Are you excited to have a backyard horse?

Is This a Good Fit for you?

Having a backyard horse is a BIG commitment and sometimes having your horse in your backyard is not the best thing for you or your horse. Lets talk about what you can start doing to get this process going. 

First thing I would suggest is get comfortable with being around horses. A great place to do that is a lesson barn. There you will have the opportunity to be around different kinds of horses. Horses that are different sizes, different temperaments, different talents. Even though I had horses in my backyard I still took lessons on other horses at lesson barns. I love to learn new things and the opportunity to be with other horse people and horses. This can help you determine what kind of horse will be a good fit for you if you don’t already have a horse. Some  lesson barns will also have you take part in the basic care of a horse before you learn to ride. This is a great way to get a glimpse of what all is involved in having a backyard horse. 

Lease a horse

This is when you and the horse owner have an agreement and you pay an agreed upon amount for a horse. This will include what can and cannot happen with the horse and how much responsibility the person leasing the horse has as far as care, medical expenses and possible boarding fees. There are different kinds of leasing such as “full lease” “half lease” free lease”. This is a great way to “try out “ horse ownership before you fully commit to owning a horse. 

Volunteer at a shelter

This is also a great way to learn what all is involved in caring  for a horse. This is a unique situation due to the fact that the horses arriving may not be in the best of health, they may have behavior issues, they may have trust issues. Most shelters will provide you with training which will start with basic care all the way up to training. 

Okay You Decided You Want a Backyard Horse

Is It Legal To Have a backyard horse? 

You may not know this but even if you have a decent piece of property, it may not be legal to have a horse in your backyard. There may even be rules such as how many horses per acre. Check your zoning regulations in your area to be sure. 

BASIC HORSE NEEDS

FEED

Horses can eat 15- 20 pounds of hay or forage a day! They may need supplements known as grain to meet their dietary needs that they may be lacking in their daily forage. Horses will need a mineral or salt block. 

They can also drink 10- 12 gallons of water a day. Buckets of water in their pen is an option. Or a water trough. Water troughs come in different sizes. I have seen them anywhere from 15 gallons -300 gallons. I tend to like the smaller ones because it is easier to scrub them in between fill ups and it cuts on algae growing in the tank.

Grooming

Regular grooming helps with coat and skin health. It is also a great way to spend time with your horse and overlook everything. There are many times I found something was wrong because I did regular grooming and caught something fairly quickly. 

Farrier

Horses feet grow continually and need to be trimmed regularly to avoid any long term problems in their legs and hooves. It is very important your horse has good feet.  Farrier schedule is usually every 6-8 weeks. 

Yearly checkup

Yearly checkups are important for the vet to check the overall health of your horse. Yearly vaccinations will protect them from any diseases. Your horse may also need to have dental work done regularly. Horses wear down their teeth due to the way they eat and could cause uneven wear patterns and sharp teeth that can become very painful for your horse. 

Owning a backyard horse is a wonderful thing! With anything it takes dedication and sacrifices. I have yet to regret having horses. They are a part of who I am and the rewards are great. As a family we have created priceless memories. I have been able to teach my kids responsibility, and new skills that will help them in life. The people I've met who share the same love for horses are still my friends today!

Welcome to the world of backyard horses!