Think Twice About Risks of Horse Rental Business

By Robert C. Church

It is unrealistic to consider profit as an incentive for owning horses on a limited, part-time basis. Liability insurance makes it almost prohibitive for even full-time stables with professional help to operate. An element of risk for a horse-oriented busi- ness has never been established; therefore, the insurance rate is arbitrarily set.

Volume of business and services such as indoor riding arenas, instruction and training, and professional supervision offered to their clientele keep the full-time stables profitable.

Most rental stables cater to the novice rider who has had no formal instruction and thus is a considerable risk on a horse. A person who keeps horses for public hire must become familiar with the habits, disposition and traits of the horses. An owner who knows a particular horse is apt to be vicious may be held liable for injuries caused by that animal.

The rental horse business is fraught with risk and should be entered into only after considering suitability of the horses involved, insurance costs, availability and safety of trails, and the expertise of those who will supervise riding.

Some people use personal mounts for riding instruction.- In most cases a homeowner's policy will cover liability if this enterprise falls within the confines of a casual and not a full- time enterprise. However, many recently written policies do not include this type coverage.

If you have the required skills, training horses on limited acreage as a part-time occupation can provide supplemental income.

But it's not easy to make money from these part-time endeavors. Keep in mind the volume of income that would be required to cover costs involved in order to realize a profit.

Robert C. Church is Associate Professor of Anima! Industries and Extension Horse Specialist, University of Connecticut, Storrs.

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Without indoor riding facilities, weather very much Umits the activities in most areas of the country.

Many small stable operators are in the business as a part- time occupation because they love to work with people and horses.

Selecting a Horse Horse trading is an old and sometimes not too honorable

activity. In no other industry is the point of law Caveat Emptor (let the buyer beware) so closely adhered to. Where no war- ranty is implied or given, the buyer accepts all responsibility unless illegal practices can be proved.

Most dealers in horses are honest businessmen looking for satisfied repeat customers. But too often the sale and purchase of a horse is between private parties with neither a knowledge- able enough horseman to be aware of the horse's faults.

The novice should seek the help of an experienced equine veterinarian or horseman when buying a horse. There are standard examination procedures to determine stable habits, temperament and disposition, and to detect disease and un- soundness. Also there are certain conformation faults that limit the usefulness of the horse and predispose it to specific unsoundness.

Tennessee walking horse cools oft in a farm pond. Note that for safety, bridle should

have throat latch and girl should be wearing heeled boots.

George Robinson

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If you are paying an average or considerable amount for a horse, take steps to ensure a sound investment.

The price of horses varies from slaughter prices to thou- sands of dollars. Check with several dealers for an idea of the price range. Horses between the ages of 8 to 14 years, well trained, gentle, healthy and sound, make the best beginner horses. The horse should fit your needs and you should fit the horse. A height for ease of mounting and a width to fit your legs makes for a safer, more comfortable ride.

The stallion is not for any but the very experienced horse- man. Some mares become difficult to handle when in season. The gelding is a castrated male and is usually more stable than the stallion or mare.

Sources of horses include: • Public auction barn—usually the dumping ground for less

desirable horses, and disease problems. Strictly Caveat Emptor

' Horse dealers, as discussed earlier • Horse farm sales. Some deal in trained horses, but most sell

weanlings, yearlings, 2-year-olds, and surplus breeding stock of one of the registered breeds

• Casual sales, as outgrown pony, former 4-H mount, going off to college, or just lost interest. Sometimes dumping an unsuitable or fractious horse.

The former owner of a horse, with no ties to the present owner, will usually tell you the truth about the horse.

Space and Fencing In most communities, keeping horses in heavily populated

areas has precipitated the inclusion of animal ordinances in zoning regulations. Laws governing cruelty to animals, nui- sances, health and safety usually are already on the books. Be sure to check all governmental requirements.

Pasturage should be high in fertility of soil and density of desirable forage species in order to provide enough feed for the horse. Your County Extension Farm Agent can give sound advice.

If the horse is to be confined with limited riding, about 800 square feet should be provided for a minimum exercise area. Longeing the horse for a half hour a day can be done on very limited space. (Longeing is having the horse circle you on a long 25- to 30-foot line.)

Fencing for horses usually involves more expense due to the temperament of the horse. Barbed wire, one of the most inexpensive fencing materials, is the least desirable for horses.

