You have decided to move out of the city for peace and quiet and have more room. You have always wanted a horse or two and you want to know what you need to look for in buying a property. You see all the ads with homes and land, or land and you do not really know what to look for. Well as a lifelong horseman and a land specialist hopefully I can shed some light on it.
First you want to make sure that you have enough land for the horses you own. Depending on where you live, and the grow seasons will tell you how much land for per horse. In my state of Oklahoma for example in the western part of the state you will need more land per horse than in the eastern part of the state.
Although you can feed hay and depending on where you live you more than likely will need to feed hay at some time of year. Horses are natural grazers so although you can keep them on a small piece of property the horse needs room to roam and graze.
Next you will need to think about fencing. So many people in the country have barb wire as their fencing. Because the horse’s skin or hide is not as thick as say a cow’s, barb wire is not the best for horses. If you do have barbwire you can investigate either adding an electric strand with an extender, that way your horse will touch the electric fence before he touches the barb wire. Another option is what is called field fencing. Field fencing is a woven wire that has small gaps usually a 2x3 square so as the horse does not get caught or tangled. Wood fences are nice and pretty but if you have young horses that can be a problem. The remedy in this situation is electric wire with and extender clip. I am also a huge proponent of high tensile fencing with two strands of electric wire.
Ok we have the fencing, so the next thing is to provide shelter for your horse. Again, depending on where you are the shelter can be as simple as a lean to or loafing shed to a full barn with individual stalls.
Next you want to make sure that your property is clear of all sharp objects that can cause injury to your horse. Horses by nature are very curious and most have a good play drive. So, if there is something, they can cut themselves on they will do it.
Next is to make sure you have water for your horse. Clean water is one the most important things for your horse. We have a few ponds on our property but we always have clean water for them.
As you can see there are a lot of things to think about in buying a property for your horse. I can tell you that a horse is a wonderful animal and cared for they will be a great addition to your family.
One more thing be sure to look up your local United Country office to help you find the perfect property for you. Whether horse property, ranch land, hunting property or just raw land, or a home and land, United Country can help you find your perfect property. Visit us at www.unitedcountry.com to find an office near you.