Donkey Shelters: We Talk Size, Requirements And Practicality

Donkeys can make trusted companions and are often enjoyed as pets. However, as versatile animals they are also wonderful for children to ride, useful for driving and showing and can also be used for light draught work. Just like horses and ponies, donkeys need a safe, secure, and comfortable place to rest after a long day at work or enjoying roaming the pasture. Practically, a sturdy shelter is also important to shield them from harsh elements. The heat of the sun, the bitter cold and the rain and snow can all pose serious health risks to these gentle equines.

Read on to find out what makes a good shelter for donkeys and what size shelter is most suitable as well as other useful information for anyone looking to build a new shelter for their donkey, pony, or small horse.

What Size Shelter For Donkeys?

The Donkey Sanctuary, world leaders in donkey welfare, recommend that a standard/average sized donkey would need around 4.7m² (50 square feet) of covered area for their bedded area.  So, if you have two donkeys, you will need to double that covered area size, triple it for three, and so on.

Ideally, you need to ensure there is enough headroom for both donkeys and humans and your donkey should be able to rear without knocking their head. The space needs to be a little bit roomy so there is enough bedded space to rest and more room to move around indoors. This is important when they are unable to go outside for longer periods of time due to weather or illness.

What Is The Best Shelter For Donkeys?

Our Novice stable range is ideal for donkeys, ponies, and smaller horses up to 16 hands and makes a great first stable.  Whilst the Novice range is simple, it is built using the same quality grade of materials and with the same expert craftmanship as our other ranges. You do not need to worry about outgrowing it either. If you find that you need a bigger stable with additional features later down the line, you can easily add to and develop your Novice boxes.

We can make all our shelters bespoke to your needs so if you have a donkey that likes to chew the timber frame, you might want to consider half height kickboards, or maybe you decide to increase the length of the metal chew strips around the door and shelter to avoid damage to the timber frame.  Whatever you need, we can factor it in during the design stage.

If it is a horse stable field shelter you need, whether fixed or mobile, we can help with those too.  Our mobile field shelters for horses and stables will be manufactured according to your specific needs, making sure that everything is in place for your donkey, pony, or horses. Unlike an ‘off-the-shelf’ mobile shelter for horses, our bespoke approach prevents you from having to compromise. All our shelters are made using tanalised® timber, heavy-duty, galvanised steel for skis (mobile stables and shelters) and 4×2” roof purlins in prefabricated steel joist hangers.

We recently designed and built 50 mobile field shelters for Bransby Horses, one of the UKs largest equine welfare charities. Check out our case study for details.

Can Donkeys Share A Stable?

If the stable is big enough (note the suggested shelter sizing above) and they are happy to share space and food, then there is no reason donkeys cannot share a stable. In fact, donkeys are characterised as social animals and often thrive on companionship and interaction with other donkeys. It is ideal for fostering emotional well-being and reducing loneliness. However, just like humans, not all donkeys will naturally be happier sharing their haven with a friend, particularly at dinner time!

If one donkey starts to dominate the other, then sharing may not be ideal for them. In this scenario, you may need to separate – particularly, if one donkey is guzzling all the food preventing the other from getting their share. Plus, with two or more donkey’s sharing, the shelter will need lots more mucking out so be prepared!

As a household name for stables, shelters and other timber buildings, we have designed and erected many donkey shelters over the years. We are also proud to have worked with The Donkey Sanctuary as shelter suppliers.

If you’re considering adding a mobile field shelter for your donkeys or horses, you may need to check whether Planning Permission for a Mobile Field Shelter is required in your area. Regulations can vary depending on the size and placement of the shelter, so it’s always best to consult your local authority before proceeding. 

For more information, visit our horse field shelters and wooden stables pages.  Likewise, our case studies and gallery pages will provide you with more examples of what we can achieve for you. If you prefer to chat in person, call us on 01233 740944.