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Common breeds of horses

Breed Normal usage Comments

Arabian Pleasure {E & W) Park Stock Horse Trail Riding Endurance Riding Parade Pleasure Driving

Exceptional endurance. Foundation breed of most other purebred breeds

Appaloosa Pleasure (E & W) Stock horse Trail riding Endurance riding Reining Cutting Parade Gymkhana, timed events Pleasure Driving Roping Polo

A color breed; not pure bred

American Saddle Horse

Morgan

Paint

3 and 5 gaited Pleasure Fine harness Pleasure driving

Pleasure (E & W) Park Stock horse Trail riding Pleasure driving Roadster

Pleasure Stock horse Reining, roping Cutting Racing (short) Parade Trail riding Polo

Mostly used in show ring and on bridle path

Descended from one foundation sire (Justin Morgan)

Color breed of quarter horse conformation. Two basic color patterns— Overo & Tobiano

Pinto Used more extensively under English saddle Polo Parade

Color breed. Conformation may be characteristic of most of the English type breeds. Overo and Tobiano

Palomino Pleasure (E & W) Stock horse Parade

Color breed. Many double registered, especially Quarter horses

E & W refers to English and Western saddles.

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Common breeds of horses

Breed Normal usage Comments

Quarter Horse Pleasure (E & W) Largest in Stock horse registration Reining, roping of all breeds. Cutting Due to its Racing (short dist.) versatility and Trail riding temperament, Gymkhana a very popular Timed events breed. Polo Hunters Dressage

Standard Bred Harness Used almost Racing—trotters exclusively as and pacers racing and Roadsters driving horses

Thoroughbred Racing Used extensively Hunters to add quality. Jumpers speed and Polo endurance to Stock horses many of the

other breeds

Tennessee Show ring A characteristic Walking Pleasure running walk;

when developed to the extreme Is used mostly in the show ring

Connemara Medium-sized adult's Noted for and children's mounts their temperament, Hunters hardiness, and Jumpers jumping ability

Pony of Children's mount 46" to 52" in Americas Pleasure (E & W) height and have

Timed events Appaloosa markings

Hackney Pony Harness show Extreme flexion ponies in the knees and

hocks. Probably the showiest of all at the trot

Shetland Pony Children's mount Old Island type Pleasure driving short and blocky, Harness show and new Pony (American type) American type

modeled after the American saddle horse

Welsh Pony Children's mount A very hardy Roadster and pony. racing ponies Hunter ponies

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The horse is easily frightened and in small pastures is apt to try to run through barbed wire, which frequently causes grave injury.

Suitable types of fences include:

Wood—plank, board, split rail, rail, and buck and rail. Wood is the safest fencing for horses, but expensive to con- struct and maintain.

Metal—woven wire, chain link, welded pipe, cable, barbless wire and plain wire.

Electric—Use only an approved, safe system. Follow direc- tions for installation. Horses must be trained to an electric fence, which can be used to divide pastures for rotational grazing.

All wire or metal fences should be grounded at least every 800 to 900 running feet to a metal rod driven into the ground to permanent moisture depth,

Fenceposts Locust, red cedar, and osage-orange are the best wooden

posts available. Railroad ties in good condition have long life, are strong, and hold staples well. Pressure-creosoted, discarded telephone poles may also be used.

All other wood posts—as white cedar, oak, hemlock, hickory, pine, spruce, birch, beech and ash should be treated with a wood preservative such as creosote or pentachloro- phenol.

Note that with metal posts, a T-shaped driven post is stronger than U or V shaped posts. Concrete posts have long life but are expensive.

Managing Pasture Many horse pastures are no more than exercise lots. The

quantity and quality of feed on these rundown pastures won't meet the horse's nutritional needs.

Proper management through introducing adapted grasses and legumes, and a proper stocking rate, can provide a con- siderable portion of the horses daily nutritional needs during the grazing season.

Pleasure horses are usually pastured on very limited acre- ages. Therefore, a balance between the needs of the horse and those of the pasture grasses must be maintained.

The pasture manager has several ways of stimulating the growth of pasture plants. To improve soil fertility he can lime

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and fertilize. Eliminating brush and weeds will provide more sunlight, nutrients, and water for the desirable pasture plants. Drainage may be required to improve the growth environment. Reseeding to change the plant composition will increase forage productivity.

Large pastures divided into several smaller pastures and rotated during the grazing season provide more forage per acre. Overgrazing and putting horses on pasture too early and leav- ing them on too late in the season is very damaging to pasture.

Plants grow most rapidly in a 60° to low 70° F temperature range. When the temperature is 20° above or below this range, all growth virtually ceases. Excessive cloudiness and lack of rainfall affect plant growth adversely.

Defer grazing until the new growth is 4 to 6 inches high if the stocking rate is at least 1-1/2 acres per horse. Pastures to be grazed early (2 to 3 inches of growth] should be grazed only 1 to 2 hours a day. Turf injury will occur if horses are turned out on waterlogged pastures.

Pastures going into winter with scant top growth suffer extensive winterkill and do not recover well enough in spring to compete with weeds.

