Fecking landlords

[MizElz]

Dont know if anyone remembers my little 'issue' re. our landlords intending to reduce the amount of grazing we have.....but the latest is that the 'paddock' they are fencing off is only going to be 16 metres wide (not even wide enough for me to put my dressage markers out) and probably about 50 metres long. No idea what that is in acres, but it looks bloody small. Went to speak - nicely - to landlord last week and ask for just one more rail width, which would give us 20 metres in total, and he said 'I'm sure we can sort something.' Well, today he and brother (co-landlord) decided that if we want an extra rail's width, we must pay £10 per month. I think not

I know it sounds petty, but there is a principle here. One rail's width and the length of the paddock will equal half a silage bale, on average, per cut. The field is likely to be cut for silage twice a year - so one silage bale per year. One silage bale costs in the region of £40 a time.....so by my reckoning, that makes our 'extra' strip of land worth.....£3.30 a month. Asking £10 is taking the proverbial piddle.

Their reasons....other than "we need the grass"?

1) "Well, the horse doesnt seem to eat all the grass she's got at the moment, whereas the cows do." So what? My horse is NOT a cow.

2) "Well, she is a bit erratic, maybe a little less room will stop her galloping round all the time."

Mum had the most almighty row with them this morning, to no avail. If we were asking for them to double the size, I could understand them wanting to negotiate price. But we're not.....and what grieves us even more is that they were originally going to make the paddock longer - to incorporate the water trough - but we told them not to worry about sharing the trough as we had our own. I think they could afford to be a little more fair about this....but the fence has already partially gone up today - there's nothing we can do.

I am a wee bit cross, to say the least

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Sorry to hear that, seems rather unfair and I guess they are not 'horsey' themselves? Are you the only person on the yard, or is there a group of you to make your voice heard a little louder? Or, is it time to look around for another yard? Sorry if that doesn't work for you, don't know your circumstances (but you always seem very nice in your posts!)

 

[RunToEarth]

What do they use the field for- grazing cows or crops? My landlord is my dad, and what he says goes. My horses are currently being punished for my coloured's wild antics this morning- he chased the cows around the 25acre field again and again and again, and has really made a mess, so they are banished to the paddock for a week

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

If the grazing isn't sufficient & you are having problems with your landlord then find somewhere else to go & leave.

 

[MizElz]

Unfortunately it's just me - they're our landlords in that we rent a cottage from them, and have been fortunate enough that they allowed us to pull down some rickety old tin sheds and replace them with our stable - paying for it all ourself. We've had this setup for two years now, and have fenced off parts of whatever field they wanted us in simply with electric tape. Now, they want something more 'permanent', but neglected to tell us when we agreed that the 'permanent' paddock would be a third of the size of what we had been used to with the electric tape

Landlords themselves are not horsey - wife has had horses in the past, but hers were only ever allowed in a tiny walled garden-type paddock up by the house; even she does not have much clout! And our neighbours, who have two ponies turned out 24/7 on a field rented from the same people, have just had their grazing restricted also.

If we looked around for somewhere else, Ellie would have to go back into livery (far more expensive), and we would never get another house for the same rate as we have this one

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
If the grazing isn't sufficient & you are having problems with your landlord then find somewhere else to go & leave.

[/ QUOTE ]

Easy to say, not so easy to do when finding somewhere else involves stable+field+3 bedroom house+nice location+local+affordable rent!

 

[flowerlady]

I think I'd look for another yard. One that's more horse friendly.

 

[marieE]

if they wont give u the width, take the extra length you initially turned down, i know its not what you want but its something

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
if they wont give u the width, take the extra length you initially turned down, i know its not what you want but its something

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh you have no idea how we wish we'd done that!

But they have already built the fence, starting that end - almost as if to say, right, this is all you're getting.

flowerlady - again, moving isnt that simple. Everything else suits us perfectly - and to sacrifice our family's happiness and security now for the sake of a another few square metres of grazing doesnt seem worth it.

 

[itsme123]

Can you not use the stable and paddock in the winter then rent other grazing nearby in the summer?

If it's a permanent paddock it will need resting anyway.

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
Can you not use the stable and paddock in the winter then rent other grazing nearby in the summer?

