How to create a horse-friendly backyard

What could be more mesmerizing than the sound of thudding hooves and soft neighing in your own yard? Seeing your own horses grazing in the backyard is such fascinating scenery, isn't it?

Being a horse owner is amazing but there is also a lot of responsibility to take. Horses need a safe and comfortable space for grazing, roaming freely, an adequate and suitable living area, shelter for protection, and so on. Horse owners can provide that by turning the backyard into a friendly living place for horses.

Creating a horse-friendly backyard is as interesting as it is challenging. One of the most important steps for building a friendly backyard is having the right place. knowledge of layout accuracy, creating a comfy stable, floor spacing, an open space for roaming or physical movement, ideal maintenance, and lots of care and love.

A friendly backyard can affect horses' behavior by building trust in the owner and creating a positive environment for both horse and rider. They can feel safe and comfortable, grazing outside in the fresh air, and riders can ride anytime they want! 

You might wonder if it is possible to make your backyard a perfect home for your horses!

Well, let's dive in then!

How to build a friendly backyard for your horses

Most horse owners dream about having their horses' pasturing in the backyard. But sometimes you might get confused about where to start, how to build, or what setup could be more friendly for horses. 

So let's have a look at what things you do have to know while building a horse-friendly backyard-

Consider the right place

When you build your own house the first thing you focus on is the land. The size and length, preferable layout. Same goes for horses. 

Choosing the right side of the backyard, approximate length for building a stable, fencing, flooring, roaming area, practicing zone, and space for additional things.

Fencing for pasture

There are mainly two types of fence, metal and wooden. But thinking about your horses, a wooden fence is the best option for them and the ecosystem.

For their safety purpose, you might use mesh wire with a wooden fence. To keep them safe in an open boundary.

Horse Stable 

Stable is also known as a barn or living place for all livestock, especially for horses. It is the most necessary place for horses to sleep. Also where you can put them for bad weather.

Create a separate room for each horse, and make the door face outside. But each room must be facing the other. Make sure that the length of the door is up to the horse's neck. Therefore they won't feel suffocated inside and put their head out if necessary.

Flooring space

Horse hooves are harder than other mammals. So for walking space and exercise purposes, they need hard and sustained ground. 

The floor should be anti-odor, easy to clean, and not cause feet or muscle strain or we can say hooves friendly. 

If you are concerned about horse hooves care you can certainly visit our other article about How to care for a horse's hooves .  

Feeding zone

As human beings, we can't think straight when we are starving. Then how do you expect friendly feedback from your starving horse!!

So feeding your horses will make them healthy and strong. But thinking about just feeding your horses is not all. You should think about the right place for grain, water, hay, etc. 

• Food: Hay, grain, pasture grass, fruits, and vegetables are horses' basic food. You can put hay feeders in an open area, it will be easy for them to consume after roaming or riding. 

For the owner or keeper to put the haystack beside the feeder, it can be easier to refill the feeder. Same goes for grain, block, or iodized salt. Make sure pasture grass is available for horses when considering a place for them.

• Water: It is the most important thing to keep your horses dehydrated, and healthy and water helps to reduce different health issues.

You can place a water container close to the stable and pasture. Because in day time it's easy for them to drink, but a little bit difficult at night time. So you can put a small water tank in the stable also.

• Shelter: Staying in a closed room for a long time is really a suffocating thing for living beings. So why for horses !!

Stable may not always be a good idea for horse shelter. You can build a portable shelter for sunny days where horses can rest after a roaming or any physical activity.

Open area for physical movement

We all want a playground for our children, to wander, play freely, and have some fun and activity. Horses are also like a child to their owner. 

Keeping them in mind you can place an open area for roaming, grazing, and having some fun with you. 

• Roaming area: Horses need soft pasture ground for roaming or grazing. Because short grass and soft plants have low fiber but high nutrition, well digestive horse food. 
• Exercising zone: Having little fun and muscle movement is also important as feeding. Thus they need hard and hooves-friendly ground to run or ride. 

You can put some circles or straight poles, turning the area for physical activity. It will improve physical skills like agility, most important for the equine sport. Besides to know more about agility do visit our another blog about Why is agility important in horse riding.

There are a few things you can add to your list bucket such as-

• Horse bathing place: Keeping horse hygiene fresh and clean is a regular activity. You can place that on a suitable and convenient side for both.
• Wash holder: Having a wash holder will tidy up the bathing place, but it's not necessary. 
• Drainage: It will help you to drain out all the dirty water while bathing, or cleaning the stable.
• Maintenance: Everyone likes to see a beautiful flower garden, but if we don't maintain that beauty can be lost.

So keep a neat and clean horse stable, and check the feeder and water tank. Regular mowing pasture ground, keeping hooves friendly surface and clean drainage to keep area hygienic.   

Maintaining your horse-friendly backyard is like keeping the garden's beauty.

Enclosure:

Overall, building a horse-friendly backyard is fun but challenging. It will make the horse safe and comfortable as well as create a positive attitude towards the owner. Having a friendly backyard is beneficial for both the horse and the owner. It will help to keep an eye on them closely and be able to give your best facility for them. 

I hope our small effort will help you to get an idea of how you can possibly turn your backyard into a horse-friendly home. 

Share your ideas with us, that pop up in your mind while reading our blog, Adios!