A loafing shed is a three-sided shelter that is used by horses to seek cover from the elements. They are built in pasture areas to give horses a safe place to retreat to quickly when the weather is not to their liking. They are built according to the types of weather the sheds will be routinely exposed to. This makes material and anchoring dependent on where they are being constructed. Areas with heavy winds or snow loads need to take such things into account when the structures are built.

 
A typical shed of this type is now constructed using a post and beam method. Vertical posts are set in concrete with beams erected to act as roof rafters to attach corrugated metal sheeting in a lean-to roof design. The walls are now often made of metal siding used in the construction of standard metal buildings. The structures may have a partially enclosed front that is angled away from the prevailing winds. Straw bedding may be placed in the structure to make cleaning easier.

Doors are not part of loafing shed plans. This allows horses easy access in and out at any time. Pastures are usually fenced where the tree line begins, which prevents horses from seeking shelter among the trees. Large ranches may have pasture areas far from the main barn. Build sheds large enough to accommodate the number of horses that will be in the pasture at any given time. These horse shelters are also often built in paddock enclosures to give horses a place to go while their stalls in the main barn are being cleaned.