Most of us have had an endless dialogue running through our minds about what that “right thing” is, and finally decided upon a course of action. Seems like that should alleviate any lingering doubts and put our minds at ease, right? Not always.

The bottom line for most horse owners is the welfare of the horse, yet some of us have a difficult time seeing past our own emotions enough to define what constitutes a good life for a horse.

Costly Vet Bills

All horse owners cross their fingers and hope they will never face a vet bill deeper than their pockets. We know the high probability of our horse getting a costly injury, colic scare, or disease, yet we rarely set aside money to cover a medical worst-case scenario. Then when disaster strikes or an injury requires long-term veterinary care, we find ourselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place.

A horse’s age, health history, prognosis for the current problem, and treatment expense become key determining factors when deciding on the next step. Sometimes the cost of treatment far exceeds an owner’s ability to pay.

Well-intentioned owners may extend the life of an old horse long past the time it should be humanely euthanized, or delay veterinary treatment because of their own inability to face facts. For them, anticipating grief takes precedence over the animal they can’t bear to part with.

Veterinarians are often on the front lines of this type of indecision, and usually help owners by recommending what would be in the best interest of the horse. This can be the clarifying information horse owners need to get past their emotional hesitations. Far too many distraught owners throw caution to the wind and take on substantial debt with no guarantee of a positive outcome.

If the horse is young with a survivable injury, someone may be willing to take on the cost of treatment in exchange for transfer of ownership. Many horses with a career-ending injury for one activity are often suitable for another less physically demanding one, or can live out their lives as companion animals.

If not already overcrowded, many horse rescue organizations are willing to go the extra mile for a horse with a good chance of survival and utility. They may have enough staff and volunteers to support longer recoveries.

If efforts to re-home your horse fail, humane euthanasia is always an option, yet it’s no simple solution, even when fully justified. Owners may find themselves on the defensive with family and friends who don’t understand why such a drastic measure is necessary.

Acceptance comes from knowing all other options have been considered. Animals don’t ponder the future the way we do, thus a life filled with pain is never preferable to a peaceful passing.

Firing Professional Help

Some of us see our horse trainer, riding instructor, and farrier more often than many relatives, and form long-term relationships that seem more like friendships than business acquaintances.

Occasionally, problems arise and you may need to terminate their services. You can take action and feel comfortable with your decision; explain your reasons for the change and keep the conversation from becoming personal.

Dismissing someone is much easier if you feel certain you are doing the right thing for your horse and word it that way.

Selling Your Horse to Save Money

Money is at the root of most horse/owner splits. A family that suddenly loses half of their income due to loss of a job or divorce must make financial sacrifices that cut straight to the heart.

Because horse ownership makes a big dent in everyone’s budget, it is often the most obvious expense to eliminate. Owners who board their horses can sometimes bargain for reduced fees by working as stable help, but boarding stable owners may already have the hired help they need.

Sadly, selling your horse may be the best resolution even though it’s the most emotionally painful. If you’re lucky, you may find a new owner who is amenable to your continuing involvement with your horse by share boarding, where you pay an agreed-upon amount to allow you several days per week of access to your horse. This can be a win-win arrangement with two riders keeping the horse fit and reducing expenses for the new owner.

Most sales, however, require you to cut ties with your horse when the buyer’s trailer heads down the driveway. A goodbye pet on the nose for a horse you’d prefer to keep is crushing.

If you do plan to share-board, always create a written agreement signed by both participants to avoid misunderstandings. Also, make sure boarding stable managers approve of this type of arrangement at their barn. Rules, regulations, and insurance coverage are all factors to understand and agree to before day one of a new share-board arrangement.

Editor’s Note: New grants and programs are helping horse owners faced with sudden financial difficulties so they can safely relinquish or even keep their horse. Learn more about equine safety net programs.

When Health Intervenes

Consider yourself lucky if you’ve never had to alter your riding activities due to your horse’s health or your own. Many competitors have had their dreams crushed the moment their horse took one bad step.

Disappointment is an understatement when you must withdraw from a competition that required years of training. Clearly, the welfare of the horse is paramount and the correct course of action usually obvious, yet emotional fallout is unavoidable.

Your own health may fail due to an accident, illness, surgery, pregnancy, or age-related issue that causes a diminished ability to ride or work safely with horses. Your body dictates what it can and cannot do, and riding may become beyond your physical capabilities.

This is a bitter pill to swallow for most of us, especially if we must rehome a beloved horse. The best way to soften the pain is to find a new owner who will care for your horse as lovingly as you do.

Filling the Horse Void

Owning a horse is not the only way to enjoy a life with them. Leasing or share-boarding provides a great opportunity for you to stay in the game. You’ll still incur costs, but far fewer than being responsible for all of them.

If riding is out of the question, volunteering at local rescue operations or teaching the basics to those new to horses are options. Sharing your experience and skills with others is often the healing salve for those who would feel lost without a connection to horses.

This article about a horse owner’s most difficult decisions appeared in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post A Horse Owner’s Most Difficult Decisions appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

We worry about our horses being too hot or too cold or exposed to sudden weather fluctuations. We stand in stores reading fly spray labels to determine which might work best and fret about whether a rain sheet, mid-weight, or heavy turnout rug is necessary, only to then worry about our horse sweating or shivering under it if we pick the wrong one.

Therefore, it’s not surprising that our overworked minds might miss something. Problems pop up like pasture weeds. Here are 10 potentially problematic horse care mistakes to keep on your radar.

1. Over-Blanketing

Opinions about blanketing horses are as fraught with emotion as those about keeping newborn babies warm. Is the baby cold? Too warm? Is the blanket too tight, too loose? When should it be removed? The decision to blanket depends primarily upon weather conditions, temperature, available shelter, and your horse’s hair coat.

If your horse lives outdoors and wears a turnout rug, it should be removed daily for grooming while his skin is checked for rubs and his overall body condition is noted. Clipped horses have their natural protection removed, and need heavier blankets than horses with natural coats. Rain sheets and mid-weights are often enough for unclipped horses, while heavy rugs and neck covers are usually needed if the horse is clipped, thin, or used to a warmer climate.

Many healthy animals with a natural coat don’t need blanketing in winter as long as they have access to shelter from wind and precipitation. Blankets should always be removed if your horse is sweating underneath. It’s easier and far worse for a horse to overheat than be uncomfortable from cold or breezy weather, so err on the side of under-blanketing instead of over-blanketing.

2. Moldy Hay

Buying hay is always a challenge and has become more so in the last decade. Small square bales have given way to large ones, and round bales are practically impossible to assess for quality.

Drought conditions have made the supply smaller, with farmers baling fewer cuttings every year. Prices are high, requiring long searches for good hay in a tough market. Too often, when hay prices get high, horse owners are tempted to lower their standards and feed bales they would typically reject. This is risky, since bad hay causes respiratory problems and can be fatal if it is contaminated with blister beetles or toxic plants.

Never mistake tight, heavy bales or a green tint for quality, as weight can indicate that the hay was baled damp and the green color can be sprayed on like a faux lawn. There’s no substitute for your eyes and nose.

Learn what good hay looks and smells like and always inspect a few bales before you purchase. Even if you board your horse, always keep a close eye on what he is eating and insist on quality hay.

3. Dusty Bedding

Dusty bedding, hay, and arena footing can trigger equine asthma, a respiratory disease that is much harder to treat than to prevent. When buying pine shavings, check the wrapper to make sure you are buying the dust-free option. The cheaper products can become very expensive if your horse ends up with a persistent cough.

Shredded newspaper is the lowest-dust bedding available, although it may not be feasible to find in all areas. Straw bedding is the highest in dust.

