Managing Horses on Small Properties

A dream shared by many is to run a few horses on a small property on the fringes of a city or town. This book shows how to combine sustainable land management practices with a style of horse keeping that will protect the health and well-being of your horses, as well as the land and its wildlife. Good property management does not need to be an expensive undertaking. Improved pasture means less feed bills, reduced mud or dust improves a horse's health and reduces vet bills, better manure management turns a liability into an asset. The reader is first introduced to the horse's natural behaviour as expressed in body language, intelligence, ability to learn, grazing, herd instincts and social behaviour. The book then goes on to cover all the basics of safe handling, routine care and common health problems. Property selection, property design, water supply, pasture management, horse facilities, fencing, trees and plants, manure management and equipment and tools are comprehensively dealt with in separate chapters. This is a practical book written with a minimum of jargon especially for those who are new to horse ownership and small properties. It will deliver real benefits to the landholder, including reduced horse keeping costs, better welfare of horses, increased productivity, and improved land management practices.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Horse management Natural horse behaviour Safe horse management Routine horse care Common health problems Chapter 3 Property selection Individual property features The wider area The legals Chapter 4 Property design Influencing factors Making a plan Chapter 5 Water supply and conservation Managing and conserving water The natural system Managing waterways Water sources Using water Water problems Chapter 6 Pasture management Managing pasture Soil Suitable pasture species Management practices Chapter 7 Horse facilities Sacrifice yards Training yards Arenas Shelters Stables Chapter 8 Fences and fencing Fence placement Fence visibility Fence dimensions Costing fences Types of fences Posts Droppers/battens Erecting fences Gates and gateways Chapter 9 Trees and plants The benefits of trees and plants Trees and plants as habitat Trees for shelter and fire protection Trees and plants for fodder Poisonous trees and plants Trees and plants for pest protection Buying and planting Protection and care Chapter 10 Manure management Manure management options Affects of types of bedding Manure accumulation and composition Manure storage Composting manure Manure use Paddock manure management Chapter 11 Equipment and tools What equipment is necessary? Other items Chapter 12 Resources Glossary Bibliography Index