Horses at home/own yard

Char0901

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This year I'm hoping to build stables on our land at home.
We have all the necessary planning permissions and we're having someone out in the next week or so to draw up some professional plans/how to utilise the space etc.
All very exciting obviously but my brain has now moved on to thinking about the little things (and to me, more exciting than actual buildings!
So, my question is, if you have your horses at home or have your own small yard, what things do you have that you couldn't live without? Things you never thought about before (currently and previously only ever been on livery yards so probably take a lot for granted!) or what do you wish you had that would make your life easier?
The yard will have electric/water etc right from the off and an arena, round pen and walker are all on the to do list after actually getting my horses home!
 

ester

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At home x2
we had limited storage (essentially a double garage on planning) so getting a lorry container was a revelation. Not so posh as to have an arena etc.

The main thing we have found is that you can get stuck with a certain layout and we've had a few errr why are we doing it that way moments. Like walking down and up a fence line to get to the muck heap- we then just cut a gap in the fence!

Oh a decent path between house and yard ours gets quite slippy and you go up and down it a lot.

I do miss having hot water on the actual yard compared to livery even though we don't have far to walk, oh and a yard washing machine.
 

blitznbobs

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Rug racks, hay storage... I don’t have heating in my tack room but if I did my tack would be much cleaner! Loads more shelves in the tack room would be useful. I have a collapsible saddle rack on the wall outside each stable - great if you have comedian horses who like to throw things on the floor off their stable doors

Oh and transport so you can get out occasionally
 

eggs

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I've had the horses at home for about 20 years now but am lucky to have enough stables and land to have two friends keep their horses with me to help out and for company. The yard is very close to my back door and the fields are a very short walk from the stables.

Think about where you put the muck heap and have some-one who can take it away for you. A level tarmaced path to it is a Godsend. Storage space is vital with good access for deliveries. The best thing I bought was the quad bike as it gets used every day from levelling the arena, to muck clearing the fields, to topping and harrowing, to taking hay out to the fields in snow, etc.

I have a covered area for grooming, farrier, etc. I have a household electric shower in this area for washing off the horses. It is fitted so that it can be taken down in the cold weather and taken inside to stop it from freezing.

Know where your stopcocks and fuse boards are.
 

ester

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Oh also, proper shelves for rugs and a tall metal cabinet for the barn - the latter is great for keeping lotions/potions/bandages etc clean and tidy rather than getting covered in hay dust.

I miss from livery having more undercover hanging space for drying rugs, we tend to have to do them over bales.
 

Flicker51

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A hay barn big enough to buy hay in summer when it’s cheap !
Hot wash and arena would complete my list !
Nothing beats lying in bed in the summer and hearing the horses snorting in the field below :)
 

splashgirl45

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i was at a friends yard which had been built from scratch and we had a big washing machine that we could use for rugs,numnahs,boots etc , this was in an outhouse that also had a toilet, very handy if you have muddy boots .heated tack room with a sink and kettle etc nice to make a coffee while cleaning tack.....they also had a heated rug room with rug racks so we could put wet turnout rugs in there and they were dry in the morning, that was lovely.....automatic waters and louvre windows in the back of the stable with a grill to protect them from horse, they could be opened and closed very easily , so fresh air could get in and horses could see out...they also had something similar to hay bars built in so we didnt have to use haynets,,,
 

Fruitcake

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The best thing I did was to use moveable electric fencing to fence off internal fields for a couple of years so that we could get a feel for how the land would ‘work’, Sizes of fields, where gates would go etc before committing to where to put them permanent fencing.

- An underground tap with a flexible hose end thing that retracts underground so that, even when the troughs freeze, we can still have running water right there.
 

Lintel

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At home with 2 fat ponies.
Own 1 acre. Use of further acre +.

Could not live without:
The tap being as close as possible to the stables.
My storage space and shelves in tack room.
My wooden rails in the hayshed to hang rugs on.
My woodchip hard standing area/mini arena.
My two muckheaps- one to rot one to fill.


