For many people, having their own horse property where they can take care of their own horses has been a dream for a long time. Moving forward with this dream requires a lot of thought, reflection, and preparation. It is usually less expensive to purchase an existing facility than to build a new one. Consider all facets of this decision before moving forward.
If you’ve decided to go ahead and build your own horse property, you’re about to move forward with something you’ve probably waited a long time for. I would like to see this process go as smoothly as possible for you. It is critical that you do your homework and plan for success. I hope the thoughts in this article can be of help and help you in your planning. I am not going to give you many answers in this article, but rather many questions. There is no better way to maintain and care for horses. It depends on; where you live, the type of horses you have, what you do with those horses, your personal beliefs and preferences, and your financial resources.
Review these questions and write your answers. Then consult with a person with horse experience that you respect. Be sure to be very careful when choosing who you hire to do any work on your horse property. Get and check several references, then ask a few more.
The first thing to decide is where you will build your horse facility:
If you already own your property, you have already taken the first step.
If not, here are some things to consider.
How many acres do you want, need, and can you afford?
What is the current use and potential future use of the land around the acreage you are considering for your horse property?
Is trail access a factor? They’re available?
Will those trails continue to be accessible or could their use change?
Is the property properly zoned?
Are water and electricity easily accessible?
What is the land of the property?
Is it appropriate for horses?
Is the area prone to flooding?
What type of snow falls in the area and what will you need to do to control snow in the winter months?
Is the location accessible to other locations you need to switch to?
The next area to consider is the type of structure you will build on your horse property:
Do you want to build a shed or a barn with stables?
How big will the stalls be and how will they be built?
Will it have a dirt floor, rubber mat or other product?
What type of construction will work best for you?
Will you go for a post frame or one with a foundation?
What are you going to build your block structure, wood, metal or fabric?
How big will your building have to be?
Can you plan for possible future expansion?
Where will you store hay, feed, tack, first aid supplies, and horse care tools?
What kind of security is needed?
Make sure you get the required permits.
You need to look at the potential horse ownership and decide how best to design the features you will build:
Where will you build your barn?
Be sure not to build it in a low area where water will pool when it rains.
How will you provide water for your horses and how reliable is that source of supply?
Make sure you have a way to keep your water supply from freezing in the winter months.
Will you need a boot camp?
Where will the training ground be?
Will you need to bring jogging?
Will you need to fence off this area?
What tools will you need to keep the arena in good condition?
Many people want their horses to spend a good part of the day in the pasture.
How will you arrange your pastures?
What type of fencing will be best on your horse property?
What is the quality of the grass?
Do you need to take steps to improve your pastures before your horses arrive?
Will you provide a shelter in the grass?
How will you handle the mud that often occurs during the rainy times of the year?
Is the vegetation in the pasture area safe for horses?
Here are some other areas to consider:
What type of accident or injury prevention can you take steps at this point in your horse ownership planning?
What kind of insurance will you buy?
What will you do with the manure on your horse property? It is important that you have a plan and that it is effective.
What steps will you take to control the flies?
What steps will you take to control rodents?
Will you have a landline or good cell reception on your horse property?
What equipment will you need to purchase to operate the facility?
This is certainly not going to be something you load yourself into without careful planning. I could have shared with you what we choose to do on our horse property and why, but everyone’s situation will be different and I felt that giving you the questions above would be the best way to help.