How to Build Your Own Horse Shelter

Horse shelters vary in size for multiple animals and height is important for horses to have adequate head room. This is a simple pole barn for horses to take shelter from the wind and rain. Read the tips below for other ideas that increase the difficulty factor and expense. I will use simple dimensions of 10ft.. wide x 10ft.. deep. x 8ft.. high.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 4 ea. 4 inch x 4 inch x 10ft. posts
• 4 ea. 60 lbs. bags of premix cement
• wheelbarrow,(or cement mixer) shovel, and water.
• post hole diggers
• 12 sheets of siding (preferably corrugated steel)9ea.. 4ft. x 8ft.. and 3ea. 4ft. x 10ft..
• 12ea. 10ft. x 6in. treated lumber
• hand saw (electric saw)
• 160 1 3/4in. hex head lag screws
• 16 4in. nails
• claw hammer
• cordless o electric drill and bit (for the lag screw heads)
• 4ft. level
• 12ft. tape measure
• 8ea. 6ft. temporary 2in. x 4in. boards (to secure posts till set)
• 8 1in. x 2in. x 3ft.stakes
• chalk line (or string and sharpie)
• 10ft. ladder

1. Select a flat area and plan the entrance or (front) facing the south to south east.This is best due to north and west winds producing the most damage. Also select an area away from trees that are subject to falling limbs as a result of lightening or high winds. Mark with a stone where you want the center of the stable to be, and designate the front opening.

2. 
    

   From the center mark measure diagonally 7ft.1/2in. toward the imaginary front right corner. Mark the spot. Repeat this for the other three corners marking as you measure. Now measure corner to corner(left to right and front to rear) and check for 10 ft. in all directions.The calculation for finding the center results in a .375 calculation that cannot be read on most tape measures with 1/4 and 1/16 increments, but this method will bring you to within 1/16 of an inch on all 4 corners reading a standard tape measure. Move your markers returning to the center each time until all measurements are "equal". Using a marked string makes this easier. You have now established the location of the corner posts. Dig four holes approx. 2ft 3in. deep, 6 to 7 inches in diameter with the post-hole diggers.

3. 
    

   Before standing the posts in the holes mark them with the sharpie at 8ft. from the top. Stand the 4, 4x4 post in the holes and brace them with the temporary 2x4's in opposite directions. Temporarily nailing the stakes to the 2x4' at the ground and temporarily through the 2x4's approx. 5ft. up the posts. The 8ft. mark on the bottom of the posts should be at the surface of the ground. Use a level to insure that the posts are straight up. Level a front and one side(not front and back)doudle check the marks at the ground. Double check that the measurements of all 4 posts outside to outside are equal to 10ft. on all four corners. Pull a sting around every post and tie the ends together. This will allow you the abilty to align each post by twisting until the string at each corner is aligned with the opposite post corner to corner or commonly known as "squaring". Adjust the holes with the post-hole diggers so that cement will fill around each post and check again (measure twice and set posts once).Secure the temporary 2x4's by driving the stakes into the ground and securing with hammer and nails. Re-check all measurements, corner to corner,squre line and height measurements with a level and tape measure. If a post is too deep place some cement or small stones in the bottom of the hole to achieve the right 8ft. height. Following the instructions on the bag mix the cement and pour one bag into each post hole, using special care not to disturb the posts alignment. This is where most problems occur. If the posts are not perfectly erect and aligned the siding sheets will not fit properly. Leave the cement to set up overnight.

4. Nail 1ea. 2x6x10's (stringers) horizonally from corner to corner about 4in. above the ground on both sides and across the rear (placing them on the ground will promote wood rot). Repeat this step all the way around at 4ft. high, and again at the top with the top edge of the 2x6 flush with the top of the posts.This should consume 9 of the 12 2x6x10's. Place the remaining 3 2x6's across the top at the front, center, and rear. The back top 2x6 and top rear 2x6 should meet to create an "L" shape.

5. Stand a sheet of corrugated steel up, making sure the edge is flush with top of the upper 2x6(stringer) and the rear post or corner(do not allow any overhang as this creates a hazard). Secure it the 3 stringers with only 2 or 3 lag screws on the post edge only, (one screw on each of the 2x6 stringers. Inspect the inside after securing this sheet to insure that no screws protrude creating a hazard. If they are too long stop and replace them now! Place another sheet overlaping this sheet and secure it to the center stringer temporarily. Place the third sheet overlaping until it reaches the front corner. If it protrudes beyond the front corner increase the overlap toward the center sheet (achieve a balance between all three sheets if possible) until the front sheet of steel is flush with the front post. Its ok to be little back of the front corner (never leave a sharp edge protruding). Repeat this step for the other two sides. Because of the dimensions of the corrugated sheets there should be an approx. 1ft. overlap at the center sheet on all three sides. Use the 10ft. sheets on the roof in the same fashion as the sides. Use a chalk line to mark the steel down the middle of the stringers. Use the drill to install the lag screws along this line, spacing them 8-10 inches apart on the chalk line.

Tips & Warnings

• Most pole barns have a sloping roof which requires additional triming of all 6 of the side steel sheets. The average consumer doesn't have shears capable or trimming the sheets. Although they can be rented at some local rental stores. The front posts must also be approx. 2 feet higher than the rear posts, requiring 2 14ft. posts and 2 10ft. posts. Using careful measurements and a chalk line the necessary angles can be cut to create a sloped roof vs a flat roof. Not all lumber is cut to a perfect dimension. Have a saw handy in case some ends need to be trimmed when stringers are attached to the posts.
• Always use a spotter when climbing a ladder. Use gloves when handling sheets of metal with sharp edges.

[arwen1964]

on 5/19/2009 Wow, very detailed. I thought your method for determining post positions was very helpful.