Mobile field shelter users

[hairycob]

Does anybody use a mobile field shelter as a stable?
What are the pros & cons?
What do you use on the floor?
What do you use as an area for farrier/washing down etc? (especially in this weather!)
Any useful tips. Am looking at all my options for my own field & don't think I can afford my hearts desire yard wise so have to look at more economical options.

 

[nuffield]

flooring road scalings or crusher -run [ its basicaly the same thing] and rubber mats on top if you want to but not necessary

 

[shellonabeach]

In my field shelter which has panels and a door to make it into a stable I have rubber matting down on the grass and straw on top (as a normal bed). My friend just has straw but I like being able to sweep mine!

Edited for pros and cons

Pro's:

- Horse has decided he hates being stabled so is living out 24/7 but this is his choice
- I am only "mucking out" once a week and using very little bedding
- I can sweep rubber matting and the floor inside the shelter is not at all muddy

Con's

- Area outside the shelters are very muddy (soon to be sorted with some sort of surface though) I have 4 rubber mats outside as a dry area to tie up etc - friend calls it a patio!
- Horse doesn't like being shut in at all
- Laying rubber matting was a little tricky as the ground was not level, like concrete would be

All in all though the horse is happier so who am I to argue!

Farrier cold shoes in the shelter if it is raining, if not we have a sturdy post near the main field gate to tie them up to which is right near where the farrier parks his van. This is where we wash them down too. In the summer farrier can drive into the field (front part near gate is fenced off from horses so we can park cars in)

 

[pottamus]

Yes I use one all year as my horse goes in at night to keep his tummy from expanding! I have had mine for 3 years now and it has paid itself back in the fees I was paying a neighbour to rent a stable!
Pros - it can be moved if necessary, does not always need planning...although check this, I cannot have perm stables up as I rent a field not own, if I have to move field or location I can have it taken down and re-built elsewhere.
Cons - none as it is as well built and put together as any stable. Obviously I do not have a permanent hard base, so that is a pain but that is because I am not allowed to put one in as I do not own the field.
I sited my stable on level ground and put thick rubber mats down that overlapped up the sides of the stable to cover up the gap created by the metal skids. I put a normal bed down of shavings on top of this.
To be fair I have to take my horse down the lane to my house for the farrier as I do not have a hard standing area. I have attached rings to the outside of mine though so I can tie up and hang haynets etc.
Because I have no hard standing it does get pretty muddy outside the door way in winter, but that is my choice and I would advise anyone else that owns their land to but hardcore of stones down to prevent this.
Always get a kick strip of metal put over the step into the stable as my horse kicked seven bells out of it as he was too lazy to lift his feet, so it was pretty damaged before I got my kick strip fitted.
You can get thick tough rubber strips in a roll that you can fix to the bottom inside of your stable walls to block the hole where the skids are...brilliant these are and have not moved since I put them up.
I paid a few quid extra and had mine fully lined inside so there were no ledges to be eaten.
There are guaranteed weather proof for so many years but I always put a coating of weather proof stain on mine each year to protect it better.
www.lloydsacre.co.uk do good quality ones that are more affordable than most and give a real good service.

 

[watterh]

We have two from national stables. Have them on a hard standing, so they are pretty much like ordinary stables. We are really pleased with them. We are going to get rubber matting next year to make them even more cozy.