Is Shropshire a Horsy County

[nostromo70]

South Shropshire is great. I'm in Bridgnorth and there are lots of horsey people around here.

 

[Sol]

Shrops certainly seems better than Cheshire

 

[Patchworkpony]

Is it difficult or easy to get paid outdoors/horse help in south west Shropshire and what sort of price per hour is normal? Any info gratefully received as I am a great believer in employing local people, as it then makes you more of a member of the community right on your doorstep.

 

[JumpingDizzy]

We moved to the Shropshire-welsh border a few years ago, we’re just south of Oswestry and on the border. In searching for a property we looked across all the west midlands, plus Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire!! It was a full on mission due to a job relocation, we were also leaving behind a wonderful yard and house. We initially concentrated our search towards south Shropshire and north Herefordshire (both lovely areas), but I need good rail links to London and hence we ended up a bit further north as the overall transport (road and rail) infrastructure is better. The main criteria was decent hacking, a few hills, plenty of ground and good commuter links. We ended up buying a small farm in need of total renovation for the same price as a place with 2 or less acres in the Warwickshire area. As a base for eventing its fantastic – we can easily access a whole host of events. We’ve found the people really friendly and have been able to access help with horses without too many difficulties. The Oswestry – Welshpool belt is great value and a very understated area, but one which I think is on the verge of becoming a really horsey county. I must admit our previous location was better for indoor show jumping venues but I think we were just spoilt before. I would definitely recommend the Oswestry area. Hope that helps.

 

[Patchworkpony]

Thank you JumpingDizzy - it certainly does help. House hunting is a nightmare and I'm beginning to lose the will to live! I just wish estate agents didn't lie so much. We have now even extended our search down as far as Herefordshire. We don't need that much land but don't want be on a busy road or too near other people.

 

[Patchworkpony]

One thing JumpingDizzy do you find it a bit cold and bleak where you live? Some people have told me that the Oswestry area is not nearly so nice to live in as south Shropshire but then people have so many different opinions.

 

[JumpingDizzy]

One thing JumpingDizzy do you find it a bit cold and bleak where you live? Some people have told me that the Oswestry area is not nearly so nice to live in as south Shropshire but then people have so many different opinions.

NO – but we ruled out lots of locations in Shropshire due to very localised wet and cold weather patterns. In fact I was totally obsessed about this when deciding on a property. Where we are we miss lots of the rain, but if we were 10 miles south or west we’d catch it. The Oswestry-Welshpool-Shrewsbury triangle is fairly good. But still a few bits to avoid. Likewise if you head South of Shrewsbury there are a few areas which really ‘catch it’, normally up on the common hill areas (i’m sure they get 10 times more rain). But there are many others which really don’t. Look out for gliders and house names like ‘the bog’ – both are good warning signs!
I know what you mean about estate agents! Having done the relocation bit I still think Oswestry is fantastic value for money. The lanes around us are lovely. Its a laid back area – a bit Irish in feeling but its not a backwater. I would also urge you to look just over the border, there’s no real difference apart from the fact the house prices are much cheaper. Lots of small equestrian places for sale at very good prices - drop in if your up this way.
Should say I did love the Herefordshire area but it was more expensive an finding places away from busy roads more challenging. Shrewsbury is really lovely with some great shopping.

 

[Patchworkpony]

Thanks for all the info JumpingDizzy - I am very glad you are so happy where you are, it sounds great. How many acres do you own? We have considered over the border but too many pylons and windfarms springing up which is one of the reasons we are leaving Devon, which is about to be swamped with them.

OH hates the cold and has always lived in the south but the prices here are off the planet. A rubbish house with a couple of reed infested acres is easily £500,000. Too many incomers now so we are getting out!

Might take you up on your very kind offer to drop in - where roughly are you? We are coming up in mid April to start the property hunt again.

