Equine Housing: From Horse Barns To Pasture

Equine Housing: From Horse Barns To Pasture

If you are to get the best from your horse, it is vital that you provide him with a happy, comfortable and safe home environment. This applies whether he is kept in a horse barn or in a field.

As a general rule, a particularly fine-coated horse, or one that is in hard work, needs to be stabled during cold periods. Hardier horses can live outside all year, provided that they are supplied with adequate shelter. Many owners favor the combined system, where a horse lives out during the winter days, but comes into the stable on the cold nights. Similarly, during the summer, many horses can benefit from coming into the stable during the day time if they have a tendency to put on too much weight because of the long grass, or are particularly aggravated by flies and insects.

A horse in hard work may be better kept in a stable where he can be easily accessed for work and where owners can ensure that feed and care is being administered correctly, under the close supervision of the caregiver. Often times horses in training are heavily blanketed during the winter months and do not develop a hair coat that is heavy enough to keep them warm outside.

Whichever method you choose, your horse's comfort and safety should be of paramount importance.

Horse Barns

It is generally considered that the best form of stabling is a loose box where the horse care has the freedom to move, turn around and lie down. The absolute minimum sizes should be 3 x 3.5 m (10 x 12 ft) for a pony and 3.5 x 4.25 m (12 x 14 ft) for a horse. Never compromise on space! Although many of today's modern stables are made of wood, as they are cheaper, brick is warmer and not a fire hazard.

Non-slip flooring is essential. Ideally, opt for a floor made of concrete or rubber. Bedding is very much a matter of personal preference. Most owners use either straw or wood shavings, depending on availability. If a horse has a dust allergy, it is best to use paper.

A useful added extra is a kicking board where a horse care that kicks out can be prevented from damaging either himself or the structure of the stable.

Pastureland

There should be approximately 1.5 acre for every horse or pony that is living in the field, although this can be slightly smaller if horses are turned out for a shorter period. Fencing should be made of a safe material such as post and rails and should be at least 1.3 m (4 ft 6 in) high. Hedges are generally safe, although they should be regularly checked for holes that would look appealing to a mischievous pony.

Fresh water should always be available, either in the form of a running stream or in a suitable container.

Factors that Influence Equine Nutrition

A horse that is able to graze freely during the summer months and is not in hard work probably requires little supplementary feeding.

Time of year 每 All horses require more feed in the winter to maintain a suitable body temperature.

Workload 每 Horses in hard work require more hard food such as oats, grains, barley and pelleted feed.

Temperament 每 A high-strung horse care is best fed cooling mixes, whereas a more sluggish horse may benefit from heating feeds such as oats.

Size 每 Pay attention to your horse's weight, rather than size, when determining the amount of feed required. A horse should be fed approximately 2.5% of its body weight daily.

Age 每 Bear in mind that a horse's digestive system functions at its best between the ages of eight and twelve years. Younger horses require more protein for growth, whereas older horses require food that is easily digested.

Quality of grazing 每 A horse will graze continually, given the chance! It is necessary, therefore, to take into account the amount of time that your horse care spends out in the field and the quality of the pasture or grass.

The key to success, when deciding upon the type of accommodation that's right for your horse, is to ensure that he is happy, safe and warm. A horse that needs to be stabled permanently will almost certainly enjoy an hour or so in an appropriate field to let off steam. Similarly, a horse that always lives out may appreciate having the warmth of a stable in times of extreme cold.

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