How to Build Your Own Horse Shelter

Horses need shelter from the sun and inclimate weather

Horses need shelter to protect them from the heat of midday, rain, snow, and wind. Some horse owners prefer to put up three-sided horse shelters so that the horses can go in and out whenever they want. Having a shelter that the horse has free access to makes life a little easier on the horse owner. How do you build your own horse shelter?

Things You'll Need

• Seven Treated boards 2-inches-by-4-inches-by-12-feet
• Four Treated Posts 4-inches-by-4-inches-by-12-feet
• Sheet steel
• Nails 1-inch
• Post hole digger
• Measuring tape
• Corner angle
• 100 lbs dry Concrete
• Level

Instructions

1. 

   Measure and mark the area for your horse shelter so you know where to dig the post holes. The outer edge of each hole should be 12 feet apart. You should use a corner angle to make sure your corners are square to make your construction easier.

2. 

   Dig four post holes one on each corner. The two that will be that back of the shelter should be two feet deep and the two that will be the front of the shelter should be three feet deep. This will provide an angle so that rain and snow can run off from the roof. Stand the four 12 foot corner post in the holes and pour 25 lbs of dry concrete around each post. Tap down with shovel handle or post digger handles and finish filling the holes with dirt. Tap the dirt down.

3. 

   Nail a treated board 2-inches-by-4-inches-by-12-feet across the back connecting two posts with one edge touching the ground. Nail another one across the back only at the top this time connecting the top of the two posts. Use your level to make sure the corner posts are standing straight up and that the 2-by-4's are level. Repeat these steps to finish framing the two sides of the shelter. Remember that the front of the shelter is lower so the top boards will not be level, but at an angle. Use your level to make your angles equal. Nail the last treated 2-by-4 across the top front of your shelter to connect these two post. You will nail the roof to this board.

4. 

   Attach the sheets of steel to the 2-inches-by-4-inches treated boards across the top of the shelter. Be sure to secure them to the 2-by-4's in the front, back, and sides. Next, attach the sheets of steel to the back of the shelter. Nail them to the top and bottom of the frame. Finally, nail sheets of steel to the sides, trim angles at the top if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Wet the ground around the posts so the concrete can set after you have framed the shelter.

• Make sure the back of your shelter faces into the prevailing wind for your area to protect your horse. Our prevailing wind is from the west, so the opening of our shelter faces east, the back blocks the wind.

• Look for sharp edges or points and cover them or hammer them under.

Resources

• How to Clean Your Horse's Hooves
• How to Shed Your Shetland Pony Using the Furminator
• How to Know When You Can Start Collecting Milk From a Cow
• How to Saddle Train a Horse
• How to Train a Hearing Impaired or Deaf Dog
• How to Make Horsehair Jewelry
• How to Make a Horsehair Mattress
• How to Remove Mold & Mildew From Wood
• Hump Day Hippie Recycling and Crafts