Half/three quarters of an acre enough to keep horse/s?

[vidis]

I'm with Enfys and Wagtail, it's do-able. Good drainage or all-weather surface essential though and you'll need to feed hay year round.

Yes, I knew already that year round hay would be a necessity. Must look into what price range that would be for say two small-medium cobby types.

In terms of an all weather surface, seems to me a sand arena would be the best option. The area is rural and coastal so there is more than ample opportunity for fantastic hacks, which is my interest, rather than competing, etc.

 

[vidis]

FWIW, I have decided it's not enough for us to go ahead with, I see that it is doable but difficult and I want to maintain some land for my dogs and maybe a bit of gardening after all (ok, that bit is doubtful). So we will look for some grazing to rent nearby, perhaps. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[The wife]

To put land and horse amoubts into context, my mother has 9 acres and has between 3-5 horses on it. Come January, she is literally feeding hay by the trailer full. The fields are near on pure mud. During the summer half of it is cut for hay and rested for winter.
Grass does not go very far in the winter I am afraid.

I suppose if you are happy stabling for periods of time then half an acre or so may do one horse. Any more than that and I think you would be struggling.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Many people cannot really envisage exactly how large an acre is. It is 4840 square yards which is about 70 yards x 70 yards. When you measure the footprint of stables, the apron on the front & an arena suddenly the area gets all eaten up & there is precious land left for the horses/ponies. As others have said it doesn't appear to be enough for your needs. ;(

 

[vidis]

Yes, I've decided it's not worth it but it was good to get all the varied opinions. It might well work for some but I don't want to be stabling most of the time.

 

[Kacey88]

Yes, I've decided it's not worth it but it was good to get all the varied opinions. It might well work for some but I don't want to be stabling most of the time.

You're right its miserable for horses and their minders! I had 2 horses on 1.5 acres with an additional large all weather turnout pen and two stables. This got a bit too miserable come December so I sent them off to grass livery for a 2 month holiday. I am also in Ireland.

Best of luck trying to get sorted

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Yes, I've decided it's not worth it but it was good to get all the varied opinions. It might well work for some but I don't want to be stabling most of the time.

its a big commitment wrt to exercising them daily (which I cannot do during the winter) and well imo. I do it both ways and as much as I love having them at home, seeing them loose on 10-30 acres of hill grazing and the fun they have in their summer meadow means I could not keep them permanently in very limited space permanently.

 

[welshgal16]

I have about 3/4 acre for my 15.2 6 year old pba and 4 year old mini shetland. They only have about 1/3 acre that they get turned out on all day when its dry and few hours every day in bad weather. They are both very happy and bright. They soon tell me if they aren't happy.
They share a field shelter with an all weather turnout. All they care about is company and food. As long as they have food they don't care.

 

[Daisy99]

Even 1.5 acres needs to be adequately managed to have one horse grazing on it
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...re-enough-to-keep-horse-s#WSQKOkqXShaaEdSU.99



Don't agree with this, I have about 1.5 acres and way too much grass. Horse is out 24/7 as much as possible. Was in nights quite a bit of this winter but previous winter only about 12 nights in all winter.
Depends a lot on your soil and if you are prepared to manage land sensibly.

 

[rachk89]

I think it just depends on the horse. A horse that gets laminitis easily could be kept there easily I imagine (without the arena).

I know my horse couldn't live like that as he has before and was miserable. He also destroyed the field in 2 weeks. He was brought in at night and stabled because he needed food he got no grass and often no hay during the day despite being told he would get some. A contributing factor to why I left.

I know some people at the yard we are at now would probably like a smaller paddock like that for their horses. And you could always do an all weather surface for them with access to the stables for in bad weather. I would be tempted if i had a less complicated and fussy horse.