When we decided to get a couple of horses, we entered into another long term project requiring long range
planning and some research on what horses need in order to be kept healthy and happy.
Even without research, it is obvious there are certain conditions that need to be met in order to keep a horse,
and at Boggybottom that will entail a series of steps to prepare to meet those conditions.
Space- There must be a place with enough space for the horse or horses to move around in. My research so far
indicates that there should be at least 1 acre per horse. Since we intend to keep 2 horses so that we may ride
together, we will need 2 acres. We currently only have about 3 acres cleared and grassed, and those acres are
in use for growing food and raising ducks, chickens, and an incipient orchard. We will need to clear 2 acres of
the dense forest/jungle that is the rest of our 10 acres. When standing in the dense growth of tyty, slash pine,
and sweet bay, it is almost impossible to tell who's land you are on. It could be yours or your neighbor's.
Clearing can't begin until you know where your property lines are.
In our case, our land is bordered on the east by a 4 mile dirt road serving as a link between two 2-lane paved
roads. To the south we are bordered by a dead end dirt road, and our north border is a turgid, leaf choked creek
that is only a few inches deep but becomes up to a hundred feet wide when it rains for a few days.
The property boundary problem only exists on our west side that is mostly swampy with heavy growth including
black or green, woody, thorned and tough vines locally referred to as "wait a minute" vines because they'll hang
you up by hooking your clothes or skin when you try to move through them.
To mark that property line it needed a fence, but first it needed to be surveyed. That's the first step.
Sun Light- Horses need a good mix of sunlight and shade, and they won't be happy in the dim light of the tall
pines located on the forested higher ground of boggybottom unless some clearing is done and some grass is
introduced in the cleared areas. Not having grass to graze means a lot more hay and grain must be bought to
keep them fed. That's step number 2.
Fencing- Horses can get in a lot of trouble if they are allowed to wander onto roads or other folk's property, so
fencing is a must. That's step 3.
Shelter- There must be a place for horses to get in out of the weather, and that place must be built. That's step
number 4.
After these steps are all accomplished, then we can begin to shop for horses. Long range projects always make
life more interesting. After the initial planning stage, the trick to seeing long range projects through is to never
look at how long they will take and how much effort will be required before the project is complete. You just take
one step at a time until you reach the end. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it,
planning and some research on what horses need in order to be kept healthy and happy.
Even without research, it is obvious there are certain conditions that need to be met in order to keep a horse,
and at Boggybottom that will entail a series of steps to prepare to meet those conditions.
Space- There must be a place with enough space for the horse or horses to move around in. My research so far
indicates that there should be at least 1 acre per horse. Since we intend to keep 2 horses so that we may ride
together, we will need 2 acres. We currently only have about 3 acres cleared and grassed, and those acres are
in use for growing food and raising ducks, chickens, and an incipient orchard. We will need to clear 2 acres of
the dense forest/jungle that is the rest of our 10 acres. When standing in the dense growth of tyty, slash pine,
and sweet bay, it is almost impossible to tell who's land you are on. It could be yours or your neighbor's.
Clearing can't begin until you know where your property lines are.
In our case, our land is bordered on the east by a 4 mile dirt road serving as a link between two 2-lane paved
roads. To the south we are bordered by a dead end dirt road, and our north border is a turgid, leaf choked creek
that is only a few inches deep but becomes up to a hundred feet wide when it rains for a few days.
The property boundary problem only exists on our west side that is mostly swampy with heavy growth including
black or green, woody, thorned and tough vines locally referred to as "wait a minute" vines because they'll hang
you up by hooking your clothes or skin when you try to move through them.
To mark that property line it needed a fence, but first it needed to be surveyed. That's the first step.
Sun Light- Horses need a good mix of sunlight and shade, and they won't be happy in the dim light of the tall
pines located on the forested higher ground of boggybottom unless some clearing is done and some grass is
introduced in the cleared areas. Not having grass to graze means a lot more hay and grain must be bought to
keep them fed. That's step number 2.
Fencing- Horses can get in a lot of trouble if they are allowed to wander onto roads or other folk's property, so
fencing is a must. That's step 3.
Shelter- There must be a place for horses to get in out of the weather, and that place must be built. That's step
number 4.
After these steps are all accomplished, then we can begin to shop for horses. Long range projects always make
life more interesting. After the initial planning stage, the trick to seeing long range projects through is to never
look at how long they will take and how much effort will be required before the project is complete. You just take
one step at a time until you reach the end. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it,
The Horse Project
Well... it didn't happen just the way we planned. Suddenly we were owners of a horse and
building a corral for the horse to live in became a priority. This is me and my buddy Doc
planting railroad ties to fence a 20 foot by 60 foot corral.
building a corral for the horse to live in became a priority. This is me and my buddy Doc
planting railroad ties to fence a 20 foot by 60 foot corral.
Two or three weeks later after a lot of sweat and head scratching here's the finished 2 horse
corral. We only have one horse, but we like to allow for future expansion. The ladder was
removed because we didn't want the horse to use it to escape.
corral. We only have one horse, but we like to allow for future expansion. The ladder was
removed because we didn't want the horse to use it to escape.
And here's a horse named Kozmo, an 8 month old paint gelding. A new addition to the
Boggybottom farm. A whole new adventure is about to unfold for Kozmo and for us.
Boggybottom farm. A whole new adventure is about to unfold for Kozmo and for us.
