Do I need a barn?

[Genipher]

We might be moving to a piece of property that would allow us to have a horse. Over an acre and a half of this property has trees on it. It's not a full forest but just a few trees sprinkled amongst the field. Having never owned a horse I was wondering...will we need a barn or lean-to or would a horse be just fine in a pasture with trees for shade/winter protection?

 

[bubba1358]

I've had my donkey in an open, no-barn, tethering/electric net, 100% forage and home-cut hay system for a year, and he is immeasurably more healthy than when he arrived. He has a favorite, low hanging tree to hunker down under during thunderstorms. Our Tennessee winters are not very snowy, so that may be an issue. But, he's as happy as a ... donkey.

I would imagine a horse to be similar. I do see three-sided, roofed 'sheds' out here, though. Line it with straw, and that's really all you need.

 

[Bunnylady]

You might check what your local regulations are. Some animal welfare groups get upset if you don't provide a horse with shelter; of course, whether the animal uses it may be a different issue.

Shelter would be considered even more important for a donkey. Donkey hair doesn't shed water like a horse's does. A horse can be standing outside in a downpour and its skin might still be dry, but a donkey will be soaked to the skin.

 

[GLENMAR]

Yes. They should have a run in shed at least.

 

[goodhors]

He needs some kind of shelter to get out of the wet, walls to block the wind, snow if you have it.
A roof over his head allows him to dry out, from the skin to the hair. Tree doesn't work well for
that if the rain or snow doesn't stop. If the animal gets wet to the skin, can't get dry, they do
get sick, may develop skin diseases like rainrot on the top of body or scratches which is a leg
problem from skin not getting dried out.

He may chew on your trees, kill them all. Seems like if they don't have good grazing, they do
chew trees, along with winter diet changes to browse, chew just to keep busy. If you have
any nice trees, you will want to wrap them with chicken wire or put protective fence around
them so horse can't reach them to chew.

 

[otiemonster]

I think it just depends on your area and where you live. If you get snow I would say yes they need a shelter of some kind. We have two stalls and our horses refuse to go in them. It can be pouring down rain and they stand outside. I feed them in the stalls in the winter and they drag there hay to the door and stand outside to eat. We are in CA so our winters are not that bad.

 

[bubba1358]

You might check what your local regulations are. Some animal welfare groups get upset if you don't provide a horse with shelter; of course, whether the animal uses it may be a different issue.

Shelter would be considered even more important for a donkey. Donkey hair doesn't shed water like a horse's does. A horse can be standing outside in a downpour and its skin might still be dry, but a donkey will be soaked to the skin.

True. My donkey refused his shelter, though. Would not set foot under that roof for anything. I tried putting his water bucket at the back of it, and what did he do? Went thirsty that day. When it rained, he would stand a few feet from a roofed, dry place to hunker down. Go figure.

 

[secuono]

They should have something solid to hide in/under. Mine are free to come and go with trees out there for shade, but they vastly prefer the breeze through barn. Especially in winter and in the heat of summer.

Neighbor up the road has a horse and mini, no shelter at all but one tree that looses all it's leaves in winter. They look miserable in the day time heat and during winter storms.

 

[farmgirl01]

I've had mules for many years and they never use the shelter. They chose to stand under the trees when the weather is bad.

 

[CritterZone]

You should at least have a run-in shed for the horse to get out of the weather. He may or may not use it, but should at least have the option. The horses across from us have only trees, and when the temps drop below zero and the snow is driving and the wind is blowing, those poor animals are absolutely miserable. They live through the weather, but they look like heck come spring. My horses have the same weather, but they have access to the barn (not much more than a run in shed), but it gets them out of the wind and the rain, and gives their feet a chance to dry out. They come through the winter fat and sassy, and we have never had foot rot, rain rot, thrush or shivering horses.