Is this extra grazing worth it?

[Murphy1]

I keep a 15.2hh horse and 11hh pony at a diy yard 5 minutes from home. The horse lives out 24/7 and the pony was stabled overnight October to March. The pony field was a mud pit, and the horse field while mostly dry had little grass and became deep mud around their hay which is where he spent most of his time. Hay for both cost me about £25 a week. (And hay quality was variable)

The yard is friendly but basic and dealing with the deep mud last winter was rubbish. This winter that pony could maybe go out 24/7 with the horses herd but no guarantee. We help each other out rather than having paid for services.

However, a field has just come up available to rent (sub-let) 25 minutes from home but on my route from work. It is also near the areas I may be looking to move house to in the next 6 months or so.

Its 1.3 acres so not really enough for all year round. It's very basic, water provided by hose from neighbouring house, fencing needs some minor reinforcing in places. I'm thinking about taking it on as extra grazing to move mine to for the winter, perhaps nov-march depending on weather. I'd keep my place at current yard unless/until I move area. Does this sound sensible? I would only be riding the odd light weekend hack (have been starting ride and lead with pony so he wouldn't be left if it upsets him). The grass is currently ungrazed so I'd hope I wouldn't need to feed much if any extra.

Field rent is £180pm, services available for extra. I'm not sure if I can justify this on top of my current £160pm, when I wouldn't be using it for several months yet. There's also a risk the lady decides later she wants it back for her own horses. Would it be normal to offer a lower rent while unoccupied? Or offer some kind of retainer, refundable in the event she changes her mind about renting it?

The positives would be less mud, pony can live out, and just my two to deal with. Also could be really useful if I move to the nearby area as would take pressure off finding somewhere for them.

Negatives are cost, no stable or storage, further from home, and I'd need to hire transport to move them there and back.

Sorry this ended up long so thanks if you got this far! How does all this sound from an outside perspective? Is it worth considering?

 

[fredflop]

Doesn’t sound worth it to me

 

[Nicnac]

That's more than double what I'd pay for just over an acre and I'm South East.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Make absolutely certain you're not paying over the summer to not use it, and then she takes it back in the winter! You would defo need a proper contract, 12 month min. Would she let you take a hay crop off in the summer? You might struggle to find someone to do just 1 acre though.

Whether it's "worth it"? Well, that mostly depends on whether you can afford it ? It's hard to put a price on happy, healthy horses. But if there's no yard/hardstanding/loafing area at the new field, then it's going to be just as muddy as the old field within about a month.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Logistically it sounds complicated and I don’t think the best decision money wise, but I can understand the temptation to make life better for your horses. A friend’s sister has just taken on a similar size field with excellent fencing and a new field shelter for 100pcm in Essex. Another lady I know (down in Cornwall where it is a lot cheaper of course) pays £50pcm for her well-fenced field with automatic waterer and even access to a small outdoor school. Depends where you are as to the value for money but it sounds like a lot to be spending and a bit risky in many ways. Can you keep looking to find an option sort of in between the two? It would make more sense to pay more for a slightly better field and let your yard spaces go, but I know it’s not that easy!

 

[Pinkvboots]

No thats expensive and it's not going to be enough land it will be a mud pit in winter honestly!! I live in Hertfordshire I have just over 2 acres for 2 Arabs but I hay them and I have stables if I want them to come in, and believe me it gets bloody wet and flooded but have the option to have them in and I live there.

I

 

[Lois Lame]

If the lady didn't have her own horses it might be... might... be worth a worth momentarily, but I can just see her deciding, oh, she needs it after all.

Also, sub letting worries me a little. Is she allowed to sub let the field?

Overall, it sounds like there are too many pitfalls.

I also think your horse and pony will churn up an acre in less than a month.

 

[PurBee]

I can see why youre considering it but at that price and being lots further than your current setup and its just 1 acre...itll be eaten down and muddy very quickly with 2 on it in winter when grass isnt growing.

Its really forward thinking of you to try to not repeat your muddy winter regime youve just been through next winter...im often occupied with similar jobs around the yard spring/summer to make winters more bearable and mud-free too.

Try looking for another, larger field 5-10mins from your current yard, as winter use? Being 5 mins away i can see why you’d be reluctant to move yards altogether, but then again, from the comments made on here over winter especially, many yards have very limited winter turnout, muddy fields...generally miserable winter regime so its much of a muchness, unless you find a real golden goose of a yard through pure luck.

I’d personally consider moving yards completely if winter is really dire at current setup. Even upto 40 mins away knowing the horses have lots of roaming space, hay and arent knee-deep in mud.
Or maybe find a 3-4 stable 4/5/6 acre mini setup to rent with another owner?

I often see on estate agents online sites of ‘land to rent’ for grazing, some with barns/sheds...rather than looking through the usual equestrian channels.

 

[ihatework]

It would have to be exceptionally well draining land to remotely support 2 out 24/7 for the worst 4 months of the winter.

If you are paying an annual fee of £2160 for 4-5 months use, plus the hassle of literally no facilities, then it doesn’t sound worth the hassle to me.

 

[Gloi]

If it's still empty in the autumn it might be nice to have as foggage for a couple of months but otherwise too expensive.

 

[Murphy1]

Thank you for all your replies, this is where the collective knowledge and experience of h&h is so useful! I am also in Hertfordshire and unfortunately it's hard to find 24/7/365 grazing that isn't purely retirement and even that is hard to come by. A block of 3 stables and 5 acres was recently advertised for over £500pm though not close enough to bother viewing. I see diy prices up to £150pm per horse so thought £180 for both was not hugely extortionate, though £150pm typically includes facilities such as arenas and jump paddocks etc. I often see on here people criticising those who suggest livery is too expensive so didn't want to appear rude by making a lower offer for it.

Both mine are unshod, the field is on a hill and seems to drain ok (I viewed recently after days of rain and seemed good) so hopefully it wouldn't be trashed too quickly. Once the grass runs out there isn't anywhere for hay storage, I could take the odd bale in my car but it would be a faff to do daily, I may as well move them back at that point. I might speak to the lady and see what offer she would consider on the basis of only using it for a maximum of 4 months.

 

[sjdress]

I rent a small field that I use for winter. It’s a life saver as my yard restricts turnout throughout the winter and so with this field I can do what I want with it, keep my horse turned out as much as I need to and then rest it again over summer. I keep paying for it over summer even though I don’t use it as it’s worth it for an easy life over winter!

 

[Sanversera]

i'd take it, its not cheap but come winter i'm sure you'll be pleased you've got it. as already stated you could let it grow for foggage. if you move closer then its even more of a bonus. meanwhile you could always look for other fields/stables in the area of the new paddock.

 

[L&M]

Hmmm....a difficult one. Atm when the sun is shining and the grass is coming through it is easy to consider it an expensive luxury.

But in the depths of winter, when your current facilities are knee deep in mud and turnout becomes an issue again, I think you may regret not taking it.

Tbh if you can afford it, I would definitely consider it. We have used hill grazing in the past and has been a godsend when the flatter paddocks become wet.

Re hay you could always leave a few bales in the field on a pallet with a tarp over, and pop some electric fencing around it?