Generally you need one acre per horse. Lots of factors affect the situation: what breed/ extent of metabolic needs is the horse? Some quarter horses can live well off hay alone, most thoroughbreds need 8 quarts of grain, hay, and sometimes supplements to be kept in good condition. If horses are kept in small confines, then the footing must be good, not muddy all the time (causes thrush) or always dry (remedied with hoof oil applications weekly). Horses are incredibly adaptable creatures, they can modify themselves to lots of conditions, but they are smart and need some kind of exercise or interaction to be happy. They can handle bad weather (think of the mustangs) without shelter to an extent, but in such a small space I doubt they have much in the way of choices to find wind block or relief from the sun… THEY MUST have clean water and a salt block to survive (salt blocks are about $5 and last months). These two things are necessary. They should be wormed every two months too especially in small space. Obviously horses are better off in large pastures, but if exercised, a small paddock works fine. Let me say this: right now my 5 horses are on 3 acres with both open areas and trees without shelter. The trees are thick enough to provide some rain relief and plenty of windbreak. They have free choice coastal hay and get a small breakfast and larger dinner. I have a 100 gallon water tub that I wash out weekly and refill as they drink it, and a mineral salt block they can reach at all times. When the weather is too dry they get their hooves oiled and when it is too wet, I use a thrush preventative (whatever I can find- limited choices were I live at the moment- iodine, thrushBuster, etc) on the soles of the hoof. I trim their hooves every 5-6 weeks (more often if there is a problem) and worm them every two months (because one of them is prone to worms and they are on a small acreage now). The younger ones get exercise weekly or bi-weekly if I’m too busy, but the oldest (25 and 31) are retired and just get groomings and held out to eat grass in the front yard on occation (just to give them something to do) I could go on and on about horse care, hope this helps. It has always baffled me that people own horses and don’t spend time with them. If they are cared for, at least someone is providing them a home, right? Overbreeding is causing a domestic population problem especially in difficult economic times.

My vision for my five horses is 10- 50 acres with one large pasture and 2-5 smaller paddocks they can be rotated thru. I want a 7- 10 stall barn and maybe a covered arena. I don’t care if my home is above the barn or a cute little house. Don’t like wash racks or cross ties but an area for tacking up would be nice complete with saddle racks. I really hope it will be well made and pretty. Not a typical ‘red barn’, but more like the lexington stables, just not as huge :-) Definately want a tack and feed room. Also want access to MILES of trails.