The Joys (?) Of Keeping Your Horse At Home

There have been several posts on social media about the advantage of keeping your horse at home, compared to boarding your horse. This is a topic I can certainly relate to, so I have been reading the comments to see if they align with my thoughts on the topic.

I have wanted my own farm for as long as I can remember. My grandparents farm outside of Pittsburgh was my happy place and I wanted to replicate that memory for my own children. Sadly, I could never get my husband on board with the idea until 6 years ago...I tell people it took over 30 years of nagging to finally wear him down. During the time that we lived in suburbia, I boarded my horses. While the kids were little, I had to opt for full board, but then when they became teens, and both of my daughters were riding and each had their own horse, I found a lovely 6 stall barn to rent. The only drawback was that it was nearly a 45 minute drive, each way, but somehow I made it work for over 6 years. Having a daughter who could drive, and a few boarders made it worthwhile, but once my oldest daughter left for college and my youngest lost interest, it didn’t make sense to keep at it, especially when my long-time boarder bought a farm and I could become her boarder!

For the next few years I boarded at a variety of barns for different reasons. My boarder’s new farm was too far away to make it work, and unfortunately it was difficult to find a barn that was a good match for my draftx who had allergies (so no night turnout…ever) and was on a special diet due to him having EPSM.

In 2020, at the beginning of COVID, my husband was finally ready to move out to the country. We didn’t know if selling our house at this time was a good idea, but the process had already begun and incredibly, we sold our house in less than 2 days. And of course, all the farms we had been looking at in the month prior while researching areas to move to were either sold or not feasible…my husband works from home and high-speed internet is a priority, which meant many places we were interested in would not work for that reason. We found our farm, that while it didn’t meet all of my requirements, it did have a lovely 6 stall barn, and I could finally realize my dream of moving back to the country!

First, the downside of having a farm:

Yes, everything they say about never having time to ride is true! There are always chores that need to be done, and unless you have help, it can eat into riding time. Therefore, I have learned to prioritize my ride time.

It is expensive! My husband was always asking me if I knew how much it would cost to have a farm! You need equipment! Tractors and mowers and utility vehicles and drags and manure spreaders, just to name a few. If you or your spouse are not handy, consider purchasing a property that needs nothing. Our farm needed the fencing replaced and other work done and we were shocked to discover how much fencing had become. My husband is neither handy nor does he have the time, so projects that could be affordable are not once you pay for help…and finding good help, especially in the country can be hard! We wasted money initially on handymen who did poor work that required the task being done a 2nd time.

It is lonely! I do miss the camaraderie of fellow boarders. I had hoped to have a few boarders, but our farm doesn’t have the land to support more than my own horses. Have a trailer so that you will need to trailer out to see your trainer.

The result of being “alone” has resulted in my becoming a much more conservative rider. I am not as brave or bold as when I am around others. I have also lost my motivation to compete. Part of this is the result of moving here off with a new, green, OTTB and I miss my old steady partner, who passed away before we bought the farm. In retrospect, I should have boarded my newbie and worked with my trainer for a few months before bringing him home. But I have found peace with this new me and I have accepted it. It is probably temporary and I am taking it one day at a time!

Your horse needs a friend! I thought having a donkey (and then 2) would suffice, but I realized after sending Gabe off for 2 months of bootcamp last year that he needed a horse friend! You need to consider the mental well-being of your horse when he comes home.

Traveling is difficult and adds an extra expense to your vacation. You need a good, reliable farm sitter.

Ok, are there pluses of having your horse at home? YES!!

Even if you don’t have the time, there is nothing better than looking out your windows and seeing your horses!

My horses are healthy and happy! I have not had a colic in over 5 years. My horses have hay in front of them all the time, they are fed what I want them to eat, and they are on a schedule I want them to be on.

I don’t have to worry about my horses being left out in storms or in the wicked heat.They can be out as long as they want. Their stalls have runs off the backs so they can still leave their stalls if they choose.

My barn is set up as I want it, it is clean and my stalls are bedded as I prefer.

My horses always have fresh, clean and cool water! No dirty water here!

I have a stronger bond with my horses.

While there are initial costs for equipment, at the end of the day, it is cheaper to keep my horses at home.

I can visit my horses anytime I want, even in my pajamas! No commute time!

I am not going to lie…the first year was very stressful! I was constantly fretting over them. Fireworks on the 4th and New Years eve sent me into a nervous state, I worried about wildlife, I worried about horse thieves, I worried about everything! When you board, you can leave all those worries for the barn owner to deal with but now they become your worries. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything, because I get to look out my window as I write this and see my horses and donkeys, grazing happily in their pasture!

In other news:

It is mostly extremely cold where you are. Have you taken precautions and are you ready? Read this past blog on surviving the extreme cold: Surviving Extreme Winter Weather and be sure to thank your horse’s caregiver during these difficult times. If you are the caregiver, pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate, sit next to a warm fire and give yourself a hug and remind yourself that this too will pass and you will be complaining about the heat before too long.

Kudos to the United States Equestrian Federation for launching its Lifetime Care Contract, which is a free service to USEF members in what will hopefully provide a safety net for horses that are in need of assistance, whether financially or physically. This program will allow anyone connected to a horse, whether it be a breeder, former owner, rider, trainer or groom, to be notified if a particular horse is at risk.

Any horse that is recorded in the USEF can be eligible and the program is modeled after similar programs that The Jockey Club and U.S. Trotting Horse Association have initiated. This will hopefully reduce the number of horses who fall through the cracks and end up in auctions or the slaughter pipeline and place them with people who are familiar with them and will provide them with a good home. Read more at: Lifetime Care | US Equestrian It is nice to see the USEF finally getting something right in equine welfare.

Stay warm and as always,

Don’t forget to hug your horse!

Lori