Keeping a horse at home-urgent questions!

Aragon56

Aragon56

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My horse has been moved to winter grazing recently and is being bullied in the field. I know they need to re-establish the pecking order as she hasn't been in there for a few months, and she is always lower down in the order, but it seems to be getting worse. It wouldn't matter, except she has a tendon injury and being chased round the field is making things a millions times worse. I had hoped to keep her out this winter but it doesn't look like I'll be able to in this particular field.

The yard won't accommodate strip grazing, individual turnout or anything like that, but in the meantime I'm going to get the vet out and put her in a stable as a temporary solution. I'm going to speak to them tomorrow and see if she can go back in her old field, but I doubt they will bend the rules for me. So I've decided that I need to move her to my parents field asap for the winter at least, as I'm really not happy, but the problem is that the field there is completely unprepared at the moment.

It has fencing, some of which may need repairing, but the grass is quite lush and long-apart from sectioning off with electric fencing is there anything else that we can do? Would sheep do the job for me? The horse in question is an extremely good do-er, I've just managed to get some weight off her after summer and I really don't want her putting it back on!

Field shelters-am I right in thinking that you don't need planning permission for mobile ones, but do for permanent ones? Until I could get one sorted, would she be ok without one? The field doesn't really have any natural shelter at the moment.

Similarly, how long does it normally take to get planning permission for stables?

Anything else that I need to know? I really wish I'd sorted this out over summer now.
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I think its going to be a bit of a rush job, I also need to find a companion for her.

I'm panicking a bit, really stressed out, and feel like I have a million things to sort out over the next few days, I want to bring her back as soon as possible.
 
Hi,

Sheep and strip grazing is the best option, though it will take between a few days to a week (depending on how many sheep you can get hold of) for the grass to be a sutiable length. Speak to local farmers, they're usually quite happy to lend some sheep. Other wise again find a nice farmer who can top (mow) the grass down to a better length.

As long as the field shelter is 'mobile' you dont need permission. Most people dont actually move them anyway tbh. I have no idea how long it takes to get planning permission but you can get stable+tack room+hay shed as a 'mobile unit' which wouldn't require planning permission.

Good luck
 
We have sheep to help with the horses grazing and worms etc. They will make a difference quite quickly to the length of the grass but will make less impression on very long grass (they favour grass up to about 3 inches). BUT the dung will enrichen the grass growth. Is there any way of topping the field and taking off the clippings and then putting sheep and horse in together?

Field shelters, partly depends on local authority, but generally if it has no base, isnt fixed to the ground permanently and is moveable, then you are OK. BUT bear in mind some local auths insist you do move it, the worst ones say every 28 days and some say it cant then go in the same area for another month/year etc.

Planning permission, if straightforward, is usually 8 weeks, but thats assuming it is passed without further discussions or going to committee (which happens if they recommend rejection). AND it only starts ticking once they accept the application as valid ie all the paperwork and everything they need is there. You will also need a building warrant for most stables, this takes a bit less long to process but can be more complicated as its all the technical stuff, tho often stables cos will provide most of the info eg on base, drainage, construction etc.

TBH a decent stables co will probably have a longer lead in waiting list than the planning will take but if they are v popular they may not even give you a date until you have PP (what happened to us so horses lived in the dark barn one behind the other for 6 months!)

Try the ILPH for a companion?

If you section off with electric make sure it is always on and lots of strands, if they see that long grass the other side they can do silly things! Ideally use an energiser with a built in charge meter (we use Speedrite from Rappa, very good and free delivery)

Dont stress too much, horsie better off with whatever you can come up with than ending up seriously hurt or worse :-)) good luck, its bound to be stressful for you but it will all be fine!
 
It really depends on when you're going to bring your horse home. I find mine don't like long grass so normally I top the fields that need doing and leave them until the cuttings have disappeared before putting the horses on them. Failing that I'd strip graze. If you've got sheep and your horse does't mind them, you may find your horse would like to be with them as company.
You don't need planning permission for mobile field shelters or mobile stables. However, you do for permanent ones. It may depend upon your local authority but it took 6 weeks for me to get it - from the time they received the application.
 
Thank you all so much for the replies so far. We let a farmer grow hay on the field over summer so will see if he could top the field for us, or let us borrow some sheep.

Re companion, I'm looking into ILPH and Blue Cross, I was just thinking it might take a few weeks to get approved, so in the meantime I'd have to borrow or loan a horse. She's not the type to stress if she's the last one in the field, as long as she can see other horses, but I would much prefer her to have some kind of company other than sheep. I could section off the field to allow sheep to graze there too. I want to move her back in the next couple of weeks ideally.

The next door neighbours have horses, a menage and stables, so I was thinking that if they got planning permission for it all we shouldn't have too much of a problem either.

Any good stable/field shelter companies that anyone could recommend?

Thanks
 
Hiya
r.e. planning for stables

You will have to check this with your local authority as may be different rules as ours, but have been told that if you are putting up stables at home as long as they are no more than 3 meters from the house and are in the boundary of your garden then you do not need planning permission.
 
Thanks. Angel cannot work out grazing muzzles, she just stands there not eating at all! Dim horse. I'm going to persevere with it though next summer.
 
Wow! you have had some great advice, just wishing you luck really - Sounds like a lot of fun to me and I hope everything works out (good luck with the rescue pony too)
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Thanks! I am really looking forward to bringing her back, but its also quite sad as it means semi or permanent retirement really. x
 
You need to teach her - take her into the field and post grass up through the hole, gradually working down til your hand is on the floor and she tries for herself. It may take several minutes but keep on working, nipping up the grass and shoving it in down at ground level. Use pony nuts if there are any to hand, to encourage her. She WILL get it but will also stand about looking helpless and hard done by while you are watching.
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Thanks! I am really looking forward to bringing her back, but its also quite sad as it means semi or permanent retirement really. x

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Dont be sad for her: just think of all the happy years of grass and love she has ahead of her, a horses dream!

We used Saltire stables but thats Scottish: we were very happy tho with our lovely mini barn!
 
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