Hold your horses

If you’ve got a small parcel of land and dream of owning a horse, stop right there. You should consider several things before buying a horse for the first time.
According to Les Ober, agriculture program assistant for OSU Extension in Geauga County, the first thing to do is to check whether or not there are local restrictions for animals where you live.
And people with a home on a two-acre lot may think they can do it, but may not take in to consideration their neighbors and if they really do have enough room.
“To maintain a horse, you need a stable,” Ober said, “and you need to devote at least two acres of pasture per horse.”
Basic needs. A horse’s basic needs involve grooming, feeding, training, regular veterinarian examinations, exercising and hoof care.
Think you can handle all that? Good, because it doesn’t end there.
You will also be involved in the less glamorous side of things.
You’ll have to muck out the stalls, remove the manure and even worry about how it all affects the environment.
How much time your horse will require depends on a lot of things, but there are three certain responsibilities you will need to become familiar with: health care, feeding and manure management.
A three-part series starting this week takes a look at those key ingredients.