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Discussion on Living on 2 acres or less with your horse
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Monday, Oct 13, 2003 - 10:37 pm:
Hi all,
I am trying to figure out whether or not living in such a small space with your horses is more difficult. Less difficult. or not much difference. And wanted some input.
I need to move and well the property prices here are thru the roof (S. Florida area). And if I am to move i want to purchase some land. Problem is the MOST i can ever afford down here is about an acre or 2.5 at best.
And I have found some cute places that are in rural areas that are zoned for horses on the property but mostly in the one acre range (1.33 to be exact). I guess you could call it horse country. ha. Its subdivision hell, but its really the last bit of rural life down here that I can afford realistically. Unless, i want to drive 3 hours across 3 county's to work then maybe I can get 4 acres LOL...
Anyway, can it be done nicely? Do you live on an acre or 2? Is it just toooo tight? How many horses do you have? How big is the barn? Paddocks? I realize that 24/7 out is probably impossible but anything is better than the situation now. Is your ground cover one big mud puddle? What did you do to make your property give you the most it could. I guess i need tips on how to make the small space workable.
The upside is that i would be leaving an already really cramped environment (70 horse barn) and the property I am thinking about buying can only increase in price in the coming years. And of course, lets not forget it would be all mine 
I have 2 horses and would build a little barn, maybe 3 stalls and a feed room have a paddock attached to each stall.The houses are pretty much situated in the middle of the property (mostly rectangular). Its funny I am telling the realtor find me a smaller house, so there is more room for the horses.
Also, on one of the properties there is a small pond. Has anyone filled in a pond on their property? Is this a good idea? How expensive could it get? the pond is approx. 60x30 and could be as deep as 10 feet in the middle. I am wondering if I should just pass this one by. Figures that, it has the most land, high and dry and nearest to trails.
Let me know what you did to thrive in a small space?
jojo
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 6:44 am:
Hello Joj,
Be sure to read the article Care for Horses » Pastures, Fences, & Buildings » Managing Pastures concentrating on that part about rotational grazing. In our soil and climate (piedmont NC) a horse can be maintained on a acre successfully, check with your local expension about the results of rotational grazing in your area. You might need another half acre for the house though. Concerning the pond the result of filling depends on the water source.
DrO
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Member:
Fpony
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 6:48 am:
Hi JoJo,
We lived on 3 acres. We had to clear the land to build the barn and the turn out. The turn out around the barn had a hill and we left tree here and there for shade and they had access to their stalls which opened out the back (barn was 24x30 with two stalls 12x10 on one end)WE also had side doors from the side of the barn leading to the paddock. We cleared another area on the other side of the house and then made a fenced trail going behind the house so they could come and go as they wanted. There was a bit of grass in that area to nibble on. Our soil was scarce and grass didn't do very well and I preferred to let them have more turn out then to try rotation to get the grass to grow. Oh i would let them on the lawn to graze! Our lawn had a stone wall and I would rope off the driveway but we were also on a dirt road with little traffic. I think the horsess were fine as they really like 24/7 turn out and I would prefer that to having my guys boarded. (great to check on them when ever you want!)
Since then we have moved to our dream location with lots of fields. We love it but I don't think the other place was awful and my guys were happy. They just missed grass. Hope this helps Kim
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Member:
Roboski
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 9:48 am:
I live in Central Florida on a total of four & half acres, some of which is low (read; swamp!). We cleared about 1&1/2 and brought in fill, built stalls coming off the back of hubby's garage, four 12'x12'with 14'ft roof and bars between for airflow (he lost one bay for feed and hay rooms). We have four horses and turn two out at a time, AM & PM. No grass, of course, but I use round bales with good success. I work at home so I can insure they stay dry.The paddock can get pretty muddy some places if it rains a lot but the guys tend to stand on the dry areas.It isn't ideal, but until we can move to our dream property that we bought in NW FL it is very workable. Three of these horses are on the go every week; trailriding, showing, foxhunting, going for lessons.The poop control gets crazy sometimes but I just try not to let it get ahead of me. The horses seem healthy and content.And don't tell my husband but when he's out of town mine graze the lawn, too. As if he can't see the hoof gouges when he gets home, LOL.
