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When envisioning the perfect outdoor retreat, one might consider the cosy allure of a summer house or the practical simplicity of a shed. While both structures can enhance the functionality and charm of a garden space, they serve distinct purposes and offer unique benefits.

Whether mobile or fixed, field shelters are havens for your horses. They provide them with warmth, comfort, and safety from strangers, as well as from the harsh British weather.

When winter is about to knock at your door, you will naturally want to prepare your home with all that is needed to keep you cosy and comfortable. Well, your dear four-legged equines deserve the same treatment! Winters in the UK are often accompanied by rain, cold winds, frosty temperatures or even snowfall. You need…

Whilst goats may seem like hardy animals, they are actually intolerant to wet conditions. They need access to housing at all times, whatever the season. It is important to provide a goat house to keep them warm at night or in harsh weather, whether they have free access to it from their browsing area or not.

Making a rational choice between permanent and mobile shelters requires an in-depth analysis of the two. Both have their own share of pros and cons, which need to be considered against your own requirements and situation. This blog will help you make an informed choice so that your four-legged friends experience the best of comfort,…

When envisioning the perfect outdoor retreat, one might consider the cosy allure of a summer house or the practical simplicity of a shed. While both structures can enhance the functionality and charm of a garden space, they serve distinct purposes and offer unique benefits.

Donkeys can make trusted companions and are often enjoyed as pets. However, as versatile animals they are also wonderful for children to ride, useful for driving and showing and can also be used for light draught work. Just like horses and ponies, donkeys need a safe, secure, and comfortable place to rest after a long…

When envisioning the perfect outdoor retreat, one might consider the cosy allure of a summer house or the practical simplicity of a shed. While both structures can enhance the functionality and charm of a garden space, they serve distinct purposes and offer unique benefits.

Ensuring the safety and security of your horse while they are stabled is paramount for any equestrian enthusiast. Imagine a sanctuary where your horse feels as serene and comfortable as they do in open pastures, free from the worries of injury or illness. Every detail matters in creating a safe home for your equine friend,…

Solar panels are becoming an increasingly popular choice for powering sheds, offering a sustainable and efficient energy solution for a variety of uses. Beyond their practical benefits, they are also gaining traction as an alternative route for planning applications, making them an attractive option for homeowners (particularly those in conservation areas and listed properties) looking to comply with regulations.

Choosing the perfect equestrian property is an exciting yet challenging endeavour, blending the love of horses with the practicalities of the estate. Whether you are an experienced rider, a professional trainer, or simply an equine enthusiast, finding the right property requires careful consideration of numerous factors. From the quality of the land and the amenities…

Solar panels are becoming an increasingly popular choice for powering sheds, offering a sustainable and efficient energy solution for a variety of uses. Beyond their practical benefits, they are also gaining traction as an alternative route for planning applications, making them an attractive option for homeowners (particularly those in conservation areas and listed properties) looking to comply with regulations.

When considering a timber building investment—be it for a garden shed, a home office, or even a mobile field shelter or wooden horse stable for your cherished equines—quality becomes the cornerstone of your decision. Recently, we’ve encountered several customers who approached us for assistance after falling victim to Facebook Marketplace scams. One individual, for instance,…

Unlocking The Benefits: Opting For A Stable Manufacturer for Your Stable Designs and Planning Drawings In the world of equestrian pursuits, the quest for excellence begins with the foundation upon which every equine endeavour stands: the horse stable. Often underestimated in its significance, the design and planning of a stable play a pivotal role in…

Your garden room can be more than just a functional structure; it can serve as a captivating centrepiece that elevates the entire landscape. A well designed and well-built garden room can even add value to your property. In this blog, we’ll explore various strategies and techniques for highlighting your garden building, transforming it into a…

As the seasons change and weather patterns fluctuate, the importance of a robust gutter system becomes increasingly evident in preserving the structural integrity and longevity of buildings. At National Timber Buildings, we understand the pivotal role box gutters play in the protection and maintenance of structures, particularly in stable and timber constructions. In this blog,…

