This blog post is for those who are considering owning a Virginia horse farm. Horses can offer many benefits to your family, from companionship and farming aid to therapy and competition.
However, the care that horses require can be quite expensive. If you’re considering this course of action, it’s worth knowing how much work it will take as well as what expenses there will be before making this life-changing decision.
It’s important to carefully consider what type of farming suits your needs before making any commitments because Virginia horse farms require a lot of work and dedication from farmers who love animals, nature, and the outdoors.
Horses vs tractors – why buy horses for your business?
Horses are often viewed as an investment because they are so versatile. Owning horses can be surprisingly cheaper than purchasing tractors, plows, or other farming aids and in the long run, horses can save your business money by eliminating the need to purchase expensive machinery and reduce operational costs.
A horse’s versatility also makes them great for therapy and competition. Owning a horse is typically more affordable than many other types of training as well.
The primary downside is the cost to purchase or raise horses, but if you have enough land, you can make the extra money to offset any costs.
Get certified in equine care.
After deciding to purchase a Virginia horse farm, you should receive some sort of certification before purchasing your horses or raising them on your own. Owning horses often requires quite a bit of experience with common horse diseases and treatments as well as veterinary care. Owning horses also involves properly feeding, exercising, and cleaning up after the animals so that they are healthy and happy.
Research different types of fencing – it’s important to be safe when caring for horses.
If you’re going to own horses, it’s important to have a proper enclosure. Horses can typically jump over five feet high fences and open gates that are lower than four feet can lead to runaways or other safety risks for your animals. It’s also smart to ensure that the fence is not easily damaged because distressed horses may break through otherwise adequate fencing.
Think about how many horses you can realistically care for at once – if there are too many, then it may not be worth starting a horse farm.
Owning horses is an extremely large responsibility and can be quite difficult to do alone even if you are experienced with working with animals. Owning horses typically requires constant work because they need to be fed, exercised, cleaned up after, and cared for when injured or sick. Horses should be handled with care and never roughly and should not be scolded. Improper treatment can lead to a horse’s inability to trust you.
The process of buying or leasing land.
The next thing you need to consider is how much farmland you will need to own a horse farm. Owning a Virginia horse farm requires a fair amount of land. Owning two to five acres can provide you with plenty of space for your animals without requiring too much upkeep. Owning more than 10 acres is ideal but may be expensive to maintain.
Do you think that a Virginia horse farm would be right for your family? Maybe it’s time to do some research. If you are considering owning a horse, please take the following points into consideration when deciding whether this is the best option for your family.
What benefits can horses provide in terms of farming assistance and companionship? How about therapy and competition opportunities? There are many ways that these animals can enrich your life, but they come with significant responsibility as well.
