However, hard rain, wet snow or wind can lay down or disrupt the hair coat so that the horse loses body heat. Therefore it is important that horses have access to a wind break in their pasture or pen. A thick stand of woods, a ravine or the bottom of a steep hill can provide adequate windbreaks for horses. Run-in sheds have several advantages over maintaining horses in stalls. A shed is less expensive to build and there is less danger of fire than with a barn.
Horses can be group fed and managed reducing labor.
And horses are generally healthier when kept outside. They have fewer respiratory and digestive problems, they receive more exercise and they have a better attitude. Disadvantages to maintaining horses in sheds are there is more risk of injury from other horses, diet and feed intake cannot be individually controlled and horses will have a heavier hair coat and look dirtier than horses in barns. However if the horse does not need any special care and is not being shown or prepared for sale, advantages of maintaining the horse on pasture outweigh the disadvantages. Typically run-in sheds are three sided with the opening facing away from prevailing winds.