Sharon
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 9:55 am:
Regarding the pond. I know of people who have filled them in with concrete rock and sand and then put sod down. I just wonder if this one is too big. And its allowed in the area. these are natural areas since we are really on the everglade marshes constructed with dugout canals every block. So they are not a necessary part of the property for retaining.
Dr. O, i went to the site and was reading the article, I went to the link on Sources for barn plans and it took me in circles. It said this link had been moved. To where? I did a search and didn't come up with anything?
Thanks Kim. There are a couple of properties that are wooded and i can't decide which is better. The hot Florida sun is soooo hard on them. Its October and It is still so hot out. So, if i go with the wooded property then i realize grazing is pretty much out. Where was your food source? Did you have a hayloft? I think a barn so small might look out of place if it has two floors.
All the fun in thinking about having my own little place is great
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Member:
Bonita
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 9:57 am:
My very first horse property was 5 acres up in the mountains, thus limiting the amount of level property available for a barn & paddock. Although I only had one horse, I had a 36' x 36' barn with one stall built & used the rest of the barn for hay/bedding storage.
The paddock area was probably somewhere between 1 & 2 acres, board-fenced, & there was a "porch" overhang + I usually left my horses stall door open so he could go in & out as he pleased except during hunting season & inclement weather.
As far as upkeep, I made a small "path" of shavings along the fenceline to allow the paddock to double as a small riding ring for me. Also did weekly poop pickups with a wheelbarrow & composted everything. (Now that was GREAT - I had tomatoes & honeydew melons the size of basketballs!!!!). As the ground in the mountains where we were was very hard/stony/flinty - grass was a hard crop to keep, so I did feed a LOT of hay - although I like to keep hay in front of my horses 24/7 anyway, so I didn't mind it.
As far as your "pond" situation, I know this is a wild generalization, but I have personally heard of so many accidents involving horses & ponds that I would probably fence it off so the horses couldn't access it, throw in some fish to help keep the mosquito population down, & make sure everyone was vaccinated for West Nile. A nice water tub is safer.
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 10:04 am:
Ooh the manure issue. I have to read up on composting. 2 horses would be a good enough amount to control i would think.
Sharon, does waste management take it away for you? Down here you can contract them to take it away when they come for the regular garbage pickup. You just need one of those metal bins (eye sore) for them to haul and dump.
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 10:13 am:
Hi,Jojo,
It can be done on two acres. I did it in Vermont. It is unfortunate that your home is in the center, but you can fence around it. I always hated lawn mowing so was happy to have the horses graze as much of the lawn as possible . . . there were no neighborhood police in Vermont to report me if the lawn looked uneven (a concern in some locations). My guys had free choice turnout/shelter and I kept my older fellows at the house because they couldn't eat grass or hay anyway and were on complete feed with minimal hay just to give them something to chew on.
I had the option of pastures 1/4 mile away, so would walk them down the road and let them run in pasture for a few hours every day when the weather permitted. I also had a place leveled near the house for a riding ring (100x60) so I could give lessons there.
Here in Colorado, there are several horses on this farm that have only a 20x40 paddock/shelter. Some of them rarely, if ever, get out of their pens. Of course, they are on hay or alfalfa for all feedings.
As to filling in the pond, check to see what the laws are pertaining to "wetlands" where you are. Farmers/landowners have been convicted and fined or sent to prison for filling in wetlands on their properties . . . If it's a manmade pond, maybe it won't matter.
If your horses will get used a couple of times a week, and if you can afford hay year round, I see no problem with housing them on your 2 acres.
Cherry Hill has a book, HORSEKEEPING ON A SMALL ACREAGE, that has many pointers for efficient/sanitary horse operations on two acres and more.
