Customising Your Field Shelter |
Options And Ideas From The Experts

Whether mobile or fixed, field shelters are havens for your horses. They provide them with warmth, comfort, and safety from strangers, as well as from the harsh British weather. With so much to give, this home for your horses deserves all the customised creative input you can spare to make it more functional, comfortable, bespoke, and sturdy. Your four-legged friends will thank you for your custom field shelter ideas, if not in words, but in gestures, for sure.

Let’s explore a range of tips and ideas to help you customise your field shelter from four key perspectives: functionality, adaptability, aesthetics, and safety. For expert assistance from a reliable and trusted manufacturer, National Timber Buildings is here to help.

Material Selection For Optimal Customisation

The choice of shelter building materials determines its durability, comfort, and style. With each of them having their own significance, their choice brings a significant difference to the shelter’s performance.

Timber: A natural and aesthetic choice

The natural, traditional finish and versatility of timber make it the most popular material for field shelters and other outbuildings. Its camouflage effect with its outdoor surroundings adds to the aesthetic appeal of the shelter. Timber is also a preferred choice because of its strength and durability, which helps withstand the harsh British weather conditions. All our timber is vacuum pressure treated with preservatives to provide long term protection against fungal decay and insect attack, apart for OS board. It conforms to British Standards and is included in the BWPDA list of wood preservatives. Unlike brush-on products that have to be re-applied regularly, pressure treated timber needs no further maintenance to top up its preservative properties.

We care about the environment too and have policies in place in our European Mills to ensure our activities do not cause damage. Every sing scrap is recycled as part of our ‘protect the environment’ initiative. Plus, for every tree we take down, we plant four trees in its place!

Steel: Strength and stability

If maximum strength is what you look forward to, then steel shelter frames are what you need and want. Steel acts as a robust support for protection against wind and storm, hence ensuring long-term durability. It requires minimal upkeep efforts and is also fire-resistant. When clubbed with timber cladding, steel offers a natural look, thus maintaining both aesthetic appeal and structural integrity.

If you need to span long distances, we can incorporate steel into your design. This contemporary structure incorporates modern building practices, using prefabricated steel RSJs to form the superstructure.

Roofing Materials

At National Timber Buildings, we offer custom roofing options to match your specific needs, ensuring that your shelter is as functional as it is visually appealing. No matter which roof style your barn or outbuilding has, and the environment it is sited in, we have a roofing material and aesthetic to suit. From lightweight options such as Onduline, felt shingles, steel or Onduvillia to heavyweight materials including slate or clay tiles. If it is a light, airy feel you are after, clear sheeting would be a good option.

For a detailed look at which stable roofing material is best for stables, read our comprehensive stable roofing guide.

Functionality Customisation

Functionality ensures that the features of your shelter suit the purpose for which it’s built. This gives you the liberty to customise its aspects to suit the needs of your animals and their upkeep. Consider the following:

Height

Consider eaves height, especially for larger horses.

Partitions for multi-use

Making partitions is the easiest way to create sections in the shelter and enhance functionality. It creates space for multiple uses. This way, one side of the shelter can be used to store hay or equipment, while the other side can be used for rest and play of your animals.

Storage solutions

You can have shelves, hooks, or cubbies in your shelter space for maximum usage of the area. Such solutions help you ensure storage in an organised manner. Accessibility of feed and tools becomes easier. Decluttering improves the efficiency of your day-to-day activities.

Easy access points

Easy and comfortable accessibility can be attained by widening the entrance doors. Sliding doors ensure better security while making the accessibility for both humans and animals easier. For more ideas on how to make your shelter more functional, explore the stable extras & accessories section on our website.

Area

Account for multiple horses if needed, as each size horse will need a different amount of space.

Flooring options

Choosing the right flooring is essential for both comfort and practicality. If your field shelter will be housing livestock, choose a non-slip, durable flooring to prevent accidents and make cleaning easier. For storage purposes, a solid base like concrete or treated wood is the best.

Ventilation and lighting

Ventilation and lighting in your shelter are key considerations. Proper airflow is essential for the health and hygiene of your animals. It avoids the buildup of moisture and fungus and ensures freshness in the shelter. For proper ventilation and lightning, your shelter should have windows, vents, or slatted walls. You can also have skylights or sky windows to allow the natural light to enter during winter months when daylight hours are limited.

