Field shelter position

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chaps89

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I moved into a new field a couple of weeks ago and have a shelter being put up, for now just a simple cross shape, with a roof maybe going on next year.
My dilemma is where to put it and I have to have decided that by tomorrow lunchtime đź«Ł

I can either put it at the top of the field, which is where they currently tuck themselves into the hedge if there's bad weather, but then will they just stick to the hedge and it's a waste of time, or part way down the hill, giving more options for them but maybe they won't use it as it's not their preferred spot. Field is well draining and fairly sandy.

I did post on a FB group but didn't get much help so hoping you guys might have some ideas!

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I think it depends where the winds will blow. As you can see from the pic I left mine (it’s moveable) in a stupid place last year and the gales blew it over. It is now backed up to the hedge line and ground pegged in. It was a SW wind that got mine.
 

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Our ground is very similar to yours, except we have thick old hedges on all four sides. Our herd will always be at the top of the hill on a dry windy day, but bring themselves down to lower levels if it rains. Field runs north/south with hill at the north end and the hedge line on the left is preferred.
 
Chaps, you'll know that my 3 run in shelters were in very different places.
The 2 by yard were facing north north east, both backing onto either a building or high hedging.
The mobile one facing SW but again backing onto lower hedging. That has decent vents in all 3 solid sides.

If this is to be used mostly in winter for haying or perhaps anytime for box rest, then nearer to gate/ hay/water would be my choice for ease of my movements in really foul weather.
Or, otherwise I'd be perhaps putting it facing hedging but at least 12ft away, so they can get round it to shade/shelter all year round. This all depends on which way the wind hammers from at it's worst and if you have one with air vents etc to allow wind to go through reasonably!

What you do not (hopefully) want to do is have the open side facing midday sun at height of summer, as even with an overhang, it becomes a roasting box inside unless under trees.
 
Thanks everyone.
For clarity it's going to be more like a windbreak in an X shape, than a traditional rectangle shelter, so whichever way the weather is going, they can get out of it, and means positioning is less critical than a traditional shelter. And hopefully it will stand up to wind/not get blown away too!
It will also be useful for tying nets to/feeding in the field etc.
If needed I can enclose the other two sides with electric to make a pen.

They're currently doing pen rest at the top of the field by the hedge line and they've been tucking right into it in the bad weather, but carrying water or big haynets up there is painful! Hopefully that won't be an ongoing or regular issue mind. The ground has held up well there.

Food for thought anyway!
 
Ok, so we have decided on where it's going - part way down the hill towards the water.
Having done 2 weeks of lugging water and haynets up the hill and knowing in winter I'll probably have nets daily, even though it's a short hill, I don't want to be doing that all the time!

However, the guy building it threw me a curve ball. For context - this is being done by a friend of a friend, the friend donated the building materials and the friend of a friend is providing labour at mates rates. So I don't have a lot of money to throw at this and can't ask too much!

Apparently we have enough materials to make a 3 sided shelter with a roof. I'd slightly prefer the cross design, because then positioning doesn't matter but it would use more materials/labour to fit a roof to that.

So now I need to work out direction after all.
Prevailing wind is SW/W, but obviously worst weather can come in from the E.

Pointing down the hill is north/east. There is a shelter in the field next door to the east but there's a bit of distance between it and where my ponies can get to, similarly there is some tall plants and wire facing north/north east which is a little windbreak.
Or facing up the hill obviously provides a natural windbreak but would be facing into the prevailing wind.

Facing SE feels like the best option but then the shelter will be running along the hill, not sure how well that will work.

Photo from where the shelter will be situated, facing NE.

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I would go for the flattish area partway down the hill. Mine live out with shelter and I place water in the shelter in winter as it freezes less. It faces the East, but I do have a row of trees about 60m in front, so it's never blown over (it's also mobile, on metal runners). Most of the year our wind comes from the West and it's a Godsend. If yours is a cross, you need it as much out of the wind as possible, as it'll catch whatever the direction! I'd definitely favour the 3 sided. My shelter is on a slope and aside from my mats outside 'walking' down the hill, it's fine.
 
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