Christine lives with her partner in the East Kent countryside. Their detached house has nine acres of land across a single-track lane, surrounded by farmland and fields.
The couple own several paddocks and three horses, which they enjoy riding regularly. The animals move between a “summer field” and a “winter field”: one is shadier and breezier, while the other is sunnier and less exposed to the wind.
Around 14 years ago, Christine and her partner had a Chart field shelter installed in the summer field. The horses still use it throughout the summer.
In 2022, the couple decided to add a shelter to their winter field, giving the horses protection from wind and rain during colder weather. They chose a mobile field shelter because they wanted to reposition it when necessary.
Christine explains that finding the right position can take time, and the horses may prefer one location to another. A mobile shelter gives the couple the flexibility to move the building around the field.
Christine and her partner decided to build a double mobile field shelter in autumn 2022. They did not need to research other companies. They contacted Chart Stables directly because their existing shelter had stood the test of time and they had recently seen other stables and shelters made by us around Kent.
Christine recalls that their existing shelter weathered Storm Arwen well and needed only a quick repair by her partner. The couple trusted the quality of our products and also preferred to support a local business.
They did not need planning permission for this mobile field shelter, which helped the project move forward quickly. Christine requested a quote on 12 October, and the Chart Stables team arrived eight days later, on 20 October, to erect the building.
The couple were “very happy” with the fast turnaround. They wanted the shelter in place before the field became muddy and difficult for installation vehicles to cross.
Christine says that, just as she had been around 14 years earlier, she was “very impressed with the customer service.” She comments: “The team were very helpful and the build went smoothly.”
The double mobile field shelter is 7.2 metres long by 3.6 metres wide and features black Onduline roofing. It does not have any doors or windows; Christine’s only design requirement was a double opening, which allows the animals to come and go as they please.
One of her horses is rather timid and would not dare enter the shelter when the other animal is in it. Thanks to the wide entrance, both horses can use the building as they like.
They are enjoying the shelter so far, they just need to get used to using it regularly once winter starts. In Christine’s experience, a new building in a horse’s field can be intimidating at first. Some positive association with it will help them grow accustomed to visiting it and seeking refuge in it when it is too cold, windy, or rainy.
“The whole process went very smoothly,” says Christine. She continues: “[Chart Stables] were very professional and the finished product is amazing. It’s solidly built and I must say it looks even better than the existing one. I would not mind camping in there myself!” Christine is very happy indeed with the field shelter and is no longer worried about the horses’ health during winter.
Planning a similar project? Learn about the cost of a mobile field shelter or contact us to discuss your site.
