Whether you’re looking for profit or just for pleasure, a horse will make a wonderful addition to a hobby farm. Not only are they majestic, horses can be a great asset to any hobby farm. As opposed to some other animals, horses will need quite a bit room – a mare and her foal will need around 1.75 to 2 acres, yearlings will need around 1.5 to 2 acres. If you don’t have that much room, though, exercise can be used in place of acreage.
Large acreage will provide one thing for horses though, food. Horses require both natural forage and feed. Mature horses typically need about 2 to 2.5% of their body weight in feed every day. So, a 1,000-pound horse will need approximately 20 to 25 pounds of feed on a daily basis. They also require a minimum of 1% of their body weight in pastures or hay daily. If you are keeping horses as a hobby and not for any show or breeding purposes, they can maintain a healthy diet on high-quality forage alone. However, if you are keeping horses for show, breeding, or work, they will need grains (or feed) as a supplement.
To ensure your horses are happy and healthy, a well-maintained pasture is necessary. High-quality forage will provide the best nutrients for horses and keep them healthy. Hay is also a necessity for horses. High quality hay will provide the majority of the nutrients your horse needs. You can either purchase hay or you can grow your own.
If you’re looking for a sport horse, some popular breeds are Andalusian, Friesian, Morgan, Palomino, Pinto, Spotted Saddle, and Thoroughbred. If you’re looking for an exhibition, you can choose an American Saddlebred, Arabian, Drum, Lusitano, Morgan, Racking, Saddlebred, and Tennessee Walking. For work horses, you can have a Belgian, Curly, Draft, Mustang, Percheron, and Pinto.
If you’re looking for an all-around horse, some breeds to consider are the American Quarter, Clydesdale, Fjord, Gypsy, Haflinger, Irish Sport, Morgan, Quarter, Standardbred, Warmblood, and Western Pleasure.
Whether you are planning on keeping horses for show, breeding, work, or simply for fun, a hobby farm would certainly not be complete with one!
| Picture: | Breed: |
|---|---|
 | American Quarter: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: work, sport, pets Breed Note: Most popular breed of horse in the U.S |
 | American Saddlebred: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Exhibition, sport Breed Note: weighing in between 1,000 to 2,000 pounds |
 | Andalusian: Origin: Spain Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport Breed Note: On occasion these horses can grow horns |
 | Appaloosa: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport Breed Note: Widely liked for its colorful spotted coat pattern |
 | Aqha: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport Breed Note: One of the oldest recognized breeds originating in the U.S |
 | Arabian: Origin: Arabian Peninsula Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, Exhibition Breed Note: Have extreme stamina and excel in any activity of endurance |
 | Azteca: Origin: Mexico Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport Breed Note: Males and females weigh 1,000 to 1,200 in maturity |
 | Belgian: Origin: Belgium Coloring: White, chestnut, brown Production: Work, exhibition Breed Note: One of the strongest horse breeds |
 | Clydesdale: Origin: Scotland Coloring: Multiple Production: Work, exhibition, pets Breed Note: Can reach up to 2,200 pounds |
 | Curly: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Work, sports, pets Breed Note: Known for their calm and friendly personality |
 | Draft: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: work, breeding Breed Note: Because of their size and appetite is can be quite expensive to care for and feed them |
 | Drum: Origin: Unknown Coloring: Multiple Production: exhibition Breed Note: Used as a carrier of drums for show |
 | Fjord: Origin: Norway Coloring: Multiple Production: work, pets, sport Breed Note: one of the worlds oldest and purest breeds |
 | Friesian: Origin: Netherlands Coloring: black, chestnut Production: Sport, Exhibition Breed Note: Noted for their dark black coat |
 | Gypsy: Origin: British Isles Coloring: Multiple Production: work, sports, exhibition Breed Note: A decrease in height is a trend with this breed |
 | Haflinger: Origin: Austria Coloring: Multiple Production: work, pets, sport Breed Note: First breed to have been cloned |
 | Hanoverian: Origin: Germany Coloring: Multiple Production: Show, exhibition Breed Note: have genetic health concerns, although few |
 | Icelandic: Origin: iceland Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, pets Breed Note: Although the size of a pony, they are still called horses |
 | Irish Sport: Origin: Ireland Coloring: Multiple Production: work, sport, exhibition, pets Breed Note: really excel in jumping |
 | Lipizzan: Origin: Austria, Hungary Coloring: Bay, black, gray, white Production: Pets, exhibition Breed Note: life expectancy of 30 to 35 years |
 | Lusitano: Origin: Portugal Coloring: Gray, bay, chestnut Production: Sport, Exhibition Breed Note: Main and tail hair is extremely thick compared to other breeds |
 | Miniature: Origin: Europe Coloring: Multiple Production: Pets, exhibition Breed Note: life span ranges from 25 to 35 years |
 | Morgan: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, pets, exhibition Breed Note: One of the earliest horse breeds in the u.s |
 | Mustang: Origin: North America Coloring: Multiple Production: Working, riding Breed Note: Can live up to 40 years old |
 | Paint: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, Exhibition Breed Note: Higher life expectancy than most breeds at 35 years |
 | Palomino: Origin: Unknown Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, pets Breed Note: Have no known breed specific diseases |
 | Paso Fino: Origin: Puerto rico, Columbia Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, pets Breed Note: Can reach speeds of up to 30 miles and hour |
 | Percheron: Origin: France Coloring: Gray, black, chestnut Production: Sport, work Breed Note: Can weigh up to 2,600 pounds |
 | Pinto: Origin: Unknown Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, work, pets Breed Note: If horse has "lethal White Syndrome" it will die shortly after birth. have a certain gene |
 | Quarter: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: work, sport, pets Breed Note: Great at sprinting long distances |
 | Racking: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Exhibition, pets Breed Note: Can reach speeds of up to 30 miles and hour |
 | Riding: Origin: Various Coloring: All Colors Production: Riding Breed Note: Group of Horses, not a breed |
 | Rocky Mountain: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Chocolate, white Production: Pets, exhinbition Breed Note: Only about 15,000 registered in the world, considered rare |
 | Saddlebred: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Exhibition, sport Breed Note: Generally step high when running, almost as in going up stairs - popular |
 | Shire: Origin: England Coloring: Black, bay, gray, white Production: work, pets Breed Note: Breed is known best for its easy going temperament |
 | Spotted Saddle: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, Exhibition Breed Note: Weigh anywhere between 900 ans 1,100 pounds |
 | Standardbred: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, pets, exhibition Breed Note: trot with the same legs on each side. left front with left back and vise versa |
 | Suffolk Punch: Origin: England Coloring: Chestnut, white Production: Exhibition, work, breeding Breed Note: Economically friendly, do well with little care |
 | Tennessee Walking: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, pets, exhibition Breed Note: Averages 900 to 1,200 pounds full grown |
 | Thoroughbred: Origin: England Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport Breed Note: bred for speed and agility |
 | Warmblood: Origin: Europe Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, pets, exhibition, working Breed Note: Group of horses, not a specific breed |
 | Western Pleasure: Origin: Various Coloring: Multiple Production: Sport, pets, exhibition, working Breed Note: Group of horses, not a specific breed |
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