Holly
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Member:
Jerre
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 11:44 am:
Jojo,
I have a mare and foal in less than an acre. They have a 40x40 paddock with a 16x12 open shed attached. The paddock opens to a 1/2-acre more-or-less grass field. They can access the shed 24/7 and I shut them in the paddock at night. I clean the shed daily and the field weekly, but they choose the shed most often -- I get a large wheelbarrow of manure from the shed daily, and one additional wheelbarrow from the larger field each week. My compost piles are manageable. I use one for a year, then spread it on gardens, etc, while filling the other. When the old pile is gone (in the spring) I plant corn there!!
We get a LOT of rain, almost 100 inches a year, so to keep sane I must have mud control. My 40x40 paddock has 6-10 inches of packed 3/8-inch minus crushed rock. The shed is slightly elevated from the paddock, and the paddock is sloped for drainage. I also used the rock for the path from the field gate to the paddock gate. So far, no mud. I keep the horses in the paddock when it's really rainy, which can be many days in a row in the fall and winter.
There are some other grazing areas I can take them to when time and weather permit, but for me, the gravel footing in the sacrifice area has been a godsend.
Jerre
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Member:
Fpony
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 2:30 pm:
JoJo,
We live in New Hampshire so the barn didn't look out of place. We had a hay loft with part of it open to below so you could drive the hay truck in and easily throw hay up and the stairs were on a boat crank and I could put them up and down so we could drive the truck in for hay or shavings delivery.If you have a place that will deliver 30 to 50 bales at a time you could make a storage area inside the barn downstairs. With feeding hay year round my guys ate about 375 40 lb bales a year. I feed very little grain.
It didn't look like a typical horse barn inside but was very functional with cross ties in the door opening. There was tons of room. The stalls were fine for my pony and 15 2 horse. I also had half doors and my husband made bars on the wall between the stalls (1/2 wall)and on the wall with the door going into the isle. This makes the stalls very inviting and "airy"
I used the same design for the stalls at our new place.
As for manure, it was a bit of a problem if you don't have a tractor to move it and would highly recomend the trash removal with a dumpster.
The trees help with the drainage as they hold the water in their roots. Still in the spring it got muddy as I had brought in loam trying to get grass to grow (not enough sun with the trees!) At our new place the paddock with the barn has continuos turn out and we used screen gravel which is a coarse mix with no large rock but nice footing. (stone seems hard on their feet)It also drains very well. I do feed them on the ground were there is no screened gravel as it sticks to the hay if it is wet (the gravel).
Hope this helps! Building your own barn is so exciting!
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Member:
Mwebster
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 10:34 pm:
Hi Jojo,
Just to add to all the encouragement you've already gotten: we too are managing with about an acre/horse - we've got 3 horses on 4 acres total including house/gardens/garage, probably 3.5 acres for the horses, all grass, in/out 7x24. But you can do it on even less: friends nearby keep 4 horses on 2 acres, with maybe 1 acre total for the horses, in dirt paddocks. I guess all our horses are ridden about 5x/week, so they have lots of exercise. If you can find a place that has access to trails, it'll feel much bigger!
We use electric tape to create separate areas, so it's easy to turn out a couple in a larger area, but then separate them at night, each with access to a stall. We sequester them during very wet weather in a sacrifice area like Jerre does, and we pick the fields religiously (at least 4x/week, sometimes daily). We fertilize and lime every year to maintain the grass, and overseed as needed spring/fall with Equigraze which is a good cool-season pasture seed mix for our area. We buy the best hay we can find, and make it available 7x24. That's probably one reason we still have grass -- they turn to the hay whenever the grass gets short, and they seem to like hanging out in their stalls at night munching hay together, even though they're not locked in. Hay/grass is all they eat, except for my older gelding who gets some grain to maintain body weight.
