shetland in a shed???

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tillytime

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Hi, I have a lovely little rescue shetland who I need to build a stable for.

I want it to be about 6'x8', and wood.

Was thinkning of using a shed (and altering the door)
or maybe a childs playhouse (the posh wooden type), but think the door may be too narrow.
The final option is a purpose build stable. (which is expensive)


Has anybody built / installed a shetland stable like this?
Any tips / advise?

Thank you all. x
 
It will be on concrete / slabs with rubber mating. I won't be putting the wooden floor in.

I'm wondering whether the first two would be warm enough, or too drafty, and water proof!
 
I have seen a playhouse turned into a shetland stable. Obvious things to think about are kick boards, and that the shed is decently reinforced, the windows sorted so that the panes arent cheap plastic that can be quite nasty if broken...

Another option is reclaimed pallets. I know of a whole stableblock (full size) and tack room with feed and hay shed, constructed out of pallets....it's impressive!
 
The shed should be more than adequate. Line the walls with plywood up to half the height so he doesn't make holes in the wall.

One thing you may have to do is fit the door so that it opens outwards, this is so that should the pony become cast across the doorway you can get in to help him up. Also means that bedding doesn't block the doorway.

If you can put a layer of bricks around the base to lift it up off the floor, this will not only give you some extra height bu will also protect the wood from urine damage.
 
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DragonSleigh-Bells said:
I have seen a playhouse turned into a shetland stable. Obvious things to think about are kick boards, and that the shed is decently reinforced, the windows sorted so that the panes arent cheap plastic that can be quite nasty if broken...

Another option is reclaimed pallets. I know of a whole stableblock (full size) and tack room with feed and hay shed, constructed out of pallets....it's impressive!
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Wow ... A whole stable block from pallets, that is impressive. Dont think I'd have anywhere near enough skill to do that. Wish I could tho! I'd love to custom builld my own.
 
I would stick kick mats up and these would help insulate it. Maybe add a inch thick piece of wood to the base all the way round so if its sitting in pee all the time this can be changed rather than it be the panel of the hut (does that make sense?) getting wet. They love their hack its only a mile from the yard and it means my grass gets cut ;-) x
 
Evelyn said:
The shed should be more than adequate. Line the walls with plywood up to half the height so he doesn't make holes in the wall.

One thing you may have to do is fit the door so that it opens outwards, this is so that should the pony become cast across the doorway you can get in to help him up. Also means that bedding doesn't block the doorway.
Click to expand...


Lol ... I so hadn't thought about the door going inwards. I was properly confused!!! :)
 
I've just had a chicken shed built, I went to a local company and specified what I wanted and they sold me their standard shed with my adjustments, it has an opening window, sliding vents under the eaves and a stable door and was surprisingly affordable, if you dont want one with a floor you can ask for it to be left out - so maybe going to a local shed company and asking them to adapt one of their standard sheds to suit would be worth a try, bit more expensive than a normal shed but more to your requirements

Another option is a goat house, they usually have stable doors, they are mini stables really if you get a good one - something like this but bigger http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mini-hors...t=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item4ab1540465
 
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Shed will be fine - and a 6 x 8 ought to be ok unless you are keeping it in there 24/7. A 8 x 10 would be better tho.

However - make sure you have a base of paving slabs (heavy duty ones, not garden std). Set the slabs on builders sand to level them & this will also act as drainage.
Dont (obviously) use the wooden floor - use that for making kickboards instead).
Customise the doorway to ensure it is wide enough or order the dor to your size (most companies will do this) & get sensible bolts on.

Had a 12.2 that lived part time in the garden shed 1 winter - it was the only way to get/keep it fit for Olympia :D
 
WelshD said:
I've just had a chicken shed built, I went to a local company and specified what I wanted and they sold me their standard shed with my adjustments, it has an opening window, sliding vents under the eaves and a stable door and was surprisingly affordable, if you dont want one with a floor you can ask for it to be left out - so maybe going to a local shed company and asking them to adapt one of their standard sheds to suit would be worth a try, bit more expensive than a normal shed but more to your requirements

Another option is a goat house, they usually have stable doors, they are mini stables really if you get a good one
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I'll look see if I can find a local shed company, cant think of any at the moment.

A goat shed.... I never knew there was such a thing, I'm gonna look for one now! :)
 
The Xmas Furry said:
Shed will be fine - and a 6 x 8 ought to be ok unless you are keeping it in there 24/7. A 8 x 10 would be better tho.

However - make sure you have a base of paving slabs (heavy duty ones, not garden std). Set the slabs on builders sand to level them & this will also act as drainage.
Dont (obviously) use the wooden floor - use that for making kickboards instead).
Customise the doorway to ensure it is wide enough or order the dor to your size (most companies will do this) & get sensible bolts on.

Had a 12.2 that lived part time in the garden shed 1 winter - it was the only way to get/keep it fit for Olympia :D
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Thank you for the advise. Will take it all on board. He will only be in there for short periods ... maybe over night sometimes, thats all.
 
tillytime said:
Awwww that is soooo cute, I'd love to bring my boy home for an afternoon in the garden. :)
Click to expand...

