Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
4 Program
T
here is no one right way to keep horses. But horsekeeping will go more smoothly if you
design a program, or management routine, that fits your lifestyle, facilities, and locale. If
you have ample pasture but little time for daily horse care routines and plan to ride only
on weekends, then keeping your horses on pasture full time might be the best choice. If, on
the other hand, you have limited space but have the time and interest to do barn chores and
can provide daily exercise for your horse, then stabling could work. Another popular way
to keep horses is in a partially sheltered pen or run. No matter which management style you
choose, there may be times when your horse will benefit from a blanket; this chapter's final
section will help you choose appropriate horse clothing.
To tailor your own horse management plan, consider the pros and cons of the three most
common methods of keeping horses: stall, pasture, and pen.
Keeping a Horse in a Stall
The smaller your acreage and the closer you live to an urban area, the more likely your horse
will spend part of his time in a stall. Although it is a space-efficient way to keep a horse, it
demands a large investment of capital and time. Keeping a horse in a stall requires that you
have a well-designed barn and that you feed at least twice a day, clean the stall at least once
a day, and exercise the horse every day by riding, longeing, driving, ponying, or providing
active turnout. Even with all that, stall life doesn't suit every horse. For the best chance of
success, start with a good stall.