Run-In Sheds Make Happy Horses and Help with Fly Control

By Marti Day

Extension Area Specialized Agent

Agriculture – Dairy and Horses

 In our part of the country, I have always believed that barns are for people.  Having grown up in Pennsylvania where we spent better than 2/5’s of the year plowing snow, busting ice on water tanks and stumbling over frozen ground, I’ll concede that there are places in the country where barns are more than just a nice place to store your tack and hang out before and after you ride.  Fortunately for us North Carolinians, a big snow is 4 or 5 inches, melts in two days and all we’ve got left is mud.  Healthy horses are not bothered by most weather or temperature variations, and they can usually be kept outside in a wide range of climates. In extreme conditions, however, pastured horses should have access to some type of shelter. Natural landforms and vegetation may offer some respite from inclement weather. A pasture that has tree lines, hedgerows, creek valleys, or hills can provide a measure of relief from sun, rain, and wind.

In the south, possibly the most important reason for providing shelter for horses is to help us in our efforts to provide relief from biting insects.  Properly built and managed a simple run-in shed can be very beneficial in reducing fly predation.  A typical run-in shed is a three-walled structure that is open on one side. The shed offers protection from the elements while allowing horses to move in and out as they please.  Understanding that everyone has their own “horse keeping” philosophies, I recently heard an analogy that should make us all stop and think:  adjusting for size and weight, keeping a horse in a 12X12 stall is like making a person live in a porta-potty.  Just a bit of food for thought…. Most arguments for keeping a horse in a stall can be lined up in the “easier for the owner”column. Few, if any, fall into the “better for the horse” category.

Keeping the run-in clean and free of fly breeding sites (manure and bedding) will aid in providing a fly-free zone.  Fly baits, sticky traps, automatic spray equipment and fans will also help in keeping fly populations down.  In conjunction with other methods, fly predators can also help us come closer to winning the war.  Several different types of horse fly traps are available commercially to help knock down the number of the big bombers as well.  With the knowledge that the horse fly is the primary insect vector responsible for the transmission of Equine Infectious Anemia, every fly you kill is one less out there laying eggs and potentially contributing to a devastating disease. 

Construction options for run-ins include having the shed professionally designed and built, doing your own design and construction, purchasing a run-in kit or even retrofitting an existing building.  An old tobacco barn, with a little work for horse-proofing, can make a great run-in.   Regardless of your choice, you can avoid mistakes by looking at existing run-ins in your area and talking to local horse owners about good and bad features of sheds on their properties. This is especially helpful if you have recently purchased land and are unfamiliar with weather patterns in the region. Before you build a run-in shed, give some thought to the following considerations.

Use

Besides its primary use as a shelter, the run-in can be a feeding and watering station. It may have a stall or loft to store hay.  It might be the back half of a divided structure that houses farm equipment on the other side. Whatever its use, let the safety of your horses direct the design and materials. Look at all aspects of construction with an eye to preventing situations in which a horse could be trapped, injured, or allowed access to stored feed or machinery.  Be sure to check with your insurance provider before making the decision to store hay in your run-in - some will not allow it due to fire hazard.  Loft hay storage is questionable as it increases particulate matter in the air and may lead to respiratory issues if ventilation is not adequate.   

Location

The construction site should be sloped or graded to allow drainage away from the structure. If the shed will be on a flat area, build up the site with clay or gravel before construction starts. Avoid low spots or areas where water collects after a rain. Place the open side away from prevailing winds. While sheds may adjoin a barn or fence line, building the shelter in an open area of the field ensures that there will always be at least one side that is shady and out of the wind. Situate the shed at some distance from the house to minimize problems with flies or odor. Place the shed closer to existing
buildings if you want to run water or electric lines to it or if you will need to carry hay or grain to the shelter. If possible, situate the shed so you can easily see the interior from outside the field.

Design

Size depends on the climate as well as the number and temperament of the horses that will be using the shed. While 150 square feet per horse is a general rule, you will need more space if your herd contains especially dominant or timid horses. For only a few horses or for those that tend to get along well, somewhat less space can be considered. Standard depths are from 12 to 24 feet (deeper sheds are darker and provide more relief from flies), and common lengths are 24 to 48 feet. If this size will not accommodate all the horses in a field, it may be more practical to put up a second shed than to build one very large shelter. If you plan to use the run-in for feeding hay or grain, allow plenty of space so that all horses can have access to feed racks or buckets. Keep in mind that it is difficult to monitor intake by an individual horse if feeding is done this way.

Materials

The typical run-in shed is made of treated support posts, a frame of 2 x 4 lumber, and a sloping metal roof that allows at least 10 feet of head space. Walls can be made of a variety of materials. Safety is the primary consideration. Metal siding is affordable, strong, easily cleaned, and not subject to rot or mold. A run-in shed with
metal walls must be lined with thick boards or plywood to a height of four or five feet to ensure that a horse cannot be injured by kicking through the wall. Wood sides are strong and safe. Boards must be thick enough to resist breaking if they are kicked. Horses tend to chew boards, and wooden sheds will need more maintenance than metal buildings.
Wood that touches the ground will eventually rot. PVC panels are more expensive than other types of siding, but they last longer, do not need wood lining, and may be the most economical choice over the life of the shed. PVC is safe, easy to clean, and requires less maintenance than other materials.

Ventilation

How can one building provide a shady, breezy loafing area in the summer and a snug, non-drafty shelter in the winter? Situating the shed to block prevailing winds should take care of winter needs. To catch breezes in hot weather, consider adding windows or removable panels high on the back wall. The roof overhang needs to be long enough to keep out blowing rain. Another way to provide summer shade and take advantage of moving air is to extend the roof at the front of the shed, providing a non-walled area where horses can get out of the sun.

Footing

 For a few horses in a dry climate, it may be possible to build the run-in shed without any special surface preparation. Where there is more precipitation or if a larger number of horses use the shed, the ground in and around the shelter will become muddy from rain and waste. To avoid this situation you can put down six inches of gravel covered by crushed rock or dirt, or pave the floor area with rubber blocks, blacktop, or rough-finished concrete.

Maintenance

Even with the sturdiest initial construction, horses will eventually damage any building by chewing, rubbing, and pawing all surfaces and edges. Check frequently for loose boards, protruding bolts or nails, exposed metal edges, and other hazards.

Excerpts from Kentucky Equine Research