Perhaps you trust no one else to board your horse. Did you inherit a horse and are scrambling for solutions? Or maybe you are interested in keeping an equine on your personal property and you’re curious about the logistics of the situation. Let us try to answer all of that here.
It is possible to keep a horse in a garden or yard. First, you should check with the local authority that it is legal for you to keep a horse on your property. Second, a single horse requires 1.25 – 2.5 acres of grazing land in order to live properly. Ensure adequate space, shelter, and enough area for it to exhibit normal behaviors.
A horse is a big responsibility and they are usually meant to be housed in a big area. But having a horse in your garden is not at all impossible. There are just some things to take into account before you bring a horse home to live in the yard. In this article we will take a look to see if being a backyard equestrian is right for you.
Considerations Of Owning A Horse
Considering you are a first time horse owner and you’re curious about getting your first horse, there are some things to keep in mind before you make the deal.
Not only do we have the concern about having a horse in the garden, but there are many other duties and necessities involved in owning a horse. Owning a horse is not the same as having a pet. There is a lot more that goes into a horse than one may think. At the most basic end, you will need these things:
- A stable, stall or pen with at least some form of covering from the elements.
- Your horse will need access, in their living area, to water.
- Shavings for their bedding, regularly cleaned out and replaced.
- Storage for bedding as well as hay.
- Twice daily feedings, every day.
- Regular mucking of the living area.
- Storage for saddles, bridles, rope and other tack.
- Electricity, for tools, lights and heating.
- A shovel, pitchfork, brooms, wheelbarrow and container for mucking.
- A plan for disposing of muck piles.
- Access to feed, or a delivery service.
- Access to a veterinarian.
That’s just the basics, there are certainly more things involved in owning a horse. If you feel that these commitments are not too much for you and your situation, then perhaps owning a horse is for you.
However, most yards and gardens do not have all the necessities listed above, and many can not fit them. So, ensure you can provide everything before putting a horse in your garden. In addition…
Is it Legal To Keep A Horse In The Back Garden?
It depends. If you own the property and you intend to keep a horse, it may be possible. The legality of the issue depends on where you live and if your property is zoned properly for the owning of a horse. You should be able to check on the legality of things simply by calling your local council.
You might need to talk to somebody in the zoning or planning department of your town before building any structures, like stables or pens.
It may be as simple as being given the go ahead, or you may need to pay fees, sign paperwork or pass an inspection. Again, it’s all a matter of your local ordinances and there can be vast differences between even neighboring jurisdictions.
It is not altogether rare to see horses stabled in back gardens in rural areas outside of town, or even in suburban areas with decent access to property. Having a horse in an urban setting in this day and age may be possible. It’s not recommended, but it can be possible given a lot of preparation and hard work.
What Will The Neigh-bors Say?
Local authority gives you the go ahead, you’ve made the commitment in time, money, structure and resources, and you’re ready to buy that horse. But, there is another box on our list that we need to check. Even if it is legal for you to keep a horse, if a neighbor complains, it could cause problems.
It could be a neighborly spat, but it could be as much as legal action being taken against you. It should come as no surprise that most people wouldn’t want to live next to a muck pile. Enough complaints could result in you being forced to board the horse, pay fines and fees or worse if you didn’t perform your due diligence.
So, it would be wise to check with the neighbors before delving too deep into this adventure. It could even garner some information on any other people who may have tried it in your area. You never know. You might get some helpful advice or meet someone nearby who has horses in their garden that you didn’t even know about.
How Will The Horse Live?
Horses need a lot of space to graze and roam. They need a lot of open, good terrain to exercise daily. Even though the bare minimum of a horse’s living area is between 1.25 – 2.5 acres, they would do better with more. If your intentions are to keep the horse at home all of the time, it would be very wise to rethink things.
If you will have the access and the ability to get the horse out for rides or at the least, led walks, you’ll need to do so quite a bit. In order for a horse to stay in proper shape and maintain excellent health all around, they need to exercise for around two hours a day. Without proper exercise a horse can suffer from a long list of ailments. Such as;
- Poor Circulation – Because of their long legs and musculature, healthy blood circulation needs to be maintained through regular exercise.
- Digestive Issues – Confined animals can develop constipation and impactions.
- Psychological Issues – A number of disorders and behaviors stem from boredom brought on by a lack of exercise.
- Boredom – Boredom itself can lead horses to gain or lose weight, act up, and significantly reduce their healthy lifespan.
- Muscle Atrophy – Those giant muscles need to move and without a solid routine they can develop imbalances and muscle damage that can stick with them for life.
- Poor Temperament – A bored, under stimulated horse can be unpredictable and could cause harm to others.
- Disease – A stressed animal is much more likely to be susceptible to a myriad of disease and cancers.
As you can see, they’re sensitive creatures. Horses require a lot more attention, care and resources than most animals that people choose to keep in their gardens. In order for these animals to get the most out of their lives, they need to live a healthier lifestyle than most people and without a good routine they can really suffer.
Should You Keep A Horse In Your Garden?
If your local council deems it legal, your neighbors are ok with a horse on the property, and you’ve the time, money, access and resources, then by all means go for it. If you have the dedication to exercise your horse, you’ve got access to the area to ride and walk and the animal’s living area and grazing area is large enough, you might just be able to keep a horse in your garden.
There are also alternatives to owning a horse, such as, volunteering, leasing, student work, free riding, and lessons. So, is bringing a horse into your garden the right choice? Given you are able to check all the boxes we’ve listed in this article, it might be.