In today’s article, I want to discuss fencing and housing options for horses. There are a variety of options out there from the minimal to the palatial! The good news is that for the new horse owner, you can start your horse journey on a budget.
As far as housing for your new horse goes, you do not need a barn. Barns are nice! They provide a quiet area to work out of the elements. However, it is not a requirement. A horse simply needs a way to get out of the wind or rain and get dry. A 3-sided run-in shed is a perfect little home for your new horse. Keep in mind that the shed’s open side should face either to the East or South. Prevailing winds come from the West and the North and a run-in shed facing East or South will protect your horse from the worst weather. The next thing to note is that size of the shed will matter if you have more than one horse. Just because two horses can physically fit in a run-in shed does not mean they will share it. Some horses are very territorial and will prefer to have their own space. A larger shed will be required the more horses you have.
Fencing is also an important consideration for horse ownership. There are a lot of types to choose from. The good news is that many horses respect electric fencing and thus your fence does not have to be the most expensive. Now the ideal horse fence is a solid barrier between 4 and 6 feet in height. Typically, this is a board fence with 3 to 4 boards.
A cheaper alternative to wood fences is electric braid or tape. Electric braid can be highly visible and flexible in case a horse runs into it. It is not ideal, as a horse can get caught in the wires, but in my experience, electric braid can be very forgiving.
For more information on housing and fencing options, you can visit my website for the basic horse husbandry ecourse. Go to www.duttonveterinary.com/ecourses and select equine to view and purchase!