We are uncertain of your exact question, but in considering your plan, we would recommend that you fence off a larger paddock for grazing and turnout, even for just one horse. This will help prevent overgrazing and the incidence of the dry lot effect. You may even consider rotational grazing by locking him into smaller portions (movable fence within the perimeter fence) for shorter times to help him eat more evenly as well as for the health of your pasture. There is information about rotational grazing located at www.uvm.edu/~pasture/?Page=mig.html. Also, with Maine winters, you may want to have a smaller turnout paddock near the shelter during the muddy or icy periods so he doesn't chop up the good grazing area. This is called a sacrifice paddock, where you sacrifice some land to save the majority for grazing later. It would serve you well to create some drainage in that smaller sacrifice paddock to allow water to run under the area rather than through manure and urine. Certainly a 12' x 15' covered area is a nice large stall size shelter. If this shelter is open-sided and located in the paddock, then be sure to face the back side of the shelter in the direction where most of the weather originates. This will help keep the shelter warmer and the horse more out of the wind. Planning for waste disposal will be important as you make this leap of keeping your first horse. Be sure to check any local ordinances you may have on this topic. If your horse gets wet from rain or snow, be sure to remove wet blankets, and make sure you remove all blankets frequently to check for sores or rubbed hair. To learn more about horse ownership, consult the lesson we offer for New and Prospective Horse Owners.

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