Shipping Container Horse Shelter: Benefits And 3 Cool Ideas of Remodeling

At first nomadic and migratory animals, now free-ranging and domestic, horses have adapted to weather fluctuations in different terrains. Through the process of domestication, horses have altered some of their genetic qualities to fit human goals. Regardless of changes, cloven-hooved still seeks to avoid extreme winds, rains, and blistering heat in addition to being accompanied by flies.

Taking the natural needs of horses into consideration, farmers look for an environmentally-friendly and effective way to build a shelter for these animals. Shipping containers are a good idea for the horse barn as they are designed to be secure, functional, and reliable.

Shipping containers can be converted finely and brilliantly into horse stalls. When converted into stalls, they are durable and could be 100% mobile for various purposes of the farmer. Note that the shipping container horse shelter must be lined and insulated.

Shipping containers come in different sizes for different needs. Additionally, their shapes are perfect for converting into barns and equestrian shelters.

Containers which are 20 or 40 feet long are acceptable in structure because, if needed, one can easily adapt it into a horse stall and even add a pitched roof on top. For the convenient stall, one can make a front gate for entrance and exit, a window for ventilation and a doorway for the owner. If you are curious about where to find a proper container, there are plenty of shipping containers for sale on the market.

Benefits of Using a Shipping Container As a Stable

In recent years, more and more farms have started to opt for or consider shipping containers as a form of storing equipment or for keeping livestock. Overall, the possibilities of using shipping containers on a farm are endless and limitless.

Transportation versatility

As said earlier, shipping containers could be an excellent idea for a horse stable once you make the proper changes. When building shipping container stables, farmers save up money, go with a more cost-effective way for their needs on the farm and create additional space for the cloven-hooved. It is a known fact that livestock rotates seasonally. Therefore, converted shipping container horse stables are a perfect option because they can ensure full mobility for farmers.

Climate controlled

When converting a shipping container into an equestrian stable, it is easier to insulate it and adjust climate-controlled settings or atmosphere depending on the needs. During all seasons, insulation and ventilation are two main things which preserve freshness and proper state of the converted stable of the animal. Since converted stable containers are cheaper than real barns for horses, making them climate controlled will be more affordable.

Reasonably cheap

It is pretty uncommon to turn a shipping container into a horse shelter. So, you might wonder which type of shipping container to use for your needs:

• 20ft containers are the best option for small or medium-sized farms. These containers can be used for hay or even tool storage. Depending on the breed of cloven-hoofed, a 20ft container can even be converted into a horse stable for small ones.
• 40ft containers are ideal for medium-sized farms, where they can be reshaped into equipment storage or an equestrian stable for medium or bigger horse breeds.
• 40ft High Cubes are the kind of containers suitable for larger farms with enormous machinery and equipment, and will be the best fit for large horses as a kind of stable.

You can get even more inventive than that. However, these standard benefits show that one can start converting freight containers into different types of storage or even stables. They do not cost much and are always available on sale. On the e-market, you can easily find 20ft containers for sale if you have a small farm, or 40ft if you plan a bigger project.

Сost-effectiveness of the containers makes farmers either save up for bigger things for their farm or become more environmentally friendly. This also increases their mobility because they can make farms portable and easily move from one place to another during various seasons.

3 Ideas for Remodeling a Shipping Container For a Horse Shelter

With design vision and proper construction ideas, anyone could purchase a freight container and convert it into anything they require. One can even come up with ideas of using a shipping container for a horse shelter or stables. Do not be surprised because it is viable and real. On top of everything, those with an eye for beauty can convert a shipping container into an elegant place.

Many farmers are now shifting their attention to more eco-friendly ways of running their businesses and everything on their farms. Not only is it in style and in sync with the current fashion, but also it is profitable. Below, you may find concepts on how to use a shipping container for horses.

The renovation of shipping containers into a barn is one of the widespread DIYs and does not take too much effort. Usually, barns are made out of corrugated metal shipping containers and are not as heavy as other freight ones.

Ventilation

You should be careful with these containers because you can end up with a dark and less ventilated space with low ceilings. Note that such containers could be only suitable for the smaller breeds of livestock and only with proper ventilation.

If the roof is low, make some improvements to raise it or enhance the process of ventilation to allow proper airflow for the cloven-hooved. Regarding windows, consider installing standard ones with an anti-vandal shutter, which will provide enough natural light, air, and protection.

Floor

Another part of the necessary renovation is the floor. Undoubtedly, the container floor comes with steel cross members, which support the floor with marine-grade plywood. It is supposed to give a strong and solid base for the horse shelter made of a shipping container, considering it is intentionally designed for holding gravy equipment. Therefore, the heavy weight of livestock should not be an impediment.

If in doubt, double-check any other possible alternatives which can make the floor more durable. Additionally, consider installing vinyl flooring, as well as steel or other durable materials, if you want to clean the surface easily or make it slip-resistant.

Doors

Another vital aspect of the conversion is a door option. As a rule, shipping containers have a set of 8 feet doors on one side, but it leaves little or almost no room for animals to turn around. Remember that you need another set of doors on the opposite end to help animals freely walk around the converted container.

Is Permission Required For Shipping Container Horse Shelters?

One of the most vital questions is whether permission is required for the shipping container to be converted into a horse shelter. Since shipping containers are viewed as temporary structures, permission is not necessary. However, it is worth checking with the local authority on this point. For instance, the chosen spot for the converted equestrian shelter may be in a special condition, or a place you’ve chosen can be of natural beauty or even conservation. Therefore, checking in advance with the local authority is highly recommended.

Note that if you decide to use shipping containers for a horse shelter, you are more likely to make additional inquiries regarding planning permission, since this newly changed structure will no longer be treated as a temporary or portable one.

Conclusion

Many do question and doubt the animal welfare of creating a shelter out of a metal box. Undeniably, it is a paramount concern of the farmers who take extra care of their livestock and its health. When thinking about converting a shipping container, horse stalls are one of the possible options. Make sure that you only use durable, professional, and safe products to preserve the well-being of your animals. You can find reliable, durable and cheap 20 or 40ft shipping containers for sale on our site.