The Pros & Cons of Keeping Backyard Horses

There are many wonderful perks to having your horses at home! Most riders would love a small barn and a few acres to keep a couple of horses on. There’s nothing quite as nice as waking up and seeing horses from your kitchen window. You’d be just a short walk to your barn. Before you take the plunge and bring them home, make sure to do your research. There are a few drawbacks to backyard horses.

This pro and con list won’t be the same for everyone. There are so many different disciplines and types of horse owners from leisurely trail riders to competitive barrel racers and show jumpers. Each family will also have different income levels and types of facilities. This can easily change your experience in keeping horses at home.

Pros of Horses at Home

• Save on boarding fees! If you have multiple horses, then you can definitely save quite a bit by keeping them at home.
• Enjoy all the horse time you want. Imagine being just a short walk away from your horses. You can see them throughout the day.
• No more driving to the barn. This will save you time and money in gas!
• Your horses will get personalized care. Many owners like taking care of their horses themselves. You’ll be in charge of diet, turnout schedule, blankets, etc.…
• You get to pick out the hay, bedding, and grain that you like. There are so many different options from 1st and 2nd cutting hay to pellets and sawdust.
• You can create your own barn rules.
• Design your barn the way you like! If you like displaying your tack or horse blankets a certain way, you’re free to do so!
• No barn drama!
• Barn chores become a good way to workout. Owning a farm will definitely keep you fit!

Cons of Backyard Horses

• Finding a farm sitter can be so hard (and expensive), which means way fewer vacations.
• Your horses rely on you for all of their care.
• It can be dangerous riding alone. If you get injured, no one may find you for a while.
• You won’t have barn buddies to ride with. It can get lonely at times.
• Many boarding barns have trainers and experienced barn managers.
• Farriers and other equine professionals usually prefer coming to barns with more horses and clients, especially if you only have two horses.
• In most cases, you’ll spend more time doing chores than riding.
• You may not be able to afford fancier amenities like an indoor arena or wash stall.
• The initial cost of a barn and land can be expensive. You might also need a tractor and other farm machinery.
• Horses need friends, so if you just have one horse, you’ll need to buy a second.

You’ll have to decide what is more important to you. Some riders want to be surrounded by others to motivate and inspire them. They like having access to fancier amenities and want to spend their time at the barn riding not cleaning. On the other hand, some enjoy seeing their horses multiple times a day. They’re very particular and want to control their horses’ care and lifestyle. They prefer a quiet, drama-free barn. 

Which horse owner and rider are you?