Another yard closure

[SO1]

I just heard Harolds Park Farm is closing. It is a 90 horse yard. I would never want to be on a yard that size but my understanding is that was full so 90 liveries looking for new yards. I feel so sorry for them as no doubt will be hard to find yards in that area

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

The one in Nazeing? I've not heard anything about that I wonder why it's closing.

 

[ecb89]

Seen this all over the Essex horsey Facebook groups. Really feel sorry for them. I went through a yard shut down but no where near that amount of horses were looking for new stables

 

[ester]

I did feel for the yard manager who's lost a job and livery in one go.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

They got told today and have until the end of March to leave. Going to be tough

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

Sadly too many yards closing and not nearly enough new ones opening ?

 

[teapot]

The one in Nazeing? I've not heard anything about that I wonder why it's closing.

Because DIY prices and increasing costs equals a very unhappy accountant most likely

 

[Lexi 123]

it must be awful for the livery’s there is no way you would find new stable for 90 horses .

 

[JFTDWS]

Development. Like everywhere else in Essex / Herts - I'm pretty sure it will be housing in the blink of an eye. HPF was never a "cheap" option for DIY, with an indoor and big outdoor arena, regular competitions etc, and has all the economies of scale, so I doubt it's no longer viable specifically as a DIY enterprise, so much as just far (far, far) more lucrative to build on.

 

[dottylottie]

as someone currently trying to find a yard, they’re really does seem to be 10x more horses than yards. one i got in contact with today is now only replacing leaving liveries with full - impossible situation whilst people are moving to diy to afford the cost, and yards are needing to move to full livery to do the same.

 

[JFTDWS]

as someone currently trying to find a yard, they’re really does seem to be 10x more horses than yards. one i got in contact with today is now only replacing leaving liveries with full - impossible situation whilst people are moving to diy to afford the cost, and yards are needing to move to full livery to do the same.

Yup, I have the same issue - fortunately moving further away from the HPF area, so I'm not competing with those 90 liveries, but still an absolute pig. I'm moving areas, and have 3 to accommodate. It's not a financial issue for me, so much as control - I loathe full livery and the loss of control it usually entails, and it just doesn't work for me or my horses. I'm quite happy to pay well for DIY, or a private rent, but even finding somewhere to keep them short term until I can buy my own land is almost impossible.

 

[criso]

Development. Like everywhere else in Essex / Herts - I'm pretty sure it will be housing in the blink of an eye. HPF was never a "cheap" option for DIY, with an indoor and big outdoor arena, regular competitions etc, and has all the economies of scale, so I doubt it's no longer viable specifically as a DIY enterprise, so much as just far (far, far) more lucrative to build on.

It was posted on facebook that the owner of the site was the Church of England and it was their decision to close not the managers. Is that correct?

But yes, everything round here is ending up being built on.

 

[JFTDWS]

It was posted on facebook that the owner of the site was the Church of England and it was their decision to close not the managers. Is that correct?

But yes, everything round here is ending up being built on.

No idea - I've never been a livery there, only occasionally competed there in the dim and distant past. I did see a post on a local group from the manager which would seem to suggest that it wasn't their decision though.

I didn't know it was owned by the C of E, I presumed some wealthy local family who owned half the county would have it. That's the case with my current place. Lucky devils and their huge swathes of valuable, inherited land!

 

[criso]

No idea - I've never been a livery there, only occasionally competed there in the dim and distant past. I did see a post on a local group from the manager which would seem to suggest that it wasn't their decision though.

Sorry when you said about moving away and not competing I thought you were ome of the liveries made homeless.

 

[Surbie]

That will be really tough. I've been through a yard closure too, though it wasn't huge they only gave us December to move out and it was a horrible experience. We have one closing near us and its neighbour will go soon. I hope the liveries can find somewhere.

 

[criso]

There's a lot of yards round here on land being sat on by developers waiting for the right time. Some in places they won't get planning now but they're prepared to play a long game.

