I want to buy a horse

[riderinthestorm]

39. No question is stupid!! An all-weather "dry" or "Limestone" lot

is a smaller fenced area that the horses can be turned out into if your are hoping to preserve your grassy areas. I put mine out there on heavy rain days so the horses don't trash the grass and churn it into a yucky looking mud lot. You do then have to pick the manure droppings up out of there, unlike a grass paddock where you can simply harrow the manure around..... so its more work but it does keep your grass turnout healthier and more attractive.

Our turnout lots have 12 inches of heavy gravel, another 12 inches of smaller gravel, and then 12 inches of limestone on top of that. Sound extreme? Horses are really tough on beating up their turnout areas. I'm in Northern Illinois though. If you are south and your base is sand anyway, you don't have to put in any extra footing - the sand will do just fine.

I second Kali's suggestion downthread that you find someone in your area whose place looks great, whose horses look healthy and ask them for advice. A lot of good horse care and keeping is regional. What I need to do in Northern Illinois for high end performance horses isn't anything like what you are going to presumably want and need. You can also find a local horse vet and ask them for a mentor... they'll know EVERYONE and since they will likely become your horse vet down the line, they won't steer you wrong.

Lastly, right now the prices for horses are wayyyy down. You can probably find one for free or extremely low cost (want one of mine?? LOL) Rescue horses can be a mixed blessing - if you do get one be sure to get someone you trust to help you select it. They are usually given up because they have some significant problems. Try to look for "easy keepers" (low feed, no stress issues like cribbing or stall walking etc, no shoes, fairly injury free). "Bomb proof" is your other criteria - that means they are the same kind of personality whether you ride them 5 days/week or 5 times/year - QUIET! There are "snuggly" horses out there who will come up to you and lay their head across your shoulders but they're pretty rare so don't have any high expectations at first when you go searching. Most of them will be pretty aloof when you first meet them.

This doesn't have to be expensive. You can learn to trim their hooves yourself. Many don't require a lot of grain if they aren't doing a whole lot. If your fencing is of good quality and you have adequate space you should be fine. If you have companion goats, a single horse should also be fine (you don't need 2).

Okay gotta head back out again but next time I really will have more time!