From the Horse's Mouth - Choosing a Horse Property

As a farrier I can tell you there is a great deal toreport done, by you not the seller. You will need
having the right horse property, just the wronglots of good clean water especially in the summer.
type of soil and it will eat little holes in theirI will stay away from any kind of community too;
hooves, if it is too highly acidic in nature. When Ithey are going to tell you what you can and can't
am looking at a prospective home in my area, Ido with your property, and your horses. I don't
am looking firstly for unwanted plants, like snakethink they are a great way to go, all you have to
grass, and horse tails, those vivid green bushydo is tick off your neighbor and he will have the
things. Any sign of a wet environment is a badcounty out, telling animal control you don't feed
thing, as the horses will turn the land to mush.the horses right, or that you are beating them
You also need to know if you intend to pasturehorribly.
your animals. In a decent growing climate you willFlood plain can be a terrible thing to fight with as
need about one acre per head of horses.well. If you have to board your horses six
I won't turn a facility down because it has nomonths out of the year you might as well, in my
barn, horses don't mind the weather for the mostopinion, live somewhere else. Not to mention that
part if they've got a blanket, but you do need ayour house is going to be a mess and you will be
good area you can confine a sick animal, and aliving elsewhere too. That can be a real disaster if
good spot for your vet and farrier to workyou don't have a plan, especially if you have hard
where they won't be bothered by other people orto move horses, like extremely pregnant mares,
animals while they work on the horses. That isgiant draft horses, or stallions.
something that must be available pretty soonWhere ever you choose to live, don't fall in love
after the horses are moved in, for their safety,with a bathroom, or the great schools, try to set
your safety, and the safety of the peopleup the best possible scenario of all factors, so
working on your animals.that you're not ruing the day you moved in later
Another of my big things is the water, can youor worse, having to get rid of your animals
get it, how much can you get, and how good is itbecause things just didn't work out right.
when you do have it. It pays to have a water