We built a new barn last summer, and I think the thing I like best about it is that it works very well as a big run-in. The 2 horses that turn out together share the aisle when the bugs get really bad here in the summer (I'm glad we made it a full 12' wide!). The barn has a 12' apron of stone dust all around so we don't have problems with muck in the high traffic areas.
Kim's right -- if you don't have a tractor, use the dumpster service. We have a local farmer who comes to get the pile, and/or we turn it (got a small tractor) and use the compost. But it takes space!
It must be easier to manage horses where you are -- no snow, no ice, no spring mud!
Melissa
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Member:
Keating
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 - 11:45 pm:
I board my horse 9 months of the year in my friend's back yard. She keeps 3 and sometimes 4 horses on a third of an acre.
No, there is no pasture, but there is a 3 beDrOom bungalow, front lawn with vegetable garden and lily pond. The rest is for the horses.
She has a tiny barn which serves as tack room and feed room: the generous overhang on one side gives us a tacking up area and on the other side covers two in/out stalls. A separate structure provides two more in/outs plus more storage.
The horses each have enough room to play around and kick up their heels. The fences are moveable corral panels, so sometimes we reconfigure and put two horses in a larger shared paddock. There is also a 60' round pen.
We are in Vancouver, BC so we get LOTS of rain in the winter. The footing is called "bird's eye" which is small round stones (gravel?) which allows for drainage and the farrier says it massages their feet.
We pick out the paddocks twice a day. A gardener picks up much of the manure several times a week (in containers he provides); the rest gets trucked out as necessary. My gelding absolutely never pees or poops in his stall, so he has a rubber mat there, with no bedding. This is all possible because we have in the neighbourhood (2 blocks away) an 18-acre riding club with indoor arena, 4 outdoor arenas, lunge ring, round pen, hunter courses, polo field, etc. Plus we can walk 2 blocks the other way to gain access to miles and miles of forested trails.
I feel very fortunate to have this available within 5 minutes of my home and office. I do wonder about some horses in the area who never get access to pasture, but mine gets turned out for the summer in the mountains.
I'd love to hear about others who keep their horses in a city, and especially would like to hear of similar riding clubs.
Kathleen
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003 - 3:05 am:
Oh wow! thanks everyone. I felt that maybe i was pushing it buying just an acre. the houses are small only 1500sqft. which is fine by me. I am outside mostly. and the rest of the land can go to horsekeeping. I like the idea of removable paddocks for the barn area. I have to check into that. It totally slipped my mind. I guess next thing is to see how much a small barn might cost. And a good thought is fence in the home then I could have a mini arena. LOL...
Holly, i have that book somewhere. Thanks for reminding me.
Bonita, there was a house that i saw that let the horses play in it... I don't think i can do that. Its stagnant water. Plus my dogs would want to jump in. ick. I think i should pass on the one with a pond, anyway. Flling it in with land and building a barn and paddocks puts the price over the top. Reality set in.
Jerre, we flood too. Its really weird how they develop the everglades and put the houses above the water line on a mound but then if you want to raise the rest of the property you have to bring it in your self. And each street stops at canals that criss-cross the area. they are supposed to hold the overflow.
Melissa, it might seem better to be in Florida, but we have the trade-offs too. Its much too hot to ride in August, rains most of june and july, Hurricane threats, ticks, Mosquitos the size of your pinkie. We are so far from the balers that hay isn't always the best quality, feed rots more often, etc. And of course this dilemma, since EVERYONE wants to live in sunny Florida property costs a fortune.
Kathleen, I guess i live in a city. I am 10 minutes from downtown Ft. lauderdale. But where I hope to move is an hour or so from there. I remember a previous post about trailirding on city streets, you could check that. That is the only serious problem. And lack of space. And things cost triple the normal price.
jojo
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003 - 9:05 am:
I went to that link and see that the page has been removed because of old links that do not work anymore. I have removed the link. Try the Morton Building Horse Barn page. There are many nice photos and descriptions though they do not give floor plans I think you can reverse engineer them from the information given.
