WWYD-- to build the barn or go with a prefab run in?

[woodstock]

Ugh- I so hate to be having this debate with myself again- but here I am. For background- I have a 3.6 acre property, basically all fenced and in pasture. I have two horses- both of whom are currently boarded. After going through all the various scenarios this summer and getting lots of quotes, I finally determined that it did make sense to put in a small (24 x 36 center aisle) stick built barn. Barn builder was supposed to start in January but with all the horrible weather we’ve had (basically for the last year) earliest he can start is May. Which now has me rethinking things. I’m wondering if I really would be more wise to just forgot the expense of the barn, order the Amish run in and try living with that for a while-- it feels like the delay is the universe’s way of saying “try it because the run in may be enough” and all along I’ve been mindful of over improving my property. The hang up is that the run in’s aren’t super cheap- when all is said and done around $7500 for a 12 x 24. Yes, they are resell-able (at a loss b/c seriously it is super expensive to hire a shed mover in our area) or I can move it to another part of the property (but overkill-- a 3.6 acre property really doesn’t need a barn and a run in). I welcome the COTH collective’s opinions

Also- I currently have a 36 x 36 blacktop pad right where the barn was going to go. I was going have it removed for the barn as it is close but not 100% level-- but I’m thinking with the run in it may make sense to plop the run in right on top, with stall mats (and shavings) to have a guaranteed dry zone. Area around it will be converted to gravel (landscape paper) dry lot which then opens into the grass fields through a gate.

[Lolliver]

As a horse owner whose property is currently knee deep in mud, the run-in on the blacktop pad sounds lovely! My horses are currently living with a run-in (limestone floor) and I’m quite happy with it. I can always use pipe panels to lock someone in the run-in if I need to. My horses are happy with this arrangement, but horses are individuals, and you know best what your horses will like.

[clanter]

Yes, they are resell-able (at a loss b/c seriously it is super expensive to hire a shed mover in our area)

a large flat bed wrecker should be able to load it but problem might be excessive overall height. (13’6")… or a company that moves shipping containers

I currently have a 36 x 36 blacktop pad right where the barn was going to go. I was going have it removed for the barn as it is close but not 100% level

can you install a concrete perimeter around this blacktop pad? The blacktop can provide a foundation for fill to elevate the new barn above grade. Often concrete roads are poured over an asphalt bed

[woodstock]

Thanks to you both! Horses currently live in a “run in” style- they have access to stalls that are full time open into a (usually grass but currently mud) paddock.

Clanter- I don’t see why not. I would think they could absolutely install concrete around the pad- it is surrounded on all sides by grass (I think the previously owners put it in as a basketball court of some sort). Interestingly, every excavator/site prep company wanted to remove the blacktop and then put down new gravel base and build above grade. My thought is with a run in- it’s okay if it is not quite level since there are no door hinges to worry about.

[Bluey]

Our vet clinic extension has asphalt stall and aisle flooring.
i don’t see why you could not?
why not give it a try?

[Hulk]

I would start with the run in. And if down the road you decide to build a barn don’t be too hasty to sell the run in. You could store all sorts of stuff you need around the farm in there. Lawn mowers, tillers, tools, tractor, etc. We have multiple buildings and have no problem filling them with farm equipment/supplies. Just my train of thought.

[SonnysMom]

I have read about people that start with a run in shed and then eventually get a matching one to face the first one and roof in between to create a center aisle barn. So maybe set up the foundation with the idea that you would eventually convert the run-in to a center aisle.

[clanter]

if the building is just set on the ground it is considered temporary (or at least should) which might be appraised less thus reducing property taxes… also if OP ever wants to move they could either take the building(s) with them or sale separately

Local zoning may require structures greater than a specific square footage be on a foundation (here anything greater than 400 sq/ft has to on a foundation)

[IronwoodFarm]

^This. It’s an important consideration for property taxes. Also, I am not sure how long the OP plans to be there, but a run-in may be more attractive than a barn. Sadly, not everyone wants horses.

FWIW, all my horses live out with run-ins. They only use them in the summer. Their choice. I do have a barn that holds the tack room, feed room, has 3 holding stalls and basically is filled with round bales and farm equipment.

[Huntin_Pony]

If you can swing it, make the shed a little larger (may have to come in two pieces). In Virginia, deeper sheds (16’) are much better in the summer because the bugs seem not to reach the back and the horses are more comfortable. Also, it helps to have a vent in the roof or ridgeline to let the hot air get out.

I originally built a 12 x 24 shed and later I built a larger shed with two 16(deep) x 18(wide) run-in areas. The same two horses were much happier in one of the 16 x 18 run-ins than in the 12 x 24.

[luvmydutch]

I just bought metal structure form barns.com…might be something to consider!

