Got offered grazing but..... Would you take it on?

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loverly

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I've been offered grazing.. (thanks for all the advice re letters to land owners)

Been put in contact with a lady who has land 10 mins drive from me so not too far. She has had a riding accident and been left paralysed. She will allow me to rent the field and somewhat shabby stables for a tiny amount IF I agree to look after her own horse whose been out on loan. This would mean I have 3 (including the miniature) that are can't be ridden and I'm desperate to buy a ridden horse - this would leave me with 4 horses to look after.

I don't know how interfering the owner will be either and after one very interfering yard owner, I'm a little skeptical.

Would you do it?
 
Yes I'd definitely do it.

it's a good deal financially you say, the horses are out 24x7 I assume, one more wont make too much odds and let's face it, if the story is true then us horsey types if it were us would hope that the horsey world would step up to the mark.

If she's too interfering then you can always leave and find somewhere else after all.

Set out from the start what level of work from you and input from her is required.
 
Personally, I'd rather pay for it and have a proper contract in place. These things can get messy! Would the horse be to ride or just basic looking after?
 
pinklilly said:
Personally, I'd rather pay for it and have a proper contract in place. These things can get messy! Would the horse be to ride or just basic looking after?
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That's exactly what I am thinking. He is lame so cannot be ridden so it would be the general care of him. The owner is paralysed from the chest down (I believe) so will be looking after him 100% - just not to cost of farrier and vets.

It is £5 per week per horse.
 
I'd do it, depending on what routine she wanted him in - if you ask you should get an idea of how fussy she is (if she says he's out for 5.5 hours a day between 7.15am and 12.35pm precisely etc, you know it won't work :p). If she's happy for him to go in and out with yours in a normal suitable routine, I'd go for it!

It does mean you have a companion for your 2nd pony if you take one out too ;)
 
Auslander said:
12.45 surely? Or 5h20 :D
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I was implying that the owner believed the horse should have an extra ten minutes in the field as a result of the carer altering the flow of time (probably projecting the horse into space as I think gravity makes time travel more quickly down here? or otherwise utilising the theory of relativity) to ensure the horse achieved the full 5hr30 in the field :)
 
I've got horses in two separate fields with two different field-sharers at the moment...for various reasons, I ended up haying the elderly pony all winter along with my two in one field (owner paid for her share of hay) and in my other field have had to treat all 3 for lice, as the two that were already there (that don't belong to me) were infested when I moved in.
In both fields I am the only person that poo-picks...in fact, most of the time I'm the only person that actually goes there...in the summer, in one of the fields, I will also mostly be the only one watering.
I think whoever you share with, unless you are lucky, there are annoyances to deal with...no one does everything the same way...at least with your situation you know what you're likely to be dealing with in advance. As someone else said, try to negotiate how much duty of care you will have. and build in a bit of tolerance level if it turns out to be a bit more than that now and again.
TBH, I find its actually easier to do certain jobs for all 3 than it would be to separate those that are not mine. (Until I offered the elderly pony's owner to buy into my winter hay supply, and told her it was easier for me to actually give it to her at the same time as mine, I was having to tie her up while she looked on miserably - they are all ponies, very good doers and ad lib wasn't on the cards). I also do all the worming at the same time - elderly pony's owner buys her wormer and I adminster it.
It sounds like a good deal for a fiver a week with stable - is there also room for another if/when you get something to ride?
With my two field situations, I had reservations about both beforehand, knowing the background...and I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't snap someone's hand off if I could get one field for my 3 on my own..but I just try to remind myself of all the benefits! ;)
Good luck
 
JFTD said:
I was implying that the owner believed the horse should have an extra ten minutes in the field as a result of the carer altering the flow of time (probably projecting the horse into space as I think gravity makes time travel more quickly down here? or otherwise utilising the theory of relativity) to ensure the horse achieved the full 5hr30 in the field :)
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I have no answer for that!
 
There is 6 acres split into two paddocks. So if I manage the land OK - there should be ample for 1 x miniature, 1 x 14.2 and 1 x 15.2hh. And then when I get another it will be 16hh ish. There is also currently 2 stable with another 2 that has been knocked through and made into a feed room and they are happy for me to make it into two small pony stables as they will be 10x10 each..
The horses would be living out 24/7 in the summer and as near to that in the winter unless they drop weight - I will have to talk this through with the owner of the pony.
 
