Grazing dilemma

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zeuscleoharmony

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I have an opportunity to rent a field for my 15hh horse and miniature Shetland. The grazing is on a slope and has in the past been grazed by cows or sheep. It isnt prime grazing but in an idyllic location within a national park. Trouble is, it's 15 acres. No water supply, which is fine, I can provide that. I am not in a position to fence off to sublet and without water think it would be unattractive to most, more worry than it be worth. How much would you offer for my two, despite the acreage. I will be providing a shelter.
 
Ask them what they want? they won't be basing it on your ponies, but on the acreage, round here that would be around 1500/yr minimum but national park I guess the sky is the limit..
 
Offer livery to a couple of others sharing on a ‘herd’ basis - you may find someone lovely and with 15 acres you aren’t going to have to worry too much about feeding! The less dry food/hay the less water. 15 acres is big but not too big to find your horse!
 
It depends on how much it is worth to you, probably base it on what you are currently spending and if it will add value to you.
 
We have 3 on 15 acres at home .It's a lot of grazing and we cut 7 acres of hay/haylege from it.A water bowser would be easiest which you could tow off to fill up.big enough to last at least a week would be ideal
I guess it's the Souhdowns way given your location .Check there are no foot paths or rights of way running through.
planning can be really difficult in the National park I know as we lived in that area 10 years ago will be really surprised if you get permission for any sort of shelter even mobile they are very sticky on that I have know 4 peop!e who were forced to remove mobile shelters in the Souhdowns national park area.
 
The mind boggles as to how you will supply enough water.

As to how much you should offer, think really carefully what it is worth to you, keeping in mind that the water will be a big issue.

When you have an idea of what it's worth to you, then see what sort of money they want as rent. That's how I do things. I find it helpful.
 
We’re on 14 acres but divided and shared with 5 horses/ ponies in total. Ours is very hilly with no water supply/ electric but in the National forest. I love it but the major plus here is that the owner collects rainwater and pulls it to where we need it with a tractor. In the summer we sometimes run out but he’s amazing in bringing barrels from home and taking them up on a trailer. Without this, I couldn’t manage- it’s too hilly to carry or barrow water.

could you recruit a willing local farmer to do the same for you? Might be a good deal if you can?
Farmer cuts hay each year and stores it here which I buy back when I need it, so always a ready supply.
 
SusieT said:
but national park I guess the sky is the limit..
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I live in the Peak National Park, west side. The land is generally rough and drains poorly, planning consent is a nightmare and rents and land values are low.

South Downs is very different, I think.

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We moved 10years ago but lived in that area for 30 years including when it became a National park .Planning is an absolute nightmare!A friend was server an order by planning to take electric tape down which was dividing her 10 acres into smaller paddocks because they felt it untidy! It was good quality 'fencing others have had removal orders on mobile shelters one was allowed a mobile shelter but had to site it at the lowest and wettest part of the land and move it all along that fence line regularly.There are enough anti horse people walking the South Downs who will rat on you to get away with nothing.
We moved got fed up of being tied in red tape.Good luck o if you go ahead.
 
Depends on your location.
In Surrey there is a 1.5acre field no water £150pcm. This has been available a while (I suspect due to sycamore's surrounding the field) but is quite reasonably priced for the area and was previously rented out for a good period of time at that price.
In Bucks there is 3.6 acres with water £650 pcm, new to the market but has been rented out for the last year.
But then 4 acres with stables and a school on Hampshire borders is currently advertised for £900, and similar in Bucks was advertised for the same amount before being snapped up quickly.

So price is really hard to tell and will definitely depend on location!

I looked at water supplies for the first field (before I realised the extent of the sycamore problem) and it was expensive! Plus a pain if you ever need to cold hose for injuries or bath.
 
What did the cows and sheep do for water? They would have needed a lot. Can you ask previous tenants how they managed for water, then work out an appropriate rent.
 
You can buys baffled watertank that will sit flat in a car. Even with three in summer it lasted three days. Without water it should be cheaper unless the owner wants to charge horse rents. I would look at the going rate for sheep grazing and add a bit.
 
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