REALITY CHECK: Horse sense on your lifestyle block

Horses or ponies can be the most rewarding animals to live with on your lifestyle block, but they can also be the most awkward.

They have different needs to cows, calves and sheep. Many are picky eaters, choosing to eat the best pasture and leaving any weeds or pasture that has been fouled by their own manure, a survival technique used by wild horses even today. So it is important to clean paddocks of horse manure and if possible, run sheep or cows in the paddocks after the horses. Cattle and sheep are not as fussy and will eat everything in a paddock, cleaning it of weeds and rank pasture. This also helps to keep the worm burden down.

Experts say one horse is equal to 5-7 sheep or 2 cows, and one horse requires about half a hectare.

Horses need to be checked daily to ensure they have enough feed, water and are in good health. Most ponies will eat all day if allowed and are prone to laminitis caused by too much hot food or lush green grass (spring growth) and too little exercise. Horses, especially thoroughbreds are not so greedy.

It is possible to run a number of horses on a small block by keeping the horse or pony in a yard or stable for the majority of the day and then allowing them short blocks of time out in the paddock where they can get some exercise.

Louise and David Watson live on a 2.5ha block in Kio Kio near Otorohanga with their six children and six ponies.

Louise says their ponies are yarded overnight with hay and put out to graze morning and afternoon for one to two hours. During the day they are yarded again or turned out into a "no grass" area. Yards are of sufficient size to allow the ponies freedom to move about and have shelter from the weather.

"Yards and paddocks are cleaned daily which not only keeps pastures clean, but means that instead of worming every six to eight weeks, the ponies are wormed, on average, twice a year in autumn and spring," says Louise.

"Our children are expected to look after their own ponies, with adult supervision. This includes cleaning pens, paddocks and gear." The children have all had riding lessons.

"For a child who is keen, having a pony can be very character building," says Louise, "plus it's a good way to get some exercise."

Horses can be quite hard on fences and gates so it's important to build them strong. Post and rail is ideal, or sturdy wire with electric outriggers to keep the horses well clear of the fence.

Despite the costs and work involved, there there are more positives than negatives in having your horse in your own backyard.

Being able to observe him allows you to learn how he ticks, when he is sick or lame, how he plays, how he reacts to other horses, and when he wants attention - yours or that of another horse.

Having him at home means not paying for grazing (which costs at least $15 per week), not having to drive to the grazing paddock every night to check on him, and not having to lug wet covers, buckets of feed and riding equipment in and out of the car.

If you have room, create an arena or riding area to keep riding action in paddocks to a minimum. You are more likely to exercise your horse if it is easy, safe and can be done at a time that suits you.