I used to do that - one time somebody at the yard noticed I'd been gone for a while sent out a search party! Not sure why they didn't try phoning me, or my parents, who would have told them that the horse was quite happily mowing the lawn!

I used to know of a tiny pony that lived in a converted summerhouse - it was all white and frilly and looked really posh :)
 
You'd need a pretty substantial shed!

My shetland would break a B&Q type jobbie in 30 seconds as he throws himself against the walls for a good rub!

His stable though is 6' x 8' and has a 3ft width door that is 3ft tall so he can see over it though not jump out.

But we've had to reinforce it all because he loves a good scratch esp when wet.

My flooring is paving slabs on a sand base but ensure you get ones with good grip as most get slimy over time. Rubber mats for that size stable are cheap enough though.
 
If it's just for shelter, you only need 3 walls and a roof, erected so that its back is towards the prevailing winds. If you need it to confine the pony, and it sounds as if your rescue doesn't have any company, then be aware that shetland ponies have phenomenal strength, especially if actively trying to get out. They are tough as nails and with even just a thick hedge for shelter, manage fine throughout an average winter. If porky, might need a rug to stop rainscald. And might need supplementary feeding depending on the grass/hay. Please remember that a sweet, rescued shetland pony is still an equine and needs all the things that any horse would need. One of the primary things a horse or pony needs, as a herd animal, is company. Some learn to cope with it but many get very stressed and that brings behavioural problems. Other things your pony needs are regular worming, farriery, jabs etc. Apologies if you know all this - wasn't clear from your post x
 
Blitzenfys said:
http://www.smithssectionalbuildings.co.uk/go/products/goat-houses/

OP just remember that you need to be able to get in the stable comfortably to clean it out, it will be no fun if you are bending down in there.
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You may find this forum on Horsetopia helpful for all things mini:
http://forum.horsetopia.com/miniature-horse-corner/130005-pictures-your-mini-setup.html

there are a few photos of stables/shelters here. Join and ask away, they are very helpful and friendly. :)
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
If it's just for shelter, you only need 3 walls and a roof, erected so that its back is towards the prevailing winds. If you need it to confine the pony, and it sounds as if your rescue doesn't have any company, then be aware that shetland ponies have phenomenal strength, especially if actively trying to get out. They are tough as nails and with even just a thick hedge for shelter, manage fine throughout an average winter. If porky, might need a rug to stop rainscald. And might need supplementary feeding depending on the grass/hay. Please remember that a sweet, rescued shetland pony is still an equine and needs all the things that any horse would need. One of the primary things a horse or pony needs, as a herd animal, is company. Some learn to cope with it but many get very stressed and that brings behavioural problems. Other things your pony needs are regular worming, farriery, jabs etc. Apologies if you know all this - wasn't clear from your post x
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Thank you for ensuring I was responsible ... you cant assume! But luckily the little guy is living with 3 other horses - who all have standard large size stables. He never had any companionship before, but has settled in sooo well, although he is very independant. His previous home hadn't kept up with his worming, jabs, teeth, feet etc so I've been working through all that. He is also terribly underweight with muscle wastage.... He is needing A LOT of tlc.
 
my OH and ( good old!) Dad build my horses a new shelter this year - all home made, had 18mm ply wood which a shetty wouldn't kick through ( my 17.3 Id and WB cant make any holes lol),

and 3"x3" timber to make the frame and if you use cheap green corrugate from B & Q ( £10 a sheet of about 2 ft wide by 6ft long),
For an 8ft x16 ft shelter cost me £500 in materials

( this is a pic of it Part Finished )
298143_10150329192201791_558991790_8541434_241868495_n.jpg


And if you ignore Captain camp - you can just make out the roof and guttering I found out of a skip :-)
315621_116391738472351_100003045753597_92157_2121014315_n.jpg
 
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We had 2 mini shetland's in shed's with concrete flooring at our yard many moons ago, no problem with them being in then, just a pain in the arse to muck out! always banging my elbows I was :-D
 
I also took on a tiny miniature shetland this year and had to face the same challenge. My Yard owner allowed me to section off a small bare paddock for him next door to another pony's little paddock and my husband and I had to build him a little field shelter. We decided that smaller was better as he would benefit from more warmth if it wasn't too big and airy. We marked out a rectangle with the widest (back) into the weather and then put in four solid wood fence posts using met post anchors in each corner. I then took apart several large hardwood pallets and built a strong frame around the fence posts. I then finished it off with fencing featherboard and we constructed a roof with shed roofing felt. All in all it cost about £100 including waterbased fence preserver to finish it off. We put a lovely deep bed of straw in which I muck out in a kind of deep litter manner once a week. I should say that he is now turned out in the big field with 2 other ponies in the day and is now just in his little paddock with lots of soaked hay overnight and he loves his cozy pony palace!
 
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