4. Cluttered Barn Aisles

Your barn aisle is ground zero for your horse activities. It should be de-cluttered periodically and assessed for safety.

A horse may have gone in and out of his stall without incident for years, but it only takes one mistake for a door handle to slice his flank enough to require stitches. Protruding tack hooks and slippery footing are other avoidable accidents waiting to happen.

Cross-ties should always have breakaway hardware fastened closest to the wall so if you need to unfasten it in an emergency, you aren’t as close to a panicking horse. A loop of baling twine between the hardware and the wall hook is another breakaway point that will hold everyday forces but gives in case of a panicked pull-back.

Another potential hazard is the placement of feed containers in the aisle in front of stalls. Many horses are escape artists, and nothing tempts them like available food they know is just inches away.

5. No Pre-Purchase Vet Check

Both experienced and novice horse buyers often skip a pre-purchase exam for a variety of reasons: cost, inconvenience of scheduling, not knowing a local veterinarian where the horse is located, and believing they have the skills to detect conformation flaws or signs of looming disease.

A pre-purchase exam is not a health guarantee because the vet is only examining what exists the day of the exam, but any major issues will be a red flag to a professional who treats horses on a regular basis.

Laminitis has a lingering imprint in the ridges on a horse’s hooves; a heart murmur declares its presence through a stethoscope; and lameness is often subtle and difficult to detect—all are best assessed by a veterinarian. The fee for this service is tiny compared to owning a horse that you can’t sell in good fait.

6. Contracts for Horse Sales or Lease Agreements

The era of closing a horse sale with a handshake is long gone, yet many purchase agreements today have an abysmal paper trail. We live in a world that requires documentation as protection against lawsuits and disputes between parties who can’t remember the details of the original transaction.

7. Failing to Pre-Check Your Trailer

You’ve probably been there before: You’re in such a hurry to get on the road to the horse show or late for that trail ride that you skip the checklist of pre-departure truck, hitch and trailer inspections before starting the engine.

Owning a new trailer does not preclude a safety check on door and window latches, air vents, butt bars (if you have them), tire inflation, trailer lights, hitch connections, and electric wiring. Trailer windows should be open (with grills closed) based on weather and predicted inside temperature once underway. Most of the time, the temperature inside the trailer is much hotter than outside.

8. Buying and Keeping an Unsuitable Horse

Far too many people fall in love with a horse at first sight (or photo), throw caution to the wind and buy it, only to soon discover he’s not suited to their skills or needs. Disappointed new owners may resist selling because they are already emotionally committed. This situation typically ends with the horse as a pasture pet or the owner hiring a costly trainer to fix what usually can’t be fixed—an unhappy owner paired with an unsuitable horse.

Buy a horse for what you want to do with him, not because he’s a fashionable breed or has a flashy coat. Buyers should remember the adage, “A good horse is never a bad color.”

9. Trying New Things While Your Horse is Distracted

Don’t set yourself up for failure by ignoring obvious warning signs when teaching your horse something new. Cold, windy weather is not the best time to introduce sidepassing or trail riding. Impending storms often usher in erratic behavior in horses and cause problems under saddle.

Avoid trying to train when the arena is filled with distractions like jumping ponies and galloping reiners. Your horse learns better when he can focus. Likewise, don’t expect concentration when it’s feeding time and all of the other horses are happily digging into their meal.

10. Spoiling Your Horse

Horses are like children in that they will take advantage of weak leadership, and they occasionally need correction. Failing to assert yourself as the leader of your “herd of two” usually ends in disappointment, if not injury.

If you can’t assert yourself enough to do this, your horse will step right into the role. Watch two horses turned out together and you’ll see they settle who is in charge within minutes, and every breach of that agreement will be challenged. Horse owners should never fall for the myth that horses love those who placate and spoil them. Horses respect clear leadership, not pushover love.

Every horse owner has made one of these mistakes in horse care and horsemanship, and probably asked themselves later why they didn’t listen to their inner voice telling them another day would be better to try something new. There is no need to learn a lesson the hard way!

This article about common horse care mistakes appeared in the November/December 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post 10 Common Horse Care Mistakes appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Because virtually every aspect of horse ownership carries some degree of risk, horse owners should consider the possibility that things can sometimes go wrong and lead to legal issues. In most common cases, the horse does not present the only risk: People who will be interacting with him can cause a multitude of problems, which in a worst-case scenario can land you in court as a horse owner.

Our generally optimistic outlook on life with horses is not often eroded by a fear of being sued. Most of us never expect it from loved ones or horsey friends, yet this precise situation happens with some frequency.

A myriad of hazardous situations involving horses can result in a lawsuit, most too complicated to resolve without an experienced attorney. Yet we offer horseback rides to family members, casually board horses on our properties for extra income, and lend our trailers to friends.

The following should not constitute legal advice—always consult an attorney for that—but these five topics are designed to give you an idea of the common areas of conflict that crop up in horse legal issues and court cases.

1. Buying and Selling

Far too many horse buyers are more emotional than careful when buying a horse, and thus they are amazingly cavalier about documenting the transaction. They fall in love with a horse, sometimes by merely looking at it online, and purchase it sight unseen.

Most buyers and sellers jot a few words on paper about the exchange of money and consider that sufficient to change ownership. It may be for some, but protection in a dispute about ownership is better ensured with a detailed and thorough contract that you can easily find if needed.

If presenting a contract—or signing one already drawn up—seems beyond the needs of the average horse owner, consider how many horse buyers wait for registration papers that never arrive, take possession of an injured horse upon delivery, or discover their new performance horse has a periodic lameness issue related to a previous case of laminitis that the seller neglected to disclose.

Sometimes the seller insists on a “right of first refusal” (see below), yet the buyer sells the horse without informing the former owner. What is the recourse when a sale is made on a proverbial handshake deal?

If hiring an attorney to draw up the specifics of a sale seems like overkill, at least consider using one of the many online equine sales contracts that provide a good starting point for buyers and sellers. Specific details or modifications can be added by either party to strengthen its viability, should a dispute arise.

2. Boarding

Most boarding stable owners are careful enough to require signed documentation from boarders limiting the business’s risk of liability in the event of an accident involving a boarder or their horse. That document typically outlines the rules established by the stable for everything from turning off arena lights to requiring all one-day riders or those test-riding a horse for possible purchase to sign a legal liability waiver.

High-profile boarding stable owners don’t rely on loosely worded boarding contracts with one-size-fits-all contractual language, because they know the cost of an attorney is minuscule compared to a judgment against them in a personal injury lawsuit.

More casual horse boarding operations would be wise to follow suit. Non-paying boarders or those routinely late with payments often present a problem that ends up with the horse as the only bargaining chip. In these situations, frustrated stable owners sometimes overstep legal boundaries.

“Declaring the stable to be the owner of the horse and selling it without following the law or putting the horse in the stable’s lesson program may not be legal,” says Julie Fershtman, a national trial lawyer, legal consultant, and author of two award-winning editions of Equine Law and Horse Sense. Fershtman is widely considered one of the top equine attorneys in the U.S.

“Stable owners of all types and sizes should be aware of their state agister’s lien statutes that give them a security interest in the horse that allows them to enforce the lien after a specified period of time has passed and the stable has performed specific procedures,” she says.

Boarding contracts typically include the Equine Liability Law for the state, and stable owners are also required in many states to post signs in the most visible barn areas to remind everyone of the inherent risk associated with horse activities. Copies of equine activity liability releases (sometimes referred to as waivers) should be on-site, signed and dated by non-boarders.