It's a godsend having your own place... but also hard work at times, our wee place is still very much a work in progress. Big tip though is create as much storage as you possibly can... shelves boxes etc. *You can hoard more that way*! And if you have space make a hard standing... absolute must in winter! (And summer for the fatties!)


- and probably Trevor the tractor we need him too!
 

fabbydo

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A quad and tipper trailer.
Rear stable doors that lead onto an all weather yard.
A pulley system dad made which meant wet rugs could dry up in the roof space.
Electric gates on the drive so I knew they were always shut.
 

Wheels

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I need more storage space! But I think I'll never fully resolve that issue. I can store 1 full pallet of shavings and my yard tools inside but no room for hay, can only use haylage which I keep outside.

I have a rather large design flaw in my stabling, only 2 stables but 4 horses! Last winter that meant 2 in at night with 2 on the hard standing / arena and then swapped them over during the day.

So far this winter has been mild and quite dry so 2 are still out and 2 in at night, out during the day but may have to bring in any day now

The stable situation is about to be resolved as having 3 new ones built (room for 1 more pony!) and a tack room so I can finally get my dining room back.

Couldn't be without my hard standing, really would love to put a stoned track system in but couldn't ever afford it.

Couldn't be without my abundance of good quality stable and outside lights, they make such an amazing difference on these dark winter days.

Couldn't be without my arena, it's nothing fancy, it's an odd shape, on a slope, a bit small but I love it because it is the only reason I can keep a horse in work at this time of year.

Couldn't be without my local friendly farmer who helps me with field management, fencing, groundwork etc
 

meleeka

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My must have is a decent wheelbarrow. I have two actually. One 110L and one 250L the big one is used for mucking out or carrying hay and the smaller one for when the field is wet for poo picking.

I also love my automatic troughs. They are these http://m.molevalleyfarmers.com/h5/r.../molevalleyfarmers.resultspage.com/search?p=Q

They are small enough to be able to empty weekly and have probably paid for themselves many times over because I was always forgetting to turn the hose off. I just have a normal hose pipe connected which I can detach and put in the barn when it freezes.

I think a hard standing/yard is essential. Mine have access to stables
24/7 and hay is given in the yard in the winter which stops most of the mud. When it’s really wet I can shut the gate and they have the yard and stables. Not that they choose to venture out when the weather is bad. Some days it’s clear they haven’t been into the field at all!
 

Nudibranch

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A decent area of hard standing is a must, preferably with part cover. A barn is much more useful than stabling imo but if you have room for both then even better. I can bring them "in" for a few hours without having to stable them, and it's invaluable for trailer storage, etc. They can go under cover or not, and in really awful weather I just open the gate and let them come and go as they please.

And a hot water supply!
 

gina2201

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We moved just over two years ago to a place with outbuildings and barns (but not purpose built stables) and unfenced land. Still adapting and will be extending yard area further soon. Glad we didn't rush into any decisions too early.

Stables - if traditional type consider the direction of the prevailing wind to prevent stables getting wet through the top door and also when working on the yard the stables if faced the right way can stop some of that wind. Good overhang. Build as big as you can afford. Extra stable or room won't be wasted either. Factor in an undercover trailer store too or lorry park if you have a lorry.
Undercover hay feed store separate to a tack room if possible. Then I dont have to keep the hay locked and have to unlock door every day. The tack can have a smaller room somewhere else!

We built two stables straight away when we moved in on concrete bases that were already there but a year ago we bought internal partitions and they're in a barn now. Better position undercover space for hay right by the stables and for farrier etc. Went for partitions as we can always change use of barn and sell stable partitions but if we'd block built them can't recoup money.

Lighting - good lighting in the stables and in the yard. And between house and stables. Also pointing towards the field etc/gate. Can never be too bright in winter when mucking out or for show prep! Great for farrier or vets when its dark or dull outside too.

Water - have a few taps dotted around the yard at different points. We've installed auto drinkers in the stables. Also ran water to all 3 fields which can all be shut off individually if ever required.

