Keeping horses on a small acreage

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SmokingBabe

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Hi

I've kept my horse Minnie and her companion pony friend Sugar at 4 different livery yards over the last 2 years. TBH I'm sick to death of all the bitchiness and know nothing know it all's .

The present yard was great until the recent arrival of 2 owners that keep trying to take over the yard and school .

My local farmer has offered me the 2.5 - 3 acre field next to my cottage at a fair price
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It looks like pretty decent grass with no ragwort, just a few thistles and docks that I can deal with.

Good drainage and fencing/hedging too There are also 2 stables a small shed and a tiny yard.
There's a sand school available for hire next door !

Is it possible to keep a horse and pony on this acreage? I can bring them in at night during the winter and part of the day in Summer. I intend to strip graze and provide ad lib hay as necessary.

I'm happy and confident to go it alone but would like reassurance that the field isn't too small.

Thanks
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Yes its easily possible. I keep two 16hh + on 2 acres. I have the field divided into two and they have half each. I can also divide into quarters if necessary to let grass grow or rest it etc. My boys are in at night and out by day. If we get a very dry summer(ha ha) or i keep them out all the time i might need to supplement diets with hay but that doesnt happen very often.
I did have the use of another 3 acres up the road but i gave it up cos they just had too much grass and with them both competing they were getting too fat.
 
It does depend on drainage and the type of grass but I keep my two cobs on under an acre which is ideal for them as they have both had Laminitis in the past.

Make sure you get a proper contract that states who is responsible for the maintenance of the fencing, stabling and fields and also who pays the water rates and for disposing of the manure, insurance etc.

Do check the fencing and gates thoroughly and make sure that your horses are freezemarked.
 
i keep 2 horses on 2.5 acres & get 150+ small bales of hay off the land too , ie it feeds them both all year , i obviously manage & maintain it carefully
 
Sounds great - as earlier posts if looked after should be fine for your two abd you'll be your own boss so no more listening to other people's ideas of what you should be doing & when !!
If all OK legalwise I'd definitely go for it.
 
I have 2.5 for 2 horses and have also had a bit of hay off it both years I have had it. I make sure I poo pick daily and have it split into 5 half acre paddocks as the boys have to go out seperately (one skinny & one fatty so the fatty 'follows' the skinny after he has eaten the fields down!)
 
I keep a 14.2 and 11.2 on 2 acres with great success. I poo pick daily and divide up the paddock with electric fence and move them around as necessary. I am hampered by young apple trees planted all over it, which means no one wants to top or roll, too much effort.

However I can't complain as the padock backs on to my garden and is a godsend. I have the stables in my garden.

The paddock has good thick hedges and a small field shelter, which they can just about squeeze into.
 
I only have 1.5 acres and 2 stables for 2 horse, they come in every night and don't go out if we have had loads of rain.
I sold my TB in the spring and had so much grass we made hay. I got 45 bales and may get a 2nd crop.
I make sure I poo pick daily
I would love more land so i could ride in the field.
The reason I manage with this is it's next door to the house.
 
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Thank you everyone
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I am an avid twice daily poo picker
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and the idea of a few small paddocks sounds ideal as my 2 are both very good doers! I already have an electric fencing unit and plenty of tape, I'll just need to buy more leccy posts. The field has been vacant for ages and the grass is waist high so the farmer is going to take a cut of silage first and then it'll be ready for me.Thanks again from a very, very excited Jess
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Go for it, it will be the best thing you ever did!

I keep my horses at home, but I only have a half acre paddock and rent a further 2 acres 200m away from my house. It is more than enough grass for my two.

When I read the comments posted here about DIY livery I am grateful for every penny I hand over to the Building Society to have my own stables at home.
 
ya sounds good bring in at nights on wet days keep them in. and rotate well and push in the marls that the horses hooves make you should be fine!
 
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