Yet, another horse question. horse experts ONLY!!!!?

Question

I can't seem to find this on the internet.

How many square feet does just 1 horse need for running space.

And how big of a stall would i need.

Also do i need to have separate areas of fenced in land for different activities.

please, i want this to be answered by someone who actually knows what their talking about, or horse owners.

Answer 1

1) one acre is just enough space

2) 10x11 (its nice n' roomy)

3) it is nice to have seperate areas, such as a smaller arena for longing, and a much bigger arena for riding, then some pastures and such.

Answer 2

As far as roaming room a average sixed horse needs a minimun of 1 acre (43560 sq ft) but 2 acres (87120 sq.ft.)would be better. In the case of horses bigger is always better as far as field size goes.

As far as minumun stall size an average 15h-16h horse needs at least a 12'x12'. Bigger is always better. I personaly wouldn't put a horse up even over night in less than that. Our stalls are 14x14 for the regular horses and have 2 14x20's in case we need to put up a mare & foal together, although I prefer to leave them all out as much as possible.

If your setting your place up for 1 horse you'd probably do fine with a 1.5 acre field, fence  1/2 acre off for a paddock to put him in in case of emergencies (like doctoring, while planting or fertilizeing the field ect) and build a 14x14 run in shed in the fenced off half acre paddock so he'll have protection from the weather ect. Generally horses are much happier if they have the freedom to come and go as they wish with the stall/shelter. Sliding doors across the front are great, that way you can leave it open for him to come and go but can still close the door to give it more protection from wind ect if the weather gets really bad.

EDITED TO ADD **** While true that a 15.2h horse would physically fit into a 10'x10' stall they would have very little room to move around, which is going to increase your likelyhood of stocking (leg edema) from improper blood flow. Also, all horses roll, in such a small area the risk of injury or colic from displaced intestines resulting from getting cast against the side really increases.

We do have one old "stall" here that is used primarily as a hay storage area for our older horses (they get different hay from the younger horses, oldies Sericea Lespedeza while the younger ones get Timothy/Orchard Mix)

Anyway, I've put my 15.2h QH gelding in there for short periods and he stands corner to corner. Has to bend his neck to turn around in there. No way I'd EVER leave him in it for an extended period much less over night.

JMO, A horse needs to stay moving and if kept in a small cramped area the risks are just to high for me. Not to mention the mental issues that arise from keeping a animal that is made to be constantly moving (grazing ect) locked in a space that it can only turn around. Cribbing, swaying, pawing, and wood chewing just to name a few.

Answer 3

1. About 2 acres for it to be comfortable for the horse

2. About 9 by 11 feet for the stall

3. You do not need to fence off land unless you are trying to train your horse to stay in specific areas when doing different activities.

Good Luck

Answer 4

what i had for my horses(2):

1-2 fields (we added the second one to spilt and replant. ours was on the side on the hill and was about 1-1.5 acres (this time around i am planning on having 3-5 acres spilt into different fields and adding 1 run in shed at the top/back of the hill)

2 stall barn, our stalls are 10x10 feet. and trust me that is more then enough for most any horse. my 16.2 qh had more then enough room. . . you can go larger, and you can go do to 8x10 if you want, the thing you have to keep in mind is how big of a horse do you want/own and how big of a stall do you want to clean. yes i have learned exactly how messy a horse can make a stall even with me cleaning 1-2 time a day. (i'm a neat freak tho so maybe my opinion on that doesnt count).

i dont have any area to ride cept trails ect. no ring, but again this time around i am going to rope off and keep trimmed/neat a small riding area away from the regular grazzing fields.

also my fav thing to comment about: grow really good/balance grass so you can cut down on the hay bill in the summer. rotating the fields is a good idea, having at least 2 fields for when one may get muddy/run down/over grazed. . . then close it and open the other or use both equally.

but those are what what we had the first time around and what my new plans are shaping up to be like for the next horse i own. *still saving up money to get everything ready lol*

edit: my horse (16.2) and my pony (14.2) fit in a stall 10x10, i didnt want them in the same stall but when i opened the stalls to let them out for the day they'd go and stay in one stall together until they felt like going out and when i got back they'd be in the same stall, and i'd have to go put one of them in the other stall for the night. . . . so a 10x10 stall IS big enough for a horses up to 16.2 hands *at least*