Fencing - think about positioning of gates. Always have at least two gates or entrances to a field. I found we can always rest a gate area then or if we want to split the field in two we can access at both ends. Also when harrowing or doing any work in the field i can drive out or walk out one end of field in to another and not have to trapse or drive to top gate to come back down the hill to access the second field (if that makes sense).

Thats a few I can think of for now! Ours is still developing even now because we're using existing buildings. We've kept the old stables one for a tractor and implements and the other for either my shetlands if I ever want or need to bring them on or if i ever come across another horse or animal in need of rescuing or rehoming!
 

tankgirl1

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I have only ever been on DIY yards, but I would say a decent amount of storage, and a good muck heap. Having to push barrow loads of crap through fetlock deep mud to then have to stop and catch your breath before running up a very small steep muckheap is not fun at all
 

Hollychops

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2 retired ponies and home and hopefully another for me in the next 18 months. Kept at home on 1.5 acres with another 5 rented up the road.

Wish list:
Arena (not going to happen unless my number come up)
Hard standing, dry turn out area for horses(we are on clay so in a really wet winter the field gets trashed)
We had the stable base built in a square so when its really wet we seperate the yard with electric tape and the ponies stand on there and can mooch in and out of their stable as and when they want to
Wash bay with hot water and heating
Plumbed in washing maching
Heating in the tack room (have a portable heater but would love a proper heater that i can set to switch on (like a central heating system)

Must have
Plenty of space for hay/bedding storage
Big enough tack room that it doesnt get crowded with just 2 in
Easy access to the muck heap (for wheelbarrow and the farmer to move it)
water and electricity (on a circuit breaker)
Bright enough lighting in the stables/barns etc that you can see what you are doing in the depth of winter
Plenty of security lights (hubby thinks i'm abit anal about them but if it stops someone coming on my property then it works for me)
Security cameras
Good neighbours who don't complain about the lights going on early and the lorry starting at 4 when we were travelling long distance to compete
Lots of padlocks and lots of keys! Buy the best you can afford

Good Luck!
 

Hollychops

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Forgot a decent local farmer/contractor who will remove the muck heap, harrow, reseed and spray and cut the hedge without charging me next years salary!!
 

meleeka

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Lots of padlocks and lots of keys! Buy the best you can afford

Good Luck!

Echo this. My padlocks were all over £20. It amazes me that a friend has everything important to her secured with padlocks from Poundland! Mine were keyed alike and a number lock on the gate. I’ve had to change one so not so convenient anymore.
 

TGM

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Our field already had stables on site when we bought it. However if I was starting from scratch I would design it so each stable opened onto a hard standing pen each with a gate onto the paddocks. This would allow the horses to mooch about in the pens with access to the stables when the weather was really bad. Also even when the paddocks were open, hay could be fed on the hard standing areas.

I also agree with the comment above about sticking to electric fencing for internal fences before putting in permanent. Only when you use the land for a while do you really understand the best way to divide it up.
 

hobo

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Make stables as big as you can 14ft by 14ft min. Mine are 20ft by 20ft great for mucking out and fantastic for horse health. Also agree with the internal elec while you find out how it works and hard standing very important.
 

Pearlsasinger

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My best tip is to make no decisions yet. Our place has evolved over the years - and with different horses, according to need. Our stables and other buildings were all in place when we got here, so we adapted rather than building. Make sure that your boundary is secure and that you can get water to everywhere you need to and then see what works best for you.
When we moved in, the yard lights were mains electric but when we had the house rewired we opted for solar lights in the yard & stables. They work very well and have repaid their costs several times over.
We have combination locks on all our gates, same number on every gate, so no-one ever needs to go running to find a key in an emergency.
 

D66

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2 gates between the yard and the road if at all possible.
Make sure you get agricultural grade concrete.
Sort out levels, drainage and taps so that you don’t end up with frozen sloping surfaces to negotiate in winter.
Consider how to access muck heap with full wheel barrow and also by tractor for removal.

But most importantly -
Make friends with other local horse owners in the same situation for emergency/holiday cover.
 

