Simple housing designs can provide the necessary protection from the elements and can be a very effective means of maintaining horses. For those who want a system for easy cleaning of barns, try a skidable shed. A skidable shed is a three-sided shed built on skids or runners. This allows the horse owner to move the building from pasture to pasture or from a well-worn area to a new area, leaving the manure behind. Skidable sheds are normally built from a welded steel frame and covered with steel siding.
Loose housing can be as simple as a three-sided structure or as elaborate as an open barn.
When using these structures, position the hay feeder at least 150 yards from the barn. This will reduce the tendency for the horses to walk back to the barn to defecate and keep the barn cleaner. If cleanliness is not a concern, hay can be fed in the barn. There is, however, a danger when feeding horses in a confined space. Competition for feed in a confined area may lead to an accident.