Environment

Horses are big animals who will need lots of room. When housing your horse, you need to make sure they have enough room to get daily exercise.

Also, your horse’s sleeping and resting area need to be big enough for them to stand, stretch, turn around and lie down in.

Horses should not be left tethered (tied up) in a confined space. A horse needs to be able to exercise and explore throughout the day in order to be happy and healthy.

Ideally, one horse will need about one acre of land. If you do not have land available to use or rent, then having a horse probably isn’t right for you.

We all know New Zealand weather can be a bit crazy sometimes! Sometimes the sun is out, and it is really hot, while at other times it is very cold and even snowy! Horses notice the change in weather too, so your horse will need some form of shelter to protect them from the sun, wind or rain.

Although horses can cope with some changes in temperature, when the weather is both windy and rainy, this can make your horse very uncomfortable.

If your horse becomes too hot or too cold, they can become quite ill and could even die. This is why it is very important to make sure your horse is well protected from the heat and cold.

Shelter for your horse should be appropriate so that he/she stays warm and dry when it is cold or wet, and so that it also provides the horse with shade so that they remain cool and comfortable even when the weather is hot and sunny. Shelter for your horse can consist of a combination of:

• Gullies or hollows in the land
• Trees, hedges, bushes
• Barns, stables or buildings
• Haystacks
• Horse rugs (which fit like a jacket and keep the horse warm and dry)

Horses are very strong and curious animals so you will need a strong sturdy fence to keep them safely contained!

You’ll need to make sure there are no gaps between the fences where your horse can get out, or where their head or another body part stuck.

If you do not already have a fence, an adult will need to construct one using either strong timber or a combination of timber and wire.

If you do use wire in your horse’s fence, be sure to check that there are no pieces of sharp wire sticking out anywhere on which your horse could get hurt. Never use barbed wire for fencing!

Horses are social animals, which means that without company or interaction, they get very bored, lonely and unhappy.

When you get your horse, you should try to make sure that they will be kept relatively close to your home so that you can visit often and spend time with him/her.

If your horse is kept very far away and you hardly ever visit, they could start to feel lonely and neglected.

If you can’t always be near your horse, make sure that they have other people around who are willing to check on and spend time with them in between your visits.

Horses are big animals that need somewhere soft and comfortable to rest. Bedding should be soft and absorbent so that your horse’s rest area stays dry and clean. The suitable material to use for your horse’s bedding include:

• Straw
• Shredded newspaper
• Small wood pellets
• Soft rubber mats specially designed for horses

These materials can be purchased from your local farm store.

Remember to clean your horse’s rest area and bedding out regularly and keep it nice and fresh.

Horses can poop a lot – up to 12 times a day! You’ll need to make sure you’re cleaning up after your horse regularly.

Otherwise, your horse’s home will become dirty and smelly very fast!

Too much mess can attract flies and spread worms, both of which can bother your horse and make your horse sick.

An adult can show you how to shovel up your horse’s mess and where to dispose of it.