Some horse owners mistakenly believe equine liability waivers are not successfully defended in court, when the reverse is true. Even so, an equine liability release does not guarantee the stable cannot be held liable for any accident. For instance, a lawsuit can be brought by a boarder who can prove the stable owner has been negligent by failing to perform reasonable measures to protect the safety of boarders and their horses.

“Many in the horse industry misunderstand equine activity liability laws, currently found in 48 states, and wrongly assume that these are ‘zero liability’ laws,” says Fershtman.

“That is not true. Although many of these laws limit the basis for a claim or lawsuit, they typically allow for the possibility of certain types of claims to be brought.”

Horse owners sometimes view boarding contracts as routine paperwork that protects the rights of the stable owner, yet these signed agreements are often relied upon by both parties when a dispute arises.

3. Leasing or Share Boarding

While an arrangement for leasing a horse can be a win-win for both parties, the best way to make sure everyone is on the same page is to write down the terms, fees and exclusions, and require each party to read and sign the contract. Without a written reminder, the lessee may believe her payments are for the purchase of the horse rather than its temporary use.

That’s merely one of many disagreements that can arise when time passes and memories fail. A written contract can include standard terms, such as duration of the lease, payment schedule, which days are assigned to each rider, and who is authorized to ride the horse.

More detailed contracts can define liability issues, who is responsible for veterinary and farrier care, and whether the lessee has the option to buy the horse during or at the end of the lease. The more specific the contract, the greater the chance of a positive outcome.

4. Trailering

When you own a horse trailer, you can count on someone eventually asking to borrow it, use it in an emergency, or asking you to transport a horse in your trailer for a fee.

In these situations, you need to be aware of what your insurance policy will or will not cover. Those who assume their homeowner’s policy or car insurance will pay an accident claim involving a horse trailer and someone else’s property can live to regret it.

For example, a policy may cover personal use of your truck and trailer, yet consider you a commercial entity if you were paid to transport someone else’s horse. Unfortunately, insurance companies look for holes in your policy that allow them to deny claims. This is why policy holders never want to hear their insurance agent say, “read the fine print” after something goes wrong.

5. Insurance

Commercial horse businesses generally carry extensive insurance because their liability is multiplied by buildings, equipment, employees, boarders and visitors. Always know what your insurance specifically covers before you need it.

Trainers and riding instructors should be especially careful since they are on the “front lines” with more hands-on responsibility for clients and horses. Many carry umbrella policies that cover general liability insurance plus added coverage for care, custody, and control of their clients’ horses. The facility where training and riding instruction is conducted does not typically carry coverage that indemnifies trainers and riding instructors.

Horse owners and those in the horse industry shouldn’t live in continual fear of being sued, but we do live in a litigious society. Covering all bases with solid, detailed contracts, hiring a lawyer to handle complicated but common legal issues, and buying insurance specific to your horse activities is the best way to protect your assets.

This article about common legal issues in the horse world appeared in the May 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Common Legal Issues in the Horse World appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Our generally optimistic outlook on life with horses is not often eroded by a fear of being sued. Most of us never expect it from loved ones or horsey friends, yet this precise situation happens with some frequency.

A myriad of hazardous situations involving horses can result in a lawsuit, most too complicated to resolve without an experienced attorney. Yet we offer horseback rides to family members, casually board horses on our properties for extra income, and lend our trailers to friends.

The following should not constitute legal advice—always consult an attorney for that—but these five topics are designed to give you an idea of the prime areas of conflict that crop up in equine legal disputes and court cases.

1. Legality when Buying and Selling

Far too many horse buyers are more emotional than careful when buying a horse, and thus they are amazingly cavalier about documenting the transaction. They fall in love with a horse, sometimes by merely looking at it online, and purchase it sight unseen.

Most buyers and sellers jot a few words on paper about the exchange of money and consider that sufficient to change ownership. It may be for some, but protection in a dispute about ownership is better ensured with a detailed and thorough contract that you can easily find if needed.

If presenting a contract—or signing one already drawn up—seems beyond the needs of the average horse owner, consider how many horse buyers wait for registration papers that never arrive, take possession of an injured horse upon delivery, or discover their new performance horse has a periodic lameness issue related to a previous case of laminitis that the seller neglected to disclose. Those equine legal issues can be easily prevented with a proper contract.

Sometimes the seller insists on a “right of first refusal” (see sidebar, left), yet the buyer sells the horse without informing the former owner. What is the recourse when a sale is made on a proverbial handshake deal?

If hiring an attorney to draw up the specifics of a sale seems like overkill, at least consider using one of the many online equine sales contracts that provide a good starting point for buyers and sellers. Specific details or modifications can be added by either party to strengthen its viability, should a dispute arise.

2. Equine Legal Issues When Boarding

Most boarding stable owners are careful enough to require signed documentation from boarders limiting the business’s risk of liability in the event of an accident involving a boarder or their horse. That document typically outlines the rules established by the stable for everything from turning off arena lights to requiring all one-day riders or those test-riding a horse for possible purchase to sign a legal liability waiver.

High-profile boarding stable owners don’t rely on loosely worded boarding contracts with one-size-fits-all contractual language, because they know the cost of an attorney is minuscule compared to a judgement against them in a personal injury lawsuit.

More casual horse boarding operations would be wise to follow suit. Non-paying boarders or those routinely late with payments often present a problem that ends up with the horse as the only bargaining chip. In these situations, frustrated stable owners sometimes overstep legal boundaries.

“Declaring the stable to be the owner of the horse and selling it without following the law or putting the horse in the stable’s lesson program may not be legal,” says Julie Fershtman, a national trial lawyer, legal consultant, and author of two award-winning editions of Equine Law and Horse Sense. Fershtman is widely considered one of the top equine attorneys in the U.S.

“Stable owners of all types and sizes should be aware of their state agister’s lien statutes that give them a security interest in the horse that allows them to enforce the lien after a specified period of time has passed and the stable has performed specific procedures,” she says.

Boarding contracts typically include the Equine Liability Law for the state, and stable owners are also required in many states to post signs in the most visible barn areas to remind everyone of the inherent risk associated with horse activities. Copies of equine activity liability releases (sometimes referred to as waivers) should be on-site, signed and dated by non-boarders.

Some horse owners mistakenly believe equine liability waivers are not successfully defended in court, when the reverse is true. Even so, an equine liability release does not guarantee the stable cannot be held liable for any accident. For instance, equine legal issues may arise if a boarder can prove the stable owner has been negligent by failing to perform reasonable measures to protect the safety of boarders and their horses.

“Many in the horse industry misunderstand equine activity liability laws, currently found in 48 states, and wrongly assume that these are ‘zero liability’ laws,” says Fershtman.
“That is not true. Although many of these laws limit the basis for a claim or lawsuit, they typically allow for the possibility of certain types of claims to be brought.”

Horse owners sometimes view boarding contracts as routine paperwork that protects the rights of the stable owner, yet these signed agreements are often relied upon by both parties when a dispute arises.

3. Equine Legal Issues when Leasing

While an arrangement for leasing a horse can be a win-win for both parties, the best way to make sure everyone is on the same page is to write down the terms, fees and exclusions, and require each party to read and sign the contract. Without a written reminder, the lessee may believe her payments are for the purchase of the horse rather than its temporary use—and that’s a recipe for equine legal issues.

That’s merely one of many disagreements that can arise when time passes and memories fail. A written contract can include standard terms, such as duration of the lease, payment schedule, which days are assigned to each rider, and who is authorized to ride the horse.

More detailed contracts can define liability issues, who is responsible for veterinary and farrier care, and whether the lessee has the option to buy the horse during or at the end of the lease. The more specific the contract, the greater the chance of a positive outcome.