DrO
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Member:
Westks
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003 - 10:37 am:
Oh my ! I must be a very selfish person lol. The first thing I would do is move! Somewhere where it is more conducive to horse keeping.By the time you get all of this planning arranging done you will have spent as much as buying land in horse country, probably with barn on it! I have to admit I have always moved to where horses are much easier to keep, in other words their needs dictated where I lived lol.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003 - 11:00 am:
Well...I could only afford 2.2 acres...I have a six stall barn with a breezeway, road base and #8 riversand EVERYWHERE so there is NO mud this winter (I hope;). I'm boarding four to pay for the new barn and fencing, I have three 1/2 to 1 acre turnouts. One of the turnouts has an 80' by 60' arena in it surrounded by RR ties (laying down) there is also about 1/4 acre of grass in this turnout. My horse has his own 75' x 50' turnout in addition to these other three.
3 stalls have 12 x 36' runs, one stall has a 14' x 12' run and my horses' stall has a 14' x 24' run that attaches to his private turnout that attaches to two of the large turnouts. The three turnouts are all connected by gates so I can open all gates and let the horses have the run of the place (;) All the gates (except one) are in one generalized area - so I don't have to go traipsing across my property every night in the rain in the winter (;) It's working out really well. My boarders are extremely happy and say it's very convenient.
My policy for the boarders is that they MUST exercise their horses...It is not fair to them to just have this minimal setting without regular exercise. The arena makes it easy for them (and me (;) to comply. I have 5 happy horses that LOVE their barn (;)
ps. my property lines border trails -- and there is also a HUGE arena within a 10 minute ride.3
pss...I was told that if I needed dirt, that manure makes the BEST dirt (;) so I compost and use it as fill, as well as for gardening, etc. When I use all I need I have the rest hauled away.
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Member:
Kel4s
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003 - 11:22 am:
Try the book "Horsekeeping on Small Acreage" by Cherry Hill.
Kellie
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003 - 3:28 pm:
Aileen,
doyou have pictures to upload? I would love to see the setup. Or anyone? I am a visual person.
The Cherry Hill book is great. I looked at it last night and it shows what you can do on 2 acres. I might be buying a little less. But, it reminds me of all the stupid things i forget about, like water...LOL, or lighting.
Thanks Dr. O i will check out the site.
Janette,
I am ready to move just need money. LOL. So, the planning is just while i wait for the sale of my property. Otherwise i would have purchased the new place yesterday. and I am like you, I will put my horses on it ASAP and then worry about the barn later. I just want to make sure that this is a win-win situation with them. I so want to have them able to roam and romp. Long term is a barn built. Short term is get'em out there.... LOL
jojo
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003 - 4:01 pm:
Jojo,
I'll see if I can get some pics uploaded tomorrow.
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Member:
Westks
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 - 1:30 am:
I guess I have always had not such a high paying job and my home is always not as nice as the barn lol. But my animals are all very spoiled they have always had a better living than I have, but they are my salvation and my happiness, despite being broke all the time from having them lol.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 - 10:17 am:
Here's one with the boys taking a nap (;)
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 - 10:21 am:
As you can see I still have a lot of work to be done...I can't wait til the grass grows back. I'm seeding this fall. This one shows the other side of the barn with the unfinished arena. The picture showing the gate situation didn't come out well.
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Member:
Roboski
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 - 4:29 pm:
Hi, Jojo
Just realized you asked a question! We have a tractor to move the stuff around and since we have a small area outside the paddock that's high & dry we compost most of it.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 - 10:22 pm:
Here's one that kind of shows the gates and an ear of one of the horses trying to eat my camera (;)
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 - 11:12 pm:
Aileen, your barn looks like a NORTH COAST BARN.. is it..?? i have one like it only i did some modifications to the pattern...
Ann
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 10:13 am:
Hi Ann,
Yes it is a Northcoast...I absolutely love it. Couldn't afford any modifications...but I do have the pipes between the stalls so the ponies can chit chat in the winter (;) double dutch doors on both sides...It's just perfect for me. It's working out so well. I'm very pleased.
