How to raise a Horses

Horses are wonderful animals that require a fair amount of work. Whether raising work horses or race horses or just pleasure horses, there are some basic rule to keeping the animals. These are easy steps to follow, although they can be labor intensive. The reward for the work are healthy, happy and well-trained animals that will make your experience raising them a better one.

1 Have a barn (or stable) ready before you bring the horses home. You will stall for the horses, a tack room for the equipment, another space to keep hay bales, and bins for grain and sawdust. It should also have a water supply such as a spigot or hose.


2 Fence in a place outside the barn, too. How big a pasture you will need depends on and number of horses you plan on keeping. A single draft horse, for example, should have about 5 to 6 acres of pasture with room to run.

3 Make sure that in addition to grazing (grass), the pasture has access to water. A natural source, such as a stream, is best, but a water tank will work. Fencing to keep the horse inside the pasture is also wise.

4 Use a halter(or harness) around the horse's head, as well as a lead--like a leash but for livestock, usually rope or chain--to take the horse from the barn to the pasture, or into the horse trailer when you transport the horse.

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5 Use a round pen where you can train your horse with simple commands. The pen should be a circular, fenced-in area. You'll also need a riding crop for those moments when you need to gently correct the horse with a tap on the side or hindquarters.

6 Make sure that every day each stall has a water bucket with clean water. You may also want a hay rack, but you can put the hay on the floor. There should be a good coating of sawdust on the floor, not only for the horses comfort but to help absorb odor and waste.

7 Clean the stall daily. A sifting fork allows you to scoop up the waste left behind without taking the clean sawdust with it. A wheelbarrow makes it easier to remove the waste to a compost pile as well as get fresh sawdust ( usually keep in a bin) to re-line the stall when you are done.

8 Feed the horses grain and hay each day, even if they are also grazing. Grazing horses need less hay, but if you live someplace where winter are harsh, they'll need more in winter. Grain is easier to feed the horses if you use a grain dish that you can remove from the stall when they are done.

9 Clean your horses when they get dirty. Use a brush to clean the horse and help remove excess hair. It also helps you and your horse bond

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How to Build a Horse Shelter

Horses need adequate shelter from the weather even if you live in a mild climate. Horse shelters must be built safe and sturdy to withstand the abuse it will take from the horses. A three-sided shelter is the most economical and easiest shelter to build. Learn how to build a horse shelter by following these steps.


1 Find a flat, level area to build the shelter. The area should be high and not prone to flooding or standing water. Water should run away from the shelter, not towards it.

2 Determine what direction the open side of the shelter should face. The north and west winds are the strongest in most areas, so the back of the shelter should face these directions.

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3 Determine how tall you will need to make the shelter. It should be big enough that the tallest horse can walk in, throw his head up, and not hit the roof.

4 Know how many horses are sharing this shelter. One horse can use a 12 by 12 foot shelter, but a bigger shelter is need if more horses are in the pasture. Make the shelter no more than 12 to 14 feet deep. Add the additional space in width, not depth. If you have a pasture with many horses, consider building more than one shelter.

5 Dig four holes for the corner posts. Use strong, sturdy posts for the corners. Dig the holes at least four feet deep, adding cement in the bottom of the holes to secure the posts before refilling with dirt.

6 Use 2-by-4 lumber to build a frame on three sides of the shelter. A minimum consists of a board along the top, one along the bottom and one midway on the sides of the shelter. More boards should be used on the roof to hold roofing material.

7 Cover the roof with with plywood and shingles or tin. Tin is the most economical and easiest material to use.

8 Get thick plywood or use planks for the inside of the shelter. You can use tin or planks on the outside as long as the inside is covered from the floor to at least midway up the shed with thick plywood. Horses can kick through tin, severely injuring a leg. The plywood may split and planks can break, but it will prevent the leg from going through to the tin.

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How to Bridle a Horse

Put your horse in a halter while you prepare to bridle her.

Use cross-ties, a single tie down, or tie the lead line to a post to keep your horse in place. Attach cross-ties to the side rings of the halter.

Attach a single tie down to the ring at the throat of the halter.

Stand on the near (left) side of the horse when putting on the bridle.

Put on a running martingale (helps to keep horse from throwing its head up), drop noseband (helps keep horse's mouth closed) or any other schooling aids.

Check to make sure all other tack is adjusted properly. The cinch should be snug and the back cinch (if you're using one) should be attached.

Remove halter from face and replace around neck to prevent horse from wandering off. 

Place your right hand on top of the horse's head. (Use a mounting block if you can't reach.) With your wrist between the horse's ears and your fingers facing the nose, press gently downward to get the horse to drop its head.    

Grab the top of the headstall (the piece that fits over the horse's head) with your right hand. Separate the mouthpiece (the piece that actually goes in the horse's mouth) from the reins and hold it to the horse's lips. A trained horse should automatically open its mouth. Ask the horse to "Open."

Slip the bit gently into the horse's mouth. Don't force. Once the bit is in place, slip the top part of the headstall over the horse's ears.

Adjust the length of the face strap so there are one or two wrinkles in the skin at the corner of the horse's mouth.

Adjust the chin strap (if your headstall has one). You should be able to fit two fingers between the horse's throat and the strap when the horse's head is facing forward.

Hold both reins in your left hand while undoing the halter with your right hand. When walking with the horse, keep the horse on your right side and hold the reins in your right hand.

Warning and Tips

If you can't reach the top of your horse's head, either stand on a mounting block or slip the mouthpiece inside the horse's mouth and then gently lower your horse's head to fit the headstall.

If your horse fights having the bit put in its mouth, have your horse's teeth checked. Horses' teeth continually grow; the mouthpiece may be rubbing against a tooth.

If your horse refuses to open its mouth, hold the mouthpiece in your left hand and slip the thumb of your right hand into the left side of your horse's mouth, where the lips meet. There are no teeth back there. Wiggle your thumb in the horse's mouth; this may coax the animal to open wide.

Headstalls come with or without chin straps. The headstall either will have one or two ear loops, or will have a brow band that fits across the forehead and a strap that goes over the head behind the ears.

Be careful with a horse's ears when you are putting on the headstall. Horses' ears are sensitive and many do not like their ears touched.

Make sure the mouthpiece you use does not pinch the side of the horse's mouth.

Never force a mouthpiece into a horse's mouth. Allow the horse a few seconds to position the mouthpiece in its mouth.

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Hillside Stable

Hillside Stable LLC is located on 37 acres of land in Glastonbury, CT. Hillside offers a wide assortment of equine services; full & rough board, horseback riding lessons, horse transportation, summer day camps for kids, horses available for lease and sale, pony parties, pony rides and more. Hillside Stable consist of a 30 stall barn, with high ceilings and wide aisle ways, large indoor and outdoor arenas, round pen, office/lounge, miles of trails, all day turnout, and more.

Full Board = $500 per month!

Rough Board = $300 per month!

Training Board (In addition to one of the boarding options above)

Partial Training = $150.00 per month

Full Training = $300.00 per month

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