You'll need to provide adequate turnout space for each horse on your property. | Photo: iStock

How to prepare yourself and your horse for backyard living

You’ve yearned to keep a horse in your backyard for years. You’ve dreamt of looking out the window each morning to see him grazing contentedly in his tidy paddock. You’ve pictured yourself going out anytime you want to feed him, groom him, ride him, and just be with him. Now you’ve found that this can be a reality. It’s time: You’re about to bring a horse home.

But before you do, there’s a host of things to prepare and much to consider, from the structures you need to build/have built to the equipment you’ll need to use to complete barn chores.

Read on to learn what horse extension specialists Karen Waite, PhD, of Michigan State University, and Fernanda Camargo, DVM, PhD, of the University of Kentucky, recommend for owners making the transition to at-home horse care