The Fuzzy Furry
Old Timer
Noooo!
Me too, wasn't impressed to have hefty horse dancing in my yard gateway whilst I was in mid-bathing session of a pony!
Opinions on this letter to land owner
- Thread starter PinkSwoon
- Start date
Noooo!
Me too, wasn't impressed to have hefty horse dancing in my yard gateway whilst I was in mid-bathing session of a pony!
J&S
Well-Known Member
I did say "Well mannered", this to me would mean standing quietly and obediently NOT doing the above! I only suggested a visit plus horse as I have ridden round looking for a possible new place to keep my pony, having made a previous appointment by telephone. I felt it would help them to appreciate the size, type temperament. A description might not always be the same as the reality.
RunToEarth
Well-Known Member
Most farmers are au fait with what a horse looks like and how it should behave, without it being ridden into their front yard.
Turning up to someone's house on one, without invitation is just the kind of behaviour that earns us the title of "deranged equine birds".
J&S
Well-Known Member
OOH! I haven't been described as a" Bird" since the 1960's! But seeing as that was such a long time ago it probably goes without saying that I would be "deranged".
Slightly Foxed
Well-Known Member
Good luck. My neighbours (not farmers) have 13 acres and four stables and an olympic size arena doing nothing (they're jolly rich and built stables and arena when the daughter flirted with equestrianism, lasted about 6 months!).
Anyway, they rented it out when someone approached them on spec.
However, as a non-horsey landowner why would I want horses on my land? They're bloody fussy feeders, eat fences, churn up the land and produce enormous amounts of poo which is increasingly more difficult to dispose of - regulations, regulations, regulations.
So, you may have your work cut out persuading a farmer it's worth their while accommodating you.
You might be able to discover bits of council or church land that are doing nothing?
Good luck!
Anyway, they rented it out when someone approached them on spec.
However, as a non-horsey landowner why would I want horses on my land? They're bloody fussy feeders, eat fences, churn up the land and produce enormous amounts of poo which is increasingly more difficult to dispose of - regulations, regulations, regulations.
So, you may have your work cut out persuading a farmer it's worth their while accommodating you.
You might be able to discover bits of council or church land that are doing nothing?
Good luck!
MotherOfChickens
MotherDucker
I've always written and followed up with a phone call-although most have done me the courtesy of contacting me back. I usually focus on the fact I am not after their prime grazing, that I can provide references and that grazing will be used in rotation or not overgrazed (as horse owners are wont to do). IME farmers will want to cross graze regardless of whether you want to or not. It might take time-even if there's nothing right now, there might be in the future.
Its always worked for me and once they get to know you-provided you are reliable-they are generally happy to look after you. I am in prime beef/sheep country and grazing is not for horses as it's fragile and very wet. I now have my own patch, a lovely summer meadow and guaranteed winter grazing with a byre I can use. I pay up front in cash, I get off the land when asked (i.e. if wet etc) and the family have become good friends-I also get a very good deal on hay and straw from them. Ads on Gumtree have also worked for me.
Its always worked for me and once they get to know you-provided you are reliable-they are generally happy to look after you. I am in prime beef/sheep country and grazing is not for horses as it's fragile and very wet. I now have my own patch, a lovely summer meadow and guaranteed winter grazing with a byre I can use. I pay up front in cash, I get off the land when asked (i.e. if wet etc) and the family have become good friends-I also get a very good deal on hay and straw from them. Ads on Gumtree have also worked for me.
PinkSwoon
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the replies everyone, honestly I cannot tell you how helpful they have been! Here's the final draft, think I've covered everything.
Dear Occupiers of ****** Farm,
I am writing to you to express my interest in the possibility of renting land for the purpose of grazing. I hope you dont mind me contacting you speculatively as Im sure you can understand that such land is usually hard to come by & I appreciate that as you may be busy, I would not like to intrude by contacting you directly.
I own two quiet horses which have been on livery in the local area for over 13 years which I hack out in the local woods 2-3 times per week. Renting land would be a more suitable option as I live in the local area & I dont ride competitively so I no longer have a need for full livery.
I have 18 years of equine experience as well as equine qualifications. I am happy to consider any arrangement that you may be able to offer and any fee is considered. I would expect to fully cover any cost incurred for maintenance of land & relevant insurance myself as well as carry out typical tasks such as daily poo-picking & monitoring the land. I am also more than happy to co-graze with other livestock if necessary & purchase forage from the land or your preferred supplier. .
Please feel free to contact me on the number above (normally after 4pm) or email/text any time at your earliest convenience if you wish to discuss further or alternatively if you know of any such arrangement elsewhere. I would be more than happy to call for a chat without obligation.
