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Building Retirement Farm

Around The Farm
#1

I am thinking of bringing my horses home for retirement and building something to accommodate that on my property. I am looking for opinions and ideas on what would be needed. I would like the horses to live outside with a run in (maybe with stalls to lock them in if the weather gets super bad), but don’t want it to get too muddy or the fields to get too mucked up so I would have gates going to potentially 3 sections. I have about 1.5 acres I could work with.

What else would I need? Hay and Grain Storage would need another shed I assume. I’d love to do a round bale outside, but don’t want it to get gross before my two horses can eat it. Maybe I could figure out a way to cover it?

Let me know your opinions!

Thanks.

#2

Where are you located?
Have you ever had older, retired horses in your care?

#3

I am in New Jersey. I have never had my horses at home, but have spent a large portion of my life working at farms that do have older horses. Mine is 17 now and where we are has limited turnout, which he really enjoys when he gets it. The other is 12 years old, but I am planning for the future.

I am asking more from a building perspective of what to think about when building something with a run in, hay storage, and manure removal in mind.

#4

1.5 acres for 2 horses is a tight fit. You may not have much pasture unless you create a series of small paddocks with frequent rotation. However, if its just being outdoors and able to move around, I’d set up my shed-row in the middle of the 1.5 aces. Put dutch doors on one side, two stalls in the middle, then 10’ or 12’ overhang on the other side.

On the side with the dutch doors I’d have a 3/4 acre paddock.On the side with the overhang, I’d have a small paddock - maybe 50’ by 24’ as a sacrifice area, then that opens to two small paddocks of about 1/4 acre each. But it really kind of depends on the shape of that 1.5 acres. Do you have a topographic view or a plat you could post?

2 Likes
#5

You need this: Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage: Designing and Managing Your Equine Facilities by Cherry Hill. It is an excellent book and will tell you all you need to know to do what you want to do.

Good luck in your project.

G.

5 Likes
#6

Depending on where you are in NJ be sure that the Highlands Act doesn’t impact you. I am in the “preservation” area but since the property was established prior to 2004 I have the ability to do quite a bit without any issues with the Act. Also check zoning. Here it is required that the property be a minimum of 2 or 3 acres (can’t quite remember) for the first horse, then 1 acre per horse thereafter.

Besides that I am in the process of tearing down an old barn and building a new one at home for my horses (both are in light-moderate work) and have two retired horses who board with me. The property already had paddocks set up. I have 2 small grass paddocks approx 1/4 acre each, a dry lot that is currently 30x80ish with stonedust with a 10x10 run in, a 1/3 acre grass paddock, a 1/4 acre grass “riding ring” that I use for turnout, too, and then two larger “pastures” at 1.9 acres & 1.5 acres.

So I’ve got about 4.5 acres in grass, which in the middle of summer seems to be plenty of grass as long as I manage it appropriately for 4 horses (one is muzzled). They come into the barn or dry lot if it is remotely wet, otherwise in only for feed. Dry lot is 2 horses max only due to size. I use the two 1/4 acre paddocks near the road only when I need partial day turnout or the back fields haven’t dried out yet and they are each large enough for two horses who get along.

I’m building a center aisle which is probably much more than you need. In your shoes I’d consider a long shed row with one or two real stalls, a storage area for hay/grain/supplies, and at least a 12x16 run-in area that is open to a small dry lot with some sort of footing (maybe 50x100). Then have two smaller paddocks at 1/4 acre each and let the rest be a large pasture that you could split with temp fencing as needed.

#7

Agreed! Excellent book.

#8

I don’t think I’d want to deal with the upkeep of a 1.5 acre farm in NJ. You’d have mud galore in most parts of the state! And you’d probably end up having to stall and/or dry lot your retirees if you want to keep grass, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a retirement farm IMO.

I know small acreage is the norm in some parts of the US, but in NJ, you’re really just making your life difficult.

3 Likes
#9

Run-in with the ability to lock them up individually. Make sure you set it up so that it’s easy for someone to feed and water without opening any gates that could release a horse. Have the shortest possible path (well graded and improved if possible) between your hay storage and where you feed. Imagine being away and needing to find someone not-horsey to feed for you, and design for that person.