4. Equine Legal Issues when Trailering

When you own a horse trailer, you can count on someone eventually asking to borrow it, use it in an emergency, or asking you to transport a horse in your trailer for a fee. All of those situations can lead to potential equine legal issues, if you don’t take the right preventative steps.

First, you need to be aware of what your insurance policy will or will not cover. Those who assume their homeowner’s policy or car insurance will pay an accident claim involving a horse trailer and someone else’s property can live to regret it.

For example, a policy may cover personal use of your truck and trailer, yet consider you a commercial entity if you were paid to transport someone else’s horse. Unfortunately, insurance companies look for holes in your policy that allow them to deny claims. This is why policy holders never want to hear their insurance agent say, “read the fine print” after something goes wrong.

5. Equine Legal Insurance

Commercial horse businesses generally carry extensive insurance because their liability is multiplied by buildings, equipment, employees, boarders and visitors. Always know what your insurance specifically covers before you need it.

Trainers and riding instructors should be especially careful since they are on the “front lines” with more hands-on responsibility for clients and horses. Many carry umbrella policies that cover general liability insurance plus added coverage for care, custody, and control of their clients’ horses. The facility where training and riding instruction is conducted does not typically carry coverage that indemnifies trainers and riding instructors.

Horse owners and those in the horse industry shouldn’t live in continual fear of being sued, but we do live in a litigious society. Covering all bases with solid, detailed contracts, hiring a lawyer to handle complicated issues, and buying insurance specific to your horse activities is the best way to protect your assets.

The post Avoiding Equine Legal Issues appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Most horse owners have a pastoral dream of living on a farm where they can look out the kitchen window while holding their morning coffee and see their horses grazing peacefully in a lush pasture. What they don’t realize is that horse property owners spend most of their time at home doing chores, not looking out windows. Plus, by the time chores are done, riding a horse seems like too much work. This is such a universal refrain from exhausted farm owners that it should be emblazoned on a T-shirt.

Are there any redeeming reasons to keep your horse at home? Sure. Scores of horse owners would never move off their farms; the work and daily proximity to their horses is a cherished lifestyle. However, the reality of horse ownership for most people can be summed up best by this adage: if you want to actually ride, board your horse.

Here are 10 realities to ponder before buying that acreage and moving your horse home.

1. Horses at Home: You’ll be Tied Down

If horse owners all over are willing to having their horses at home, they will end up being tied down. It’s difficult—if not impossible—to take vacations when you have twice-a-day, 365-day-a-year chores. (Ask any dairy farmer how often he goes on vacation.) If you’re fortunate, you’ll find a dependable horse-sitter, but paying the person is an added expense, and you never stop worrying that something might go wrong while you’re away. This farm-bound lifestyle can create considerable conflict if you have a non-horsey partner.

2. You’ll Ride Less, Work More

For some horse owners, riding isn’t as important as spending time with the horses. If you adore watching your horses inhale feed and wander in and out of the barn, then keeping them at home might be great. Be prepared to spend a lot of time alone in a stall with a pitchfork. Or alternatively, watching your horses graze while you annihilate Canadian thistles.

3. You’ll Often Handle Emergencies/Heavy Tasks Alone

When your horses are at home, you have responsibility for virtually every aspect of their care and surroundings. If your electric fence shorts, you have to fix it. If your water line freezes, a gate is left open and your herd takes off down the road, your tractor is in a ditch, snow has blocked your barn door, or a 4’x8′ piece of plywood needs moved, you often must tackle it alone. On the plus side, you will become creative, learn to appreciate leverage, and build muscle.

4. You’re Responsible for Feed & Barn Supplies

You must maintain a daily supply of all horse feed, bedding and hay. You will need a vehicle with enough square footage to transport the above. Trips to the nearest farm supply store will occupy you way more than time in the saddle.

5. Manure Management

Another reality of having horses at home is the amount of manure management they will have to endure. The most onerous and enduring task on your farm is manure disposal. Options are often limited by neighbors and finances. You can create a temporary pile to remove periodically by farm equipment, but manure piles are often the catalyst for neighborly squabbles about smell, flies, and unsightliness.

Even if you spread manure on your fields, an environmentally conscious and responsible management practice, you may generate wrinkled noses and cranky neighbors. A few waste disposal companies provide a dumpster for manure removal and weekly pick up, but if they charge by weight, cost can be prohibitive.

6. You Need to Become Pasture-Smart & Weather-Obsessed

To ensure your horses have quality forage, you must educate yourself about pasture management. This includes soil quality, fertilizer type and timing of application, mowing for premium plant growth, weed control, identification of toxic plants, and stock rotation for optimum regrowth. You’ll follow weather forecasts the way investors follow the stock market.

7. Farm Maintenance Requires the Right Tools for the Job

You may end up with a forklift, small tractor with an end loader, harrow (tined drag for smoothing arena dirt or breaking up manure piles in the pasture), pull-behind seed spreader, weed sprayer, riding lawn mower and bale elevator. Be sure to budget for what you’ll need to keep up the property.

8. There’s No Indoor Arena

If you’ve had the privilege of riding in an indoor arena, you will miss it, even though it used to seem monotonous. Most horse owners cannot afford to put up an indoor arena and also pay increased property taxes upon reassessment.

9. There Aren’t as Many People Around to Spot Injuries or Colic

If your horse is sick, injured, or colicky, the number of experienced people at a public stable at all hours of the day and night is a bonus. Most barn regulars can spot unusual behavior in a horse they see every day, even when it’s not theirs.

10. You’ll Miss Your Riding Buddies

Horse owners who are used to riding with friends will have an especially difficult time adjusting to solitary riding. You can be an avowed loner, yet find your favorite memories on horseback involved other riders. The camaraderie of shared experience is a powerful human connection—ask any military veteran.

In spite of all of the above, owning a horse property and watching your horses graze, play, and (in my case) shake pear trees to cause a veritable storm of falling fruit, is more than enough compensation for what you give up. Millions of people agree.

This article originally appeared in the September 2018 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Truth about Horses at Home appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Before buying your first horse, you should decide where he will live and who will be responsible for his care. If you don’t own a horse property, boarding is probably your only option, unless you have friends or family who live on a farm and wouldn’t mind having an extra horse around. Boarding arrangements for a monthly fee can be as simple as keeping your horse in someone’s pasture, where he has access to water and shelter, or as elaborate as full-service stables, where your horse has his own stall and is handled daily by barn workers.

If you can keep your horse at home, you may prefer caring for him yourself. Many people experience great satisfaction from taking charge of all aspects of their horses’ lives and don’t mind the considerable work; they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Yet, strange as it may seem to people who yearn for their own horse property, some prefer boarding to avoid the responsibility and commitment of twice-a-day feedings, barn chores, repairs and maintenance. The cost differential is probably not as wide as you think if you factor in all expenditures. (Buckets, feeders, hoses, manure forks, push brooms, wheelbarrows, rubber mats and other must-haves at your own barn add up.)

Safety First

No matter where you put your horse, a safe barn and secure pasture should be priorities because horses are amazingly prone to injuring themselves. They will find the loose board, popped nail, protruding tree branch, gopher hole, unprotected window glass, electric-fence short, barbed wire or any other hazard faster than a speeding bullet.

You should carry out periodic safety inspections of your horse’s home; don’t assume that boarding stables do this. Be as observant where you board as you would be at home, and let the barn manager know of potential hazards. When visiting your horse at the barn, look for an accessible fire extinguisher, posted phone numbers for emergencies, clutter-free aisles, dedicated space for manure forks and brooms, a neat tack room, and breakaway cross-ties.

