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Horse Boarding and Pasturing

Horses may be boarded on your own property or at a commercial stable or facility.

Keeping a horse or horses on your acreage provides more management control, saves time and expenses, and can reduce the risk of injuries and disease. Most important, it allows fuller enjoyment and greater learning experiences. However, it also requires more management, knowledge and time. Remember, horses must be cared for daily.

If you don't have the necessary acreage (see the article on Exercise Area Requirements for Horses) or don't have the time, commercial boarding may be the better choice. In choosing a commercial stable, look for healthy horses on site, adequate area for exercise and proof they're going to properly care for your horse.

A pasture isn't necessary for horses. Current nutritional knowledge indicates a horse may be well-fed and healthy without pasture. However, pasture has several advantages. It is the natural source of food for horses, reduces the cost of feeding, provides an excellent exercise area and saves labor. Also, horses usually stay healthier when kept on pasture.

If you don't have a pasture available or want more information on supplemental feed for your pastured horses, see our article on Feeding Your Horses.

The Mercantile and Ranch-Way feeds have a complete line of nutritionally balanced feeds for your horses on pasture or in more confined areas.