Preparing a pasture for a pony, what fencing is best? Building a small shelter area? How to find hay sources?

Question

Our pasture is 4 acres with existing and deteriorated field fencing. Pasture area is surrounded by mature fir trees that are large and full. We have children, so I would prefer to avoid electric fencing, if possible. We would like to build a small lean-to onto the side of a very large shed to provide additional shelter. And how does a new horse owner find a quality source of hay for just one pony? Grass hay.

I have boarded horses before, I am new to the backyard horse on pasture. Any advice is appreciated.

Answer 1

There is a wooden fence that would be nice.  You could plow the pasture and plant coastal   The trees will provide shade.  Looks like you are on your way.

Answer 2

A solid fence is always the most ideal.  Costly but ideal.

Wood or the vinyl.  Running and electric line on the inside to keep them off the fence is also a great idea.  This prevents them chewing or leaning on the fence.

A quick pole type lean-to is cheapest to build.  I've seen people around here use the aluminum sided 'carports' or 'sheds' but that is dangerous.  A hoof can go through that and shear down to the bone.  But with one pony...that MIGHT be safe enough.  I don't see him kicking at his shadow.

As for hay, go to a local tack store and see if there are any postings.

Craigslist is another place that advertises.

There is a place online that local hay dealers advertise.  Unfortunately I don't have the url.

Visit a neighbor that has horses.  Ask them.

Visit a farm where you see bales of hay out in the field.

Your newspaper under *farm*  or *horse and livestock* or *garden*

Since you only have the one pony don't get a huge tank and fill it with water.  It gets stale and also slimy.  They won't drink as much.  For  my 3 horses I only fill the tank 1/4 every morning and check it in the afternoon.  By then they need it refilled (but it's not empty yet)  

Make sure you understand the normal direction the storms blow in on your property so you can situate your new lean-to accordingly.  Hate to have you build it then realize the storms blow into the shelter and the horse has no protection.

Check the water puddling action where you are thinking of putting the lean-to.  You don't want to build in a low area.

Do you have a place to store hay for winter?  You need this since hay sells fast and by January there will be none to be had.  Lately though there hasn't been hay around here by the beginning of December.

Enjoy the pony!  So much fun having them right in the backyard instead of at someone elses place!

*edit*

I forgot...if you paint the inside of the shelter black then it will deter flies from entering.  Not sure if you are in a buggy area but a fan installed up in the corner out of reach (blowing downwards) will be welcomed by the pony during the nasty evening no-see-um attacks and the hot afternoons.

Answer 3

The cost of fence has really become very expensive these days, especially all wood post and board fence, which is what I have. If I had it to do new I would use 3" x 5" x 8' treated landscape tie timbers for posts, which are about $1.00 each cheaper than 4" x 8' farm posts, and instead of an all board fence I would use wire mesh fencing and a board top rail for support and visibility and to prevent leaning on and bending the wire mesh, or I might even go cheaper and use a board top rail for visibility and several rows of high tensile strength wire below the board top rail. I think your idea of a stall shed with a lean-to would be ideal.

Answer 4

I would use field fence.I have eight miniatures and it works great plus it would probably be the cheapest way out you can get like 250 feet  5'tall for 75.00