Field set up/dividing of

[gina2201]

Currently in the market for a property with land and although a little ahead of myself, wonder how others who already manage and maintain their own land my go about it.

One particular property we are looking at has 9.5 acres split into 3 relatively similar size fields, all in a line so to speak away from the property. As the property is slightly higher and the land gently slopes away you can just about see all the fields from the house (except when hedges/trees in full bloom!)

On one hand I would love the horses to be closer to the house in winter for quickness in the wettest and worse weather, but equally this means the land is at its worst closest to the house during the summer whilst it is recuperating. Plus I selfishly thought it would be lovely to have the horses right outside the house on a summer evening whilst they would be out 24/7.

So I was thinking of maybe using the middle field or furthest field for 'winter' which can then rested fully all through summer but this obviously impacts on bringing in/turning out distance but hides the messy field!

Potential for putting stables up in middle field so then fields are equi-distant from each other which would negate above problem but then further away to go to/see at night when they would be in during winter?

What would you do?!

 

[be positive]

If you use the middle or bottom field for winter don't underestimate how much mess they will make going to and fro every day so the nearest field will not stay pristine, I have been taking one in and out each day across a field and there is a lot of mud now in an otherwise unused area of field, so you may be best putting the stables in the middle one and making a decent track across field 1 for ease of access but planning may not allow it, don't forget a vet or farrier must be able to get in in an emergency also not just you going over to do them.

I would probably prefer to have the stables close by for ease of access for everyone, there is also feed,hay and bedding to consider and divide field 1 in half by a track, either with post and rail so it is permanent or just with tape so getting them to fields 2 and 3 is easy whatever the weather, if I were setting up from scratch I would put in a hard standing area for turnout and the track could serve this purpose as well if done properly.