Horse Property - FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions when buying horse property.
Many people come to the Live Oak area looking to buy horse property and I'm here to help. Some have many questions, others don't realize that there are questions to ask, so for both, here are the answers that you may want to know. If you have others, please contact me, I'm happy to answer those as well.
How much land is recommended per horse? In general, you will need an acre per horse. If you like having grass, I recommend an acre and a 1/2 per horse or you'll need to careful rotate your pastures.
If a horse has been primarily kept in a stall or coming from up north, are there any particular concerns I need to be aware of?
The grass here can be of particular concern. It is of excellent quality and can have protein in the range of 16%. If your horse has only been on hay or most other grasses you may need to transition your horse slowly onto the grass here. If it is spring time, you need to be even more careful. Nitrogen colic or grass founder are both possible risks.
That sounds scary! Does that mean my horse can't go out into the pasture?
No! Your horse will be able to go out and fully enjoy your pasture, just not right away. I recommend speaking to the local veterinarian about your particular horse to set up a schedule to move your horse onto pasture. In general, most start out being allowed to graze for an hour twice a day for 3 days, then 2 hours a day for 3 days and so on.
Is there anything else I should be concerned about?
Parasites are everywhere. In a warm environment the life cycle can be quicker. A worming regimen is paramount. A heavy worm load can cause colic and even death.
Sand. Sand is everywhere, particularly if horses are allowed to graze the grass all the way down. Ingested sand can also cause colic. Many people choose to bran regularly or use supplements such as ground flax seed. I recommend speaking to a local veterinarian for their recommendations based on your horses particular needs and property.
Do I have to have a barn?
That is a personal choice. We do have some pretty cold nights and mornings here. More so, we have very hot days with intense sun and sudden storms. I like having shelter for my horses to be able to get shade, get out from the rain and to bundle up on really cold nights. Some people use an open pole barn or a run in for the same purpose.
Do I need to blanket my horse in the winter?
Again, that's another personal choice and can even depend on your horse. I personally blanket when the temperature will be below 40 degrees. My thought process is this - while it may get quite cold at night, it can often go up 40 or more degrees during the day. If my horse grows a heavy winter coat to handle the cold nights then they can overheat in during the day and can even cause a colic. There are however many people who do not blanket at all here and their horses have been fine. There are also people here who blanket when the temperature dips below 50. Some horses are more sensitive to cold than others. Others do not seem to mind.
Where can I ride my horse?
There are so many places to ride around here. There are many beautiful trails in the area for hours of riding pleasure. Most start out near the river or springs and wander around. Some are more rustic than others. If you don't want to trailer your horse, many riders utilize our miles of dirt roads and of course you are always welcome to make trails on your own property as well.
Do I need to have more than one horse?
Horses are herd animals and they are always happier in groups. Some horses are fine with a goat as a buddy, others are not. Some horses do well on their own, but my experience is that if later a second horse is introduced, they are clearly much happier.
If you do not want to buy a second horse, frequently many people have a horse that they are looking to retire to be a pasture mate. In this economy there a many horses just looking for a home that may be perfect for you.
More questions? Please contact me at: Brett@BrettDeutsch.com or call me at: 386-647-6344.
