LynH
Well-Known Member
Seeing as I have posted so many threads asking for advice about building stables and an arena at home and mostly because I loved looking at other people's photos of their stables, I thought it was about time I showed you my new yard. It took us a year to buy the property and my friends and I spent that time planning how 'pony cottage' should be.
For now it's just a small private yard for my three horses and as they have been living out 24/7 since we moved in a year and a half ago so I am so pleased we got it built before winter. I'm planning on leaving them out as much as possible but it is a relief to have somewhere to get them off the wet ground in the worst weather. The first time I rode after the stables went up it started to rain and I was so pleased to be able to tack up in the dry and then pop my horse in her stable until the shower passed. After 18 months with no proper shelter it all feels very luxurious.
End of the second day of construction
With the doors on
Covered area with ramp to arena which was build in February
OH helping out but I'm sure the novelty will soon run out
And finally the view I was looking forward to the most, looking out of the bedroom window and being able to see my horses in their stables
Like most people having horses at home was a longstanding dream and I am so lucky to be able to realise my dream when I never thought it would be possible. I have major health problems and have more days than not when I cannot drive so having the horses at home has really made keeping my horses much easier. I can now just pop into the house to rest when I need to and like today as I have pneumonia I was able to walk outside and check the horses in their field without making myself worse. Having the horses during a serious and long term illness has been a huge motivation but depressing at times when I was unable to see them for weeks on end. Now I can just look out of the window or lie in bed listening to the old one shouting for food. It's also much easier for my OH to help out and I am so lucky to have him and some amazing friends I can rely on when needed which meant it was important to find a property locally.
None of this has been straightforward and we've had several hurdles to jump along the way and we now have to extend and renovate the cottage. To most non-horsey people's surprise we got the horses sorted first and I will be happy to hide out on the yard and in the tackroom whilst the house is overrun with builders for the next 5 months. We can then start tidying up the place and knocking down the grotty old outbuilding and hopefully by next summer I can relax and enjoy pony cottage :0)
For now it's just a small private yard for my three horses and as they have been living out 24/7 since we moved in a year and a half ago so I am so pleased we got it built before winter. I'm planning on leaving them out as much as possible but it is a relief to have somewhere to get them off the wet ground in the worst weather. The first time I rode after the stables went up it started to rain and I was so pleased to be able to tack up in the dry and then pop my horse in her stable until the shower passed. After 18 months with no proper shelter it all feels very luxurious.
End of the second day of construction
With the doors on
Covered area with ramp to arena which was build in February
OH helping out but I'm sure the novelty will soon run out
And finally the view I was looking forward to the most, looking out of the bedroom window and being able to see my horses in their stables
Like most people having horses at home was a longstanding dream and I am so lucky to be able to realise my dream when I never thought it would be possible. I have major health problems and have more days than not when I cannot drive so having the horses at home has really made keeping my horses much easier. I can now just pop into the house to rest when I need to and like today as I have pneumonia I was able to walk outside and check the horses in their field without making myself worse. Having the horses during a serious and long term illness has been a huge motivation but depressing at times when I was unable to see them for weeks on end. Now I can just look out of the window or lie in bed listening to the old one shouting for food. It's also much easier for my OH to help out and I am so lucky to have him and some amazing friends I can rely on when needed which meant it was important to find a property locally.
None of this has been straightforward and we've had several hurdles to jump along the way and we now have to extend and renovate the cottage. To most non-horsey people's surprise we got the horses sorted first and I will be happy to hide out on the yard and in the tackroom whilst the house is overrun with builders for the next 5 months. We can then start tidying up the place and knocking down the grotty old outbuilding and hopefully by next summer I can relax and enjoy pony cottage :0)