 

[JumpingDizzy]

We have nearly 60 acres and paid under 500K. That said the house (which is grade two listed) needed a fortune spent on it and we were lucky having sold and trying to buy when nothing around here was selling. We were also avoiding windfarms as one sprang up by our last property (although in the end it wasn’t that bad). The wind farms are in the areas I think as being a little more remote, or ‘big’ country. Again we ruled out these areas. We’re in the rolling hills (a little like Devon), little lanes and lots of hedges. Geographically the Shropshire/Powys border is such a diverse county. In comparison to Devon its far less busy (or so my husband tells me as he needs to go there every so often!). My cousin just moved up from Dorest to a small place with a few acres along the road. They say it’s a little colder but much prettier and quieter, still good pubs, places to eat and lovely shopping in Shrewsbury. They also looked over the whole West Midland and Welsh border area. We are 8 miles south of Oswestry and bang on the border. Do you event?

 

[Patchworkpony]

JumpingDizzy - in answer to your question no I used to show a lot and drive while OH was the eventer and show jumper. Sadly we are not as active as we were years ago but our ponies mean the world to us so we still need land but not masses. You got a great bargain with your land but I am interested that the house was listed. So many for sale in Devon are unfortunately thatched and listed - the maintenance and insurance on these is like tearing up £ notes!

Your info is really most helpful and very encouraging - thank you.

 

[JumpingDizzy]

JumpingDizzy - in answer to your question no I used to show a lot and drive while OH was the eventer and show jumper. Sadly we are not as active as we were years ago but our ponies mean the world to us so we still need land but not masses. You got a great bargain with your land but I am interested that the house was listed. So many for sale in Devon are unfortunately thatched and listed - the maintenance and insurance on these is like tearing up £ notes! Your info is really most helpful and very encouraging - thank you.

Yep listed consent is a pain in the neck, expensive, slow and very little to do with actually preserving the property and ensuring its future life. At one point we were told a bathroom was desirable but not essentially ....mmm didn’t really agree (as you’ll gather the house didn’t have a bathroom, toilet, hot water oh and no kitchen – we did however have a spring coming up in the lounge!!!). Anyhow we battled on and in the end it was worth it. We now have an amazingly lovely and warm house with loads of character. Lots of places listed around here but few are thatched. Our insurance is a little more but not anything that would put me off buying in the first place. We do have a slate roof twhich I think makes all the difference re the insurance and maintance costs. People often say its not a horsey area around us - but if you look in the fields theres ponies and horses everywhere. Its such an up and coming area. If you end up here sure you'll love it (just avoid the higher exposed hills and the commons if your worried about the rain and cold). Oh yes theres a few places with land next to the canals - too flat for us, but gosh they are cute.

 

[Patchworkpony]

JumpingDizzy - if ever I doubted our decision not to buy listed you have just confirmed my worst fears. Well done however for seeing it through. Thatch is terrible. We are currently renting a thatched property while house hunting - it smells of rot upstairs when it rains, there is no open fire or woodburner in the house because of the landlord's insurance and I have NEVER seen so many spiders or spider's webs, it's just like something out of Great Expectations. These peculiar thin legged creatures live in the thatch, breed like mad and then let themselves down from the old beams in the bedroom onto the bed at night. I think I might look for a bungalow!

 

[perfect11s]

Just as a broad generalisation, wind farms seems to be in Wales & on the borders - might affect Oswestry, Welshpool. One to watch out for the the new mega big electricity pylon chain that is being put in. I believe this is to run through north Shropshire. I'd do a lot of internet searching on Samdevs and other local & county plans. They are available but are as dull as ditchwater but well worth reading when selecting a new area to live.

Other than that, I moved to south Shropshire last year from Wales & love it.

do you know is there a web site that shows where new wind subsidy farms are planned and the pylon route??
thanks..

 

[Patchworkpony]

Thanks everyone for all your help and advice but we have now bought a super place near Tavistock in Devon.