Ideas for turning sheep paddocks into an equestrian set up

Meowy Catkin

Meowy Catkin

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A friend of mine has land at home, so wants to build stables and bring her horse home. She will loan a small companion pony or two, so her horse will have company.

At the moment there is no hard standing, farm buildings or water trough, just two sloping paddocks which a local farmer puts sheep on and they drink from the stream at the bottom.

She has enough land for year round daily turnout, possibly 24/7 in the summer.

She has been wondering about hard core v concrete as a base for the yard and stables. Also three stables v two stables and a field shelter. The size of the yard, as she's like to be able to confine the horses to the yard and a small turn out pen in awful weather. She's wondering about solar lights.

Have you set up a yard from scratch? Is there anything that you think is essential?
 
If the land is sloping, tell her to watch costings - if you don't have a flat area to build it can add thousands onto the project (can you tell we live on the side of a hill?).

I would always say concrete after having been on a yard build on hardcore - it is SO hard to keep clean, and does the same thing hardcore tracks does where it develops pot holes where puddles lie. Wasn't fun. And personally I would go for three stables, as you never know when you might need an extra, and can use it for storage in the meantime.
 
adequate storage-especially if feeding hay year round-I rented the most beautiful yard but it had no hay storage for more than 30 small bales and none for round bales, was a pain in the behind! currently converting some outbuildings to lovely big hay shed and feedroom.

I liked my hardcore yard personally and would also go for stables over field shelter as long as field has decent windbreaks in form of hedging/walls.
 
Both paddocks have hedges and there is a flattish bit at the top of one where she's thinking of putting the yard (so not too much flattening out needed).
 
some of it may not be her choice - planning/ council may have a say so my first step would be for her to invite them round for a pre planning advice chat and see what they will agree to.
Concrete every time for me - costly but soo much easier to look after - unless she's only planning on living there for a few years then cash would come into it more.
Does the field have water at all? I run hose pipes from one tap in the barn to fill water troughs in 5 paddocks over 12 acres - no problem
If not a towable bouser will be her friend!
Build the biggest she can afford - she'll easily fill it with hay/ bedding/ feed/ rugs hanging/ mucking out stuff etc.

I bought a field growing barley so very much started from scratch!
 
Where we put the yard ended up being 100% down to the planning dept!

I would say have as many stables as you can afford. We have two portables that were shelters that we added doors to - we can use them as shelters or stables, and the doors are wide enough that we roll big bales into them.

We have and L shaped yard, that gives shelter from two ways, with a concrete pad in front. We then have a large area around the yard that is hardcore with road planings on them. It is surrounded by electric fencing on wooden posts. It is the best thing about my yard - all weather turnout in any ground conditions.

One thing that I would change about my yard - the tap is at the wrong end of the yard, so it is in the shade and stays frozen in winter longer than it would if we'd put it on the other side of the yard..

Bear in mind that your lovely sheep pasture will not stay looking so beautiful when the horses arrive! Mine changed the lovely green fields we had into poached bogs in no time!
 
echo the planning dept. as I believe it might mean change of use, as being used for agriculture (sheep) and horses not
classed at this (may not be relevant where you live though ?)
 
Not 100% sure but if it is currently a farm then there may be funding available for altering it. The first livery yard we were on with our mare was originally a farm. Then the parents retired and their daughter opened up a small yard. The local agricultural funding type people paid the costs to install a sand school and horse walker.

May only apply if she is using it to take in liveries though, as I say I am not sure. But it wouldn't hurt to ask, as she might be entitled to something. I think the idea was to help farmers be more productive and revitalise the countryside, etc.

And don't forget the costs for any architects/project managers for building work, etc. Hope it all goes well for her, sounds nice :) Will she be able to grow her own hay or straw too?
 
All good advice.

But…plant trees! You'd be surprised how quickly they grow. And if they are in the wrong place, five minutes with a chain saw and you have fire wood. If in the right place, you have cheap shelter at worst.

Speak to your accountant/solicitor about changing from agricultural to equine. Death Duties?
 
Thanks for all the thoughts - I will pass them on. Yes, she's in Wales, but as she's only got two paddocks (next to her house, if that's relevant for planning), I think it would be classed as a smallholding. I don't think she'll want to have a livery as she's only discussed having either buying another horse, or her preferred option of loaning a companion.
 
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