It’s interesting reading about different chores required in different climates. Mowing, fence maintenance, and dealing with mud are generally not issues here.
In much of California and Arizona, weeding and mowing are non-issues since there are no lush grasses without massive irrigation. I bemoan the lack of a pasture with soft and yummy grass and wish my horse had that in her dotage. In the summer, I put out a large nest of straw in the dry lot so that she can have a soft place to lie down, other than the spot where she rolls. But I can see the up side of this dry climate when it comes to maintenance. He doesn’t mow, but my barn’s owner does disc the dry lot on a regular basis.
Fences are very sturdy and low-maintenance metal here, so there’s that. The place I board at installed welded metal pipe fencing with V-wire well over thirty years ago and there has been little to no maintenance done. The wires are structurally sturdy, although if you examine them, they appear slightly discolored/rusty, which is the only indication that the fence wasn’t built last year. The high top rail discourages horses from leaning over the fence, so the fact that the horses don’t really touch the fences is a real help in preventing damage and wear. My point in all of this is that time spent on fence maintenance is zero.
Likewise, mud is not really an issue. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few days every year after an extended or heavy rainfall where the paddock is mucky, but it dries out quickly. The most that’s been done regarding this is when I had the barn owner build up the soil under the shade structure so that it would stay dry underneath, and that was probably ten years ago.
So, region and climate can have a big impact on time required for maintenance. Still, there are the constraints of being present 24/7 for feeding. Manure needs to be picked up daily on a dry lot or if you use stalls. It’s something to consider.
I really like the observation expressed here that it is a lifestyle choice to have horses at home vs. boarding them. Neither is good or bad, just a choice of how to spend your time.