What you don’t want to see are bags of feed easily accessible to a wily horse, loose metal siding on a shelter in your horse’s pasture, ice built up like a rink where your horse walks, protruding stall latches, or—worst of all—smokers in the barn. When you pay to have your horse cared for by someone else, you have every right to speak up about potential safety issues and expect resolution.

Horses at Home

Many veteran horse owners readily advise that if you want to actually ride your horse, you should keep him at a boarding stable. The longer you own horses, the wiser this seems. Yet, if your idea of heaven is to walk across your yard to visit your horses anytime, day or night, and this is more compelling than riding, then self-care might work best for you. The horse-oriented lifestyle is what attracts you most.

However, before losing yourself to the romantic dream of looking out your windows and seeing horses grazing peacefully in your pasture, give careful thought to the amount of time and energy you’ll spend doing chores, stocking supplies, and performing maintenance tasks. Even if you have help around your farm, unexpected tasks have a way of undermining your best intentions to ride regularly.

If you live in a reasonably populated area, you may be able to hire barn help so that all your time isn’t consumed by daily chores. Another option is to barter monthly stall board in exchange for work around the farm. Someone who has more time and energy than cash may be happy to work off part of their monthly board payment.

To minimize your workload, pasture your horses for all but the most inclement weather. Most horses thrive on pasture as long as they have access to shelter when the days are miserably hot, insects are biting, or frigid winds are blowing.

Horse-Care Costs

Rule #1: You can’t control most horse-care costs. Consider this carefully and budget accordingly before you ever think about buying a horse. The majority of horses’ basic needs have costs set by someone else. You can shop around for a deal, but the market determines what you’ll pay.

Rule #2: You’ll always have uncontrollable costs as long as you own horses.

You may be thinking you can contain horse-care costs the same way you economize other aspects of your life: If gasoline gets expensive, you drive less; if phone bills shoot up, you talk less; if utility charges go up, you adjust your thermostat. A horse needs hay in winter, bedding when stalled, regular farrier care, bi-annual vaccinations, periodic deworming, teeth floating and, depending upon condition, feed and supplements. You must pay the going rate.

The costs of feed, hay and bedding are governed by availability and the vagaries of weather in growing states. Because weather patterns have been unpredictable in recent years, the prices for agricultural commodities have skyrocketed. Competing uses for grain products have further hiked prices.

Predicting what your home horsekeeping costs might be compared to paying board is like trying to hit a moving target. And, if you consider your own time to have a monetary number, you probably can’t beat the value of a well-run boarding stable.

When comparing costs, be sure to include re-fencing your property if it was set up for cattle; horses should never be kept in barbed wire or large-mesh wire fence. Horses have much thinner skin than cattle and will be easily injured. Don’t forget equipment, maintenance, fuel, the cost of enough acreage to support your horses, and the amount you’ll spend for the extra horse you’ll need to keep the first one company!

That said, most owners with horses at home are not primarily motivated by cost. They see more positives than negatives about all the challenges of running their own show. Control is a huge factor. Home horsekeepers can choose their feed, set the barn schedule, and manage everything as they think it should be. This amount of control is very satisfying.

Boarding Your Horse

If you are someone who can’t wait to put a boot in the stirrup, boarding your horse is probably your best option. You may not hear the nicker of your horses’ greetings in the mornings, but you also won’t have to drag yourself out of bed to trudge across a snowy yard to shovel a path to the barn door, or pull on rubber boots in order to open a pasture fence after wading through mud as sticky as peanut butter. When boarding, all of the time-sucking, energy-draining tasks are done for you. And while monthly rates may seem astronomical to new horse owners, they are relatively reasonable when compared to other service industries.

At a boarding barn, you have the benefit of a caretaker being on duty if you want to go on vacation or can’t make it to the barn. When complications arise—such as soaking an abscessed hoof in a bucket twice a day, putting ointment in your horse’s infected eye three times a day, removing wraps and re-bandaging, or arranging for transportation to a specialty equine clinic for a sick horse—you have backup available on site.

Boarding at a full-service facility that caters to people on tight schedules relieves you of most of the time-consuming routine chores. You have the option to pay for extra services and spend all your time at the barn riding rather than performing mundane tasks. Some stables even have workers who groom and tack up your horse. Most horse owners want to be more hands-on than this but are glad to skip stall cleaning!

Another good reason to board your horse rather than taking on the responsibility of self-care is the learning curve. Even basic horse care requires more knowledge than most people assume. Boarding offers the opportunity to learn from experienced horse owners. Because everyone at the barn shares your interest in horses, you have a wealth of information to tap into if you have any questions. Fellow boarders are generally happy to help you out if you are puzzled by a horse’s behavior or wonder whether your saddle fits properly.

Even better, you may have people to ride with. Group riding is invaluable for new riders who typically lack the confidence to head out down the trail alone. As herd animals, horses take comfort and feel braver in the presence of other horses; humans are actually the same. Balky, fearful horses can be persuaded by the horse in front to “follow the leader.” Each time your horse overcomes his reluctance to attempt something you ask of him and is successful, he builds confidence. Eventually, he doesn’t need the horse in front because he trusts you as his leader.

Another advantage of boarding your horse can be the opportunity to trailer off-site to horse shows, trail ride in state parks, or other activities. Many boarding stables are willing to haul boarders to nearby venues for a fee. Or, fellow boarders with horse trailers may welcome an extra passenger for company and to help share expenses.

Evaluating a Boarding Facility

• Ask whether 24/7 caretakers are on the premises.
• Make sure there is a bathroom for boarders.
• Check out indoor and outdoor arenas for size and footing.
• Inspect stalls for size, water availability, bedding depth and safety.
• Assess the quality of hay being fed.
• Ask if there’s a bathing area or wash rack.
• Check for safe turnout fencing; horses should never be contained by barbed wire or large-mesh wire designed for cattle.
• Determine if there is adequate barn ventilation.
• Look for secure tack storage.
• See if tools are organized and aisles are clutter-free.
• Figure out the mileage to the barn and estimate gas expenditure.
• Check out barn rules to make sure you don’t get any surprises—such as “not open on Mondays” or no non-boarders allowed to ride.
• Ask whether there is a barn farrier.
• See if there is a deworming policy (some barns require fecal testing).
• Ask about how much time the arena is used for lessons or occupied by trainers.
• Ask how the horses are grouped in the pasture.
• Find out if you can park a trailer.
• Find out the barn hours for boarders and holiday hours.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter where your horse lives; what matters is how. Provide a safe environment, a consistent routine, exercise, quality feed, fresh water and appropriate health measures, and your horse will thrive.

Louann Chaudier lives in Eagle, Wisc. During the past 20 years, she and her husband have kept horses in boarding stables and have owned a horse farm.

This article originally appeared in the 2015 edition of Your New Horse.

The post Should You Board Your Horse or Keep Him at Home? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Getting your Standardbred to canter is not just a matter of whacking the horse on the butt to get him going. The breed typically has a longish back with hind legs set farther back on the body than most horses. This conformation is most efficient for fast, streamlined, horizontal forward motion rather than elevation. Since the canter requires the hind legs to reach forward and propel the body upward, Standardbreds have a genetic hurdle, as well as psychological barriers, to cross.

Racetrack Lessons

Off-the-track Standardbreds have many benefits that transfer from the track to the riding stable. They’ve been exposed to crowds, the sights and sounds of heavy equipment, frenetic activity, loud noise and daily handling. These racehorses are shod every six to eight weeks, accustomed to two bits in their mouths, comfortable with harness straps hanging down and jangling around whenever they move, and they respect a whip. And, because they are frequently hauled from track to track, they tend to trailer well and settle into new homes fairly quickly.

