Moving from DIY to own field - is the lack of facilities etc.going to do my head in?!

Thank you again everyone, lots and lots of ideas here! Hope it’s been helpful for others thinking about doing the same :)

I’m going to call the landowner tomorrow and check out a few things before hopefully taking the land on. And I’m going to do some more online research to look into all the ideas you’ve given me… Was stressing about the water in particular but hadn’t thought of shipping it down once a week so I don’t have to cart containers down every day – great plan! And liking the mobile shelter idea – once I picked myself up from the floor at the prices! And Cocorules – thanks for pointing out I might end up getting a 3rd pony – that’s completely made my mind up, just don’t tell my OH :D

I hate to be cheeky but I have a couple more questions if it’s not pushing my luck!
- Good to know I can probably store hay in field rather than under cover if necessary – d’you think I’ll need to feed hay for 2 ponies on 5 acres..? Last winter my boy didn’t have hay in the field but got through a whacking great haynet in his stable overnight – this 24 hour turnout idea is new to me!

- I was thinking about maybe doing the boundary fencing by wooden posts then fixing electric tape to them – hopefully a bit more secure than using plastic posts. However, this will cost me a fair bit – anyone done this on rented land or should I just go with the fantastic plastic?!
Thank you again everyone.

D. x
 
I think, as a tenant, its not really fair to expect you to fence the land. It may be worth asking the landowner if they would contribute towards the poles? They can only say no! If not, your wooden poles would be much more secure. You could alternate wooden poles and plastic poles to save a bit of money perhaps?

Storing hay will be very difficult, and I wouldn't bother - change to haylage, small bales if poss, and store them in a corner of the field (well fenced off - because they will break into them if they can get at them, and usually open them all!).
 
equi said:
Well the lack of shelter will be annoying mainly because when its awful weather you will have to change rugs several times and the ones you swap won't dry out very fast so you will need a lot of rugs. That amount of grass will not help your boy at all, in fact i would get a cut of hay or haylage off it before putting your horse in. If you get a youngster you will have to be aware that you will eventually need to make an arena otherwise his schooling skills will be nill, effectively making him only suitable for a hacking home. Lights will be annoying in the winter and you won't be able to see / security will be next to none.

Honestly its not something i would do.
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I have to say that i disagree with this entirely. OP if you have well drained land and a smaller enclosed field area its extremely do-able. Before we had the luxury of a school, we backed many a youngster in a section of the field. No big disasters, all were genuine allrounders and don't go mad whenever they feel grass beneath their feet. They are more balanced that current horses, backed the same way but not schooled on grass.

As for electric, we used to have a generator in the tack shed (or watertight container) that was connected to lights inbetween 4 of our portable stables. Lugging water was the most annoying thing, but it becomes normal, a habit.

Now that we have american barns and a 60x20 i sometimes forget about those days, but i think i was closer to my horses then, so its happy memories :)


P.S you don't need PP for portable structures.
 
How dedicated are you and what do you do with your horse? (Sorry not read all replies) reason I ask is, without exception everyone I know who has a field only set up also ends up having a field ornament only set up :S
 
diddy said:
Thank you again everyone, lots and lots of ideas here! Hope it’s been helpful for others thinking about doing the same :)

I’m going to call the landowner tomorrow and check out a few things before hopefully taking the land on. And I’m going to do some more online research to look into all the ideas you’ve given me… Was stressing about the water in particular but hadn’t thought of shipping it down once a week so I don’t have to cart containers down every day – great plan! And liking the mobile shelter idea – once I picked myself up from the floor at the prices! And Cocorules – thanks for pointing out I might end up getting a 3rd pony – that’s completely made my mind up, just don’t tell my OH :D

I hate to be cheeky but I have a couple more questions if it’s not pushing my luck!
- Good to know I can probably store hay in field rather than under cover if necessary – d’you think I’ll need to feed hay for 2 ponies on 5 acres..? Last winter my boy didn’t have hay in the field but got through a whacking great haynet in his stable overnight – this 24 hour turnout idea is new to me!

- I was thinking about maybe doing the boundary fencing by wooden posts then fixing electric tape to them – hopefully a bit more secure than using plastic posts. However, this will cost me a fair bit – anyone done this on rented land or should I just go with the fantastic plastic?!
Thank you again everyone.

D. x
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check with the land owner, but we did our fencing ourselves. Bought the posts, and a hand post knocker thing (sorry cant think of technical name!) and two of us spent two days going round the whole place knocking posts in. Screw in plastic clips, attact electric rope/tape et voila! I've had very bad experiences with plastic electric posts.. they have massive metal spikes on the bottom and can be pulled out of soft ground..
 
Hi Diddy,

We bought some land years ago, with no facilites at all, at the time.

Honest advice :

1. Find a solution to water. Dont underestmate what a total b*ll ache it is. You will soon get fed up of carrying water around.

2. Lighting. I cant cope without lighting, the thought of all those furry little rodents waiting to surprise me, uuuurrrgggghhh. If that doesnt bother you, than a head torch will suffice. If not you can get portable generators.

3. Trailer - mine got stolen, and thieves kindly left all gates open, so horses could have got onto main road. Store it somewhere secure.

4. Fencing - dont skimp, get best finances can afford. Landowner should really sort this for you.

5. Arena - you'll cope. Found our horses went really well, plus when we had to go to shows, all the others got excited when hooves met grass, no change for ours !

6. Dont store anything of value unless you have security

7. Ground maintenance - thats fun.

8. some kind of shelter is advisable

9. Enjoy the freedom and never look back
 
A solution to

A) Water- can you get to the stream easerly if so and you feel you can draw the water from there then a way in which you can do it is, buy a pump from a caravan shop connect a long piece of hose pipe to the pump and connect clips to the wires,these clips can then be clipped to a car battery-- you then have a water pump.
B) Electric - solar panels to run a battery that runs a car head light.For yourself a good headlight works.
C) Storage - Again this will depend on what you are looking for. I have two metal garden sheds I only put stuff I could afford to loose in those.
D) Shelter ie field or stabling. These can be made with fencing panels and corrugated iron roofs. Farm sales are a good place to find these.
E) I would use haylage that can be stored outside. Big bales are cheaper than small bales.
F) Fencing -I would make sure that this is secure, even n the smallest gaps.I would also split he field up so you can rest part of it.
G) Company - I would have someone else with you , apart from each horse would hav company you can share the work and you will always have someone else to call on if in an emergency you can not be there.
H) NEVER LEAVE A TRAILER IN A FIELD THAT IS NOT SECURE.
 
I wouldn't leave a trailer in a field your very likely to have it stolen. Also I'd want proper fencing, horses will roam and get them selves into trouble once they've got bored eating.
I'm on my own yard with no school and only a short bridleway to hack along, it's ok but I miss being with others and having a sand school in the winter.
I couldn't live with no lights or electric it would be a nightmare and you need water incase the stream runs dry, gets rubbish chucked in it or you need to bath your horse or clean a wound.
It sounds nice having your own place but I don't think that's the right one.
 
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