Moving the Donkey Run-In Shed

September 22, 2022

There's never a dull moment here at my Bedford, New York farm - this week, the donkey run-in is on the move.

Recently, I decided to relocate the donkey run-in shed from one side of the paddock closer to the center. Run-in sheds are three-sided buildings that allow horses and donkeys free-choice access during inclement weather. My crew took on this task yesterday. If you follow this blog regularly, you may recall we moved the peafowl coop about 25-feet not too long ago. This structure is smaller and a lot lighter, so it required a lot less time to reposition.

Here are some photos, enjoy.

: My five Sicilian donkeys have a large paddock just south of my stable. Here, they spend their days running, rolling and grazing in the grass. Everyone who visits always stops by to say hello. Here they are on the morning of the move. The masks they are wearing help to keep the flies from biting their faces and ears.

: We placed rocks to mark the new spot for the shed.

: This is the run-in. My donkeys love this structure and use it frequently to get out of the hot sun or in winter when it is very stormy. Here, Pete Sherpa from my outdoor grounds crew, measures the shed’s length and width.

: Pete then measures the space for the shed’s new foot print.

: Next, he spray paints the new foot print on the grass. The new area is about nine feet by seven feet.

: Landscape twine is used to make straight lines, so the sod can be removed properly.

: Our trusted Kubota M4 tractor and bucket are brought in to hold and haul the newly removed sod.

: Pete measures again just to be sure.

: Pete levels the fresh ground and removes any rocks or stones in the space – the run-in must sit level in its new location.

: We use our tractor every single day for jobs around the farm. The footprint is now level and ready for the next step…

: … the gravel. Pete starts shoveling pea gravel into the sides of the space.

: And then uses the tractor to drop more in the center. A gravel shed foundation acts like a basin that collects rain water and allows it to soak into the ground instead of running off and causing issues to the structure.

: Pete uses a hard rake to spread the gravel evenly over the area.

: Here’s my property manager, Doug White, positioning and measuring the wooden boards on which the shed will slide when it is moved.

: Once the boards are in place, a strong rope and strap are tied around the base of the shed in preparation for the move. Watch the shed move several feet in the video clip below.

: The tractor is used to pull the shed into its new position.

: Here, it is just at the edge of the gravel. Pete secures a crowbar underneath to make sure the shed is going in the right direction.

: It is gently pushed the last few inches into place.

: And then the crowbar is used to lift the shed slightly in order to remove all the wooden boards.

: Here is the former spot ready to be re-seeded.

: New horse stall mats are placed into the shed. These inch-thick rubber mats are very heavy, so Pete slides them in from the back of our pick-up.

: These rubber mats are designed specifically for stalls to hold excessive weight and to prevent wear and tear in the space. The knob-topped surface also helps to prevent slips and falls for both people and the horses.