On the downside, Standardbreds have been strongly “pulled up” when breaking stride to gallop, which results in their reluctance to make this mistake again. So, they must unlearn an early memorable lesson before they can feel confident and relaxed enough to canter.

Another product of race training is the tendency for Standardbreds to speed up after making a U-turn. (Harness racehorses are exercised, or “jogged,” traveling clockwise on the racetrack, and “turned” counterclockwise to race.) Racing also encourages horses to be hyper-competitive, so sometimes this becomes an issue when riding them in groups.

Even race equipment is counterproductive to teaching the canter to Standardbreds. The overcheck rein that is attached to a bit on one end and snaps to or loops around a hook on the back harness forces the horse’s head up and his nose out, creating a hollow back. To carry a rider comfortably at canter, the horse’s nose needs to come down, and his back should berounded.

Canter Starts on the Ground

Robyn Cuffey, co-author of Retraining the Harness Racehorse and The Essential Guide to Carriage Driving, recommends you start working with your horse from the ground. If he has trouble performing a canter in a round pen or on a longeline, he’ll surely have trouble with it under saddle. Cuffey adds that it’s fairly easy to teach Standardbreds to longe if they haven’t been taught. Currently residing and training at Photo Finish Farm in Buxton, Maine, Cuffey has retrained hundreds of Standardbreds. She is past president of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization (SPHO), an organization devoted to promoting second careers for harness racehorses, and founder of its Maine chapter.

Anne Chunko, administrator of the Standardbred Equine Program (SEP) for the United States Trotting Association (USTA), says that the main concept you want to teach your Standardbred for all gaits is to give to the bit and engage his haunches. “Off-the-track Standardbreds know to stop or slow when pulled up with the bit, but don’t really know anything about giving their heads to pressure. I like to start a horse on the longeline equipped with very loose side reins attached to a surcingle and move him immediately into the trot. The energy from the trot will encourage the horse to round a little when he moves into the bit, not stop or slow as he might at the walk. As he progresses over the weeks, I gradually shorten the reins.” (If you’re unfamiliar with side reins, ask an experienced trainer or friend for guidance.)

Once you think your horse is ready for his first canter on the longeline, you need to prepare yourself for what will probably happen. When you encourage him to go faster, he’ll no doubt speed up at the trot until you’re dizzy, but may eventually canter from his own momentum. If not, a flick of your longe whip may give him added incentive. If he strikes off, praise him lavishly and, after a few strides, bring him back to a trot. Carry out a few more exercises he performs well, and then call it a day.

It is normal if your horse becomes overexcited about these first few canter lessons on the ground because in his mind he’s “breaking stride” and fears correction. Additionally, canter feels more awkward to him than his usual gaits. Above all, stay calm (if you aren’t, fake it) and give a voice command for trot to slow your horse before using more overt pressure. A harsh correction will only reinforce what he fears.

You’ll have more success with these ground lessons (and, when he’s ready, lessons under saddle) if you plan ahead where to ask for canter. For instance, upon approach to an arena corner, your horse will turn his head in the direction he’s going, and his body will be in position to strike off from the outside hind leg. If you give a canter command at the stride before the corner, your horse will likely pick up the proper lead. Preparing your horse to canter on the correct lead by positioning him for success will help him feel more comfortable in upcoming turns and circles.

Regard your Standardbred as untrained for canter the same as you would a young horse learning his first lessons. Use the same methods to teach him as well. Do not canter for extended distances until your horse has built up the muscles for it. He may be trained to trot for a few miles without stopping, but cantering is more physically demanding. You will know when you’ve overdone it when your horse’s strides are really flat, he seems reluctant to pick up the gait when you ask, or just stops doing it once he’s learned how.

Canter Under Saddle

When your horse demonstrates solid ground skills and steadily picks up a canter on the longeline, you are ready to try it under saddle; however, don’t rush to get to this point. All the time and effort you expend on the ground gaining muscle strength, flexibility, obedience and trust will pay off under saddle.

After a horse has spent enough time on the longe to pick up a canter going both directions, Cuffey begins under saddle work with bending and stretching exercises. Standardbreds don’t curve their bodies when they race, so they need to be taught to use their bodies in a different way to strengthen their muscles. Cuffey first teaches a neck-bend by applying a direct, “wiggly” rein on one side of the horse’s neck until he stretches his nose toward the stirrup. (As with all exercises, do this on both the right and left sides.) Then, Robyn practices many other bending and stretching exercises, such as leg yields, walk and trot over ground rails, and “hopping” cavalletti to teach the horse to round his back and elevate his legs.

Your first canter attempts should be in an enclosed arena not only for safety purposes, but because you can use corners to help facilitate the strike-off to canter. If your horse picks up the canter like he was shot out of a cannon, make sure that you do not pull him up or hang on his mouth to slow him. You must stay balanced in the saddle for at least a few strides while praising him like crazy.

“When you decide your horse is ready to attempt a canter, I’ve found it’s best to try it when the horse is somewhat fresh, even ‘revved up’ a bit,” Cuffey says. “The gait requires quite an effort at first, so you need that extra energy.” If the warp speed frazzles you, someone else should be doing the initial canter training.

Cuffey says that through proper training, your horse’s canter departure and gait will improve. “What you’ll notice is that the first stride has lift, and each stride after that gets flatter and flatter,” Cuffey explains. “Practicing canter over time will improve the quality and duration of the strides, but it’s important to note your Standardbred may never have a classic canter. After all, they are bred for efficiency and the breed achieves it at the trot or pace.”

Remember, your horse’s biggest challenge is keeping his balance with your added weight. He may become pretty handy at canter on the longeline, but performing under saddle is quite another thing. At first, you might feel as though his feet are scrambling all over the place and you’re being launched with each stride, but he’ll improve over time with correct training.

Quick Tips for Success

• Plan to canter at the beginning of your riding sessions before you deplete your horse’s physical energy.
• Similarly, avoid teaching your horse to canter on hot, humid days when the weather saps his energy.
• Praise your horse for the tiniest canter effort; you can work on refinement later.
• Gradually add canter to your routine to build your horse’s muscles for it.
• Outside the arena, canter uphill to build muscle and slow the gait.
• Follow a riding buddy in canter to stimulate herd mentality.

The post Teaching your off-track Standardbred to canter appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Building a Friendship

The No. 1 way to establish a close relationship with a horse is to spend time with him in a manner that reinforces you as his leader. It doesn’t matter what you are doing, just that you are there and interacting with him in a way that makes him feel secure.

I’ve owned a Quarter Horse colt named Jackson since he was weaned. Besides handling him morning and evening, I talk to him a lot. While grooming him, or letting him eat “better” grass on the front yard, I’ve filled him in on Kentucky Derby winners, cried over Barbaro’s passing, sympathized with his “picked last in gym” herd status, and generally kept a running conversation. I believe I could talk about hedge funds and Jackson would think all is right with the world.

In many situations, a conversation in the right tone of voice yields better results than a command. When Jackson was 3 years old and being sent to a trainer, he’d been on a trailer only once—the day he came to my farm. The trainer and an assistant came to pick him up and couldn’t get him loaded, so I took the lead rope and coaxed Jackson into the trailer by talking to him as though he was merely standing in the barn aisle. By my calm voice, and the fact I’ve never asked him to do anything that hurt him, I was able to convince him that trailer-loading is no big deal. As I told him, “Heck, if I can get in here, you can get in here.”