Hallo2012

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The best thing I did was to use moveable electric fencing to fence off internal fields for a couple of years so that we could get a feel for how the land would ‘work’, Sizes of fields, where gates would go etc before committing to where to put them permanent fencing.

this absolutely.

try and have a winter field gate and a summer field gate so they both get rested for 6 months.

we converted half the garage in to my tack room, insulated and put a heater and hot water tap in.
 

Pearlsasinger

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I should have also said, two gates from the yard to the fields have been invaluable, meaning if one has a heap of snow in front of it, we can usually get through the other one.
 

Asha

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for stables, if possible have a barn so you are not out in the elements when mucking out etc, and space for farrier to do them undercover. Have windows on opposite side of wall of stable so they have different views. . Makes sure they are light and airy.
Have all water pipes well insulated
Space for a brick built tack room with proper security door. With some form of heating
Space for separate feed room
Space for storage - hay/haylage
Never under estimate how much space you need for parking/turning over horsebox/trailer.
Space for storage of all the equipment you will need, quad/harrow jumps etc etc
CCTV
Fencing, do it once and do it right. Don't cut corners.
 

Annagain

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I'm not at home but know from how much has changed internally at my yard that it you get the number, shape and locations of your initial buildings right, you can make changes internally fairly often /easily. E.g.the old tractor shed is now storage for liveries, the old cow shed is the tractor shed; the old sheep barn is extra stabling and there's a new sheep shed. I think it's only the concrete block stable that are still doing their initial job! All the buildings are well placed around the courtyard at the back of the farmhouse which is all concreted and the fields are around the buildings with hardcore up to all the field gates.
 

Squirily

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Had new stables put up last year, lots of stuff I like but lots more stuff I wish had been done differently. Ours is an agricultural barn with internal stables in a 'lean-to' on the side. Its a steel framed building, the company who put up the building also made my internal stable partitions, although in a way I would have preferred a specialist stable company to make and install the partitions. Being inside is a godsend, especially when it snows but its not ideal for my horse with a dust allergy. This is my list:
Have somewhere undercover to tie up for farrier that is out of the wind
Have a hard/flat surface somewhere long enough to trot up for the vet
Drains with removable buckets so you can remove debris easily (I wasn't around when they put mine in and am forever on my knees scooping crap out the drains!)
Automatic drinkers
Install haybars or a way to avoid filling nets
Lots of hay storage that isn't too far away, and not too windy so you don't loose half on the way to stable
Space to hang and dry multiple rugs
well draining area near tap to soak hay
Don't have level concrete, never is completely level and you'll always have puddles
Think about muck heap site and removal, wish I had dug out a spot for a trailer to go so muck could just be tipped in then towed away
Draw a plan of where any drains/ underground water pipes are, so when you come to fence you don't damage anything
I have windows at the back of my stables which I can open so they can stick their head out, I do find bedding gets very churned up where they are constantly going from front to back of stable
I wish I had a hardstanding area/ small turnout / lunge pen to use for bad weather and useful for horses coming off box rest
Have a 'wet area' for rinsing buckets, washing muddy boots etc. with a drain near it, or small amount of brickwork at ground level to keep the wet area contained
Get a wide broom to make sweeping the yard quicker
Don't have free range chickens, they poo everywhere and undo all your sweeping/tidying
Get someone decent to do your fencing, put a strip of electric on everything a horse can get near. Sometimes its worth spending a little more on insulators, the really cheap ones break instantly
Be detailed in the construction of your tack room, mine had to be done again because it wasn't up to scratch. Have heating in your tack room if possible
Have somewhere to sit to clean tack
Dedicate a space to store emergency fencing repair kit, e.g. plastic posts, wooden posts post rammer, electric tape, insulators
Get a quad
Have more than one decent wheelbarrow
Have a concrete pad and space for a 7.5t lorry to turn so that bedding etc. can be delivered and unloaded on pallets
Most importantly try to be there as much as possible during the build, I wasn't when they were doing the drainage and so I don't have drains near taps.Instead I've got a drain right in a stable door way which constantly get bits dropped and swept into it, its a pain in the bum and not a lot I can do about it now.
Good luck, its fun but never ending!
 
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