Part one of a two-part series.

Many Texas horse owners live on small acreage where they build urban ranches. Stabled horses need to be turned out several times a week into pastures or turn-out lots. This month I'm providing information for building turn-out lots for horses.

Know your objectives -- Ask how many horses will need to be turned out separately in the lot. Would you ever place your trail course here or use this lot for holding cattle? Do you want the lot to provide some grazing? Bigger lots with well-established grass that's managed properly can provide grazing for a horse. Smaller lots that are poorly managed usually become exercise traps with little to no grass.

Location -- Build your enclosure close to the barn and preferably with a stall door that opens directly into the lot. Or build your enclosure as close as possible to the barn and running water and electric lines, if needed. Select an area with good drainage and shade trees. Install gates in logical locations that allow for equipment such as tractors, trucks and trailers for moving horses, cattle or equipment. Lastly, consider whether your lot will share a common fence with a neighbor.

Clearing land -- The quickest way to clear land is with a mulcher or a small bulldozer. This equipment can be rented from rental supply companies. This can be expensive and takes a skilled operator to run the equipment efficiently and safely. Consider using a land clearing contractor who will bring his own equipment. These contractors charge about $65 to $75 per hour, or more if heavier equipment is needed.

Brush disposal -- When clearing, push your brush into piles with as little dirt as possible. When burning brush use diesel fuel. Never use gasoline. Be sure a county burn ban is not in effect before burning. Several medium-sized piles are better than a few huge piles. Fire from large brush piles can burn high enough to singe nearby trees. Diesel fuel can be used to burn green brush. Brush will burn better if allowed to dry a week or two. You can burn your own brush piles or get the land clearing contractor to do it for you. I recommend doing a first burn. Then keep pushing the reduced-size piles up until no more pushed-in material will burn. The contractor can then rake the area and push remaining roots into the pile. Lastly, the contractor can bury the remaining dirt, ashes, refuge and roots at the site. If necessary, the contractor can disk the area several times to level the lot area.

Enclosure fences -- Measure the distance around your proposed lot, decide where the gates go and then put this in a drawing. Check with agriculture supply stores, horse magazines, the internet, fence companies and other horse owners about fence options. Horse lot fences need to be strong, low-maintenance, safe and within your budget. Fence types are pipe, steel tubing, treated posts with horizontals of pipe or cable, wood rail, board, plastic or vinyl, cedar posts with bull wire panels or mesh, cable and high-tensile slick or electric wire. Fence contractors can help you with the pros and cons of various fences and costs, while keeping in mind your objectives.

Part 2 will cover the work of an individual who followed these recommendations.

n E-mail Doug Householder at dh-horse@flash.net.

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