One of my “horsey” friends, Lynn DiCello of Salem, Wis., believes my strong connection with Jackson is because I got him at such an early age, before he was spoiled by anyone and lost his trust in people. Lynn believes that a horse has to be receptive or you can try all you want and a deep bond doesn’t seem to form. To develop that deep bond, Lynn says you have to spend time with a horse: feeding, grooming, riding, maybe just sitting out on the grass while he grazes around you. “I think if you are open to a horse, and let him get to know and trust you, bonding will most likely happen,” she says. “You’ll know you are important to him when you go out to the field and he stops what he’s doing, leaves his buddies, and walks over to you on his own.”

Bonding with The Good, The Bad, and The Ornery

Sometimes, bonding with a horse is so spontaneous, it doesn’t even make sense. You instantly fall in love, and the horse, sensing it, responds in kind. How do you know? Well, it won’t be like it is in the movies and television shows—your horse won’t run to get help if you fall off and can’t get up. He’s more likely to run away!

You’ll know when his eyes soften when he looks at you, he tries to groom you when you’re within reach, he whinnies when he sees you (and it’s not time to eat), he turns to you in a crisis, he follows you around, and he quiets when you talk to him.

My first horse, Presto, was my once-in-a-lifetime horse. He was so beautiful that people always made a fuss over him, but he was also generous and forgave my many beginner-rider mistakes. Presto was a big, spirited Morgan, and way too much horse for me from the outset, but I was determined to ride him. Over the years, we became such partners that I could think “move there” and he would, or I’d put a hand on his neck and he’d visibly relax. We were like that mythical creature, the centaur—half human/half horse. Not all my horses have been that into me. A few were ornery and others indifferent even though I’ve treated them all the same. A few years ago, I bought a horse named Bud for trail riding. His previous owner must have had a “if they don’t ask, don’t tell” policy because she neglected to detail the horse’s “playful” side.

Working with Bud was like the proverbial box of chocolates—you never knew what you’d get. I never had the sense that he was a bad horse; I thought he was “naughty.” My husband couldn’t grasp the distinction. Perhaps I am perverse, but I sort of enjoyed Bud’s Jeckyll-Hyde personality. It was a challenge to try to figure out what he’d do next. Whatever tricky thing Bud did, I could almost feel the joy emanating from him. He entertained himself with his plots.

Bud and I bonded by coming to an understanding: If he’d keep his shenanigans to a minimum, I’d cut him some slack.

Then, there are those horses that try oh-so-hard to resist me. I currently own a big bay gelding named, fittingly, Rex (which means “King”). He has so much pride, and such a strong sense of self, that he rarely lets down his guard. He’s like the love interest in Bruce Springsteen’s song, Secret Garden. There’s a place where he won’t let me in. If I pet him, he moves away. If I approach him with a treat, he’ll lean, lean a little more, and practically fall over before he takes a step toward me. He expects me to serve him. I might take this personally, but I spoke with Mary Ann Collins, of Racine, Wis., who owned Rex from the ages of 3 to 14 to see if she’d managed to get closer to him. She said her relationship with Rex was better under saddle than on the ground.

“Rex was always workmanlike and responsive when I rode him, but he was somewhat aloof otherwise,” Mary Ann said. “I think horses’ ability to bond with people has a lot to do with how they are handled as babies. The horse I own now, Declan, was imprinted at birth and our relationship is so close, it’s almost spiritual. It was not immediate though; I had to earn his respect and it took time. I attribute much of our special bond to natural horsemanship and how much time I put into groundwork.”

So, it seems Rex has been consistent throughout his life and simply has a self-oriented personality. Even so, he slips up now and then by forgetting to act like he merely tolerates me and nuzzles my shoulder while I groom him. I don’t gloat, however. It’s important to him to feel like “The Man” around the place, and I’m content to know he sometimes gives himself away.

In January 2007, Rex really gave it away. That winter, I suffered two strokes. When I got home from the hospital a month later and started visiting the barn, Rex knew something had happened to me and now looks out for me the way old geldings often shepherd foals.

Avoid Creating an Equine Monster

Who says food isn’t love? Horses love food and we love giving it to them, but your pure intentions could create a monster. Treats are fine in moderation. Just make sure you decide when and where to give them.

How to feed treats is a matter of some controversy. Hand-feeding is heresy to some horse owners and standard practice for others. Some hand-fed horses will begin to nip and root around for treats, so owners need to correct this behavior before it becomes an ingrained habit.

Horses have an uncanny ability to size up the people around them, and they often take advantage of permissive owners. For example, if you let a horse take a few steps as you mount, he is leading and you are following, albeit on one foot. If you allow a horse to push ahead of you when you lead him, he’s actually walking you. Horses are genetically wired to test you, so it’s in your best interests to always set limits.

Punishment is a key issue literally defined by setting limits, yet is difficult for some owners to mete out even when it is justified. All horses require a reminder of the limits at some point; if the reminder is fair and warranted, they do not resent it and won’t hold it against you. You’re merely reminding them that you’re in charge and not to forget it.

Why Bonding is not PsychoBabble

Some people may think “bonding” is borderline touchy-feely psychobabble that isn’t necessary as long as a horse does what he’s told. This might be true in a majority of cases, but there can come a time when friendship and respect make the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

One August morning, Presto got out of his pasture when a painter left a gate open. By the time I found my horse, he was buried up to his shoulders in a muddy, boulder-filled riverbed. Even though Presto had already suffered enough neurological damage to die several days later, I’ll never forget how hard he tried to pull free when I encouraged him. He fell back numerous times before he finally lunged up the steep bank onto dry land. Presto followed me back to the barn through a 7-foot high cornfield with his nose pressed against my back.

You should try to build a relationship with your horse that is strong enough to compel him to try his hardest for you, whether it be in a World Championship class or in a muddy creek. Perhaps you have a new horse that you want to be able to catch in a large field, or a new trail horse that will take you long and far … you never know when you’ll need to draw upon that “bond equity.”

Further Reading
Equine Emotions
Getting a Rescued Horse to Trust You

A freelance writer who works from her small farm in Wisconsin, Louann Chaudier has formed a tight bond with all her horses, dogs, cats and wallabies.

This article originally appeared in the 2009 issue of Horses USA.

The post Connecting with Your Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Domestic horses have always had to adapt to less than large living conditions–from draft horses in tie stalls to stabled show horses. Owners of pasture-deprived horses must ensure that they receive enough exercise to compensate for that lack of space.

Buying Small Horse Property

If you’re in the market to buy horse property, you probably want to know the horse-per-acre ratio for pasture feeding. The answer to this depends on the quality of pasture, type of soil, variety of grasses, hours your horses are turned out, growing conditions, and how diligently the pasture is managed. A general rule of thumb is 1 acre per horse for good pasture, but as much as 2½ acres per horse for a poorly managed field. Unfortunately, smaller acreages tend to be overpopulated, overgrazed, and under-managed, so they fall in the latter category.

If you are thinking of buying vacant land to build on, do not simply rely on the estimate of 1 acre per horse. That’s like thinking your annual salary is the amount of money you can spend every year. You must factor in what’s taken out—your house, yard, and outbuildings eat into the total acreage for pasture. A 10-acre parcel may suddenly seem like a postage stamp if you don’t deduct occupied land. For instance, there may be a grove of trees you’d prefer to leave as-is for a windbreak, or topographical features may prevent pasture access at certain times of the year (such as low-lying areas that tend to flood). Or you may need to isolate a septic field.

Carefully assess your current acreage requirements, yet plan for the future. Horse owners are notorious accumulators—just look in your tack trunk, for example. You might start with two horses, but if you have an empty stall, watch out! If you don’t fill it yourself, your friends will do their best to give you a free or rescued horse.

Ask yourself: Will I eventually buy a tractor and need a storage shed? Is building an indoor or outdoor arena a possibility? What about adding on to an existing building? Will I need space around these structures for fire truck or large equipment access? If you answer “yes” or “maybe” to any of these questions, be sure to buy enough land from the outset to accomplish your goals.