If it's a permanent paddock it will need resting anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is a possibility, but I dont intend on turning her away completely during the summer - I would still like to ride her and compete a bit, although she will be out 24/7 as soon as the weather allows. And it seems crazy when you've got everything at the end of your garden to have to go and rent - and travel - elsewhere. I think this is a paddock that wont get rested - I'm already resigned to the fact that we will be feeding hay all through the summer

 

[YorksG]

What a horrible bind to be in

If they won't see reason then nothing you can do (except perhaps get a voodoo doll and some of the farmers finger nail clippings and a lot of pins!!!!!)

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
What a horrible bind to be in

If they won't see reason then nothing you can do (except perhaps get a voodoo doll and some of the farmers finger nail clippings and a lot of pins!!!!!)

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL - well they are crossed off our Christmas list, that's for sure!

And we have now decided to knock on their door everytime there is a problem with the house - something that in the past we havent done, as we didnt want to bother them.

So, landlords: can you fix:
- the leaking gutter
- the extensive damp problems
- the leaking porch
- the broken toilet
- the broken outdoor light......

Oh, this list could go on and on!

At the end of the day, we are not being 'cruel' to Ellie - sure, the amount of grazing we have would not conform to professional horse-husbandry standards, but she looks better than ever at the moment, and is certainly very happy. As a mare who actively prefers her stable to the field, I am quite lucky - it could be worse. But its the moral issue that grieves me here! £10 a month FFS!!!

 

[MizElz]

Sorry RosiiePimms I meant to say - they take the odd cut of hay or silage off it and then it's used for the dry cows. Its permanent pasture, so never crops.

 

[RunToEarth]

I'll give you the positive- at least you don't have to walk far to catch her. Swap with me for a week and you will be itching to get back to your paddock, trust me!

 

[RunToEarth]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry RosiiePimms I meant to say - they take the odd cut of hay or silage off it and then it's used for the dry cows. Its permanent pasture, so never crops.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well then I would pester them a little more, I can't see why Ellie can't graze with the cows in the summer- that seems the most sensible way to me. My dad has a strict "no horses in crops" policy, unless they have just taken the silage off, because understandably they gain the most profit from crops, but if Ellie would sensibly graze with the cows it would be lots easier.

 

[Cuffey]

Maths time
1 hectare is 10,000 sq m
you have 16x50=800 sq m=0.08 hectare
1 hectare is 2.47acre
Therefore you have 0.08x2.47=0.2 acres
About one fifth of the recommended minimum 1acre per horse
OK I am in Scotland and pay £40 per acre per year for 'rough' grazing and would allow 2 acres per horse but usually just have 2 horses on 10 acres plus sheep
Please check maths its past my bed time!!

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry RosiiePimms I meant to say - they take the odd cut of hay or silage off it and then it's used for the dry cows. Its permanent pasture, so never crops.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well then I would pester them a little more, I can't see why Ellie can't graze with the cows in the summer- that seems the most sensible way to me. My dad has a strict "no horses in crops" policy, unless they have just taken the silage off, because understandably they gain the most profit from crops, but if Ellie would sensibly graze with the cows it would be lots easier.

[/ QUOTE ]

Again, a fair possibility, and this is what she did when we first moved her here (2 years ago)! She went out with the dry cows and was there all summer, behaved perfectly well, and as far as I know, did not blot her copybook

At our 'rent review' we asked landlords if we could let her free in the big field if needed every now and again, and although they didnt exactly jump for joy, they didnt say no, either.

I just dont get them. They are so lax about things one minute, then they decide to exert every bit of power they have the next. They are strange people

And poor mum was worried stiff she had jeopardized us all by having a go at them this morning

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
Maths time
1 hectare is 10,000 sq m
you have 16x50=800 sq m=0.08 hectare
1 hectare is 2.47acre
Therefore you have 0.08x2.47=0.2 acres
About one fifth of the recommended minimum 1acre per horse
OK I am in Scotland and pay £40 per acre per year for 'rough' grazing and would allow 2 acres per horse but usually just have 2 horses on 10 acres plus sheep
Please check maths its past my bed time!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ouch!

I'm not going to argue with you on the maths there, the results are as I had feared!

