The Most Important Horse Structures You Need for a Safe Environment

Horses are magnificent animals that can make wonderful companions. Horse raising is a challenging feat, however. Not only do they require a lot of labor, but they also require significant time and financial investments. Horses are large, 1,000-pound animals that can’t live inside the home or entirely outside. You need property space and structures to host and care for them properly. How do you get started? What structures do you need? As a first step, learn what horse-friendly property looks like.

Barns

Many horse owners prefer to build a small barn, both to provide shelter for horses and to store all the equipment that comes with horse raising. You’ll have to store saddles, reins, harnesses, hay, oats, treats, medical supplies, brushes, shampoos, riding gear, bits, blankets, and more. All of these items add up and require a lot of storage space. Barns take care of storage and the horses themselves.

Pole barns are simple structures that are cost-effective and easy to build. Stick-built barns are slightly sturdier but require more construction expertise, materials, and labor. Either option is perfect for horses, but most owners opt for a pole barn for the price and convenience.

On the downside, barns aren’t for everyone. Building a barn can be labor-intensive and expensive. Barns take up a lot of property space you may not have room for when you factor in all the other space a horse needs. Thankfully, there are alternatives to barns that will still adequately shelter a horse.

Stalls or Stables

Consider smaller, horse-centric structures if a barn is too much for your needs. Horse stalls or stables prioritize livestock over massive storage space. Stalls and stables are sometimes referred to interchangeably, but stalls are the individual housing units for a horse, while a stable is a collection of these units. If you know you’ll only have one horse, a single-horse stall may be the best choice to save space and money. Stables are better if you may get more horses in the future; they’re still more compact than barns and provide adequate shelter.

Fencing

No matter what type of shelter you provide your horse, most of the day, they will spend roaming, running, and grazing. You’ll need fencing through most of your property for a horse-friendly exterior. If your horse can access the entire property, you’ll want to fence it. Otherwise, you must construct fencing around their grazing and running areas. Ensure the fencing is tall and sturdy enough to keep them from jumping over—horses love to jump!

Storage

As mentioned, many supplies are required to raise and care for horses at home. You’ll need space to put it all—hay, saddles, and other supplies shouldn’t be exposed to the elements for long periods. The best options for your needs will depend on your horse shelter. If you have a decently sized barn, you won’t likely need any further storage space. However, only some stalls and stables can provide enough storage space. You’ll likely need at least one shed in addition to your horse stall.

Exercise Pens

Horses love to run, walk, roam, and play. You’ll want to provide adequate exercise for your horse to prevent health concerns down the road. Exercise pens are great for this. Most people fence a section of the property for horses to graze and roam. This space can also be used for training, tricks, and short rides. You can include jumps in their exercise routine if you teach your horse tricks. Horseback riding along a lengthy trail also serves as some great exercise. There are even horse exercise machines, but those are typically only used for professional horse owners. An exercise pen will meet your horse’s overall exercise needs.

Travel Trailers

Sometimes, a vet can’t visit you, or you must travel with your horse. Travel trailers attached to a pickup truck can be comfortable and convenient transportation options for your horse. There are travel trailers specifically designed for horses, but you’ll need one big enough that your horse can comfortably stand, turn around, and lie down while inside. If you can’t afford to buy a travel trailer, you’ll need to rent one whenever your horse needs to be transported. For frequent travel, it’s more cost-effective to purchase one, however.

Conclusion

Horse-raising is a challenging and rewarding lifestyle. You get a great companion, intelligent training partner, and fierce competitor (if applicable). However, you’ll need shelter, space, time, and money to raise a horse. Structures, food, and vet care all cost a lot of money. Horses need training, feeding, grooming, supervision, and daily exercise. Barns or horse stables can take up much of your property and the space they need to exercise. You’ll also need a way to transport them for vet visits, competitions, or races. If you have the means to construct all of a horse’s necessary structures and shelters, you’re ready to take the next step.