Friday 22nd October, 2021
At the first drop of rain or gust of strong wind, horses typically head straight to mobile field shelters. You’ll find the harder it rains, the faster they gallop to safety. While it can be quite comical and endearing to watch, it makes you realise that horses are just like us humans. Or at least most of them, anyway.
Oddly, some horses are quite happy to stay out in the rain no matter how much of a nudge you give them. Perhaps this is because they are less susceptible to the health problems that rain can cause or they’re just tough cookies. Either way, these horses must be blessed with great genetics to be able to withstand a heavy downpour. Charles Darwin, the father of Evolution, would certainly be proud.
If you’ve got a horse who could stand in the rain for hours, great! You’ve got yourself a low maintenance horse! However, you’ve also got a mobile field shelter standing empty, and you’re probably now wondering what on earth to do with it. After all, you’ve probably invested lots of money and time in setting it up for your galloping friend. And let’s not even get started on the effort it takes to move your mobile field shelter every six weeks.
So what should you do if your horse isn’t making the most out of their mobile field shelter? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Here are three alternative uses for mobile field shelters aside from housing horses.
Owning a horse is a labour of love. It’s not unusual for owners to spend more money on their horses than themselves. Expenses can sometimes exceed £10,000 a year. And some owners make do in other areas to maintain the upkeep of their precious animals. For a full breakdown of horse expenses, read our blog on what it really costs to own a horse.
Hay can make up a significant proportion of this annual budget. This can be especially true if your horse is stabled and you need a supplement for grass. Storing bales of hay, however, can be quite difficult- especially during winter when it’s wet and the amount of hay needed can increase by 30 to 50%.
You may find that leaving hay out in the field and covering it with a tarp doesn’t offer that much protection. So you may want to consider taking advantage of a mobile field shelter. Not only will this protect the hay from water runoff and ground moisture, but it will also help retain as much nutritional value as possible.
Even if your horses enjoy staying out in the rain, they most likely will not enjoy feeding on wet hay. Most humans squirm at just the thought of wet food so we can only imagine how unpleasant and unpalatable wet hay would be for our animal friends.
Storing hay properly not only prevents contamination and spoilage but can also reduce shrinkage. This will mean that your horses can get the most out of their feed, and you can get the most out of your money. What an excellent cost-effective alternative use, no?
Mobile field shelters aren’t just for horses. You can also use your field shelter to house other animals. From sheep and llamas to donkeys and alpacas, mobile field shelters can be used to house a range of different animals.
Though most shelters are used for equestrian purposes, all animals have one thing in common. That is, they need respite from the elements. Although some animals needs may be different from horses, you can adapt shelters to suit their specific needs. Whether it’s the size of the shelter, changing the flooring, or adding a shelter gate to separate animals for sheering or injections, the possibilities are endless.
Moreover, mobile field shelters offer great flexibility when it comes to sheering sheep. If you fit a steel gate onto your shelter, you can easily sheer your animals onsite without having to bring them in from the field. Sound a lot less exhausting, right?
You can make mobile field shelters suitable for pretty much any animal as long as you know how to adapt them.
Looking for more alternative uses for mobile field shelters? General storage is the answer! Even though most tractors are ‘made’ for the great outdoors, their appearance can get quite weathered when left at the mercy of the elements. For extra peace of mind and security, consider storing tractors or any other farming machinery in a field shelter. This will help keep them dry and protect consoles from water damage.
The benefits of this alternative use for a mobile field shelter don’t end there! Storing farm vehicles in a field shelter will further ensure their security and help prevent theft. While many tractor owners have invested in security lights and heavy-duty security chains, this hasn’t stopped tractor theft from rising. In fact, rural crime hit an all-time high in 2018, increasing by 12% and costing Brits a whopping £50 million.
It may be a good idea to store any expensive farming machinery in a mobile field shelter as this will keep them out of sight from wandering eyes. Besides, you can never be too careful. What’s more, most thieves will expect field shelters to house horses, not tractors. If they don’t spot any tractors in plain sight, they will likely just move on. Phew!
Hopefully, you find these alternative uses for mobile field shelters handy. Whatever you decide to use your mobile field shelter for will depend on your horses and also your specific needs. One thing that is universal, however, is the value that having a mobile field shelter can provide both you and your animals. Give us a bell on 01789 766 533 so we can help you figure out your shelter needs! Or if you’re looking for a quote on a mobile field shield shelter, fill out our simple online form.
