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Pasture Suggestions for Horse Farms in Virginia

If you are thinking about buying a horse farm in Virginia, there are several things to consider when it comes to pasture land management. Whether you are creating your own Virginia horse farm or buying an established farm, I hope these tips will be helpful!

It takes 18-24 months after seeding for pastures to become established and ready for grazing. Depending on weather conditions, it could be longer. Quite often, pasture management is neglected. The soils need to be tested every 2-3 years to serve as a guideline to the fertility & pH.

The pH of your soil may impact the nutrient availability to your horses. Soil pH should range between 6.2 and 6.5 for a good grass. Talk with your local extension agent, farm cooperative or USDA office about whether you need to apply lime or other fertilizers. Phosphorus and Potassium need to be maintained in the higher range.

Establish four or more pastures to enable rotational grazing. Each horse needs 2-3 acres. Once the grass is grazed down to 2-4″, it is time to rotate the horses to another pasture. Allow pastures to rest & replenish between grazing. If possible the grass should be allowed to grow to 8-10″ before horses return to graze it. The pace of growth will depend on the weather conditions. Faster in the spring and slower in the cooler months. Monitor how much your horses are eating and their overall nutrition. When the grass stops growing, you should keep the horses off of the pastures and feed hay. Horse farms in Virginia

Pasture Design:
Think about how you will use the farm on a daily basis. What is the maximum number of horses you plan to have at your farm? Do you need to build all the infrastructure for it at once or can it be done over time? Slowly building and adjusting over time will help you eliminate costly mistakes. Think about ease of use of your paddock designs and access to the stable, water and run-in sheds. Try to keep your paddocks square. Irregular shaped pastures are not only less attractive but tend not to be grazed evenly. Uniformity of the paddocks should include soil types, grasses, aspects and slopes.

The pastures should be free of trees or at least have them fenced off so that the horses do not girdle them. The horses should have access to shaded areas, whether it be the canopy of the tress or run-in sheds.

Create an area of 600′ to 1200′ per horse with good drainage to serve as a dry area for horses when they need to be removed from the pastures. For ease of use, this should be near the barn. This is the area to use when feeding hay in the colder months because the horses’ hoofs can cause quite a bit of damage to the sod when it is soft as in wet (freeze & thaw) periods. See this page for info on dry lots.

When you are ready to buy or sell your Virginia horse farm, give us a call. We would love the opportunity of working with you to achieve your horse farm dreams! You might also be interested in reading our blog post about buying a horse farm in Charlottesville or searching for your new Charlottesville VA area horse farm!

Advice for your Virginia Horse Farm

Horses

Here is a video from Carrie Swanson with the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension Service in Charlottesville talking about the benefit of having a dry lot on your Virginia Horse Farm.

Buying a Horse Farm in VA?

Buying a farm in Virginia, Horses

Admit it, you’ve dreamed about owning horses since you were a kid and buying a horse farm in VA! Or maybe you haven’t, but you’ve had to explain to your son or daughter why Santa can’t fit a pony in his sleigh. Or maybe you’ve come into more land than you know what to do with, and you want to start your very own horse farm. Regardless, we’re here to help! Central Virginia is a great place for horse farms; the sprawling pastures and rolling uplands are well-suited to the rigors of horse-rearing. And rigors there will be; it’s not the easiest thing to get into, but with a little hard work and careful planning, it can be a very fulfilling endeavor! So let’s get started!

Land

It may sound obvious, but it’s worth saying that land is one of the first and most important components of owning a horse farm. Indeed, the amount of land one needs to operate and maintain a horse farm is often underestimated. The Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends at least 2-3 acres of grazing land per horse, and that’s with good, efficient pasture management.

What exactly are you buying and what are you getting for your money? Obviously, the land you’re buying must be zoned for agricultural use. Are you looking into buying a pre-existing horse farm? If the land you’re considering was already used for horse farming, you can assume that zoning is in order, but the previous owners could have been grandfathered in, so always check.

And what about the existing infrastructure? Is there a barn? Are the horse-farming resources in good working condition? If you’re building your own infrastructure (like arena, stables, etc.) determine which way the water flows and avoid building in wet areas or areas where water settles. It would be wise to walk around the property after a heavy rain and identify the places where water collects. Remember not to get too attached to one plot. Sometimes it’s easier to start fresh than to renovate and repair.

Barn

The barn is the central nervous system of any horse farm, so this is definitely an area in which you must invest money and careful consideration. If you’re building your own barn, avoid low-lying areas (like the bottom of a hill), because runoff from rain and snow can weaken your foundation. It helps to use the center of the barn to store supplies like food, hay, and bedding. Storing hay in the center where there are multiple points of entry helps with rotation.

Breathe. See how good that felt? Ventilation is one of, if not the most important consideration when it comes to the structure of a barn. You need fresh airflow, especially with horses urinating and defecating inside the barn, not to mention the fact that the bedding gets pretty dusty. It helps to have multiple entrances to the barn, at least one on either end.

Va Horse Farms for Sale The commonly-accepted size for a horse stall is 12 square feet; big enough for a horse to lay down, stand, and turn around comfortably, but small enough to clean and maintain. Rubber mats are a good call for the floor of the barns. They make cleanup easier, and they’re more comfortable for the horses themselves. If you’re going to install these, make sure you do it before the horses move in, so that the ground is still relatively even. Consider getting stall doors that open up on the top halves, or just an open stall with a stall guard. Wood or mesh work great.

It’s great to have automatic waterers but they also make it difficult to determine how much water your horse is drinking. Automatic waterers shave time off of your labor expenditure and you will guarantee that your horses have access to a consistent supply of fresh drinking water. If you opt for manual waterers/hydrants, make sure you take measures to prevent them from f reezingin the colder months. It’s nice to be able to access a feed bucket with ease, so consider a swing-out parcel with a bucket attached. Many people line the bottom of their feed buckets with metal, to prevent rodents.

So there you have some tips. Everyone has a different vision for her or his farm, and hopefully this little guide has helped you flesh out yours. There are few places better-suited to equestrian pursuits and horse farming than central Virginia! Contact us to have an experienced horse farm agent help you locate the horse farm or land that is best suited for your needs.