Horse Run-in & Sheep Shelter


Storm season in Oklahoma brings shelters to mind.  We've just added a few for our animals.  Barns are not typically needed here since we don't bring farm animals in for the winter.  Individual shelters in each pasture or pen are more suited to our inclement and sometimes severe weather. 


Our horse run-ins are not what you would consider typical.  After doing research on wind breaks for cattle feedlots, my husband decided to build shelters with a more open feel.  Since horses are claustrophobic, they don't naturally want to enter a confined space. (Anyone who has tried to put a horse in a trailer knows this.) But with slatted walls, the horses can see through the sides and do not feel uncomfortable entering. 


The amazing thing is this.  The gaps in the boards actually diffuse more wind than a flat wall.  I know it's hard to believe but it is true!  If you have a straight wall, the wind gets pulled around and in and then back out.  With ours, the small gaps allow air to pass through but reduce the wind to a gentle breeze. We only have two walls on them on the North and West sides since those are the directions that our bad weather comes from. It's amazing how much rain or snow the "open" walls block.  The first one was built over a year ago as an experiment of sorts.  Now, we have three of them each in their own small pastures.


The sheep recently had an remodel of the shelter in their new pasture.  It has an open air concept too but with more walls for added protection from the elements.  Gates to pen them up were put on too. 
{I still have to paint those}



Only the west half of this shelter is for the sheep though.  The east half was lined with sheet metal and will house hay for the winter months. We left one end open to the road for easier access. There is no need for hay right now so it's keeping our horse trailer out of the elements.

The other thing that is being built now is an equipment shed but I will have to show you that when it's complete.  Altough we have built most of the structures on the farm ourselves, the recent additions are being built for us.  :)  Hopefully this summer, we will complete the building of our farm!



I'm thinking an Amish barn quilt would look great on the side of the equipment shed. What do you think?


Comments

  1. nice job, kim. i remember your horse run-in when it was built.

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  2. Beautiful! I love all the 'neatness' of it. Can you come to the Southeast to help us map out ours?

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  3. Yes, yes; a barn quilt! Your place is so beautiful; it would be lovely to "start from scratch" on flat ground and be able to plan and place things properly.

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  4. Very nice and neat as a pin. You should be proud of your progress and success, well earned.

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  5. Very cool! I'm experiencing farm envy!

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  6. Kim, your farm is gorgeous! I love the idea of the gaps in the shelters. We may just try that! Can't wait to see your new barn:).

    ~Julia

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  7. The slatted shelters are beautiful. And I learned something.

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  8. Those are some gorgeous shelters. I never knew that about the wind, thanks for my first lesson of the day.
    Your farm is so inspiring. Enjoy!

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  9. Yes, definitely! I've been contemplating a barn quilt for the near end of our barn, too. They're so cool! Not sure how to choose a design, though, since I find many to be equally beautiful.

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  10. Everything around your home is so lovely, Kim. Just gorgeous.
    Oh, and coming from the windiest spot in the UK, I can vouch for what you say about slats.... definitely better than solid fencing/walls.

    Lovely shelters, and may your summer be free of too-awful storms
    A x

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  11. Those are the neatest shelters I've ever seen. Neat as in cool idea but NEAT as neat as a pin! Your whole farm is just beautiful!
    Karen & the Hounds

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  12. ... heaven for animals ... and me. :) Can I come vacation at your house? :)

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  13. Love those shelters! They really fit with your place and yes, I agree with you, painting quilt squares on the side is a great idea. I want to do that on one (or two or three) of our old barns. Thanks for reminding me of that idea!

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  14. Your animals are lucky... and your farm is beautiful!

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  15. What nice sheep shelters, I'm jealous! My Jacob sheep would look mighty nice in a shelter like that. Good thing they don't read blogs. They only complain when they hear the wheelbarrow pass them by, thinking every time they hear it there should be hay for them.

    Have you had much trouble with your sheeps' horns getting stuck or broken in the feeder?I finally gave up on feeders with bars or rails. Too many broken or stuck horns.I use durable large feed troughs ( rubbermaid) or very hard kiddie pools. I have a nice feeder I gave up on.

    Your place is beautiful.

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  16. Very nice. I am building a run in now. Switching my plans from solid to the slatted walls. Could you tell me how wide the gaps between the boards are?

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    1. There is a one inch gap between the boards to allow air flow. Email through my profile if you have any more questions. We are happy to help!

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  17. This farm is absolutely a show piece. It is amazing how beautiful and well planned it is. Ours is not nearly as pretty and nice as yours but it is home. Our barn is built out of recycled materials and is tin on the outside. However, it is what is inside that matters.

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  18. Do you have a parts list or even plans on how you built the horse runins and goat house? I would love to do that here in Oregon �� Amazing

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    1. We do not have plans or a parts list drawn up on the shelters. It was my husband's design and after the first one was built, we copied it for the others.

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    2. We do not have plans or a parts list drawn up on the shelters. It was my husband's design and after the first one was built, we copied it for the others.

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So what do you think of that?