Saturday, December 7, 2019

Operating a Horse Farm ~ Are You Nuts

After more than 35 years operating a horse farm I can appreciate the reality of horse farm ownership with all its pros and cons. For the neophyte farm owner there can be a few surprises in store, the biggest of which I'd suggest is how much time it takes to maintain.


If you've previously had your horse at livery, simply turning up to ride or groom your horse is all that is required to enjoy your horse habit. The stalls are mucked out, the horse is fed and watered, turned out and brought in and out as required. Your free time is spent doing what you love most, quality time with your horse. 

When you buy a property and add horses to the equation you can expect some hefty expenses and much daily work. Even if the farm is already established, buildings may need to be repaired, cleaned, and set up for your particular operation. Supplies for bedding and feed must be constantly stacked and stored and replenished, the work doesn't end in the barn with mucking out and feeding either.

There is the great outside to contend with too. Fences require maintaining, fence lines need to be strimmed, pastures need to be mowed out at least twice a year. Just like housework, the work needs to be repeated over and over.

Things break. Horses can be very destructive. Fences and gates, stall doors and floors, all require constant attention.Tractors and equipment needs servicing and of course will only quit working when you use them. 

Good luck taking any time off from farm life! Farm sitters can be hard to find and it can be hard to 'let go' and trust others to take care of your animals and farm while you are away.  

When you move in to your horse farm you'll probably admire all the green grass and lawns. After a few years you'll find yourself tired of the constant grind mowing and extend the pastures to incorporate as much land as possible.

Over time you'll probably find your horses spend more and more time in the pasture as the necessity to bring them in and out of their stalls seems of less concern. Frankly, most horses do better with more turnout, so if this is true of your routine then you're doing your horse a favor.

Then there is the just 1 or 2 horse question. Herd animals need company so either a 2nd horse or a companion animal is a must. Then you have 2 horses and shortly thereafter they magically multiply. Perhaps a pony for the kids or nieces/nephews, a horse for your significant other so they can learn to ride and enjoy time together on the trails, or a horse that you just have to rescue. And then you might even contemplate opening up your barn to boarders or begin a horse breeding business. Aaghh! 



Ah yes, the trails. If you have enough property then they'll need maintaining too. Downed trees and tree limbs in storms will need removal. And if you don't have trails available there will be the expense of an arena. Indoor or outdoor the arena will be a drag your spare time as it also needs regular attention. Footing has an amazing ability to disappear over time. Where it goes nobody knows, but it will require hand raking at the edges of the arena to prevent a rutted track and new materials will be required to be added periodically. 



You rarely have enough buildings on a farm. A specialist building to house equipment or store hay might be added. A few more run-in sheds. A bigger and better barn. The list is endless.

SO why do we do it?  

Because we are plainly nuts. Nuts about horses. Nuts about how they should be cared for. Simply nuts. It's the only explanation. 

If you find yourself staring at the arena you just harrowed with pride, wake up to see your horses out the window contentedly grazing in the paddock and find yourself outside scantily clad in pj's having a cup of coffee while leaning over the fence, or sit down tired and dirty after stacking the winter hay supply with great satisfaction at your accomplishment, then you are one of us. The horse nuts brigade.

Would I change anything about my 35 plus years as a farm owner. Yes. 


I wish I'd made more effort to travel and visit family when I was younger and they were still alive to visit and not worry so much about leaving my horses to the care of others. I wish I'd spent more time riding and less time worrying over how long the grass was or how perfectly clean the barn was every day. I wish I'd resisted the temptation to add horses to my herd rather than work harder and smarter with the ones I already had in my care. There are horses I wish I'd never sold and ones I wish I'd never bought. I wish. I wish.


But there is no time for regrets. There are horses to be fed and water troughs to be filled. And it's snowing again so all those paddock gates need digging out! 




8 comments:

  1. This is us to T! Wouldn't have it any other way!

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  2. Indeed! My life-long dream to have my own horse, on my own property, became a reality 6 years ago, at age 59. Just finished painting the addition to the barn this fall. We now have two horses,a really gigantic manure pile, and a really flat bank acccount. Steep learning curve, but glad we're doing this, even though we're both in our 60's now. Never too late! :)

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  3. So so true!! I love it and although at times I gripe about the amount of work - it's rare and I'm never EVER bored!! My fur babies have the best life and they are really less expensive than therapy!

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  4. Well that hit the nail on the head, that was perfectly written. I wish my babies pooped golden nuggets we would all be rich and then we could hire someone to do the hard work, but you know most of us wouldn't as its all part of taking care of our best friends. What my horses give back to me in happiness and laughter is 10 fold what I do for them. Love my life and wouldn't give it up for the world

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