As the warm embrace of summer draws near, many homeowners find themselves dreaming of creating a serene retreat in their garden—a cosy summer house where they can unwind, entertain guests, or simply escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. However, amidst the excitement of envisioning the perfect outdoor oasis, one crucial aspect often overlooked…

Welcome to the season of renewal and rejuvenation! As the days grow longer and the air fills with the promise of warmer weather, it’s time to shake off the winter blues and prepare our equine friends for the joys of spring. Just like us, our beloved horses benefit from a little springtime TLC, from shedding…

Welcome to the great winter debate: do horses really need heated barns when the snow starts to fall and the temperatures plummet? It’s a question that stirs up discussions among horse owners everywhere as they strive to provide the best care for their beloved equines during the chilly months. While visions of cosy, warm stables…

As horse owners, we know that from time to time you may need to tweak your stable setups as things evolve – maybe you’ve got more horses now or the horses enjoy different activities.  Safety and compliance are important considerations too.

A garden shed, regardless of its size, can emerge as one of the most valuable structures you own. It serves as a haven to safeguard and organise your cherished and essential items. Therefore, it’s crucial for these sheds to withstand the trials of time, ensuring they fulfil their protective role for an extended period. Whether…

Keeping fit should be incorporated into our daily lives. Regular physical activity contributes to overall health by improving cardiovascular health, lung capacity, muscle strength, and flexibility while reducing the risk of chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

As winter wraps its chilly arms around us, I bet many of you are navigating the challenges of keeping our four-legged friends’ cosy and content. Enter the unsung hero of winter equestrian living – mobile stabling! Whether you’re a seasoned horse owner or just diving into the wonderful world of equine companionship, the perks of…

DIY field shelter and build your own kits Save up to 10% by choosing to ‘self-assemble’ your stable or field shelter.  Our DIY field shelters, stables and other timber buildings can all be flat packed and ready for you to build yourself easily and quickly. Why might I need more field shelters for winter? When…

Choosing the right material for a stable roof is crucial for protection against weather elements, preventing water damage and ensuring the integrity of the building’s structure as well as the safety of the stable occupants.

Lighting plays a crucial role in a horse stable, ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and productivity of both horses and caretakers. You not only have to consider lighting that is fit for purpose, but it must also be safe for your horses and withstand the elements and general wear and tear. Proper lighting is especially crucial…

Livery stables (often known as livery yards) are working stable facilities that are privately owned but opened to other horse owners as a place to house their horses in return for a fee. Livery stables were common in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when horses played a significant role in daily life, serving as…

A hipped roof refers to a roof style recognisable for having slopes on all four sides (typically of equal pitch) that meet at a ridge. In comparison, a barn hip (commonly known as a half hip roof) offers the benefit of a cutaway at one or both ends of the roof with a barn-style gable…

As the hub of a field shelter or wood horse stable, a well-planned out, easy to access tack room is essential. With lots of visitors coming and going, grabbing equipment, or putting away riding gear, it is important to get things super organised to maintain the cleanliness and functionality of all your equestrian goodies. A…

Carriage houses, garages, and carports are all structures primarily designed to store and provide shelter for vehicles.

Storing hay correctly is essential to maintain its quality and preventing potential hazards like mould, fires, and nutritional degradation. If hay isn’t stored properly, it will lose its nutritional value, which can be harmful to your horse’s health and well-being. Plus, if hay is contaminated with mould, it can result in lots of wastage, resulting…

Keeping fit should be incorporated into our daily lives. Regular physical activity contributes to overall health by improving cardiovascular health, lung capacity, muscle strength, and flexibility while reducing the risk of chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

After designing and installing a quality-constructed stable in the middle of a beautiful paddock, the last thing we want to see is equine chew marks all over the stalls, walls, and surrounding fencing! More importantly, chewing wood can lead to lots of health problems for your horse too. Although chewing is a common habit among…

No matter what timber framed barn project you are planning, whether oak front barn, barn conversion, hay barn, American barn or timber framed house, the roof will be a crucial consideration in its design.

