Lost paddock! Could you stable pony in garden?

[Tabula Rasa]

Hi all,

Its been a terrible few months! I have lost a private paddock and stable and a space at a livery yard I had lined up for my little rescue 3 year old when she comes off her grazing on December 17th!

All yards near by are full and anywhere that has a space is too far away for me to access daily. I would have her in Full Livery however I have had to leave my current job in a care home due to private reasons I can't go into without incriminating the home its self. My new job doesn't start until the Jan and the wages would be a real stretch for her livery along with everything else.

What I'm asking is does any one know the laws etc on keeping a horse stabled in your garden?
Its a small yard garden, I currently keep 2 chickens (2 very nasty neighbors have complained about the chickens but they complain to everyone about even cats)

I'm waiting to here back from my local council, but I wondered if anyone had an experience with this?
With me not working until Jan (and then only 2 minutes from my house) I would be taking her to grazing daily as well as working with her in hand, mouthing and long reining.

This would only be a temporary situation until I find somewhere more suitable for her.
I would also obviously organize daily or 2 daily collection and disposal of the muck.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tabula Rasa

 

[Shay]

Depends on where you live - some councils have a ban on all livestock, some just on large animals. Best to ask them. You don't say how big your "yard garden" is - but are you sure it is big enough for her? She'd need some space to stretch her legs and indulge in normal horse behavior - even if you are taking her out in hand etc. I have known people keep their horses in their garden - but it has always been a very large garden! You don't want to keep her copped up in effectively an oversized stable. You'll need a proper shelter for her - especially if the winter is as wet as predicted. Storage space and formal arrangements to dispose of muck. You might find that is prohibitively expensive.

 

[ester]

I know of more than one horse that lives in the garden in winter, one had a reasonable turnout yard space (long narrow garden) and stables at the end. the other the stable pretty much took up the garden and the horse didn't really get turned out.

As she is only 3 are there no local studs with a gang of youngsters she could go with on grass livery for the winter? It wouldn't matter if she was a bit further away from you then either.

 

[blitznbobs]

It is a right in England to be allowed to keep one horse inside the curtailage of your house...

 

[Slave2Magic]

Where abouts in Yorkshire are you? You really need grass livery with other youngstock.

 

[Honey08]

It is a right in England to be allowed to keep one horse inside the curtailage of your house...

Depends where you live. A lot of housing estates have things written into the contract that you can't have farm type animals such as chickens. I had a Barratt house in the 90s like that..

Also if your neighbours are already complaining about chickens they won't be happy about a youngster that will no doubt neigh initially when separated from its yard mates..

I would keep looking and use it as a totally last resort. It's not a good move for anyone really.

 

[Princess Rosie]

It sounds as though you really don't have enough space, there are tons of livery ads at the minute so plenty to choose from and they don't have to be expensive, you could always see if you could help out on a new yard (if a bit dearer than you hoped for) a little too to lower the cost until you find something right and it sounds as though you could do with lots of horsey snuggles right now, they are a good tonic to all.

With regards to your work, if conditions are unsuitable for you to work there any longer and you have concerns then you really do need to make a call to the CQC, I am a retired Director of a number of psychiatric hospitals and although it is a very difficult situation to be in, if there are concerns then you need to make that call and discuss with them, at least they can then issue improvement notices and it ensures no vulnerable person is ill treated. PM me if you want to chat about it. x

 

[Linda Chamberlain]

A garden doesn't give the horse what he/she needs - space and other horses to socialise with. This is particularly important for a youngster - so I wouldn't advise it. I know you were only thinking in the short term but it doesn't sound good and will probably upset your neighbours and give you more grief than you anticipated. Keep looking - I'm sure you will find the right place.

 

[RunToEarth]

I wouldn't care about the legalities of it - do you think it is reasonable to keep a three year old stables alone in a garden?

 

[MileAMinute]

I wouldn't care about the legalities of it - do you think it is reasonable to keep a three year old stables alone in a garden?

This.

 

[thatsmygirl]

I wouldn't care about the legalities of it - do you think it is reasonable to keep a three year old stables alone in a garden?

Sorry, this ^^^

 

[hotair]

I wouldn't care about the legalities of it - do you think it is reasonable to keep a three year old stables alone in a garden?

Sorry have to agree with this.

In your position i would be looking for grass livery, even if it is a bit further out the way and some places offer assisted grass livery so if you couldnt get down everyday you could pay for assistance that day with feeding checking etc..

 

[Wiz201]

Agree with above, maybe assisted grass livery could mean you only have to check on her once a day even if the yard is further away.

 

[JJS]

I wouldn't care about the legalities of it - do you think it is reasonable to keep a three year old stables alone in a garden?

Another who agrees with this, I'm afraid. I hope you manage to find something soon.

 

[Palindrome]

Try asking for youngster livery on your local horsey facebook groups, they seem to be really good for that.

 

[ihatework]

No it's not acceptable.

In your shoes Id advertise for temporary grazing in lieu of some yard work . It will be over the Christmas/New year period so I'm sure you will find someone grateful for a bit of holiday cover

 

[Orangehorse]

This is only going to be temporary and if the muck is removed daily there shouldn't be too much "nuisance" for the neighbours. Even if it was in a livery yard it might have to live in if the weather was really wet, so if the OP is desperate - why not. By the time the Council caught up with you I dare say you will have found somewhere more suitable. Also if the pony is going out to graze then at least it is being traffic proofed and handled. Not ideal for long term, of course not, but if this is the only way ................