Looks like I will have to learn how to poo-pick

 

[cellie]

You have my sympathy.I have similiar problem I have been on the same yard for nearly 3 years we are all good friends and all have girls that are the same age and ride together.The yo has just taken the 2 fields that I rent and divided them into 3.I have explained that although the grazing is ample for the w cob (daughters) the same area is just not enough for a greedy tb.So I have made the sad decision to leave the yard and all my friends fortunately there is a yard opposite and my daughters pal is coming as well.Im sure he feels that he has control because of the friendships on yard. The other thing that pushed me over the edge was that I offered to buy tape and he has insisted on using 3 strands of barbed wire.Im fed up with the expense of taping the fields and torn rugs.Even if he offers another field to graze on I will have to buy another set of poles and tape.The new stables are £10 more per week for both horses but its post and rail free straw(I prefer shavings)and water to the fields we have to carry to ours.He will be furious as he has tried to shut down the new yard and has not been successful.I just hope Im doing the right thing.

 

[flowerlady]

Do you pay extra for the grazing anyway or is it included with the property you rent from them?

Did it not state how much land or paddock you would have when you took the property on?

 

[RunToEarth]

I think your best bet is to just play dumb, I turned mine out last week with the young cows knowing full well I hadn't got the all clear, and then when confronted just shrugged my shoulders...men are indecisive.

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you pay extra for the grazing anyway or is it included with the property you rent from them?

Did it not state how much land or paddock you would have when you took the property on?

[/ QUOTE ]

Land and stables came later. We now pay £100 p/m on top of our rent to have the horse at home, and that goes in with the rent so I suppose you could say we pay for it all as one. It was never specified in the original rental agreement as we never dreamed we'd be able to have the horse at home again!

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
I think your best bet is to just play dumb, I turned mine out last week with the young cows knowing full well I hadn't got the all clear, and then when confronted just shrugged my shoulders...men are indecisive.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL you got that bit right! I think I might pick a day whens said landlords are out having a busy time with their scramble bikes, and set Ellie free with the herd....

 

[conniegirl]

£100 per month is £25 per week. round me you could get livery with ample turnout, stable and use of both indoor and out door school and XC course for that amount. me thinks you need to move your horse away.

Feeding hay through summer and winter is extremely expensive, we feed out haylege in winter and our bill came to nearly £200 a month just in haylege for 4 ponies. plus any hay or haylege they had when they came in for the night (separate supplier separate bill).

I'd be voting with my feet and moving the horse.

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
£100 per month is £25 per week. round me you could get livery with ample turnout, stable and use of both indoor and out door school and XC course for that amount. me thinks you need to move your horse away.

[/ QUOTE ]

Round here I'm afraid I'd be needing to double that to get what you have just described! Before we moved her home, Ellie was at a friend's yard - on mates rates, with limited use of a small outdoor school, 1hr max turnout a day, and a 10ft x 8ft stable...for £120 per month. Hay and shavings were extra.

[ QUOTE ]
I'd be voting with my feet and moving the horse.

[/ QUOTE ]

What, and leaving a beautifully built stable, barn and yard standing empty? And moving somewhere where I have no hacking (as I have been used to in the past)? And paying at least the same, if not more, as well as travel costs to get to and from the yard?

It doesnt make sense to me.

 

[conniegirl]

to be honest with 0.2 of an acre (which is not much bigger then your average outdoor school), and no school, with a farmer who seems like he is likely to limit you further, having to pay for year round hay and all the extra work and mud and muck that will go into trying to keep that tiny parcel of land useable. i think you'll find that the feed and hay bills will soon mount up we certainly did. as will the time you need to spend dealing with the field, it mounts up to mean you have very little actual time with the horse. and in winter it churns up very quickly. to keep that land useable you will have to poo pick daily no matter what the weather so in winter that will most likely mean doing it in the dark by tourch light.
Nice stables are all very well but without grazing then they are not much use.
so yes i'd be moving my horse in that situation.

 

[asbo]

we are just moving from 6 stables and 1 acre of ground along with hard standing as it is just way to hard & i hate seeing the horses without grass

maybe you could rent a field for the summer near by?

 

[Tia]

Couldn't you ask to pay a little extra to give you summer grazing? And then go back to keeping Ellie in her pen over the winter?

 

[Baggybreeches]

[ QUOTE ]
Can you not use the stable and paddock in the winter then rent other grazing nearby in the summer?
I'm already resigned to the fact that we will be feeding hay all through the summer

[/ QUOTE ]
I sometimes put mine out for a couple of weeks in August/September, but other than that they are with me at home the rest of the time, I feed hay all year round, I chose to sacrifice half of my 1 acre, to put in an all weather menage, I turn out on this in the winter/wet weather and save the grazing for the summer, but because there isnt a huge amount I always adlib hay.
I have 3 horses in 1 acre, not ideal, but they don't mind and I am OCD about poo picking.