Keeping fit should be incorporated into our daily lives. Regular physical activity contributes to overall health by improving cardiovascular health, lung capacity, muscle strength, and flexibility while reducing the risk of chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

A hip roof, also known as a hipped roof or barn hip roof, is a type of roof design commonly found on stables, barns, and other agricultural buildings. It is recognisable for its distinctive shape, which features slopes on all sides that meet at a ridge or a peak. The hip roof design is different…

Roof design is vital to all structures, so it is important to make sure that the roof on your new project is planned with precision. When it comes to rubber roofing, there are three types to choose from, EPDM, TPO, and PVC.

Whether you are a first-time breeder or an old hand at welcoming new equine life, you can never be too prepared in the run up for the arrival of a foal. It is an exciting but anxious time for all involved so reminding yourself of the basics will only prove beneficial, ensuring you know exactly…

When the tulips start appearing, the clocks go forward, and we start enjoying the lighter nights and brighter weather, it is easy to assume that spring weather means we can finally ditch out winter coats.

Horses should consume about 2% of their bodyweight with hay per day. To work out 2% of your horse’s body weight, you will first need to find out how much your horse weighs. Let’s say your horse weights 500kg. You would work out 2% of 500 as follows: Divide 2 by 100 which equals 0.02. …

We typically build field shelters/stables on steel skids in order for the structure to become mobile if needed.  Skids are a type of moveable frame structure on which your field shelter can be built. They are attached to the underside of the timber building and not only strengthen support for the whole timber structure, but…

If you are looking for superior equestrian stable blocks or a fully functional livery yard that is complete with a bespoke design and fast, professional installation, National Timber Buildings can help. As a household name in stables, we have four ranges of hand-crafted stables for you to choose from – the Novice Range, National Range, Grand National Range, and Cheltenham Gold Range.

If you are thinking about adding a new timber building to your set up, you’ll need to think about sorting the groundworks before you do anything else.  All our static timber buildings will need a solid foundation to ensure a stable, level base. It also raises your timber buildings off the ground to help prevent…

Custom sheds and bespoke garden buildings – everything you need to know BESPOKE GARDEN BUILDINGS THAT ARE TAILOR MADE FOR YOUR NEEDS ARE ONE OF OUR SPECIALITIES… We love working with customers to manufacture bespoke garden sheds and other timber buildings exactly as they ask for them to be made. It is our passion, use…

It is well known that wood is one of the most sustainable and environmentally sympathetic construction materials available, due to its ability to absorb carbon dioxide while growing, its adaptability as a product, and its recyclability.

For those of us that work in the construction industry, particularly those of us that work directly with timber, the terms C16 and C24 are illustrious. However, if you are new to working with timber, or you just need a recap on what these two terms mean, read on. Both C16 and C24 refer to…

As the temperature begins to plummet, you are probably busy swapping your 5-tog summer duvet for a thicker one, and digging out hats, scarves, and thermals so you are ready for those hardy stable visits. While horses can withstand far colder temperatures than us humans, horses are still mammals and they do still get cold.…

Yes, they most definitely are! Customers often enquire whether a garden office room will be warm enough to use comfortably in the freezing winter months! And the simple answer is yes! We understand how important it is to be comfortable in the workplace no matter where that might be. A comfortable physical space is a…

Hay barns have a vital role to play during the autumn and winter as they store hay after it has been cut during the summer. A hay supply should be able to last until springtime rolls round again to ensure horses and livestock have a good supply of healthy forage while fresh grass is harder to come by.

