2 horses on 1.3acres?

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bumblelion

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As title! Partner has seen lovely house everything's amazing, he's totally in love with it! Only problem has a 1.3 acre paddock! Iv said I was planning on more land but am now starting to think, would it be enough? Has 3 gorgeous stables also so don't need 24/7 turnout, however I do prefer in summer. There is a further 4 acres nearby to rent, just not used to having my horses so far out of sight! Iv got a 16.2hh tb and a 17hh idxwb, so pretty big boys! What would you do?
 
I would say you can do it.At my current yard most of the horses are in individual paddocks, same paddock all year round to be managed by the individual and they are approx 1/2 an acre each
 
Thats what I was thinking, when mine were on livery, they were both on half acre paddocks each. I'm spoilt here where we rent as we've got 6 acres but on clay soil so I need to rest certain paddocks. I daren't arrange a
viewing because the house is so nice and the stables and well
everything is tbh, there's even an
outdoor heated pool! Just don't
know realistically if I should just disregard it or go and view and be sensible! Maybe find out how nearby the 4 acres is!
 
Dilbert- I have no problem feeding hay in field, got 2 feeders, so that's not a concern.

I have a non horsey OH to please also!!!
 
Dilbert- it is lovely! We're both just so impulsive, tend to go into things guns ablazing! Then reality kicks in! Trying my hardest to be restrained.......!
 
It would be a push with such big horses surely? You may have them on half acre individual paddocks, but you'd never get to rest them.

I'd go and have a look, and check out the other fields nearby - you could always put them out in the bigger fields in the day during the summer, and bring them back at night if you're worried about them being out of sight..

Really it depends on the land - on our clay pennine boy an acre would be trashed in no time, on Lincs loam it may well be miles better! I think you'd end up with them in a lot of the time, even in summer, or very horse sick fields. I don't see how the paradise system would work - thats usually a track round a bigger field isn't it?
 
Ho-ho-honey, yes that is an option, on the ad it says the 4 acre is nearby, just how nearby I don't know. Will ring tomorrow and find out! So long as I don't have to lead them together too far, it could work! I have a 1 yo daughter you see, partner works late!
 
Sounds very nice, but theres more to it than just enough grass, theres also the problem of droppings and room to let off steam etc, 1 & a half Acres for your 1st Horse and then 1 Acre for every Horse after that is the safe option especially for your bigguns :)
 
Go and see it, at least you can put it out of your mind if its not as good in reality as it is on paper, plus there could be a big garden waiting to be converted :D
 
had mine (15.2 and 16 hands) on 2 acres for a couple of years but eventually had to rest the ground and rent land elsewhere during summer - even then it was a struggle - but our land was clay and quite wet (had yard and stables) now have 4 acres in total and the difference is amazing.

Go and have a look but you would definately need to rest it for some of the year which is where the 4 acres closeby could be invaluable - or ask farmers either side if they will sell or rent !!!

Good luck
 
Yeah, iv always gone by the 1.5 acre rule minimum for one horse, and 1 further acre for second! Thats why iv been hesitant and posted on here. You just see so many horses on less, so wondered if it was doable! I know the soil type is important, won't touch it if it's clay, like we have here!
Crabbymare- already thought of that! Was thinking about replacing pool with a ménage!! Doubt OH could be convinced!!
 
I think it will be fine. It does depend on the quality of the land. The yard I keep my horses on currently has 6 mares on 2 acres - and they're all over 14hh up to 16.2hh. They only go out in the day and in at night, but they are all up to weight or overweight, but the land is superb and the grass excellent. Quality is more important than quantity.
 
bit of lippy and nice smile at the farmers either side is worth a go - I just asked outright having never met the chap who owned big field next door to mine and he said yes !!!! he even offered to shake hands on it there and then for the right price (£10k per acre) I said I would put hedging up so didnt look like cut off field etc (bought 2 acres of 11 acre field and joined it with a culvert over rhyne to mine). Times are hard for everyone so you might find someone willing to sell at right price - just hope they dont take the pee when they realise it would be to add to your house/land as they may try and ask silly money.
 
Its 2 small for 24 hr turnout but if you stable them overnight in winter and turn out in the day then move to the rented 4 acres for May to Sept then it should be quite ok.
 
Too smal IMO. I had two ponies on 2.5 acres when we owned our house in shrops- had to rent a further 8 acres off farmer as the 2 acres just couldnt cope with winter weather. Ours were out 24/7 though. We didnt nee 8 more acres but farmer wouldnt split field so we had all of it!

The 4 acres to rent would make it perfect though!
 
mines on around 1/2 acre or less summer and same again winter - shes still alive!!!


shes a very good d-oer tho - and im putting hay in just to amuse her....not for her weight!



its do-able with VERY good land management :)
 
Thanks everyone for your replies! :) I think I may phone the agents tomorrow and enquire more. If the 4 acres are very close, I will probably arange a viewing! At least to have a look at the grazing quality!
 
Def go and see it and see if there are horses on the land atm and what state it's in. Also you do have the 4 acres, see how close they are/how safe the route to and fro is. And you might well be able to buy some neighbouring land, even if you have to pay through the nose per acre it will make the property a lot more equestrian attractive if you ever need to sell as buyers wont have the worry about whether the land is enough.
 
Buy the house if you like it but if you want your horses at home personally I'd want more land than that. Good if you can rent the extra 4 acres, without that I wouldn't be interested.
 
It will be OK if you poo pick & bring them in & exercise lots. BUT, for me (and we are just about to move next week and have looked at zillions of houses with land), the swimming pool is a big no no. The cost of heating it - eeeek! Could you fill it in and turn it into a manage?
 
Horsesforever1 said:
Its 2 small for 24 hr turnout but if you stable them overnight in winter and turn out in the day then move to the rented 4 acres for May to Sept then it should be quite ok.
Click to expand...

This^^^

Especially as one is a TB. If they were both good doing cobs perhaps.

I have 5.5 acres and used to grow hay in the 4 acre field leaving me the 1.5 acre paddock for grazing until the hay was cut. It wasn't enough and my TB looked ribby until he could go out on the larger field.
 
It's doable but bear in mind that in winter it will be one big boggy mess which is hard on you physically as well as looking horrid and hard on the horses living in mud. In summer it will become dust bowl. And you will constantly be fussing about grass growth and feeding and hay supply ....
 
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