New Stable Build query

[Jweber]

Hi All,

Hoping the experts on this site can guide a complete novice such as myself.

My sister and I own some land (11acres across 3 fields) together with some stabling (fallen into disrepair) in South Devon.

Currently the fields are used by sheep for grazing but we’d like to bring horses back to the land in the form of providing stabling for horse owners.

Given the stables will need to be rebuilt from scratch - it’s also a good opportunity to get it right.

Given the acreage, how many horses would that support (ie how many stables should we build?). What other buildings would be desirable aside from a tack room? Is a school necessary?

There would be power and water (from an on-site spring) available.

Anything else we should think about?

Guess the all important question - what do you think the correct rental price should be?

thanks everyone!

 

[lamlyn2012]

You will be running a business so you would need to speak to the council regarding business use before you go any further. Also consider Insurance and Business Rates. The number of equines it will support depends on the type of land. If it is good draining land it will stand up better than clay ground which doesn’t drain well. Most people like a manège these days. Lots of storage is a must, tack room,feed room, barn for hay at least. You need to have good fencing (not sheep wire) and some means of field maintenance. Do you have good access and is the hacking good?

 

[Jweber]

Noted on the council application, it has always previously been a working stable albeit recently fallen to disrepair so don’t envisage issues there.

Noted also on the fencing, we have recently had the whole plot refenced but will check the suitability.

Land is well draining, has good access and close (50m or so) from several bridal ways.

 

[be positive]

I think it depends on how you want the land used, you would get more rent coming in by building 10 boxes, a barn for storage and putting in an arena, obviously it will be a big investment and probably take many years to bring in a true profit but would greatly increase the value if you wanted to sell it at some point but it would be run as a business by whoever is renting it (or you renting the boxes individually with the complications that involves), that may mean it gets overused, it may not be as well looked after as it should and could be handed back requiring a lot of repair if the business fails.

Alternatively you go for making it suitable for an individual with several horses of their own in which case I would keep to 5 boxes, a small barn for storage and general use, a field shelter in at least one field and put a limit on how many horses can be kept, whether they can sub let or not, you will get less rent but have less to spend in the first place and will probably find someone local to rent it long term.

I think it might be a good idea to advertise and ask around the area before committing as you may be able to set it up for an individual, someone with stables but not enough land may even want it to supplement their own grazing and not need any stables, it seems a bit pointless building if you do not need to.

 

[cobgoblin]

Your planning authority will likely have a ruling on how many stables you can have for the grazing area.