Last Updated on February 22, 2022 by Allison Price
It can be hard to determine how much space your horse needs, especially if you consider that they will need shelter, stall, and access to pasture.
How big do you need to keep your horse?
A single horse needs 1.5 to 2 acres (0.6 to0.8 hectares). However, this is a guideline. If your horse is grazing and not getting any other forage, you will not need as much.
You should also consider the size of your stall if you plan to keep your horse stabled at night or for part of the day.
How big do you need to keep two horses on one property?
It might seem that horses require 1.5 to 2 acres, so two horses would need 3 to 5 acres (1.2 to 2 ha). However, this is not the case. For every additional horse, you will need approximately another acre.
While horses can be social and herd animals and get along with each other, having too many horses in one place can lead to fighting.
| # number of horses | # Acres (# Hectares). |
|---|---|
| 1 horse | 1.5 to 2 (0.6-0.8) |
| 2 horses | 2.5 to 3. (1 to 1.2). |
| 3 horses | 3.5 to 4. (1.4 to 1.5) |
| 4 horses | 4.5 to 5. (1.8 to 2). |
| 5 horses | 5.5-6 (2.2-2.4) |
| 6 horses | 6.5 to 7. (2.6 to 2.8) |
| 7 horses | 7.5-8 (3 to 3.2). |
| 8 horses | 8.5 to 9. (3.4 to 3.6) |
| 9 horses | 9.5-10 (3.8-4) |
| 10 horses | 10.5 to 11 (4.2-4.4) |
What amount of pasture do horses require?
Horses will consume an average of 11 hectares of grass each year. It’s better to have that than a small field. Horses that eat hay all the time can argue that they don’t need pasture. However, horses who graze on non-irrigated, dry land may require 40 acres.
The following factors should be taken into account when determining how much pasture your horse requires:
- Horse size and type determine the amount of forage and pasture that a horse needs. A horse should eat about 2% of his daily body weight every day.
- Your horse’s weight and his fat score will be affected. If your horse is overweight or hard keeper , he will need more forage each day. This means that if he is getting it all from grazing, he will need to have a larger pasture. For easy-keeper horses who need to lose weight, the opposite is true.
- The amount of time they spend at pasture. The more time your horse spends at the pasture, the more you’ll need. He will need less pasture if he is kept in a stable at night and is fed hay on a regular basis. However, he will need more if he is out all day.
- The pasture quality – Your horse will need more pasture to obtain the same nutritional value as better quality grazing.
- The number other animals that use the pasture. If there are other horses or animals sharing the field, it will need be larger to ensure they all get enough quality grazing.
- How well the pasture has been managed and maintained – Your horse will not need as much grass to obtain the same value from a poor managed pasture.
What size shelter should a horse have?
Your horse will need shelter if he is out of his saddle most of the day. He (and other horses) can use it to protect them from the severe weather, regardless of the heat or the biting winds. Although there are no rules about how large a pasture shelter or field should be, I believe that three horses can comfortably shelter in a 12×18 foot (3.6×5.4m) area.
How big is a horse paddock for horses?
Although many people use a paddock to graze horses, they are technically different. A pasture is used primarily for grazing, while a paddock allows for horse exercise.If you are using your paddock for turning your horse out for short periods rather than for grazing, it can be as small or large as a stall. However, if your horse wants to be able run and even gallop, he will need enough space.
What size horse stall should it be?
Although you might believe that a horse stall is the same size as a horse stall, it is not. You can build a stall to fit your horse if you are building it yourself. However, there are guidelines to follow.
Box stall
Your horse should be able to move around freely in the stall, as well as lie down comfortably, if necessary. A stall’s wall should be at least 1 1/2 times your horse’s height. However, it is not recommended that they be less than 10 feet (3m). This chart will help you determine how big a horse stall should look like.
| Horse size | Foot | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| Miniature horse / small pony | 8 x 10. | 2.4 x 3. |
| Pony with a ‘Average’ | 10 x 10. | 3 x 3. |
| Small Horse | 10 x 12 | 3 x 3.6 |
| Horse with an Average Weight | 12 x 12 | 3.6 x 3. |
| Large horses | 14 x 14. | 4.2 x 4. |
| Mare & Foal, or Stall Bound Horse | 20 x 12 | 6 x 3. |
You should consider the dimensions of your horse’s stable door when building one. Stable doors can be built to fit most horses and range in size from 3.5 feet (1 meter), to 3.75 feet (1.1 m)
Stand stall
Standing stalls don’t have to be as large as loose boxes or box stalls. You need them to be large enough for your horse to lie down comfortably and then get up easily. A standing stall should be between 4 and 5 feet (1.2 to1.5 meters) by 10 foot (2.4 meters). This is for an average horse. If you have a pony, you will need less space. You’ll also need more space if your horse is larger. You will need to double the space if you have a mare or foal. However, in most cases this can be accomplished by removing the partition. The partition should be at 7 1/2 feet (2.3 m) in width. This is to keep a horse’s legs from crossing the wall if he kicks – most horses can kick up to 7 feet (2.1 m).
Barn
No matter whether your horses are in stalls or loose in the barn, you must ensure that the ceiling (or the lowest item if there are open trusses), is high enough to prevent your horse from hitting his head. Minimum height is 8 feet (2.4m), but it is recommended that your horse’s head not touch the ceiling.
