[FryingPan101]

Why don't we all go in together and buy a race horce?:)

[Dog]

Any suggestions??

[cjshapi]

How many horses do you plan on housing on this property?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Where are you located?

Five acres qualifies as a Ranch in California!

[AnAmericanMother]

How many horses? Not too many I hope, because 5 acres is a little small for anything other than one or two. If you're not going to supplement food with hay and grain, it won't be enough unless the horses are very easy keepers.

A lot depends upon your topography, climate, the vegetation on the parcel, and the prevailing winds. You don't say where you live, whether north or south latitudes, or how much rainfall you get. A temperate climate with good drainage and adequate but not excessive rainfall will support more use than either desert or very wet areas.

General rules would include - don't cut down all the trees, esp. hardwoods upwind into the prevailing winds and around the house. That will limit your pasturage somewhat, but it is necessary to prevent erosion and exposure. Be sure to locate the barn and paddocks well away from the house and downstream of any water source on the property. Good drainage at the barn and at any place horses will tend to congregate in paddock or pasture (water trough, feed buckets, shade). If you are in a thunderstorm zone, beware of lone trees on high points that your horses might shelter under, and keep your shade trees inside the fencing in a low draw.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Others may have more suggestions.

[billb]

Don't know much about landscaping but I do know alot about the horse business otherwise. If you're going to try to claim your horse farm losses as a business you need to join the American Horse Council. For $100 dollars you get someone to fight for your issues as well as their Horse Owner's and Breeders Tax Hand Book(several hundred pages) which your local tax guy probably doesn't have.

Oh and, if you can make a profit, write a book about how you did it, then retire on the royalties.

[Cuttnhorse]

5-acres is plenty of room for 3 or 4 horses or more depending on what you want to do.

I have found, for my horses, I prefer to keep them on baled hay rather than pasturing them. I can control their weight much better if I'm feeding them under a controlled situation. If you keep them penned up and feed them, on five-acres you can probably get someone to put up your hay for you. You will be amazed at how much hay you can put up on 4-acres. Don't know where you live, but growing your own hay and paying someone to cut it is an option too.

I would suggest checking out web sites that sell small barns and equestrian equipment, like Powder River, High-Qual, and about a million other sites. For small barns, check out steel building web sites, like Quality Steel Buildings...there are also about a million to choose from and they often have deminsions and floor plans listed.

I have been doing this recently as we just bought a 250-acre place and I have been trying to arrange barns, pens, and cattle handling facilities.

Western Horseman magazine has had several dozen articles on small facilities for horses on small acreages.

Who else in your neighborhood has horses? Go talk to them, especially if you see something they are doing that you like.

I would suggest investing in steel panels, the Powder River type...they are strong, easy to move and versatile for your changing needs.

On five-acres you will have plenty of room for a small riding arena...at least 100' by 60 or 70. An arena is a must for schooling and practice, working on lead changes, stops, circles, etc. If you are even thinking about getting serious about horses, you have to have an arena at a minimum...a round pen is nice to.

I had a nice little "barn", 24 x 40' which was big enough to store hay and in it we built a small enclosed tack-room that was really handy. These facilities are not outrageously expensive and eventually pay for themselves.

If you are asking these questions, I assume you are just getting started with horses, or possibly haven't had horses for a lot of years. If you are just getting started, I recommend being very wary about buying young horses from "well-meaning" people. Hang around horse events and become knowledgeable, but your first horse should be an older well-trained horse that is not going to sour you on the experience. Your first horse should be at least 10-years old. The old adage about kids, especially, growing up with a puppy does not convert to horses. Get something that is bullet-proof for your first horse. As you outgrow him, you can always trade for something a little more spirited, but if you are just really getting into horses, make the first experiences good ones. Go to some clinics in your area and learn all you can. There is nothing worse for people, or for horses, than having a yard full of spoiled backyard pets that no one wants to do anything with but scratch their ears.

Good luck and have fun...I wouldn't trade the past 27-years of experience with horses for anything.