Why Choose a Mobile Field Shelter or Mobile Stable?

Why Choose a Mobile Field Shelter or Mobile Stable?

A mobile field shelter or stable gives you more choice over where you put it. You can move it as your grazing, number of horses or yard layout changes.

Mobile buildings can also be quicker to install, often require less groundwork than permanent stables, and are easier to adapt as your needs change.

What's the Difference Between a Mobile Field Shelter and a Mobile Stable?

A mobile field shelter gives horses somewhere to get out of the sun, wind or rain while allowing them to move freely around the paddock.

A mobile stable gives you a place to stable your horse without installing a permanent building.

Both are built on skids, so you can move them around your land when you need to.

Mobile field shelter

• Open front
• Horses can move in and out freely
• Ideal for horses living out
• Usually lower cost.

Mobile stable

• Fully enclosed
• Provides overnight stabling and individual care
• Greater flexibility.

When does choosing a mobile equestrian building make sense?

Horses Living Out for Much of the Year

If your horses live outside, a mobile field shelter gives them somewhere to get out of the sun, rain, wind or flies. They can come and go as they please.

Keeping Horses on Rented Grazing Land

Many of our customers keep horses on rented paddocks or grazing land.

In these situations, investing in permanent buildings isn't option. A mobile building gives you the flexibility to move it in the future.

It's worth checking your tenancy agreement or speaking to your landlord before installing a mobile building.

Making the Most of a Mobile Building 

Throughout the year, you might decide to reposition the building to make better use of your land.

For example, you could:

• Move it into a shaded area during summer
• Put it where horses have better protection from prevailing winds
• Move it onto drier ground during wet weather
• Rotate the position to help reduce muddy patches around the entrance
• Follow grazing rotations throughout the year.

Why Many Owners Upgrade to Mobile Stables

We often speak to customers who initially enquire about a mobile field shelter but eventually decide a mobile stable is the better option.

While a field shelter is ideal for horses living out, a mobile stable gives you much greater flexibility.

It gives you somewhere to keep a horse overnight, separate it from the others, control its feeding or provide box rest.

At the same time, if you leave the stable door open during the day, they can also work as a field shelter.

A mobile stable gives you more options as your yard changes over time.

Do Mobile Buildings Need Planning Permission?

Usually, genuinely mobile field shelters and mobile stables don't need planning permission because they aren't permanent structures. But every site is different, and the rules vary between local authorities.

Before buying a mobile building, it's worth checking what applies to your property.

For more information, read our planning advice guide or visit the Planning Portal for the latest guidance.

Can Mobile Buildings Help Keep Costs Down?

Often, yes. Because mobile buildings don't usually need permanent concrete foundations, you might be able to reduce the amount of groundwork you need to do before installation.

Of course, the overall cost will still depend on the size of the building, the specification you choose and any optional upgrades.

Timber or Steel Skids?

Pressure-treated timber skids are a strong, practical choice for many paddocks and offer excellent value.

Steel skids are worth considering if you plan to move your building regularly or over rougher ground. They provide additional strength and durability.

Mobile Stables or Mobile Field Shelters?

The right choice depends on how you keep and manage your horses.

If your horses live outside throughout the year and simply need somewhere to escape the weather, choose a mobile field shelter.

Choose a mobile stable if you need to keep horses in overnight, manage feeding or provide box rest.

Find the Right Mobile Building for Your Yard

At Olson Timber Buildings, we've been designing and building bespoke equestrian buildings for decades.

Whether you're looking for a mobile field shelter or a fully enclosed mobile stable, we can help you choose the right building for your horses, land and the way you manage them.

Take a look at our range of mobile field shelters and mobile stables, or get in touch with our team.