Achieving Unique Aesthetics

Paint colours and finishes

A few strokes of the right paint are all that you need to enhance the appearance of your shelter. A fresh coat of paint can bring life to an otherwise plain structure. Choose a weather-resistant natural shade that complements the landscape and withstands the weather. At National Timber Buildings, we offer a variety of finishes to help you personalise the field shelter to suit your tastes and requirements. One of our favourite finishes was by a customer who chose to finish our Cheltenham Gold stable in translucent oil-based paint with doors in a darker complementarity shade.

Roofing materials and styles

The roof material and style define your taste and personal style. You can choose from traditional gable roofs or more modern flat designs, depending on your preference. Variations can also be brought with respect to roofing material. You may have clear sheathing for a light and airy feel, tile effect, felt shingles, or even steel roofs for additional longevity. See our roofing guide above.

Landscaping around the shelter 

Landscaping is an initiative to enhance the surroundings of your shelter. You may add a border of shrubs, trees, or flower beds around the shelter. Natural surroundings not only improve the visual appeal but also provide shade and protection against adverse weather. For more ideas on integrating your field shelter with its surroundings, contact our experts on 01233 740 944.

Branding and personal touches

You may also do custom branding by adding your distinctive touch to the shelter. If you are using the shelter for a business or a farm, consider adding a personal touch with custom branding. Get your logo painted or engraved or install custom signs. For more inspiration, explore our custom options and see how we can help bring your vision to life.

Customising Safety

Safety is a top priority, especially if it is for your animals like horses, livestock, or pets. A secure and protective shelter space is essential for both the well-being of the animals and the longevity of the shelter. Consider the following:

 

  • Rounded edges and smooth surfaces
    The shelter should not have sharp edges and corners. The animals might get cuts and bruises because of such sharp edges when they brush up their bodies at the corners.
  • Non-toxic, animal-friendly materials
    Animals often chew or lick surfaces, so opt for non-toxic paints, finishes, and treatments that are free from harmful chemicals. The National Timber Buildings team offers shelters built with safety in mind, using high-quality, animal-friendly materials throughout.
  • Anti-slip flooring
    One of the easiest ways to enhance safety is by customising the flooring. Install anti-slip mats or customise the floor with materials that help reduce the risk of falls or slips, particularly for larger animals like horses.
  • Lighting for night-time safety
    For dark hours, consider adding custom lighting solutions. Well-lit shelters prevent animals from bumping into obstacles and are of help to the caretakers. Solar-powered lights are a good option to illuminate the shelter in an eco-friendly setup. For more ideas and expert guidance, check out the varied range of customisable, safety-focused shelters.
  • Ground security
    We recommend anchoring your field shelter to the ground to protect against adverse weather.

Any Tips For The Maintenance Of Custom Field Shelters?

We recommend conducting weekly cleaning to remove bedding and animal waste, and power wash walls and roofs to prevent algae buildup. Regular inspections help identify damage, loose panels, rust, and pest issues early, reducing long-term costs. Ensure waterproofing by checking and repainting the structure to protect it from the elements. Maintain the roof and gutters by clearing blockages and fixing damaged shingles. Regularly check and replace loose or corroded fastenings. Keep floors clean and free from cracks or grass growth, ensuring safety for animals and caretakers. Lastly, perform regular pest control to keep the shelter pest-free.

Custom Field Shelters At National Timber Buildings

For more inspiration on customisation options, visit our gallery of field shelters and other timber buildings. The design solution of National Timber Buildings is a combination of your custom needs and our expertise that we have developed over 40+ years. We provide you with bespoke solutions and manufacture your shelter in-house to tailor it to your exact needs. Here is a quick dropdown menu for some of the customisation options available at National Timber Buildings for your field shelter:

  • Increase in eaves height
  • Increase in framing size (4×2) for bigger horses or high wind areas to enhance sturdiness
  • Various door or gate options for the front side
  • Dividing wall to separate the field shelter
  • Chew strips for apertures
  • Rear guttering (front guttering is standard, but rear is optional)
  • Different roofing options (as above)
  • Thicker cladding for improved aesthetics
  • Upgraded kickboards for increased sturdiness
  • Kickboards can extend to eaves height, typically for larger horses
  • Stable door conversion kit:
    • Includes infill panel and top/bottom stable doors
    • Allows easy modification of standard foot opening
    • Can be easily installed by customers themselves

Call us today on 01233 740 944 to find out more!

Happy customising!