Owners of small horse properties often start with preconceived notions of how they will care for their horses, yet modify many of those ideas from practical experience.

Three horse owners, whose farms are located on the East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast, describe their properties and share how they’ve learned to get more out of less.

Maine: Four Horses on 4 Acres

Dusty Perin is an award-winning freelance photographer and writer who has lived on a 4-acre farm in Acton, Maine, since 1988. She and her husband, Gary, own four Arabian horses who live leisurely lives as occasional models for Perin’s business.

“When we moved here, this property was not adequately set up for horses, so we put up three-board fence combined with electric and built all the outbuildings,” Perin says.

“Because we live on a main road, our paddocks are interconnected so we can move horses from one to the next without needing to take them outside the fence.”

For shelter, Perin’s horses share a large run-in divided into two stalls that are matted and bedded. Manure is moved with a compact tractor to the back of the property along a treeline where it composts, much to the delight of nearby gardeners.

“Accidentally, we discovered that if you bury bad or old hay in the pile, worms seem to work overtime, and the composting process speeds up significantly,” Perin says.

Because Perin feeds hay year-round, and a lack of storage space made numerous trips to her supplier a necessary evil, she recently built a 16-foot by 24-foot building that can accommodate 550 bales.

Perin notes that one of her toughest small-farm problems is related to weather, especially those notorious nor’easters.

“Once the ground around here gets saturated, there’s nowhere for the water to go, so the end result is a surplus of mud,” she says. “The horses’ hooves tear up the little space they have, and excess rainwater washes out parts of the driveway. Then, we have to spread crushed limestone to fill it in.” Little wonder that Perin says the tractor with its bucket attachment is her favorite farm tool.

Successfully keeping horses on a small property not only requires the right equipment, but also the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Wisconsin:  Six Horses on 10 Acres

Elizabeth “Libby” Cameron is a renowned portrait artist who lives with an assortment of horses, dogs and cats on Faerietale Farm, a 10-acre horse property in Caledonia, Wisc. Because she built the house, barn and run-ins, she was able to design the property to her own specifications, yet 11 years of real-life horsekeeping on small acreage has caused her to scrap some original ideas and make better use of her space.

“I thought I had to have a wash rack in my new barn, but I never used it enough to justify the wasted space, so I eventually built another box stall and tool storage aisle in that area,” Cameron says.

“I also thought that I wanted a paved circular driveway in front of the barn, until I realized that the width of that area was just right for pre-ride warmups and longeing,” Cameron continues. “I scraped away the base gravel and voila!, I had a warmup ring and a driveway.

“Then, I built an outdoor arena directly behind the house only to realize that if I had an accident while riding alone no one would see me, so I converted that area into a paddock and now ride in a small pasture visible from the road,” she says.

“When I first moved here, I thought I’d have two horses and put them in stalls every night,” Cameron continues. “Now that I am caring for six horses, I’ve simplified my daily routine with 24/7 turnout when weather permits, and I use hay bunks and stock tanks that water multiple paddocks.”

Half of Cameron’s acreage is set aside for hay that is sharecropped with the farmer who cuts and bales it. Because the field does not yield enough for all the horses on the farm, additional hay is bought, delivered and stacked several times per year. Space limitations prevent her from storing enough hay to last from one growing season to the next.

The rest of Cameron’s property is divided into four dirt paddocks. Two large run-ins are divided in half by paddock fencelines, creating four separate areas where the horses can get away from one another.

“When you have several horses in a small enclosure, it’s important that they be compatible. Even if they get along most of the time, conflicts do occasionally arise. My dominant Morgan mare sometimes picks on her companion pony, so I opened a pony-size archway in the wood fence between two paddocks for him to slip under when he feels like being alone,” Cameron explains.

A 12-foot wide grassy lane runs parallel to the fence perimeter for a riding area and alternative space to spread manure.

“If you rely on someone else to help out with tasks like removing a manure pile, sometimes you may find you are pretty far down on his list of priorities,” Cameron says. “Consequently, you should always have a backup plan in case the pile starts looking like an Egyptian pyramid.”

California: Three Horses on 1¼ Acres

Many horse-property owners who have limited space even for a manure pile turn to local disposal companies and pay to have it hauled away.

Suzy Seamon of Norco, Calif. (a.k.a., “Horsetown USA.”), who keeps three Friesians on 1¼ acres, handles the daily manure accumulation by wheeling it up a ramp and dropping it directly into a dumpster where it is emptied every week.

“When you have as little space as I do, you use all of it as efficiently as possible,” Seamon says. “I don’t have anywhere to spread manure, so cleaning stalls every day is imperative. Also, because my outdoor arena serves a dual purpose as a turnout area, cleaning it is a regular weekend task.”

That is, if Seamon isn’t riding her horse at work: Her day job is with the Mounted Patrol Unit of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. On any given day, she can be riding in the Color Guard for a morning parade and, later, sporting riot gear to patrol a political march.

Even though Seamon’s property is tiny by anyone’s standards, she has more amenities for keeping horses than many who have acres to spare. Seamon has a shed row of 12’ x 12’ pipe stalls that can house a dozen horses (three of those stalls have been expanded to 24’ x 24’ stalls for the Friesians). She also has automatic waterers and electric lights in the stall area, a wash rack, a 12’ x 24’ tack and feed shed in her back yard, and a 70’ x 200’ lighted, outdoor arena.

Seamon’s next addition is an outdoor speaker system so she can ride her own musical freestyles. In emergency situations and—because she uses one of her own horses for police work—quick and easy access to her horse trailer is of paramount importance. “I made sure that I had a 12-foot wide lane between my pipe stall area and the outdoor arena, so that I could drive my truck and trailer to the back of the property and turn around,” she says. “I also reserved an area at the back where I could put up a 50-foot round pen.

“I think people who have a lot of land tend to waste space because they don’t have to think about it,” Seamon continues. “Because I’m really pushing the envelope here, I value every square foot of property I have and try to make the best use of it I can.”

Don’t let small acreage limit what you do with your horse property. As these three horse owners demonstrate, it’s up to you how well you use the space available.

Read more

Small Acreage Challenges >>
Finding Barn Help >>

This article originally appeared in the September 2007 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe.

The post Think Small appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Today, financing and building a horse barn does not have to be a mere pipe dream for many horse property owners. Barn manufacturers abound and offer everything from turnkey projects to construction of basic buildings that are finished by others. Although cost is usually the determining factor for what kind of horse barn you can build, spending money wisely from the outset can offset the difference between what you want and what you settle for.

The keys to long-term satisfaction with your horse barn are careful planning, choosing a reputable and qualified builder and monitoring the work like a building inspector. If you are skilled enough to build your own barn, or decide to subcontract for part of the work, you may be able to save money, but the downside is you will have to manage every detail.

Zoning Issues
There’s no point in planning to build a barn if your property isn’t zoned for one, so that’s the first order of business. Read more >>

Barn Budgeting
Consider this advice on budgeting for your barn. Read more >>

Barn Style
The type of barn you build should be appropriate to the purpose it will serve, now and in the future. Read more >>

Barn Site Selection
After you’ve identified what and where you are allowed to build on your property, you can decide upon the best location. Read more >>

Barn Builder Selection
Choosing your builder is an important step in the building process. Read more >>

Ready for more? Read Blue Print for Success: Part Two and get into the construction details.

Louann Chaudier and her husband live on a small farm in southern Wisconsin with three American Quarter Horses, four wallabies and five cats.

The post Blueprint for Success: Part One appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.