Horsekeeping without a barn
You don’t need to have a traditional barn to ensure that your horses will be safe, comfortable and happy.
You don’t need to have a traditional barn to ensure that your horses will be safe, comfortable and happy.
Horse barns have always been a refuge for me. I love just being inside them. My favorites include a beautiful stone structure where I spent weekends and summers during my college years, and a barn owned by my riding instructor that was the setting for many happy hours both before and after lessons. Indeed, some of my best equestrian memories are associated with horse barns. Yet, you may be surprised to learn that, even though I have kept horses on my property for more than 30 years, I have never had a traditional barn of my own.
The pattern started early. Growing up on a large farm in southeast Tennessee, my family’s acreage had many structures but no horse barn. We had milking parlors, haylofts and machine sheds, but nothing suitable---or even readily adaptable---for horses. However, when I was 12, my parents finally gave in to my years of pleading and allowed me to acquire a pony from a family member. But there was a catch: Our family’s budget was limited, so if I wanted extras for my pony, I would have to find a way to finance them myself.
We raised our own hay and had acres of fenced pasture, so my pony would have plenty of forage. But I would have to pay for sweet feed, tack, veterinary services, farrier visits and anything else my pony might need. I was able to cover most of these expenses by raising 4-H chickens and selling their eggs, but my little business was hardly making the kind of money necessary to build a horse barn. Luckily, there was an old building on the farm that, with a little hard work, I managed to convert into a run-in shed. Though I later added a
second horse, the little run-in shed was all my horses had until I left home for college.
Over the years, I never quite had the resources for a barn of my own. Eventually I came to believe that although horse barns are certainly nice, they are not a necessity. It’s been my experience that most horses prefer to live outdoors. Of course, sometimes it makes sense to keep a horse indoors from time to time, but left to their own devices, my horses would usually choose turnout. Even my current horse is this way. She has a spacious run-in shed, yet I find her inside it only during the nastiest of weather.
Outdoor living is mentally and physically beneficial for horses. Not only is the fresh air good for the equine respiratory system, but turned-out horses tend to get more exercise, have a lower risk of colic and are generally healthier.
Mainly, though, for me the issue is cost. Monthly boarding fees in my area are more than I can responsibly afford, particularly considering I have multiple horses. And when setting up my current horse facilities, I had only $5,000 to spend. When we initially began seeking quotes to build a barn, the old adage that the cost of the horse is less than its upkeep kept coming to mind. For even small barns with few amenities, we were quoted prices in the $20,000 range.
With our tight budget, I had to think of alternative ways of providing a safe and healthy environment for my horses. Here, then, is how I’ve successfully managed to keep horses without a barn over the years, organized by five basic necessities.
REQUIREMENT 1: SHELTER
My first priority was building a quality run-in shed. While a good stand of trees can provide adequate shelter for horses, I prefer a three-sided shed for a variety of reasons.
For starters, a well-designed and positioned structure provides horses greater protection from the elements and offers a sheltered area for veterinary and farrier visits.
For the average horse, a good-sized shed is 12 feet by 12 feet with a roof at least eight feet
tall---about the size of a stall that allows a horse to turn around and lie down comfortably. Remember that the space requirement increases with the number of horses. For example, two horses will usually comfortably fit in a 12-foot-by-24-foot shed.
Masonry, wood, and even metal ---as long as it is lined with wood for safety---can all be suitable building materials for run-in sheds. You’ll want to choose the material that suits your budget. Another consideration is where to put your shed: Good drainage is a must, and a suitable site will allow horses to enter and exit freely. My shed is located in the fence line, but just about any location with proper drainage and enough space around to allow your horses to enter and exit safely will work.
The shed floor can be plain dirt, and you can top it with mats, traditional stall bedding or both. Regardless of the flooring, you’ll want to keep your shed as clean as you would a barn stall. Originally designed to house two horses, my current shed is metal, with a dirt floor and it measures 12 feet by 24 feet. We installed swinging gates on the front of the shed that can be closed when I need to temporarily confine my horse for veterinary visits and the like. My husband and I were able to
do our own site preparation using our farm equipment and constructed our shed ourselves for a total cost of around $2,000.
I live in a mild climate, so winters are easy for my horses to manage with just light blankets, if any at all. Horsekeepers who live in colder, snowier climates will want to make sure they have suitable blankets ready at the start of the season for horses who might need them. The right blanket, plenty of hay and a properly sized and positioned shed can keep even a clipped horse comfortable in sub-zero weather.
REQUIREMENT 2: FEED STORAGE
One distinct disadvantage of not having a barn is the lack of an area to store grain and square bales of hay. Addressing this issue required some creativity. After much research and bargain hunting, I purchased a “retired” shipping container from a local trucking company. Although no longer considered roadworthy, the container is weatherproof and after a little work to deter rodents, just as you would with a traditional barn, it proved to be a solid choice. In this situation, and others, I’ve found that the slogan “recycle, repurpose and reuse” is excellent guidance for horse people seeking unconventional solutions to their horsekeeping challenges.
Using the container accomplishes several goals. It allows me to store my hay and grain under a roof, off the ground, and in a secure area.
Once positioned on our property, I loaded the container with hay, reserving a small area inside for grain storage. I positioned the structure so that it’s not the first thing a visitor sees when making their way up the drive to our farm, yet it is still conveniently located for its purpose. For around $2,500, I was able to get what I needed and still come in under budget.
Another good option in a comparable price range are modular storage units available from hardware stores and discount warehouses---just make sure to choose a model that is sturdy and closes securely.
REQUIREMENT 3: TACK STORAGE
Another issue that consistently arises when you don’t have a barn is where to keep your saddle, bridle and other gear. While I do have the ability to lock my hay and grain storage space, I’m not entirely comfortable with keeping my tack there. For many reasons, including the fear of theft, I dedicated a portion of my garage for tack storage. In my storage space, I keep only a halter and lead rope, along with a few other inexpensive and easily replaceable items.
REQUIREMENT 4: HORSE CONTAINMENT AND CONTROL
Veterinary and farrier visits---as well as routine tasks like bathing and clipping my horses---can be a challenge without a barn. Sometimes you just need a horse to stand still in one place for a little while. I addressed this by installing a set of cross-ties inside the entranceway to one of our farm buildings. Cross-ties could just as easily be installed at the opening of your run-in shed, or even between two stout posts, assuming they are set very securely into the ground.
You could also build a small “holding pen” at the front of a larger field. This sectioned off area allows you to keep a horse close at hand if necessary---while waiting for an appointment, for instance---and provides a convenient option if you need to keep the horse quiet or otherwise contained for more than a few minutes.
REQUIREMENT 5: MANURE MANAGEMENT
While not having a traditional barn can seem like a struggle, one big advantage is it can simplify manure management. From time to time I may miss the simple, contemplative pleasure of mucking stalls, but there is much less day-to-day labor involved with keeping a run-in shed clean. I currently live on a large farm so the little amount of manure left in my horses’ run-in shed can be spread on pastures that we aren’t currently using for the horses. People who aren’t blessed with that much space can use other long-established methods of manure disposal, like composting or having it hauled away.
An issue that is sure to arise when you don’t have a barn is where to keep your gear.