 

[exracehorse]

It’s very sad. Our local riding school has just closed. Development for houses.

 

[skint1]

There's a lot of yards round here on land being sat on by developers waiting for the right time. Some in places they won't get planning now but they're prepared to play a long game.

That can be ok, in 2007 we were told the Council farm land our yard was on had gone for housing... local opposition, financial crash and a few other things, my friend was there until 2021 in the end. It is worrying though, how hard it is these days to find a yard.

 

[PeterNatt]

What we need is legislation that prevents any land that has been used for recreational sporting purposes from being allowed to be used for housing/commercial development.

 

[throwaway2022]

We’ve had two big yards close within the last six months or so and I’ve heard from a friend that another one is due to close too although it hasn’t been formally announced as yet so we’ll see

 

[criso]

That can be ok, in 2007 we were told the Council farm land our yard was on had gone for housing... local opposition, financial crash and a few other things, my friend was there until 2021 in the end. It is worrying though, how hard it is these days to find a yard.

Yes from a livery point of view you might get a good few years but the when the intention is to develop it's a case of when not if, so it will be lost at some point.

 

[JFTDWS]

Sorry when you said about moving away and not competing I thought you were ome of the liveries made homeless.

No need to apologise, I can completely see why you'd have thought that from my (poorly worded, ill thought out!) post!

 

[SEL]

I've moved on from two yards which got PP for housing. Our local council goes on about equestrian activities being a huge part of the local economy but does nothing to oppose developers building on yards, paddocks etc. Apparently they can't because central government is pushing housing targets and a significant part of council budgets is met from S166 payments from developers.

C of E sold a large plot of agricultural land for a housing estate in our village. Local church had to put out a statement saying it was nothing to do with them and they'd get no money from it.

 

[mariew]

I used to live around that part of Essex, once pp rules were made easier to convert farm buildings to housing, I think about 5 yards near me were closed due to housing developments. I'd be surprised if it was anything else

 

[TheresaW]

I’ve a couple of friends who livery there. One of them has mentioned the CofE being involved.

It’s such a shame. Although I was never a livery there, I did attend lots of shows back in the day.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I am sick of the way all these amenities are being grabbed for housing. Nothing to do with horses but where I used to live in the centre of town literally just round the corner was a sports field, previously used for the town's football club but for many years just for the public to use. Because it was between two major roads it was brilliant for the people within those two roads. It was owned by the Co-op but leased to the town council. It was one of the plus points for the family that bought our old house. Council's lease ran out and Co-op put in plans to build on it. Everyone locally fought it and so did the Council but in the end the Co-op won by agreeing to leave some of it as an amenity and building accommodation for older people. Still a bone of contention with many people.

 

[Rainey75]

I live and have my pony on DIY locally and its going to be carnage for those poor liveries - we were in a similar situation only a couple of months ago ( small yard , up for auction , developers crawling all over it ) and trying to find just 2 boxes was bad enough. The area doesnt have enough stables now to take that influx of horses - every spare piece of land round here is slowly being lost to battery housing that no one local can afford with no amenities - the only people who win are the developers. The town used to have a equestrian and rural history but soon it will all be lost and never come back . Such a shame - I remember when it opened as a kid

 

[scruffyponies]

Inflation + recession + yard closures
Looks like the makings of a welfare nightmare. What will happen to horses when the owner can't keep it (no money or yard space) and nobody is buying for the same reason.

 

[Bernster]

It is sad. And worrying. They’ve not been running shows for a while. I assume it’ll go for development with all these housing targets for local councils.

I was told bury farm is owned by a developer who’s waiting it out to get PP. Can anyone confirm that? They run tons of events (sometimes cramming multiple ones on at the same time!). That would be a massive loss.

 

[Widgeon]

It was posted on facebook that the owner of the site was the Church of England and it was their decision to close not the managers. Is that correct?.

That is very interesting. Might nose around that a bit more.