Sounds like a good deal I'd be thrilled! Maybe this letter writing thing is a good idea... Just clarify what it is she wants you to do, it shouldn't be anything too arduous? Like lachlanandmarcus said it would be nice to help the poor woman out so you can gain too, she's probably roped some non horsey family member into it and it wouldn't take much extra time :-)
 
The step from none to one was huuuuuge. One to two = easy, sadly this started the slippery slope and before I knew it I'd also been given a retired TB (who I adore) and then bought a gelding too!

I could never have horses at different yards though.
 
I'd go for it. As said, have a word first to see exactly what she wants doing & make sure its reasonable, if it is one more won't make a difference.
 
I would go for it - I field-share with the fields owner (who has three ponies) and another guy who's temporarily put his pony in with ours. I do most of the poo-picking - at least two barrows a day, the FO does it probably once a week and will get a fair few barrows out. The third guy is NEVER up (haven't even seen him since his pony came about 6 weeks ago) and it makes me a little angry that I have to clean up after his horse, but for the price of livery in London its so worth it. You could keep the miniature out and as many of the others that can live out would make your life a lot easier. Suppose it depends on your circumstances - do you have more time, or more money going spare? If time then its a brilliant set-up.
 
Am I the only one who feels 'be careful'?

Leaving the tiny rent (whch is great of course) aside, if I read it right you will be looking after 4 horses/ponies completely, one of which you will want to ride and do things with.

Firstly, 1 horse = 10-15 lots of droppings per day x 7 (days in the week) = 70-105 poos per week. Ergo 4 horses = 280-420 per week. I won't go on. You'll be doing tha ton your own.

The lady is tragically paralysed. Ergo, you will be the one topping troughs, moving fencing, mucking out, at least minimally, the stables in winter, feeding, haying, rugging etc. You will be seeing to the veterinary and farriery visits for your horses and her horse.

You say you are going to be having a gap year. What then? Are you going to be doing any sort of work? And what happenes when that is over and you go to uni or whatever your plans are. My guess is that you may not be able to keep up the arrangements and, unless the woman is a cow, which I'm sure she isn't, you are going to feel guilty maybe having to move, and leave her and her horse in the lurch.

Just feel you really need to think things right through.
 
Sounds like a bargain to me. As the other said get an agreement and I cant see it would be a problem.

Does the owner live on site. If so this would also be a big plus for me. She might not be able to do any jobs but she will be around. Being horsey she would also know if something was wrong, even if she could not do anything about it other than ring you.

I would worry about keeping mine somewhere where there was no-one to spot problems or suspicious people hanging around.
 
rockys mum makes a really good point, being blunt, a paralysed horsey lady is the best security for your horses!!

Also, I do feel that the worry about feeling guilty in the future if you have to move on and she has to find someone else shouldnt stop your helping her out now. In a year or so's time things may have changed in her circumstances or yours but in the meantime it's help for her.
 
Too good to turn down yes you will have 4 to look after and all that pooh bet lets face it 3 of them are yours!
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth the worst scinario is you leave.
Can't believe anyone is umming and arghing
 
Just had another though. If the rates around you are the same as here you would be paying £25 per horse for those facilities.

Thats a saving of £60 a week. You could always pay someone to do the poo picking :D :D
 
i would go for it, have 1 extra to do is not such a huge difference when you already have 3!! just get everything down in writing so there's no room for confusion over who is responsible for what:)
 
I would get something in writing between youand go for it. Then pay for some help, because as said above, you're saving £60 per week. Do you mean that you want to get a riding horse and that will mean 5 eventually?
 
If you decide to go for it please get something in writing so you know exactly where you stand. Include in ther paper exactly what the owner wants in return, i.e. are you responsible for fence & stable maintenance? Will you be responsible for pasture management i.e. harrowing, rolling, hedge cutting etc etc. Also how exactly they want their horse looked after. These are just a few things that come to mind but if you don't nail everything down then it may cause problems in tyhe future. The owner may be a lovely person but many are not & you won't want to be suddenly asked to leave as it will be difficult to find a place to take your herd. :)
 
I'd think it through - make sure you get to know her first before committing as she could be a nightmare.

Can the stables be repaired? What is the turnout like?
 
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