I believe it was you who recommended them...THANK YOU!!!!!!
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 10:27 am:
Aileen, i agree, i am very happy with our barn too...
we have 5 acres, but with the house and the ravine/pond that are on the land we use maybe 3 acres of it... managing 4 horses on it has been easy if kept up....
Ann
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 10:30 am:
Nice barn Aileen, I think that size can do nicely on the one property I have in mind. Maybe smaller if i scrimp on 11x12 or 10x12 stalls. Are yours 12x12?
Is North Coast the name of the company?
I am off to look at a 2.2 acre property. Hopefully this is gonna be a good one.
jojo
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 10:59 am:
Ann, what a beautiful setup! *maybe* I'll get my place looking that good by next year (;)
Hi Jojo,
Yes, it is Northcoast Barns and Corrals, you can do a search on the web and pull up their website. I would keep the 12 x 12...I have yet to go through a winter yet, but I like the fact they have lots of room in their stalls for when they will be locked in. My horse is the biggest at the barn at 15.3 hands and the stall is just perfect.
Good luck on your search!! It's a LOT of fun but a LOT of work also!!
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 12:11 pm:
Aileen, if you have not weathered a winter yet, might i advise you to put weather striping on the side of the barn that gets the most 'weather' we found that the dbl doors are not sealed well and the wind will blow in the rain and the stalls get VERY wet, *on that side*... i put in weather stripping, and it kept the stalls dry..!!
managing a small place is always a work in progress... summer is the easiest as i can use ALL the land but winters everyone gets smaller turn outs, as i have had to make winter paddoxs to keep them out of the ravine!! (i use the HORSE GUARD electric tape so making temporary fences is easy and painless.. i only have to use one strip as the horses respect the 'tape')... my horses love water and will stand belly deep in the ravine, my filly will lay in it holding her head above water.... way to funny
Ann
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 12:32 pm:
Thanks for the tip Ann....I'll do the weatherstripping (;)
What kind of posts do you use for the horse guard - just t posts? I need to "weatherize" one of the paddocks because it is right by a creek that turns into a river in the winter and the ground gets extremely soggy.
She ::lays:: in it?? How cute! My guy will do everything he can to go ::around:: water or just plain jump it(;)
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 1:46 pm:
i use the T-posts with sleeves... the arena fence that you see in the above pix is just that..! that fence is not 'hot' but the horses don't know that.. and with working young horses i needed a boundary to keep ME safe when starting them..  ..its relatively inexpensive and easy VERY easy to maintain.. + it looks nice...
Ann
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 9:23 am:
Hi Ann,
Can I ask where you purchased the t-posts with sleeves? I can't seem to find them.
Also, pardon my ignorance...first time you know...is there a particular kind of weatherstripping or how about a certain size?
Thanks!
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 9:31 am:
Oh and Jojo...I also have two emergency exit gates (and gates to the trail) on opposite sides of the property. My fencing is the no-climb horsewire, so I can't just climb through the fence (;) I like it a lot...No horse injuries (yet) and it keeps the critters out...opossums, coyotes and deer (however, the deer just meander around outside the fencing (;)
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Member:
Mwebster
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 10:11 am:
You can buy t-posts at your local Home Depot, or Agway, or other ag supply/fencing supply place. They come in a couple of lengths. Ours are 6' maybe, we put a foot and a half in the ground, then popped a tpost sleeve over it, which is 5' high, so extends the height a little so the top strand of electric tape is about 4' high.
We use HorseGuard too, and are very happy with their tape. They also sell t-post sleeves (www.horseguardfence.com). We bought black tpost covers from www.circle5.com, called "Safe-Tee Sleeves", for about $4.25 each (this particular brand comes in black or white). Nice quality, nice not to look at a rusting tpost, and no sharp edges.