For that kind of space you have to plan to manage it as a dry lot with hay, and then a little bonus area for grass when you can.

1 Like
#10

I am sorry but 1.5 acres is only a paddock, in terms of a farm.

The link above regarding small acreage horse keeping is a good one.

However, if you’re are living on the 1.5 acres, your horses won’t even have that much to move around on. You are going to find yourself working for them nearly 100% of your free time and include some of your sleep time, unless you’re a person who can function nicely on five hours sleep every day.

i am dead against round bales for two horses. It’s a waste of hay. Horses like to lay in that hay and poop in it then you have more of a mess to clean up.

then there’s the risk of rodents moving into the round vale and passing along diseases because it’s not getting eaten down fast enough.

2 Likes
#11

From a building perspective, the aging process and how different their needs can be as they age, means you need to plan better to address those changing needs. Thing like a place to cold hose out of the elements, larger stalls rather than smaller to attempt to avoid getting cast, etc
Thinking a simple run in and round bale will suffice, for example, leaves a lot of room for trouble for an aging horse and the management thereof.
I agree, your acreage is very small for what you wish to do.

Here in NY acreage for horses is 2 acres for first, addl acre for each addl horse (which, frankly, is not enough)

#12

Currently have seven head on 2.25 acres (two aged horses, one yearling, one 40 plus pony, three miniatures). All legal per zoning which for some reason does not count miniatures as horses.

As for round bales, we have a concrete pad (24 ft by 30ft) where we keep the trailer and 1200# round bales (up to four but usually no more than two) on pallets, the bales are pushed over then unrolled, feeding as needed to the horses. During the worst of times we will go through one round bale in just under a month by peeling it off rather than putting it a feeder in the pasture.

Waste hay is feed to the goats next door who stand waiting for any thing we pitch to them.

Large “pasture” is about 1.4 acres (300ft by 200ft) . There are four interconnecting paddocks for the horses and one 66ft round pen which also can be used as a paddock. All is green most of the time expect during droughts then no one anywhere around here has grass.

Backyard is used for grazing thus rarely needs to be mowed. Zoning has been changed that now allows fencing in front of the house but we have not done that (neighbor has …she puts her sheep in the front yard)

Two barns, the former two stall “show” barn with run has had one stall converted into a tack room the other stall has been modified into two mini horse stalls.

“Big” barn is set up U shaped with the stalls around a central general purpose area has five stalls plus feed room where hay is stored along with grain. Bedding is mostly pelleted so those bags are stored in a convenient place near the front door.

Time spent usually is an hour in the morning and thirty minutes in the evening…even when the gang wants to be in their stalls during the afternoons to be under their fans

None are retired. Even the 28 year old gelding is worked as he has an eleven year old girl who adores him

All are in good flesh, no one is near staving. The 40 year old pony even is OK.

2 Likes
#13

somewhere along the line our city’s zoning ordnance had been rewritten incorrectly …it allows three horses for the first acre then none for the second acre?

The number of cows or horses permitted shall not exceed one adult per one-third acre for the first acre, and two adults per acre for each additional acre over two acres of a single tract of land.

I questioned this and was told “oh, that’s an error we do not enforce it”…well if you are not going to change it then give me in writing a variance

#14

First check your zoning laws for your place (if any), there may or may not be requirements for x amount of land per horse and may have requirements for shelter etc. Then check building permits that are required for out buildings. Lastly check about manure disposal and how you will address that. Be sure you have neighbors that are accepting of livestock and more importantly won’t bother them or you about it.

I don’t think I would section off 1.5 acres, that isn’t a very big area, making it into 3 sections would mean very small turn out areas. I’d be inclined to leave it open for them to access 24/7.

#15

I feed round bales to our 2 who are outside up to 14 hrs / day. We purchased a hay hut a year ago and the wasted hay has been reduced significantly. We also keep squares on hand to feed overnight in their stalls / in case they require stabling due to injury etc.

If you’re able I would consider having stalls in case of injury. And somewhere covered for your vet/farrier so that they aren’t having to work outside in the elements.