These management practices will help maximize forage production: Drag pastures to break up and scatter droppings. Clip to control weed growth. Remove excess shade trees. Ap- ply hme if a soil test indicates need. Apply phosphate and potash if there is a good stand of clover. Mulch bare areas to prevent erosion.

A horse can provide hours of fun for a loving owner, but lots of work goes along with the fun.

Feed Requirements Too often through lack of knowledge the horse is overfed

and underworked, or overworked and underfed, or given a feed of such low quality that it is not assimilated in the diges- tive process. These problems can readily be corrected.

Physiological problems that may exist are with teeth (wolf teeth, sharp teeth, long teeth, decayed or broken teeth), parasite infestations, infections of the intestinal tract, allergies, age, spoiled feed, and feed of a wrong consistency [ground too fine).

There are other causes of nutritional deficiencies, but those are the most common.

To satisfy the horse*s nutrient requirements, you need to provide: a balanced ration in amounts large enough for growth (if immature); energy (for body temperature regulation, vital body functions and work; the repair of wornout body tissues); development of young (pregnant mare); production of milk (lactating mare).

A balanced ration must consist of correct amounts of:

Protein. Vegetable seed derivatives such as soybean oilmeal furnish more of the essential amino acids.

Energy, fuel for work. Energy is derived primarily from the carbohydrate and fat portion of the ration.

Vitamins—A and D are the most important. Horses kept on pasture or with access to the sun normally assimilate enough vitamin D. Stabled animals should be supplemented. Vitamin A is derived primarily from green leafy roughages (hay) in the form of carotene.

Minerals—Calcium and phosphorus in proper balance (most agree on a ratio of 1.1:1), and salt in proper amounts are vital.

Clean water is essential for digestion and should be pro- vided and accessible at all times (except for hot horses or in other cases where intake must be controlled). A horse con- sumes an average 10 to 12 gallons per day.

Each bag of commercial feed has a tag attached. The tag lists the percent of crude protein, fiber and fat, and the feed ingredients.

Pelleted feeds are popular vjiÛi some horsemen because of ease of storage, less dust, less manure and less waste. The big disadvantage is that most horses develop a wood-chewing habit if pellets are fed without some hay.

Good hay must be cut at the proper stage of maturity. It

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should have a bright green color, an abundance of firmly at- tached leaves, and a sweet and pleasant smelL

Tips on Feeding Savings on feed costs can be realized by prudent buying,

proper care of the horse's teeth, elimination of parasites, feed- ing according to need, reduction of waste, and clean water in sufficient amounts.

Follow a well planned feeding program. Since the horse is a creature of habit, a poor feeding schedule can establish bad habits in the stall. Crowding, kicking, pawing, and biting are some of the most common problems. Giving a horse "treats" by hand can establish a habit of nipping or biting.

Several feed management practices that should be followed are:

Feed each horse as an individual and know its weight and age. Feed at regular times. Use clean feed boxes.

Horses doing hard work need more grain and less hay. Split grain ration into 3 or 4 feedings per day with the biggest portion at night. Spht hay into 1/4 morning, 1/4 noon and 1/2 at night.

Use a good quality, nutritionally balanced feed. Never feed moldy, dusty or frozen feed. Feed by weight, not by measure.

Have salt and mineral mix available free choice. Check teeth regularly. Check 3 H's—hair, hide and hoof—for condition. They are

good indicators of digestive problems. Check consistency and odor of droppings. Control parasites, internal and external. Don't make abrupt changes in feed. This also applies to new

cut hay. Don't change abruptly from a grass hay to a hay high in early cut legumes (alfalfa or clovers].

Rule of thumb feed requirements for a mature riding horse

Use Commercial mix grain 10-12% protein

Hay

Light 1-3 hrs/day

Vs to 1/2 lbs. per 100 lbs. body weight

11/4 to VÍ2 lbs. per 100 lbs. body weight

Medium 3-5 hrs/day

3/4 to 1 lb. per 100 lbs. body weight

1-11/4 lbs. per 100 lbs. body weight

Heavy 5-8 hrs/day

1 to Vk lbs. per 100 lbs. body weight

A-VÍA lbs. per 100 lbs. body weight

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Control feed intake of the glutton by using a wide flat feed box and spread grain over the surface, not in a pile. Placing Softball size stones in the feedbox also slows down the gorger.

Don't feed large amounts of garden produce to horses. When first turning your horses out to pasture in spring, be

sure to give them a full feed of hay prior to turning out and then some hay each day for the first week. The first few times, turn out for only two to three hours until they become accus- tomed to the new lush growth.

