosstie in the aisle and since it’s open it works really well. Plan is to close three sides in the future with leaving the aisle open.