Polytunnel mobile field shelters

[Scot123]

Hi. I've been looking into the possibility of getting a polytunnel type field shelter and searching the forums see that over the years Protech ones have been recommended. However, I can't see anyone has mentioned them for a while and can't see a website so I guess they no longer exist. Does anybody have any other recommendations for this type of mobile shelter - want to make sure it's good quality and robust enough to withstand the horses and wind etc! Thanks.

 

[JanetGeorge]

Found this one on E-bay. Personally I'd rather pay a bit more and get a timber one on skids. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4m-x-4m-...687557?hash=item4683d81685:g:DW4AAOSwXOVacY17

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ohhh, I kind of like that actually! I find it quite interesting as my horse is a wood eater!

 

[Scot123]

Hi. I've been looking into the wooden ones too! But I've heard a few people say they've had them sink down into the ground and then become unmoveable which would be a right pain! And also as it's on rented ground I thought the polytunnel type route would mean I could easily take it with me if I had to move. Yes, I've seen that one on Ebay - do you have any experience of what it's like at all?

 

[dreamcometrue]

We had a large polytunnel at my previous yard. Not as a field shelter, it was for growing vegetables etc and situated in a sheltered spot near my horse’s stable. It was very substantial; nevertheless my horse watched it disintegrate and blow away in a gale.

 

[pippixox]

I bought one like the eBay link, but found it was about £400.
Husband and I built it in about 4 hours.
I liked it as there are two routes so they can’t pen each other in. I looked at the wooden arc types but couldn’t afford it,
My pony loves it in the heat
However- my mare developed sweet itch this year and rubbed on it and snapped a pole. She dislodges the pegs while doin this (in fairness it also came with much bigger screw into the ground anchor things I forgot to put in) and it moved quite a bit. Now I have taken the cover off and fenced it off. I can hopefully fix the bent pole and now I am not on top of the itching I can hopefully reuse it next years without it being broken and moved again

 

[Scot123]

Hmmm, that's why I'm wondering if there's a difference between different brands - if some really are just polytunnels whilst others are properly designed for animal shelters. Yup, I can imagine any serious rubbing will dunt the metalwork. I hope you manage to get it fixed OK! How long did it last before the pole broke? Did it get any sort of a trial over winter?

 

[DD]

I would think it wouldn't be substantial enough as a winter field shelter.

 

[pippixox]

It was a specific live stock one and the tarp is very strong and in general I’m impressed with what you get for the price. However, I have seen wooden shelters damaged by kicks and rubbing too, horses are very strong.
We didn’t put it up until after the March snow! Remained dry in the rain. Some pretty strong wind seemed fine until my mare moved it!

Personally I have found my horses rarely use shelters in the rain or cold so I only really got it for the heat

 

[JanetGeorge]

However- my mare developed sweet itch this year and rubbed on it and snapped a pole. She dislodges the pegs while doin this (in fairness it also came with much bigger screw into the ground anchor things I forgot to put in) and it moved quite a bit. Now I have taken the cover off and fenced it off. I can hopefully fix the bent pole and now I am not on top of the itching I can hopefully reuse it next years without it being broken and moved again

She'd probably have done worse with a timber one. My SI mare knocked one right over and caved in the roof. And of course the ruddy Onuldine used for roofing is ruddy USELESS. I'm about to get all my stables, two sheds and 2 12x24 field shelters re-roofed. The only big question is what to use instead. At present, it looks like it might be Corotile. More expensive - but it DOES have a 15 year warranty.

 

[Antw23uk]

OP if its mainly for the summer heat I've attached a couple of pics of an idea im stealing from a yard where i went for a jumping clinic. Each paddock had one in the middle of the paddock and I thought it was a rather nifty idea I guess you could potentially then 'tweek it' for winter use?

 

[Scot123]

That's such a simple design, it's really good. Yes that could easily be tweaked to have a more rain-proof roof. I would like to go for something like that - if I didn't need it to be mobile/temporary.

I think what I might do to start with is just provide a good windbreak. I was thinking in a C shape with the open side facing the hedging. Maybe 8 ft posts with 5ft above ground covered in agricultural strength sind break fabric (not sure if over post and rail or stockwire...).

Maybe that would be the simplest/best option?