Although we do not have any published plans for constructing your run-in shed, we do offer the following advice and guidelines. The use of a run-in shed is a good horse care practice. The shed provides shelter from inclement weather, whether hot or cold. However, in many situations, you will see horses not using the shelter despite weather conditions that you think would require the horse to be sheltered. Often horses seek shelter only from a cold wind. Run-in shelters, hay storage sheds, etc. should all face away from prevailing winds. Across most of the United States, the prevailing winds generally come from the west and southwest due to the effects of the Westerlies. A rule of thumb is to orient your building so the closed sides are to the west and south and the open side of the building is opposite the prevailing winds to the east and north. The size a shed needs to be will vary, but a guideline is the following: 12 to 16 feet deep, 20 feet long, 9 feet high at the back, and 10 to 12 feet high at the front. The eaves should be left open to allow for air movement. Inside the shed, you want a minimum of 100 square feet of space per horse. Leave the front of the shed open for easy access. Do not put feeders in the shed as this may cause problems with the horses in that field. Locate the shed on the landscape so that water will drain away from the shed. The shed should be constructed of durable material. A common material in Kentucky is oak. It is important to note that, despite the availability of the shed, many horses will not use it, preferring to stay outside. We would recommend having a shed available even for those horses that spend only part of the day turned out and go into the barn for the remainder of the day.

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