Field ideas!

I am lucky that we have our own land, although it is poor moorland, but great for ponies.

When we first moved in and our old pony came home to live with us, we had the land, no fences, shelter etc. I found that road plannings made good hard standing, and are great for gateways and reasonable to get.

I do think it is important to make your main gateway area in hardstanding like road planeings and have an inner gate for cars etc so animals can not escape onto road as blacksmith/vet have to drive in.

My OH is great at DIY so has fenced, made storage sheds etc for me so that has really kept costs down.

I have to say however, that in these dark nights I do love the luxury of electric lights and a water tap after managing without for many years in the past.
 
I have rented 1.5 acres since 2005 @ £11 week. Level with hedges no water. Surrounded by houses with narrow road along one boundary. I maintain fencing and get it topped and fertilised and spray ragwort. Probably costs same in maintenance as rent overall.
 
Not read other replies yet. But over winter I have mine in a huge field. No electric but do have water. There is also a shelter, and an old touring caravan. The gate goes onto a road. There is no hard standing, but the fields drain really well. There's an area you can pull in just opp the gate so that's what I use for vet/ farrier. My ponies were super fit after they were there last time and starting to get much fitter after only a few weeks of being there this time. Because of how much they go up and down hills and move about. I hack 3/4 times a week and have a lesson once a week. The owner of the field has said we can build a corral area inside the gate and put hard standing down. Only thing we can't do is put foundations down. For emergency stabling I would go to local livery yard temporarily. Which I am doing at the moment anyway.
 
Contd... I bought a quality mobile shelter and moved gates back from road to make parking and grooming area approx 24 ft wide and 12 ft deep. Surfaced with gravel on hardcore called threequarters-to-dust. Works fine. I take water to field in 10 litre bottles bought from a food container website. I only live half mile away. Made friends with neighbours who gave me hot and cold water in snow and electric socket for clipping. Emergency stabling: ask horsey friends or livery. I do have transport so I usually box to farrier and vet. I work shifts and dislike the bitchiness and mess of livery yards so suits me perfectly. I compete regularly, school on hacks and hire arenas for lessons. I don't keep anything of value at field, just a hidden wheelbarrow plus headcollar and hoofpick in a plastic barrel. Everything else in house or shed in my garden.
 
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