Keeping horses on agricultural land

I do also think it depends where you live.
We had a lady in the village who had to remove her donkeys as “jobsworth” said she wasn’t allowed to keep on agriculture land . Tried to appeal but lost. We were all sad as they weren’t doing any harm and kids loved petting them.
 
Follysmum said:
I do also think it depends where you live.
We had a lady in the village who had to remove her donkeys as “jobsworth” said she wasn’t allowed to keep on agriculture land . Tried to appeal but lost. We were all sad as they weren’t doing any harm and kids loved petting them.
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Yes, different local authorities’ Officers have different priorities, and again, must be seen to respond to complaints. It’s as long as a piece of string, but definitely challengeable.
Very close to MFH’s place (above), one woman kept a donkey in her large back garden for years, very popular with local children. A new couple complained about his morning braying, and she had to move her ‘agricultural / non-pet’ animal out of her ‘residential’ property - donkey went to the MFH’s fields as it happened, but was happier with horse company, and still close enough to annoy the newbie complainants, so she let it go.
 
There is a difference between green fields ie agricultural land and land with an agricultural tie ie can only be owned by people who live or work in farming…
For instance a farmer builds a house to live in on his farm gets planning permission because he is farming the land…
Over the years he either passes away or has no family who wish to farm, the house cannot be sold with or without land to anyone who is not a farmer or is not going to farm the land…You often see public notices in local papers of people applying to lift the agricultural tie….and believe me it is not an easy thing to do….
 
nagblagger said:
Unfortunately it is the donkeys only field. I have had all the council paperwork quotes. Now I'm just keeping my head down and get the permissions, if I get refused watch this space!!
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But who is to say that? You could move the donkeys anywhere. It's utter nonsense. Ask to see the council's policy about grazing equids. I bet that wording was made up on the spot by the planning officer. They will walk all over you if you let them.

Eta, my dispute was with Environmental Health not planning but arose from a malicious complaint. Officer ended up on an Improvement Plan. They have to investigate a complaint, they don't have to uphold it.
 
nagblagger said:
Unfortunately it is the donkeys only field. I have had all the council paperwork quotes. Now I'm just keeping my head down and get the permissions, if I get refused watch this space!!
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I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this. It sounds like you have hit a jobsworth on a power trip. There seem to be a few around, and once they’ve got their claws into people they seem to love it. I hope things are easy to resolve.

Thankfully our planning sept, who can be a pain, didn’t pay any attention to the fact that the land was agricultural.
 
I have employed a very good planner who is acting on my behalf, I would have probably told the Council where to go by now. The quotes from the council which I have seen eg "section A, sub section b " they are technically right but they have dug deep to find the laws to back up their view as my planner has challenged every step. He is also so frustrated with them and can't understand why they are being so awkward. Just my luck.
 
nagblagger said:
I have employed a very good planner who is acting on my behalf, I would have probably told the Council where to go by now. The quotes from the council which I have seen eg "section A, sub section b " they are technically right but they have dug deep to find the laws to back up their view as my planner has challenged every step. He is also so frustrated with them and can't understand why they are being so awkward. Just my luck.
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They did that with a friend of mine over rebuilding a derelict farmhouse on their land. Once they’d got their claws in they wouldn’t let go. My friend ended up getting hold of some top planner from London to rectify it. And yet in the same borough someone has completely dug up two greenbelt fields and piled the soil up in front of neighbours who dared to complain. He’s been ordered to restore the field, but hadn’t, and nothing has been done. It’s a total eyesore.
 
I am on four acres of agricultural, I feed hay in field and have cones and jumps out sometimes and have never had a problem. Officially horses count as agricultural if you are not feeding them supplementary feed, but I don’t think a council person would hide in the hedge and wait to see you feeding and catch you 🤣
 
GypsGal1718 said:
I am on four acres of agricultural, I feed hay in field and have cones and jumps out sometimes and have never had a problem. Officially horses count as agricultural if you are not feeding them supplementary feed, but I don’t think a council person would hide in the hedge and wait to see you feeding and catch you 🤣
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Generally, L.A. Officers have more than enough to do, and insufficient funding to clear existing backlogs - they are unlikely to ‘do’ anything, unless there is a formal complaint, or their departmental Director (which level tends to to be extremely well paid) orders this as specific policy.
In the UK, horses are not classed as agricultural animals, obviously those genuinely working, often on heritage farms and projects, are different; and those merely eating grass alongside agricultural animals are accepted as such, since the primary use of that agricultural land remains agricultural.
When you start riding on it, keeping only equines on it - is where the legal designation arises.
I suggest you’re lucky in this respect, because L.A. Officers are also under pressure to optimise all and any sources of potential income that their work might realise.
Don’t upset anyone! Nor applecarts….
 
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