Managing a small horse farm is often a much bigger undertaking than the beginner might realize. If you don't believe me - ask my other half - for whom this undertaking is a labor of love and patience, not for the undertaking itself, but for me. (Both the love and the patience.)
So this page is a work in progress for all the small horse farm owners out there as a way to share both their questions and creativity! Feel free to ask questions and send your own comments and solutions to be added!
So this page is a work in progress for all the small horse farm owners out there as a way to share both their questions and creativity! Feel free to ask questions and send your own comments and solutions to be added!
- Design and Layout
- The more they live outside, the less work.
- Install the strongest, safest fencing you can afford.
- Consider the factors that encourage or discourage horses from testing the fence.
- Space
- Available forage/grazing
- Age
- Energy
- Herd dynamics
- Perimeter fencing and fencing between horses should be the strongest.
- Plan a comfort zone for humans to work in for grooming, tacking, vet, farrier.
- Sliding doors are space savers.
- Install on stall ends so you have room for blanket racks, etc.
- Plan for a sacrifice area and don't be afraid to use it.
- Plan for the best all weather footing you can afford.
- Have sacrifice area around the barn for easy turnout.
- If you can, have in/out stalls or shelter in sacrifice.
- Divide for maximum benefit from pasture rotation.
- 4 half acre pastures are better than 2 1 acre ones. Ask me how I know.
- Plan space for hay storage for at least 6 months to take advantage of supply availability in your area. There is nothing worse than paying outrageous prices for crappy hay in the spring because there is no supply to be found from last year's 2nd cutting.
- Loft storage is convenient in cold climates but comes with fire/dust concerns.
- Separate storage needs to be accessible in harsh weather conditions.
- Have room for mulitple day's supply in the area you are feeding to account for harsh weather and human emergencies.
- Design so that a non-horse person can provide minimal care in an emergency without having to handle horses.
- Feed doors
- Separate access for humans/horses
- My horses are color coded - feed pre-measured in 8qt buckets so that feed can just be dumped at feeding time - make up the next meal for each and store inside the feed bin.
- Some use ziplock bags - the advantage of this is you can pre-measure and store several days worth of meals. I do this for extended absences.
- Understand and design for your climate.
- Think about prevailing winds and design to either minimize their impact (cold regions) or take advantage of them (warm regions.)
- Water, water, water!
- Auto waterers are great if you have the budget.
- Still need a power source in below freezing temps.
- Pipes may freeze
- If temps regularly go below freezing, design for a heat source.
- Frost free hydrant with a power source and a large water tub underneath makes life easy and water always available.
- Power outlets within reach of water buckets in stalls but out of reach of horses.
- Hole in wall to feed wires through where your buckets are hung.
- Wire to a single GFI switch for convenience and safety.
- Shade and air movement in hot regions.
- Snow and ice control in cold regions
- Storage for blankets
- Area for hanging wet turnouts
- Hooks in ceiling
- Euro Rug Rails
- A simple 2x4 hung high enough to hang from chest straps.
- Design for daily efficiency.
- Supplies close at hand with minimal heavy lifting.
- Daily Routine
- Ride First!
- You will always make time to do the necessary chores.
- Don't fall into the trap of becoming so involved in the care of your property that you run out of time to ride.
- Time for feeding, stall cleaning, and turnout should be kept to a minimum.
- Keep feeding regimens as simple as possible.
- Feed
- I use electric tape on my feed scoops to mark amounts for horses.
- Hay
- Water
- Hang inside buckets convenient to both your water source and the door.
- Supplements pre-measured.
- Smartpaks
- Baggies
- Plastic containers
- Useful Tools to invest in.
- Tractor with FEL
- Its an investment that you'll never regret!
- Wheelbarrows
- Manure Forks
- Chain Harrow
- Manure spreader
- Heated water buckets or plug in heaters in cold climates
- Organization of Stuff
- Go for neat and tidy.
- Shelves for things you use constantly.
- Bins on shelves for small stuff you use constantly that don't need to be kept clean and insect free.
- Cabinets for things you want to keep clean and insect free.
- Drawers for small stuff you use periodically or need to keep clean and insect free
- Trunks/boxes for things that can be stored and used infrequently
- Saddle racks well installed and conveniently located.
- Bridle racks well installed and conveniently located
- Lots and lots of hooks, hitch rings.
- I hand all my lead ropes, lunge line, etc., by the snap end from hitch rings.
- I always know where they are
- They last forever because snaps aren't coming into contact with dirt/concrete, etc.
- I like the safety hangers for buckets in stalls like these. https://www.smartpakequine.com/wall-mount-bucket-hook-2040p.
- Easy on/off
- No broken/frozen/missing snaps to worry about and replace.
No comments:
Post a Comment