 

[twiggy2]

not sure where you would stand legally but I don't think it is acceptable to keep a horse without equine company

 

[CBFan]

This is only going to be temporary and if the muck is removed daily there shouldn't be too much "nuisance" for the neighbours. Even if it was in a livery yard it might have to live in if the weather was really wet, so if the OP is desperate - why not. By the time the Council caught up with you I dare say you will have found somewhere more suitable. Also if the pony is going out to graze then at least it is being traffic proofed and handled. Not ideal for long term, of course not, but if this is the only way ................

I think this is being rather narrow minded and quite selfish. This is a young horse who needs turnout and equine company. I don't think it's fair to say that the horse won't be a nuisance to neighbours. The noise, the smell, the sight of a horse is not something they signed up for when buying their 3 bed suburban semi...

OP, I appreciate that you might now be quite desperate but PLEASE find grass livery and turn your horse out with equine company for the winter. Are there any studs in your area who might take yours to run with their youngstock? Have you tried putting a note up in your local tack / feed shops? Local paper? Local horsey facebook groups? I'm sorry but keeping a horse in a small, isolated garden, however temporary, would not be something I'd ever consider.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

The yard I am on does grass livery all winter and are out in a herd with a lot of 2 & 3 year olds... we are over in burnley. I think its £15 a week. PM me if you want.

 

[Rollin]

There are horses all over the world who do not have access to year round grass. I am thinking of the Steppes of Central Asia and Russia, snow bound all winter, as will be Canada and parts of N. America, currently under 6' of snow.

I have visited Mexico many times where horses live in corrals.

Last winter I kept two horses on our lawn. A laminitic mare with her pony companion. I could not turn her out with my other horses (I actually have 30 acres of good grazing).

She of course did not hoon around, so did not cut up the lawn. They had an electric fence enclosure moved each day and of course we poo picked. I was amazed at how little grass is needed to keep a horse looking good. The lawn has looked good all summer!!

My questions. Would you be able to keep her in a covered shelter each night? Is your garden secure if she got out of her enclosure?

I do agree with the comments re keeping her on her own. I think horses need company, having said that a friend kept a horse on its own because it did not like the companions she found for him. He was ridden every day for at least two hours.

Her mental well being is also important.

 

[Orangehorse]

Whilst I totally agree that all horses and especially young ponies should have company, what is the difference between keeping a pony in a small area for a short time, and one being confined on box rest?

If it was, "my pony has hurt its leg and needs to be kept quiet and the only place I have for a couple of weeks is my back garden" it would be the same. The OP is willing to take it out and about and take it for a graze. This is an emergency, not for ever and until the OP can find something more suitable.

 

[Spring Feather]

If you have a small paddock area, as a very temporary solution, then it's maybe doable, but it reads like you only have a stable and the youngster will be living in there except for when you take it out for walks or hand grazing. I personally would never keep a 3 year old stabled permanently for longer than a couple of days. If you do, you are likely to start running into some real problems that will become an issue further down the line. Older horses can deal with boredom, youngsters not so much. It's just not worth putting a young horse in that situation and potentially ruining its nature. I'd look around for grass livery somewhere and just turn the horse out for winter.

 

[windand rain]

It is not illegal as long as your house/land doesn't have a prohibiting covenant on it We used to foal our mares in a stable in the garden and a neighbour had a block of 12 stables in theirs but both were old farm house with big gardens the neighbour did have a field behind her house but the stables were in the garden. I do agree however it is not ideal and is morally wrong to keep a youngster for any length of time without company. But horses are often not kept the way I would and people find it acceptable the biggest hing for me would be if the horse was in the garden but stuck in a stable 24/7

 

[kc100]

Personally I'd go with grass livery that is a little further away as the temporary measure - if it is a yard with staff then you'll be able to pay a small amount for daily checks/rug changes/feeding etc. I'd far rather that, where the horse will be in plenty of space, with other horses in a safe and secure environment rather than a back garden.

As much as you might be able to keep your horse in the garden for a short period, it will need some (if not a lot) of work to get it 100% secure (have you checked all perimeter fencing/hedges?), to keep on top of the muck and maintenance, and your horse will be alone without any company from other horses which really is not good for a youngster. It will be quite stressful and if this is stress that can be avoided by simply keeping the horse further away and paying a small extra charge for daily checks that is a far better solution.

Plus your neighbours will clearly complain and I would not want that extra hassle, so I'd be looking for grass livery anywhere within a 30-60 min drive from your horse if I were you. Put some adverts onto Preloved and local horsey facebook groups - you'd be amazed at how many people can probably accomodate your pony for a short period of time especially if she is only small. Someone local might even spot it and be able to offer something nearby.

 

[OWLIE185]

Provided that the deeds of your house have no restrictive covenants on the keeping of horses you can do so. However the neighbours could complain about effluent, rats etc. to the local authority.

 

[ester]

Whilst I totally agree that all horses and especially young ponies should have company, what is the difference between keeping a pony in a small area for a short time, and one being confined on box rest?

If it was, "my pony has hurt its leg and needs to be kept quiet and the only place I have for a couple of weeks is my back garden" it would be the same. The OP is willing to take it out and about and take it for a graze. This is an emergency, not for ever and until the OP can find something more suitable.

I thought that given we are talking about stabling it would require the acquisition of a stable and therefore not necessarily and emergency temporary measure?

 

[madmav]

There was a docu on R4 yesterday at 11am that is sort if relevant to this. Called Lives in the Landscape, The Horses of Holmes Wood. Might be worth iplayering. A housing estate where they like to keep horses in and around the area. But the council are not keen.