[js]

Why not go with the run in shed but have it built where you could transition it to adding on to it in the future? Position it just off the paved part (with the paving behind it), if you have the pasture side open, have dutch doors added to the back side. In the future you could close in the back side creating enclosed aisle???

We now have shed row barn (went from a center aisle to shed row). I’d love to do something like the picture in the future. I miss the center aisle barn but it cost a lot of $$ and added no value when we sold our place.

[woodstock]

Great, great ideas all! Thank you! Hadn’t even thought about the potential positive tax consequence of run in versus permanent barn- good call! All I had been pondering (and continue to consider) is the fact that, though I am in a horsey area, barns just don’t add enough value to the property. Friends who have built barns are not seeing any return on the value until the barn has been there 15 years- literally 15 years for the total value of the property to climb enough to “cover” the cost of the barn. I love, love my home and location but I could potentially foresee outgrowing the land amount in the next “x less than 15” years. There is no possibility for me to purchase neighboring property add to the land in any direction sadly.

[luckycricket123]

If you do decide to go with the run in, just be aware that you may have a hard time when its time for the vet or farrier in the rain. I actually cleaned out my garage so we’d have somewhere to go inside. As a bonus, my garage is heated so I am very happy with my current arrangement.

Some days I do really miss having a proper center aisle barn. It is really nice to get your chores done completely inside in the bad weather. Overall, the run in suits my horses better though.

[woodstock]

luckcricket123-- good point! I actually am thinking about the same thing-- setting it up so vet/farrier can work out of the garage in winter/inclement weather. I already planning to have the wash rack right off the garage (so we can have hot water-- I foxhunt so bathing in winter is a necessity) and will be keeping tack in the garage too. This is the plan whether or not I have a center aisle barn.

[IFG]

The guy excavating my property asked, “Do you want to bring your horses home this year or next year?” He was right. I went with a Horizon Shed Row. That was 10 years ago, and I am really happy. Yes, I would like an aisle, but I will add on to it some day. In the mean time, it was totally the right decision.

[King_s_Ransom]

I faced the same dilemma and decided to go with a modified run-in. We have a local fellow who does a decent, quick-turn-around job on the cheap. I got a 12 x 36 run-in with an 8-ft. wide “tack room” in the center – this gives me fully-enclosed storage down the middle, and two separate areas for my four horses. May be overkill for you with only two horses, but I wanted the separation to make sure nobody got bullied out. My cost, built on-site was $7,500. I also had water and electric run (just enough to heat the water trough and run a few lights), and built a 120x120 paddock around it. We also have two round pens and are cross-fenced on our 50 acres, so plenty of ways to separate my little herd as needed.

Here is how it has played out for me:

1.) Better than I feared. The cost-savings v a barn are obviously significant. The horses love it. They are never confined, they come and go as they want in even the worst weather. The building itself gives good wind protection against the prevailing winds here. The size is adequate and we get good use out of the little tack room in the middle. Overall, worth every penny and much better solution than I had originally thought. I was sad that I couldn’t get the money together to build a barn the first year we were here, so I did this out of necessity. It’s worked well. With tie-rings on the inside, I am able to tie a horse for vet and farrier, to put on or take off blankets, etc. I use a spring gate across the opening if I need to feed or medicate one horse and don’t want the others bothering us.

2.) Things I don’t like: Primarily, I think the biggest issues are all people-related. The horses love their setup. Us? Not so much. There’s no place to sit down and listen to them happily munching hay, which I miss a lot. There’s no good place out there for the humans to “be.” Feeding can be challenging with everybody running around out there. Normally, it’s fine, but add in some inclement weather and you know how horses can get crazy. So far, I have not had anybody sick or injured and needing confinement, but I do worry about that.

Bottom line: We are building a barn this year. I don’t feel like the money is wasted on the loafing shed, but then I have 50 acres, so can always use the extra shelter. That $7,500 loafing shed got us through two winters pretty well. Like you, I plan to build a small-ish barn and will try to keep the cost down, but I miss everything about having a barn … including the way my guys would just amble in, single file, right to their stalls at feeding time.

Hope this helps you decide. There is no right answer, you can make either one work. I feel that the $$ on the loafing shed was well-spent, but I don’t want to live forever without a barn.

[China_Doll]

If you opt for a run in do you have a place to store, hay, feed, bedding and tack? If not the barn might make more sense. Why not build a small barn with a lean to on one side and not have stalls? Things like tractors need to be kept out of the weather also.

[woodstock]

King’s Ransom-- thank you for sharing! That is such good perspective with you in similar shoes!

China Doll-- plan is to store those items in my garage (only about 150 ft from where the run in will be) or at some point add a little shed to do the same, with garage saved for the zero turn.

[Bogie]

My horses have lived out with a run in for years. They are happier than when I kept them in stalls (my OTTB weaves and cribs). If you have a place to store hay and supplies, I’d vote for the run in.