A run-in shelter is one of several different horse shelters that can be important to have if you own a horse. While you'll want a corral-style shelter or small barn for the animal, having a run-in shelter elsewhere in the field will give your horse a place to visit for shade or during a sudden bout of inclement weather. Run-in shelters have a lot of design differences compared to corral-style shelters. Most significantly, they have only two or three sides, rather than four. The presence of one or two open sides allows the horse to enter on its own accord. If you're shopping for a run-in shelter, it's ideal to choose a model that offers the following design traits.
Tall Roof
Run-in shelters are available in many different designs, and this includes different roof heights. Knowing the height of your horse will help you to choose a run-in shelter that provides enough overhead room, but you shouldn't choose a model that has a roof height that will just barely accommodate the animal. A taller roof height may make the shelter feel more inviting to the horse. If it can barely get its head under the roof, it may be reluctant to enter. If the shelter's roof is arched instead of flat, the opening beneath it can appear taller and thus more appealing to the animal.
No Windows
While it's important to have several windows in a corral-style shelter, you don't need this feature in a run-in shelter. Remember, your horse will use this shelter to escape bad weather, and a window on each of the walls can provide unwanted exposure to the elements. The open side of the shelter will provide enough light to make this space feel welcoming, and your horse can position itself against one of the walls to stay dry during a period of heavy rain or hail.
No Partitions
Lots of corral-style shelters have partitions that allow you to give multiple horses their own space, as well as devote certain areas to the storage of hay and equipment. In general, it's ideal if your run-in shelter doesn't have any partitions. A lack of partitions will ensure that the space feels large and inviting, which is important because you want your horse to feel comfortable using this shelter when the need arises. A horse that is especially timid may approach a run-in shelter with partitions and feel tentative to enter because the space feels too small.
