Why Choose a Mobile Field Shelter or Mobile Stable?

Why Choose a Mobile Field Shelter or Mobile Stable?

A mobile field shelter or mobile stable gives you much more flexibility than a permanent building. Because both are built on skids rather than fixed foundations, you can move them around your land as your grazing, horse numbers, or yard layout change.

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 allows you to stable horses when needed while still giving you the flexibility of a movable building.

Both are built on skids, allowing them to be moved around your land when needed.

Mobile field shelter

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

Mobile stable

• Fully enclosed
• Horses can be stabled when needed
• Provides overnight stabling and individual care
• Greater flexibility throughout the year.

When does choosing a mobile equestrian building make sense?

Horses Living Out for Much of the Year

If your horses live outside for most or all of the year, a mobile field shelter can protect them from the weather without restricting their movement.

Horses can move in and out of the shelter as the conditions change, taking cover from strong sun, heavy rain, wind or flies before going back to grazing.

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 practical. 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
• Position it where horses have better protection from prevailing winds
• Move it onto drier ground during wet weather
• Rotate the shelter 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 provides somewhere to stable horses overnight, separate them when needed, manage controlled feeding, or provide box rest during recovery from illness or injury.

At the same time, leaving the stable door open during the day allows it to provide many of the same benefits as a field shelter.

If you think your management routine might change in the future, a mobile stable can be a worthwhile long-term investment.

Do Mobile Buildings Need Planning Permission?

In many cases, genuinely mobile field shelters and mobile stables do not require planning permission because they aren't permanent structures. However, 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 may 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 expect 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, a mobile field shelter may be all you need.

If you also need somewhere to stable horses overnight, manage feeding or care for them during illness or injury, a mobile stable offers greater flexibility.

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 for friendly advice before you buy.