Blog

Timeless Horse Stables to Start a Farm in Colorado

Want to start a farm in Colorado? Find a 40-acre parcel. Plan a stable and fencing. Add a home if you like. And get your feet wet farming.

Raising your own horses, goats, chickens, and crops takes discipline. Who needs the gym? Instead, tromp around caring for animals. Manage the irrigation. Muck out the stables. Certainly, you can relax during horseback rides into the sunset, making it all worthwhile.

Horse Stables

You can build horse stables with a loft for hay storage and extra space for your llamas, goats, and chickens. Adaptable barn designs become timeless. They allow varying numbers of horses and other animals to use the spaces. One side of the barn floor plan, let’s say, could feature four horse stalls. The mezzanine above holds hay with a drop to release hay down to each stall. Outer doors open to the corrals and pastures.

Your horse stables may have a washroom and a tack room. You may also want protected stables for llamas or goats. Add a chicken coop on the sunny side. Factor in a large door to allow equipment to drive through your horse stables.

Lean-To Structures

Simpler structures could be placed throughout your property. They could serve the same purposes. Park your equipment and house animals during the year in lean-to buildings. The horses come in out of the rain or snow. As the farmer, you would bring them food and water.

Water Resources

Of course, you’ll need to have water sources on your farm. To grow pay or other crops, you’ll need water to irrigate during dry months. The animals will need fresh water daily. You’ll save a lot of time and energy by building your barn closer to your water sources. The water can be piped to water troughs or hose systems.

Fencing Needs

Every farm with animals will need fencing. You’ll need to fence the corrals and breeding areas. If possible, fence the entire property. The fence will minimize the undesirable mixing of your animals with wildlife. However, varieties of wildlife do jump fences. In Colorado, wildlife frequent fields and pastures, especially productive fields.

Build a Purposeful Niche

Whether you start a Colorado farm for a hobby or side business, you’ll find your own niche.

Colorado boasts nine different growing zones, so find out what will work best for you. Raise horses. Ask the extension services at nearby colleges. Grow Colorado lamb or bison, beef and chicken. Add in a garden of root vegetables, leafy summer vegetables, apples or peaches. Whatever you tend will reward you in the end.

Like-minded farmers create little helpful communities. You’ll see them at farmers markets, events, 4-H, and other places. Your horse stables will always be useful here in the Centennial State.

Builders – Horse Stables and Farm Buildings

For information about post-frame construction, contact Sapphire Construction, Inc. at (303) 619-7213.