Weird Question about land and horses.

StefanieLeann14 · 02-25-2008, 02:42 PM

I was talking to my dad earlier about moving a few cows and calves to the 20 acres that he will be buying. Well most of you know I have one gelding that shares a pasture with my bull. He said the cows would be fine but he didnt think there would be room for the horse because the horse would need all 20 acres? Is it just me or does that seem a little ridiculous for 20 acres per horse in this area? How many acres do you think would be fair for a horse?

**taelesean** · 02-25-2008, 02:47 PM

The general rule of thumb is one acre per horse - unless you are planning to put more than a few cows out there, they should all be fine.

StefanieLeann14 · 02-25-2008, 04:35 PM

Thats always what I heard too. But I thought since he said that I might be totally off! He will probably be turned out with the cows and there are only about 10 of them so I think they will be fine. More land may be added later.

lopintoo · 02-27-2008, 12:13 AM

The acreage should be fine for both, but alot of times the horses will bully and fight the cows for hay and grain. Some won't but it is common...that could be what he heard or was refering to.

ilovepaints1 · 02-28-2008, 08:31 AM

Sounds like heaven for the horse to me but this is coming from a person with 6 horses on 4 acres so anything more is great to me.

Faceman · 03-01-2008, 07:49 AM

I'm not sure where the "1 acre per horse" comes from - evidently some city or county ordinance.

1 acre per horse is not nearly enough. Opinions vary, but the optimum is 9 acres per horse. Personally, I think 5 acres per horse is enough. I'm currently running 6 horses on about a 20 acre pasture, and it is too much wear and tear. 4 would be ideal.

If you pen them up overnight, you can run more, though.

StefanieLeann14 · 03-01-2008, 11:24 AM

Well my gelding has been turned out with these cows since I brought him home. Occasionally he will nip my bull when they try to figure out who rules the roost but thats about it. Thanks faceman. I would really like to have more than enough land and grass for them then having to scrape by. My grandparents own a farm just down the road and that is where the cows and my gelding are at now. But for sooome reason they have decided to start selling my cattle out from under me and going to Tunica to gamble with the money! So you can see my frustration and why im so eager to get most of my stock moved.

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02-25-2008, 02:42 PM
StefanieLeann14 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 705	Weird Question about land and horses. I was talking to my dad earlier about moving a few cows and calves to the 20 acres that he will be buying. Well most of you know I have one gelding that shares a pasture with my bull. He said the cows would be fine but he didnt think there would be room for the horse because the horse would need all 20 acres? Is it just me or does that seem a little ridiculous for 20 acres per horse in this area? How many acres do you think would be fair for a horse?

02-25-2008, 02:47 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,638	The general rule of thumb is one acre per horse - unless you are planning to put more than a few cows out there, they should all be fine. __________________

02-25-2008, 04:35 PM
StefanieLeann14 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 705	Thats always what I heard too. But I thought since he said that I might be totally off! He will probably be turned out with the cows and there are only about 10 of them so I think they will be fine. More land may be added later.

02-27-2008, 12:13 AM
lopintoo Long Yearling Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,223	The acreage should be fine for both, but alot of times the horses will bully and fight the cows for hay and grain. Some won't but it is common...that could be what he heard or was refering to.

02-28-2008, 08:31 AM
ilovepaints1 Long Yearling Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,072	Sounds like heaven for the horse to me but this is coming from a person with 6 horses on 4 acres so anything more is great to me. __________________ "To many, the words love, hope, and dreams are synonymous with horses" - Anonymous

03-01-2008, 07:49 AM
Faceman Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arkansas Ozarks Posts: 7,080	I'm not sure where the "1 acre per horse" comes from - evidently some city or county ordinance. 1 acre per horse is not nearly enough. Opinions vary, but the optimum is 9 acres per horse. Personally, I think 5 acres per horse is enough. I'm currently running 6 horses on about a 20 acre pasture, and it is too much wear and tear. 4 would be ideal. If you pen them up overnight, you can run more, though. __________________ Read what I said, not what you THINK I said...

03-01-2008, 11:24 AM
StefanieLeann14 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 705	Well my gelding has been turned out with these cows since I brought him home. Occasionally he will nip my bull when they try to figure out who rules the roost but thats about it. Thanks faceman. I would really like to have more than enough land and grass for them then having to scrape by. My grandparents own a farm just down the road and that is where the cows and my gelding are at now. But for sooome reason they have decided to start selling my cattle out from under me and going to Tunica to gamble with the money! So you can see my frustration and why im so eager to get most of my stock moved.