In Part I we talked about the drawbacks and benefits to having horses on your own place. Part II covered how the natural features of your potential new horse farm can provide you with important information. In Part III, the conclusion for this series, we look at man-made structures and how they affect the suitability of your potential new horse farm.
Buildings and structures such as fences are another important consideration. If this is a non-horse place that you will “retro-fit” into a horse-safe place, make notes of what it will take to make it horse-suitable. Are existing shelters appropriate and in good shape? Are they free of rough edges or metal corners that could seriously cut a horse? Are they large enough with high enough ceilings? Walls should be strong, smooth, free of projections and at least 8 feet high. They should extend all the way to the ground so that a horse cannot get its legs caught under them when lying down. Be aware of metal siding used for horse buildings; metal edges and corners are very dangerous and can easily cause a serious injury to a horse (or human!) Horses can easily kick through metal siding as well. Does the potential horse housing have appropriate flooring and footing? Concrete and wood floors are slick and hard and should not be used in horse stalls or shelters. Is there horse-safe fencing which is in good shape? Are gates wide enough for trucks doing deliveries? Can emergency vehicles access your place and horses? Other possible changes might be logging to clear for pastures or building structures. Look carefully at the changes you will need to make and as well as what it will cost, both monetarily and time-wise.
Take a good look around your potential new neighborhood. Is it already a horsey community that will be accepting of new horse neighbors? Or are the condo owners next door going to worry about the placement of your manure pile? Non-horse neighbors may not be as tolerant of things such as odors and flies as we as horse people think they should be. Now is a good time to consider what the neighbors will think, before they complain.
How easily will you be able to ride at your new location? Will you have an arena or a round pen? If you plan to build an arena, have you researched the costs? Building a suitable outdoor arena with good footing and drainage can be costly and requires enough room for that purpose, and possibly even building permits. Accessibility to riding opportunities such as trails or nearby covered arenas is another point. Are there suitable equestrian trails nearby? Be SURE they are public trails that allow horse use – don’t just take a well-meaning realtor or neighbor’s word for it. Often times so-called “community trails” are on private property which is soon turned into development. Other trails may be limited to certain types of recreational uses (such as foot and bicycle) and possibly prohibit equestrian use. Many wonderful horse places exist which are completely locked in by houses or busy highways. In these cases a truck and trailer are required to get to riding areas. Remember, time with your horses and riding is probably one of the main reasons why you are doing this. So make sure your dream place facilitates riding time for you and doesn’t make it more difficult to accomplish.
And finally, the size of your place is another important consideration. Horses can be kept on very small pieces of land, such as 1 or 2 acres. However, the smaller your land the more intensively you will have to manage it so that it doesn’t turn into a total mud and manure mess. If you want enough land to provide pasture time for your horses you’ll probably want at least an acre per horse. Small pastures of 1 acre or less can be successfully managed IF you follow good management techniques – don’t allow you horses on pasture during the winter when the grass plants are dormant and the soils are soggy. Never allow pastures to be grazed below 3 inches. Think realistically about how you will manage the entire operation over the course of time BEFORE you purchase.
Zoning, ordinances and community covenants are a final point. Don’t rely solely on the word of an eager, but uninformed real-estate agent who may not know the full extent of the laws affecting horses and livestock. Research county, city or local regulations yourself. Be sure to check with zoning and building codes if your plans include building structures. Make sure it will be possible to build your dream place. And certainly check on any ordinances limiting horses in your area as well as the number of horses per acre allowed. There also may be laws that govern the placement of things such as manure storage facilities. Doing this homework up front will save you lots of money, time and frustration later.
With these thoughts in mind you are ready to embark on your search for that perfect horse property. Good luck and good horsekeeping to you!
Upcoming Horses for Clean Water Events…
JEFFERSON COUNTY, WA:
Mud, Manure, Pasture & Wildlife Management for Horse Owners. Learn exciting
techniques that will turn your horse farm from mud and manure to dry
paddocks & compost bins. Thursday evenings, 6 to 9pm, March 24th to April
14th. Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum, WA.
Farm Management Workshop for Livestock Owners. Learn great ways to manage
your farm so there’s less mud, productive pastures and good uses for
composted manure. Saturday, April 23rd, 9am to 4pm. Tri-Area Community
Center in Chimacum, WA. To register contact the JCCD at 360-385-4105 or
taylor@jefferson.wsu.edu.
NORTH BEND, WA:
Naturescaping on Horse Farms. Inviting wildlife to your farm & landscaping
with native brings benefits for horse owners including insect control, mud
reduction, dust barriers, visual screens between neighbors, low-cost/low
care landscaping. North Bend Cedar River Watershed Education Center, April
16th, 9am to noon. Please call 206-233-1515 or crwprograms@seattle.gov for
details.
RENTON, WA:
Horses & NO Mud! See gravel footing, horse fencing, environmentally
sensitive horse waterers, wetlands enhancement projects, native plants as
mud managers, compost bins! Saturday, April 30th, 10am - noon. FREE! To
register and receive a map contact the King Conservation District at
206-764-3410, ext. 125 or Roseanne.Campagna@kingcd.org.
MONROE, WA:
The HCW Horse Farm Management Series. Four-week series to learn techniques
to reduce mud, manage manure, make pastures more productive & provide for
wildlife! Monroe City Hall Council Chambers, Monroe, WA. Tuesday evenings
6:30-9pm, May 10th, May 24th, May 31st, and June 7th. To register or for
more information contact Snohomish County Department of Public Works at
425-388-6401.
