If you are a cattle raiser, then you know that your horses
are your source of income. Making sure that they are in the pink of health is
the only way that you can make a profit out of your investment. If your horses
are subjected to harsh elements like snow, pouring rain and the blasting sun
then it is not hard to predict their early demise. And as such you can now say
goodbye to all your hard work and to your money.
Providing them with a shelter is the sure fire way of
providing a guarantee that your horses will be protected and their health is
assured. One way to do this is to provide a loafing shed for your farm.
Basically, a loafing shed is a barn with three sides that is situated in a
pasture. And because horses are typically strong and big, you can be sure that
it will be subjected to great abuse. If you want your loafing shed to last a
long time, you should make sure that they are given high quality construction
standards. Also, in your designs and plans avoid building structures inside the
shed that have sharp objects or edges where the horses can hurt themselves.
There are a number of considerations when it comes to the
size and location of your loafing shed as well as the materials that should be
used.
When it comes to the location, it is advisable that your
loafing shed does not face the direction where prevailing winds come from. This
will help in prolonging the life of your shed and it will keep the shed warm in
cold weather. When a newborn livestock arrives, this warm weather is crucial to
its survival. Another consideration when it comes to the location is an area
where water does not pool. So choose a location on higher grounds.
For size consideration, this will vary depending on the size
of the livestock that you plan to put inside the loafing shed. Horses are herd
animals and typically gather together, so you need to put into account the size
of your ponies when they grow bigger. But, if you live in an area were cold
weather and harsh snowstorms are frequently experienced then you might want to
consider investing in a barn instead.
For many livestock owners, wood is the preferred choice of
building material. Lumber is very versatile and is easily customizable. With
the right plan and design, a wooden loafing shed can be very durable. You have
to make sure though that your roof is weather tested and is capable of enduring
heavy weather conditions.
Even if you already have a barn, a loafing shed is still a
good investment as this can be placed in the pasture where your horses graze.
Or this can also be a place where you can put horses ready to give birth to
keep them away from the herd and from potential danger.