There isn't any limit to the time and effort a horse person is prepared to give to improving his farm. It is every horse owner's dream to possess the model farm, a spot where visitors drop their jaws at what they see and hear.
Do you think this type of Utopia is merely a pipe dream? It is not, and these are some hints to help prove that to oneself. Make your farm the ideal residence for your family and your horses.
Before you start on that list of tools to buy, think over one or two factors very comprehensively. These elements will be really important to your plans and your achievement of them:
Budget: You need to set a maximum and realistic budget for your project.
Exact wishes. Do you run a massive breeding operation or are you a smaller hunter-jumper affair? Clearly, your needs, priorities and cost levels are going to depend on the scale of your operations. You need to ideally make 3 lists: what you have to have, what you would have if there's excess money after the must haves are done with, and what you want to have if you didn't have to worry about a budget.
Your plan should be very clear on what you need to upgrade and what you want to install now. You might like to touch up your present barn, pastures and fencing. You might also want to buy some adjoining land for a new arena. Obviously, unless you actually cannot avoid something new, you may give priority to upgrading existing facilities.
The barn
I'm absolutely certain there are rather more barns than horse folk. What final shape do you want to give your barn? You want to touch up the exterior looks and go into detail on the interior: the ventilation, lighting and drains. You may want to add capacity if you are meaning to get new horses soon.
You ought to have at least as many stalls of 12 x 12 feet as horses. Obviously, if you are a breeding operation, your stalls have to be much bigger to accommodate mares and offspring. If you're into show horses, your barn ought to include one wash/work area where horses can be washed, groomed and put thru other necessary processes like hoof clipping. If you operate a facility specialized in training, you might need a heated and well lit tack room with an area for viewing. If you have staff, you could need an office in addition to living quarters and bathrooms, and possibly a kitchen and dining area too. Hopefully, you get the idea. You can't do an efficient job with the money you can spare unless you have it planned beforehand in full detail.
While your basic barn structure and facilities will depend on the number of horses you've got and their use, your barn decor and layout will depend on your own attitudes. If work takes you away most of the day, you may want your stalls to open out to separate paddocks. If your operation is big scale, you may be much better off with an automated feeding and watering system. If there are sometimes plenty of visitors, riding trainees, staff, vets, farriers, trainers, you may need to ensure quick access to your barn, with adequate parking.
Pastures
What is your pasture need? Obviously, that would rely on how many horses you have, how frequently you turn your horses out and what quantity and quality of grass grows on your land. You really need to have bigger pasture acreages for horses that spend the majority of their day outside, as compared to horses that are turned out to a limited extent.
What pasture set up should you plan on? This would obviously rely on what your first functions are. If you've got a predominance of mares and foals, a pasture or two would be adequate. The presence of stallions nonetheless , would make a difference: you would need to dedicate one pasture to each stallion , as well as special enclosed areas for stallions with mares and foals. Acceptable shelter and fresh water supply should always be available in your turnout areas.
Fencing
The 1st rule of fencing is that it has got to be safe. With that given factor, your budget and personal choices will decide the type of fencing you go in for. Your decision can also be influenced by the issue of how much upkeep is required and how much upkeep within your budget. For example, fencing of electric wire is the least expensive option but also the most ugly, aesthetically speaking. Upkeep requirements are moderate. Wooden fences are good looking but do need regular upkeep. Fencing of PVC can be as pleasing to the eye as fencing of wood; there is just about no upkeep required. Nevertheless PVC fencing is the most expensive of the options.
Do you think this type of Utopia is merely a pipe dream? It is not, and these are some hints to help prove that to oneself. Make your farm the ideal residence for your family and your horses.
Before you start on that list of tools to buy, think over one or two factors very comprehensively. These elements will be really important to your plans and your achievement of them:
Budget: You need to set a maximum and realistic budget for your project.
Exact wishes. Do you run a massive breeding operation or are you a smaller hunter-jumper affair? Clearly, your needs, priorities and cost levels are going to depend on the scale of your operations. You need to ideally make 3 lists: what you have to have, what you would have if there's excess money after the must haves are done with, and what you want to have if you didn't have to worry about a budget.
Your plan should be very clear on what you need to upgrade and what you want to install now. You might like to touch up your present barn, pastures and fencing. You might also want to buy some adjoining land for a new arena. Obviously, unless you actually cannot avoid something new, you may give priority to upgrading existing facilities.
The barn
I'm absolutely certain there are rather more barns than horse folk. What final shape do you want to give your barn? You want to touch up the exterior looks and go into detail on the interior: the ventilation, lighting and drains. You may want to add capacity if you are meaning to get new horses soon.
You ought to have at least as many stalls of 12 x 12 feet as horses. Obviously, if you are a breeding operation, your stalls have to be much bigger to accommodate mares and offspring. If you're into show horses, your barn ought to include one wash/work area where horses can be washed, groomed and put thru other necessary processes like hoof clipping. If you operate a facility specialized in training, you might need a heated and well lit tack room with an area for viewing. If you have staff, you could need an office in addition to living quarters and bathrooms, and possibly a kitchen and dining area too. Hopefully, you get the idea. You can't do an efficient job with the money you can spare unless you have it planned beforehand in full detail.
While your basic barn structure and facilities will depend on the number of horses you've got and their use, your barn decor and layout will depend on your own attitudes. If work takes you away most of the day, you may want your stalls to open out to separate paddocks. If your operation is big scale, you may be much better off with an automated feeding and watering system. If there are sometimes plenty of visitors, riding trainees, staff, vets, farriers, trainers, you may need to ensure quick access to your barn, with adequate parking.
Pastures
What is your pasture need? Obviously, that would rely on how many horses you have, how frequently you turn your horses out and what quantity and quality of grass grows on your land. You really need to have bigger pasture acreages for horses that spend the majority of their day outside, as compared to horses that are turned out to a limited extent.
What pasture set up should you plan on? This would obviously rely on what your first functions are. If you've got a predominance of mares and foals, a pasture or two would be adequate. The presence of stallions nonetheless , would make a difference: you would need to dedicate one pasture to each stallion , as well as special enclosed areas for stallions with mares and foals. Acceptable shelter and fresh water supply should always be available in your turnout areas.
Fencing
The 1st rule of fencing is that it has got to be safe. With that given factor, your budget and personal choices will decide the type of fencing you go in for. Your decision can also be influenced by the issue of how much upkeep is required and how much upkeep within your budget. For example, fencing of electric wire is the least expensive option but also the most ugly, aesthetically speaking. Upkeep requirements are moderate. Wooden fences are good looking but do need regular upkeep. Fencing of PVC can be as pleasing to the eye as fencing of wood; there is just about no upkeep required. Nevertheless PVC fencing is the most expensive of the options.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers read more
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers read more
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