Working in the stables arena makes it impossible for us not to love horses. In the 40 years that we have been working in the horsey world we have come to understand why they are such special creatures. Via the customers we have worked with, we have seen how communicative horses can be in social…

Some people simply love the aesthetic of a catslide roof, but there are actually several benefits which come with this trendy style. If you are considering having a catslide roof on your timber outbuilding, here are some of the benefits associated with this style to help you decide if it is right for your project.…

A mobile field shelter is the perfect option for horse owners wanting a temporary, field-based solution for housing their animals. Perhaps you are currently waiting to have a new stable block completed or you want to give your horses more shelter during the day if they spend lots of time out of doors. Whatever your…

What makes a good stable building? Horses are social beings and are happiest out in the open where they can run around, spend time with their herd, and graze and forage in the field. However, there are times when a horse needs to be kept indoors for the good of their health, or to protect…

When investing in a new horse stable block, or extending an existing one, you will know that choosing a design and layout that works both for you (and your horse(s)) is not just exciting, it is important too. Naturally, you will need to design a stable that is suited to the amount of land you…

September 2022 is a special month for our company as it marks 40 years since we first opened our doors. 40 years is an important milestone for any business, but for a family-owned business like ours, it has even more meaning, memories, and nostalgia to contend with! We catch up with Director, Lee Taylor, as…

Ensure a warm, dry winter for your horse with our prima range of field shelters If you are looking to invest in a new field shelter for your horse that is strong, durable and meets his needs, but won’t break the bank, who better to turn to than one of the UK’s household names in…

Eventually, after many years, galvanised steel will rust. History and data shows that galvanising can provide between 30 to 150 years of protection for steel depending on several factors including what the steel is exposed too and the local environmental conditions that surrounds it. In our experience, most structures that are built with galvanised steel…

Cheap mobile field shelters are the low-cost option for stabling horses. Cheaper than building a stable, these standalone structures are perfect for offering horses shelter when out in the paddock. Thanks to their design, they are easy to transport and can serve as an integral part of your horse care – without costing too much…

The summer months are great for both horses and owners alike. Spending as much time out of the stable as possible and roaming around playing with friends is ideal for a horses’ physical and mental wellbeing. Meanwhile, owners can enjoy spending less time mucking out the stables and washing muddy horses, and instead, enjoy more…

The benefits of using LED lighting in garden offices Persisting trends for flexible and home working have sparked many people to create an office space that works for their bespoke needs. Therefore, it has been no surprise that people have looked to their garden as the ideal solution to finding a practical homeworking space. We…

What is Tanalised® Timber? Your Questions Answered Tanalised® timber is timber which has been pressure treated to help preserve the wood. When preservative protection is applied via a pressure method, the treatment gets right into the centre of the wood. This is unlike treatment applied with a brush, which only covers and protects the wood’s…

External cladding does not just improve the aesthetic appearance of a building it also adds a layer of protection against the elements. Fundamentally, cladding is a set of prefabricated panels attached to the structure of the building, but there are several different cladding types to choose from, and shiplap is one of them. Tongue and…

Are stables classed as agricultural buildings?   Owning agricultural land means that, under the Planning Acts, you can use your land for dairy farming, to cultivate soil, grow crops, raise livestock, and use the land for grazing. The type of buildings that fall under the umbrella of ‘agricultural’ can sometimes be confusing, particularly to horse…

Horses have not been used in combat by the British army since World War I, but that doesn’t mean they no longer play an important role in the military. In fact, it is widely known that with just shy of 500 horses, the Army has more equines than it does tanks! Today, horses in the…

The public feeding of horses has been an ongoing issue over the years, but with so many more dog owners and health-conscious people trying to hit their daily step target, it has unfortunately meant a rise in walkers feeding horses. There are countless reports on social media channels on how the public feeding of horses…

Whilst it’s good for horses to spend plenty of time pastured, many will need to be stabled at night for at least part of the year. The amount of time they will need to be stabled for will all depend on the breed of the horse, their general health and the weather conditions. You can…

The sun has been shining, spring has sprung, and this month the Nationals team also received a spring in their step too upon receiving our Made in Britain accreditation. What is Made in Britain? Made in Britain brings together the British manufacturing community, united with the use of the registered collective mark: The mark is…