As a new horse owner, you want to ensure that you are doing everything you can to keep your horses happy, healthy, and safe, and making sure they have a comfortable environment and shelter they can stay and live in is a big part of this.
However, do all horses need stabling or housing? The answer is it depends.
Few horse breeds are more than capable of living outdoor, but this will also depend on where they will be kept, your location and what the weather conditions are like throughout the year, your horses’ condition, age, and if a shelter is provided.
Nevertheless, having dedicated housing for your horses can ensure the safety and comfort of your horses all year round. Here are some things to consider when deciding if you want to keep your horses inside or outdoors.
Weather conditions
If your horses are in good condition and have thick coats, they can be kept outdoors. However, they will require a well-built and secure shelter from inclement weather conditions.
During summer, your horses will need a shade from the heat to help avoid sunburn and dehydration. They also like to have a shelter to keep the flies and other annoying bugs and insects away. During different seasons, they will need protection from weather conditions such as wind, rain, storm, and snowy conditions. If you do decide to keep them outdoors, a well-built shelter is a must!
Efficiency and Convenience
Having stable/ housing makes it more convenient for you to take care of your horses, especially if you own two or more horses. In addition to keeping your horses safe and comfortable, having a stable also means storing all your equipment, grooming tools, medications, water supply, and horse food can be kept safely all in one place.
If you own a show horse, it might be best to keep them stabled to keep them clean and well-groomed. Additionally, if your horses are not well or injured, keeping them indoors means you can keep an eye on them while avoiding infections and controlling their feed and medications.
Socialization
Horses are very social animals and like to interact with other horses. So, when deciding whether to keep them outdoors or indoors, you may want to consider this factor.
Keeping them outdoors means horses can be around each other more. However, stables can also be designed so that horses can interact and socialise with each other while being kept indoors. For instance, our American barn range is designed to keep all horses under one roof for convenience.
However, some horses prefer to be left alone and live in their space. Some horses may suffer from anxiety and like a more quiet environment, in which case stabling them separately from other horses might be the better option.
Pasture
Each horse will require roughly around 1 to 3 acres of pasture, depending on their size and conditions. So, whether you want to keep them outdoors or in a stable will depend on how big your field is, how many horses they own, the quality of your pasture, and whether you want to control how much and what they eat.
If you decide to keep them outdoors, you need to ensure that:
1. Any dangerous objects and toxic plants, grass cuttings, and garden waste are not accessible to horses.
2. Ensure that fence heights for horses are suitable. We suggest having the fences at least 1.25m high, and double fences may be required for stallions.
3. Ensure that food and water are readily available, especially if you are leaving them outdoors for an extended period of time.
Shelters
If you choose to keep your horses outdoors, it is crucial that you prepare a high-quality and well-built timber shelter to keep them safe. There are several horse shelters you can choose from, whether it’s static shelters placed on your field to a mobile shelter that can be moved if you regularly move your horses from one field to another.
No matter which option you pick, it is important that you invest in high-quality shelters built to last. Find out about Jon William Stable’s horse stable and shelter range on our website.
On the other hand, if you choose to keep them indoors, there are plenty of options available, for instance, static and a mobile stable or a large American barn, or even bespoke housing.
If you are unsure what type of housing is best suited for your horses, why not give us a ring! Jon William Stables has been designing and manufacturing equestrian buildings for over 50 years. We are proud to say we deliver high-quality, robust, and beautiful designs that will last for a long time.
We understand that it is essential that the home you build for your horses are according to your specifics and needs, so our experts work closely with you to ensure that every aspect of the building is satisfactory. See some of the horse stables and barns below.
Ready to invest in a high-quality shelter or a stable for your horses? Why not browse our latest brochure, or feel free to directly contact our equestrian building experts at 01380 850 965 today!