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 11:23 am:
yes horse guard is what we used too.. only in brown to blend in with the property... in the picture below you can see how versatile it is.. you see we do have a over flow of water after a good rain... with the T-posts/sleeves they don't rot out in the water.. and straightening them is easy when spring comes...again what i do is tape off the upper dry area during this time so that the horse won't play in the water and suck off shoes etc..!!! a quick fix to a wet problem..
Ann
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 12:45 pm:
Ann, this looks like my area when it rains. I like how the barn sits by the garage... I can see the perspective of how big it might be. Is it the picture or yours is bigger than aileens? Or do they come in standard sizing?
Watch out about those deer if they want in, they get in. I have a friend who has fencing horse gauge wire at standard horse height and the deer can jump it. One got stuck and well it wasn't pleasant...
I am never going to find something... I saw the the 2 acre ones yesterday. These people are crazy. 2 acres full of junk, land has never been cleared, a house in total disrepair (mostly from lazy owners not cleaning) no fencing, a canal is the only thing separating it from a busy street, and they won't budge on 225,000. They are nuts... I think i am going to be stuck with an acre and have to make due...
jojo
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 3:24 pm:
Thanks to both Melissa and Ann...and Jojo...we did have a deer and her baby that got in the pasture, momma got out, but baby was stuck in the pasture while I was at work. My friend had to "herd" the baby out( it was so sad, the poor baby was so scared it kept running into the fence. But both momma and baby came back that night so i knew they were fine. Luckily my friend saw where they went in, so I solved that problem, if baby can't get in, it's more than likely momma won't jump in. btw...it is 5' noclimb...and yes we think momma jumped it to get out.
Ann's looks bigger than mine...I have straight 6 12 x 12 stalls with a 12' breezeway. Ann's has an overhang as well. They come in any size your heart desires. They are very accommodating!
I'm sorry you feel discouraged. But I believe you will find something that will fit both you and your horses (;)
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 4:06 pm:
we built the barn close to the house for foaling purposes... a much easier walk in the middle of the night... our barn is the standard 6 12/12 stalls.. all tho we had them build it taller for hay trucks to move thru easier.. and i converted two stalls, one to a tack room with DrOp down ceiling for storage on top, and one a tack stall/wash rack..we also have the extended porch which WE inclosed one side for hay storage... ((i know we should not store hay in/near the barn..))the other side houses the pellet barrels.. there is plenty of ventilation over and under the bales..
so you see even tho we have 5 acres, the winter cuts us down a peg or three, .. you can manage on a smaller lot... just plan it thru...
Ann
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Member:
Maureen
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 4:24 pm:
How about getting land only then build a barn with living quarters above the barn?
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Member:
Mwebster
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 5:18 pm:
We used the brown tape too, but bought the black tpost covers because HorseGuard's brown ones looked kind of ersatz on their website. And the black covers we found were cheaper, but very nice quality.
Why is having deer in the pasture a problem?
Melissa
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 19, 2003 - 10:54 am:
Hi Everyone!!
I've been following this with interest and enjoying the pictures. We live in the "North woods" (MI) and have 5 horses on maybe 4 1/2 acres. We just started useing the Horseguard fencing and so far love it. In our area, deer are a problem, and they have stretched it out a few times. So easy to fix, and the so nice looking with t-post covers. I rotate horses every couple of days, mow the pastures to keep weeds down, and do a frost overseeding most springs along with fertilizer. They have one "holding area" that is just dirt,and that's where hay it fed.
One thing I must comment on: everyone says 12 x 12 stalls. We are still using a old 3 sided shed for shelter while our barn is being finished. It has one stall that size, and 2 that are maybe 9 x 7. I have no problem with 2 horses in 2 of the stalls, one in one. Maybe I am just lucky, but it works for me. And has worked for 12 yrs. with various horses. I very very seldom lock them in though, and the stalls are actually shut unless flies are bad. I put my 2 Arab mares together. The one gelding and yearling together, and the filly alone. I know it sounds awful, (the awful part is it leaks, and never stays dry) but no one gets hurt, and I can't wait til they do have stalls of their own, but you do what you can.