Answer 5

Well, you need at least 1acre per horse...anything more would be great though, so your horse has plenty of running and grazing space.  Plus, the more pasture you have the more money you save on hay!  Thats a great plus!:o) You have many options when it comes to shelter.  You can use trees, run-in sheds, lean-tos, or the best option-stalls.  For the average horse, I would recommend a 10x12' stall.  He may  be more comfortable in a 12x12' stall, but I promise that he will do just fine in a 10x12' one.  You only need one pasture if you have one horse, but I recommend you make a round pen or arena for lunging, riding, training, or show-preping.  Also, it you have a mare and a stud, for example, you will definetly want to have two different pastures or you may end up with 50 more of them before it's over!(exageration, of course but  u get the idea.) I have owned and been around horses my entire life and did this EXACT search when I bought my first horse.  If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.  You may want to buy the book, Horsekeeping on small Acreage, by Cherry Hill.  It is amazing, and it doesn't really mean SMALL acreage...it gives you barn plans and pasture plans for up to 100 acres!  It helped my family so much when we started off! It has EVERYTHING you need for pasturing and stabling your new horse! I hope I really helped!

Answer 6

Don't keep your hourse in a stall. Allow him a large pasture, my horse has never been in a fenced in area smaller than 40 acres.

Answer 7

First of all, the size of the pasture depends on how much exercise the horse getting outside of the pasture. Like when riding, ect. Considering that a horse with a lot of exercise during the day wouldn't need a whole lot of room.

Second, My stalls are 10 X 10 which is a great size for average size horses and ponys. I would highly consider putting in stalls no matter what other people say. They are very helpful when its very cold, raining, storming, and depending where you live snowing.

You shouldn't need different areas for different activities. I would highly consider just putting up a arena for all the daily activities. This will be very helpful for if you ever plan on going to shows the horse will be used to using the same arena for different activities.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Answer 8

Stalls:

for ponies - at least 8 x 8

for horses - at least 12 x 12

for a large horse - 14 x 12 or bigger

idk about sq footage, but one horse needs about an acre and a half of land. That's if it has good quality grass. If there is not much good grass, you'll need more.

You don't have to have seperate areas, but it is good, because when grass gets short in one area, then you can let the horse in a different pasture while it grows.

Answer 9

it depends on the horse. if it likes to run maybe 2 acres. if its a less spirited horse 1 1/2 acres. the stall should be big enough for the horse and you to move a round comfortably, but the horse should not be kept in the stall all night. yes  you would need a sparate area for events so your horse will act better because its not in its home.

Answer 10

Horses really need 1 to 1 1/2 acres to run , but if exercised that can be reduced.  To give perspective a rootball field size area.  Actually if handled and excercised in addition, you could work them in a 1/2 acre area and stall or dry lot them.

Recommended stall size is 12 feet by 12 feet.  But you can get by on a 10 foot by 10 foot stall, especially if the horse is not huge.

It is good to have a small exercise field of 1 or 2 acres.   Many people also like to have a round pen.

Pasture should be sectioned off or they will not utilize it very efficiently.  I like to have at least one field of cool season grass and one of warm season grass so that they can have grass all spring summer and fall.  Remember to pull the horses off before that grass's growing season ends so that it can revitalize.

Answer 11

Florida states a minimum of one acre improved pasture for 1 horse.

The stalls at my barn are 11x11 and were built for large (16 +h) horses.

The only seperate activity needing to be fenced off would be the round pen and that's not a must have.

Answer 12

If the horse is stalled, (12 x 12 is adequate) but he should be turned out in a pasture every day

Answer 13

a typical stall is 12'x12'. But this also depends on your breed of horse, larger breed need bigger space. A foaling stall is 14'x14'. As far as running space, I have about a acre and a half per horse. Since you have one horse and if you don't have a lot of space don't worrly about seperate areas but you can divide the area in half and alternate the horse on it every other week. As far as riding in a arena, you don't have to have a big fancy arena, honestly I hate working in a arena working in outdoors making my own arean is fun to me. Just as long as its flat, no holes. Hopefully this helped