#16

Like all things real estate, the rule is “location, location, location.”

On my 177 acres I have places where a 1.5 acre piece with house, small barn, and paddocks could be set up for two horse and there would never be an issue with mud. I have other places that are mud wallers with no livestock activity at all. It all depends just which 1.5 acres we’re talking about.

That said, if the Town Fathers decree that you have to have more then you have to have more. That the Town Fathers are morons does not mean that they are not the Town Fathers. :wink:

So there are actually TWO standards you have to deal with. First, the legal standard. Second, the practical standard. The OP has to figure out both.

On feeding rounds, I routinely feed rounds in a round bale feeder to my four in a paddock that can vary from 1 acre to 5 acres, depending on where we are in the rotation cycle. I can also “clean up” that spot without too much difficulty. On 1.5 acres those luxuries do no exist. There will have to “feeding stations” set up for each confinement area. I’d not plan on rounds for just two horses in NJ. It’s unlikely they’d be consumed quickly enough to avoid spoilage unless they were really small rounds (and there are mini-round balers to make these; here is an example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFpJmFZG7L8). Squares are likely the future.

This CAN be done but it might take some planning and investment in ground preparation (grass, gravel, artificial footing, etc.). Ms. Hill’s book is a valuable resource for setting up a basic plan. Then get the local Extension Agent out to look at the plan and the ground and give their input. Then plan on spending the money to PROPERLY execute the plan. A dollar not spent now might mean many more dollars spent in the future to repair what failed because it was not properly done at the get-go.

Put another way, do it right, not cheap.

Good luck in the project. :slight_smile:

G.

#17

Very good suggestion to check your county/state zoning ordinances for # of horses permitted on your property. I hadn’t even thought of that. Made me wonder what it is in TN (I have 40 acres).

#18

I’m in Tennessee but I don’t know the answer to that. It would be easy enough to find out by starting at the county courthouse and asking questions:)

I had to have three horses on 7/8 acre of paddock of desert sand in Southern California for five years and I hated every stinking rotten minute of that. I fed small squares and keeping their area clean was a lot of work. I couldn’t wait to get them the hay out of there and back east of the Mississippi on 25 acres.

I do know when Ilived in PA the amount of livestock allowed per acre varied by township and the maximum was well enforced because neighbors who were city slickers-moved-to-the-country made sure of that, if the livestock were close to them.

i will forever agree to disagree with those who have large amounts of livestock on land even the county Ag person would shake his head “no” about. To each his own. I want my horses running happy all day with a barn to come into at night and fed hay off small squares. It’s just who I am, it’s a lot less work and possibly less vet bills in some ways.

My Rottweiler and Catahoula/Pit Bull may even have a bigger fenced back yard than some horses get for an outdoor pen —5/8 acre, plus they go,check fences every day, on the rest of the farm,minder our supervision.

#19

AFAIK there is State standard. There may be county zoning standards, but you’d much more likely find them in Davidson or Shelby Cos. that you would in Union or Unicoi. But in a Nanny State like NJ you’re likely to find LOTS of ways the Powers That Be are trying to tell you how to live. Sometimes these really are things that we should do but at least as often as not they’re the “bugaboo” of some local legislator who envisions himself a Big Fish in his local Small Pond. Those of you who live in rural areas ANYWHERE know what I mean!!! :slight_smile:

But, as I say, you have the legal standard and you have the practical standard. Just 'cause you can do something legally doesn’t mean you should. That’s another Lost Thought in our trying times.

G.

1 Like
#20

I am in NJ. Most towns want 2ac for the first horse and 1 acre for each additional. Some towns will enforce this… others don’t seem to care

The biggest hurdle I think for you is… without outbuildings it will be hard for you to get enough hay to last the winter. The past two winters EVERYONE (supplier wise) ran out of hay unless you were a big or longtime customer who had reserves.

And with no barn it’s easy to forget how much of a PITA farrier and vet care are when you have to do it in a field. Tubing or doing a rectal by headlight just isn’t fun. I never realized how much I love electricity until I didn’t have it.

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