Keeping equids in a “backyard horse” situation, subdivision, or small acreage presents a different set of challenges than keeping horses on a large farm or ranch. In urban/suburban settings, some of the important considerations include zoning, building codes (if you plan to have a barn, run-in shed, indoor arena, etc.), space for exercise, waste management, fencing, and neighbors. Security and liability issues are also factors.

Malcolm Commer, PhD, Equine Economist at the University of Maryland, says owners are faced with encroachment from development and issues evolving from public perceptions of horses.

“It’s not just issues about horses in your pastures or barns,” says Commer. “There are traffic issues–of your trailers or trucks on the road, or a truck hauling feed to your place. In addition, animal rights people often make issues of something totally irrelevant. And some folks may think their area is having a higher incidence of Lyme disease, West Nile virus, or rabies because of horses