Don't throw clippings from yew bushes in with horses. Remove broken limbs of wild cherry trees that contain wilted leaves. Both are poisonous. ^

Stabling, Equipment In the Northeast and areas plagued by rapid changes of

weather, shelter should be provided. A three-sided shed open to the south or southeast and protected from the prevailing winds, well-bedded and free from drafts, will provide all the shelter needed.

Provide horses kept outside with a sHghtly higher plane of nutrition, to meet the greater requirements for body heat.

Horses maintained in show condition are either blanketed and housed in enclosed stables, or heat is provided in the stable. The amount of heating will dictate the amount of ventilation and insulation that must be incorporated in order to control condensation.

Doors, windows, louvers and cracks will usually provide enough ventilation in an unheated stable, but avoid drafts.

An ambient temperature of 32° F will prevent freezing of water pipes and also be very comfortable for the horse. Stale air, condensation, dust and drafts are harmful.

A good stable design with attractive fencing does much to make a horse acceptable in a suburban area. Incorporated into

This stable was built according to USDA Riding Horse Barn Plan No. 5838, available through your State Cooperative Extension Service.

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the design should be a rodent-proof feed room, hay and bedding storage, a moisture-proof tack room, and provision for manure storage.

Box stalls or straight stalls may be used for horses or ponies. Provide a 5-gallon water bucket.

Cement is not recommended as a floor material. It is slip- pery, cold, and hard on the horse's feet and legs.

Planking is used in many areas, but it rots and has to be replaced periodically, creates odors, and provides an excellent environment for mice and rats.

The preference of most horsemen is tamped clay free of rocks. Sandy loam free of rocks can also be used.

Sand is used, but during winter it makes a cold and damp bed for the horse. Then too, horses may develop sand colic through ingesting sand while eating spilled feed.

Many types of bedding are available: straw, sawdust, shavings, peat moss, peanut shells, even leaves and pine needles. Some are more absorbent than others and the price range is large. A diligent sorting of soiled bedding can cut down costs and the amount of wastes to be disposed of.

One window per stall is preferred to provide light and ventilation.

Have one electric lighting fixture over every other stall, and lighting for tack and feed room and alleys. All fixtures should be covered by dust-proof shields; wiring and switches should be out of reach of the horses or protected.

The feed room should be horse and rodent-proof, and provide for tool storage.

Completely enclose the Tack Room. If heated, it should be completely insulated. Keep it clean, and free of dust and moisture which deteriorate leather rapidly. The tack room should include blanket, saddle and bridle racks, a first aid cabinet, a saddle cleaning stand, and equipment storage. Boxes can be provided near stalls for grooming equipment.

Stall feeding facilities

Mature horse

Pony

GraJn box Length Throat height Width Depth

22" 40" 14"

7"

18" 32" 10"

7" Hay manner Length

Throat height Width Depth

34" 40" 22" 28"

24" 32" 18" 20"

Use oak lumber.

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Training or exercise rings do not require as much space as show rings. Normally a 40 by 80 foot ring will suffice.

Careful planning can create extensive and interesting trails in small wooded areas. Neighbors with horses and land can develop connecting trails for mutual use.

Horse owners with only stabling facilities and no nearby trails or rings available will probably have to invest in a horse trailer. Most owners eventually do.

Tack requirements consist of a halter and lead rope, bridle and saddle (English or Western], saddle pad or blanket. The rider's personal attire will depend on the style of riding.

Health Care Preventive medicine should be the basis for a sound health

care program. Providing the following will do much to insure the health of your horse: Adequate shelter, safe fencing, a balanced ration, good dental and foot care, a sanitary environ- ment, control of parasites, and immunization against diseases.

The second line of defense, the most important, is to pick a good veterinarian. A veterinarian who specializes in equine medicine is probably the best choice; second choice is one who has a large animal practice. Check with local horse owners.

The vet will recommend immunizations for your area. Ask for and follow the vet^s parasite control program.

Learn to recognize the seriousness of wounds, know what to do, and when to call the vet. The vet can instruct you in follow-up nursing care. With experience and study many prob- lems can be taken care of by the owner.

A good farrier is necessary for the health of the horse's feet. Most farriers can recognize diseased feet. Horses should have their feet trimmed regularly if kept barefoot. If shod, the shoes should be reset or replaced every 6 to 8 weeks.

Routinely clean out the horse's feet. This plus daily re- moval of soiled bedding and manure, and replacement with fresh bedding, helps prevent diseased feet.

Normal vital body signs for the horse

Rectal temp, range

Normal pulse rate

Normal breathing rate

Attitude Hide and hair

Membranes eye, nose, gums

100.5° F 99°-100.8°

32-44 8-16 Alert Content Good appetite

Sleek and pliable

Pink (salmon) colored

Deviations from the above may indicate ill health.

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