Next,they will all have access to a double stall, 14 X 28 while we finish the other 2 stalls. I don't see a problem there either.
We did goof when we did the barn; I wish we would of put all the stalls on one side, the West. Instead they are all in the back, North. The holding area is on the West, and the stalls opening to the East will only have maybe 12 x 14 runs if we wish to keep them seperate. Or they will have to go thru the aisle and other stalls to get out.
I personally would say this: find land that will give you the best pasture, drainage and such. Then build a temp shed and take your time to plan the barn! With the right land, you are money ahead in feed costs, and fencing too.
Check the drainage!! We end up with a "river that runs right thru the pasture, thru the current corral gate, and down a 2nd driveway. Imagine a "yellow and brown manure" river every sping. Lots of money to re do that in the future. And the corral (60 x 80) that is supposed to be a riding area, is very seldom dry enough to ride in, unless we have a DrOught like this year. So that is gonna be gone completely in the future.
Take your time, consider everything. Spend alot of time asking questions to your county ag guy, feed store guys, local elevator and other folks. Get SOIL SAMPLES DONE, so you know what will grow, if anything!! We were told we could run 6 horses here, but plan on feeding hay yr round.
Good luck, just my 2 cents worth!!
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Monday, Oct 20, 2003 - 2:51 pm:
Maureen, you must be pyschic. I saw the cutest barn with a house on top the other day. i would say that it is the best use of housing for the land i have seen. I wanted to talk with the owner but no one was home.
boy was it cute. 4 stalls with an overhang and that was the porch for the apartment above. and the house was only on an acre. since I am in Florida though i wonder about the smell. It can get bad in the summer months with flies, no matter how clean you are... and this is minor but i have 2 dogs that don't manuever too well anymore. I would have to carry them up...LOL
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Member:
Maureen
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Posted on Monday, Oct 20, 2003 - 4:15 pm:
I like that idea alot.
I have a friend that built her house seperated from the barn only by a covered breezeway.
Be sure the house is facing away from the prevailing wind.
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Member:
Keating
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Posted on Monday, Oct 20, 2003 - 5:07 pm:
A cousin and her architect husband have built themselves a beautiful home, with stable below. In the morning she doesn't have to get out of her nightgown to go through a door into the crawlspace where she stores a few bales of hay at a time, and toss breakfast down below through a trap door to her Warmblood mares and youngsters.
The land slopes away so the front of the house looks "normal" - at the back, you look into the barn, which is quite open, and stairs go up to the two-storey home.
This was intended as a temporary solution while they decided where to site their dream house on their 320 acres (this was not a space-saving technique!) but they love their house so much they're not in any hurry to replace it.
Kathleen
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 31, 2003 - 1:29 am:
I just wanted to update this thread. I am still on the hunt. I have (cross your fingers) an offer in for a 1.5 acre with house, but no barn. But then again i can build one.
I can't believe how long this process is taking. I was finding cute houses but on crappy lots. Or too close to roads with traffic. Or not conducive to horses at all. When / if i get this i will post a pic. I found a barn company- Tike Barns that look good and the price and size are small enough.
If anyone ever moves to WPB, call me i know every road in the county... LOL...
joj
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Friday, Feb 6, 2004 - 7:50 pm:
Hey all I did it.... Bought the house and moved in and brought the horse up today....right now she is in aluminum panels till i get a feel of the property and where to put a small barn. Or should i say sheDrOw barn. I don't think i can create anything bigger. I am only on and acre and a half which is pretty small but hopefully I can figure something out. But the best is that i am only streets away from 67,000 acres of trails....
I can't wait to wake up tomorrow, look out the window and see her safely munching in her area....
jojo
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 7, 2004 - 9:36 am:
Congrats Joj,
DrO
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