Horse Shelter Benefits

Horse Shelters...

Many Horse Stables frequently incorporate feed storage and tack rooms for convenience. Some points to consider when looking for a stable are; the safety and comfort of the horses, adequate drainage and ventilation, and the safety of handlers.

Why do horses need shelter?

In most parts of New Zealand we are fortunate enough to have a fairly mild climate. However in places prone to extremes in temperatures it is advisable to provide shelter for your horses and livestock.

Cold days following the winter moult can cause problems for your horses if they do not have access to shelter. Horse owners’ that do not cover their horses or who choose to remove their covers in early spring, paddock shelter is a must in case the weather turns bad.

Things to check when looking at shelters or stables:

Stables must be soundly constructed, with no exposed surfaces or projections likely to cause injury to horses.

Flooring

Needs to be non-slip and should be designed to direct liquid effluent away from the animal accommodation. Where dirt floors are used, an even surface must be maintained by regularly filling holes which may develop or by using a relocatable stable design that allows you to move the shelter to fresh flat ground on a regular basis.

How high does it need to be?

Stable roofs must be high enough to provide good air circulation and prevent hot conditions developing as some horse breeds can be susceptible to heat stroke. In areas where horses are to be handled, there must be a minimum clear space of 60 cm above the poll of the animal when they are standing in their normal position. This is for the safety of the horse an also for the handler. Ideally, the clear space above normal head position should exceed 1 metre.

Lighting & drafts

There should be adequate lighting to permit the inspection and safe handling of animals. There should be no draughts at floor level. Outpost Stables have rubber draught stoppers around the base to prevent such draughts.

Relocatable or not?

Relocatable Stables or paddock shelters are often preferable as they can be moved to fresh ground when required in order to maintain the good standard and cleanliness of the ground in the stable area.