References can be supplied upon request.
Kind Regards,
My Name
Dear Occupiers of ****** Farm,
I am writing to you to express my interest in the possibility of renting land for the purpose of grazing. I hope you dont mind me contacting you speculatively as Im sure you can understand that such land is usually hard to come by & I appreciate that as you may be busy, I would not like to intrude by contacting you directly.
I own two quiet horses which have been on livery in the local area for over 13 years which I hack out in the local woods 2-3 times per week. Renting land would be a more suitable option as I live in the local area & I dont ride competitively so I no longer have a need for full livery.
I have 18 years of equine experience as well as equine qualifications. I am happy to consider any arrangement that you may be able to offer and any fee is considered. I would expect to fully cover any cost incurred for maintenance of land & relevant insurance myself as well as carry out typical tasks such as daily poo-picking & monitoring the land. I am also more than happy to co-graze with other livestock if necessary & purchase forage from the land or your preferred supplier. .
Please feel free to contact me on the number above (normally after 4pm) or email/text any time at your earliest convenience if you wish to discuss further or alternatively if you know of any such arrangement elsewhere. I would be more than happy to call for a chat without obligation.
References can be supplied upon request.
Kind Regards,
My Name
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Jnhuk
Well-Known Member
"I own two quiet horses which have been on livery in the local area for over 13 years which I hack out in the local woods 2-3 times per week. Renting land would be a more suitable option as I live in the local area & I don’t ride competitively so I no longer have a need for full livery. "
I would edit this paragraph personally to something like:
I own two quiet horses which I mainly hack out as no longer compete and I am looking to rent land in the local area as I live locally.
Personally, I don't think stating that you have kept your horses on full livery in the local area for 13 years would do anything in your favour. The reasons that I am saying this is that: if the farmer is friendly with whoever runs the livery yard as he may not want to take business away from them plus you are advertising the fact that you haven't rented land before and always had horses on full livery so that may mean you know zilch about field management etc....
I would edit this paragraph personally to something like:
I own two quiet horses which I mainly hack out as no longer compete and I am looking to rent land in the local area as I live locally.
Personally, I don't think stating that you have kept your horses on full livery in the local area for 13 years would do anything in your favour. The reasons that I am saying this is that: if the farmer is friendly with whoever runs the livery yard as he may not want to take business away from them plus you are advertising the fact that you haven't rented land before and always had horses on full livery so that may mean you know zilch about field management etc....
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MotherOfChickens
MotherDucker
TBH I would leave out any justification for wanting grazing-its not relevant. They are busy, keep it to the point-they will either have grazing or not and they won't care what you do with your horses or why (don't mean to sound rude-these are all details you can bring up in a chat if you get that far). It will help enormously if you know someone who knows someone so have a think-someone who can tell them you aren't crazy is always a good start.
See also maintenance of land. IME farmers don't care for poo picking unless its a very small parcel of land, they don't like it being overgrazed and they absolutely want to know you will be checking stock at least once daily. They will want to maintain the land the way they normally do so that could mean fertilising/liming/hedge cutting etc etc. They may also insist on a grazing agreement which means you might have to vacate for a set time each year (to prevent squatting rights) so have a contigency plan for that.
oh, and try your local council. Good luck!
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WelshD
Well-Known Member
I agree with this. That paragraph also makes it sound like you are looking for a cheaper alternative, I'd concentrate on the 'locality' thing and not the fact you've previously been on full livery
Cows573
Member
As a farmer myself, if you want a reply....
You really need to add an incentive. You need to say what acreage you require, whether you are willing to fence the area off that you require as well as state how much you are willing to pay per week or month.
Farmers need money at the moment and saying how much, in real terms, that it would mean to them may make them consider it where previously they wouldn't have. Imo....
You really need to add an incentive. You need to say what acreage you require, whether you are willing to fence the area off that you require as well as state how much you are willing to pay per week or month.
Farmers need money at the moment and saying how much, in real terms, that it would mean to them may make them consider it where previously they wouldn't have. Imo....
FfionWinnie
Well-Known Member
Ugh no no no.
Dear Mr Farmer. Are you interested in renting me a field. I will pay well and wear jodhpurs. I have a small bum.
Yours sincerely.
OP.
They will still say no but it will save you all time.
Dear Mr Farmer. Are you interested in renting me a field. I will pay well and wear jodhpurs. I have a small bum.
Yours sincerely.
OP.
They will still say no but it will save you all time.
popsdosh
Well-Known Member
LOL most dont need money that badly!
It costs a lot to rectify poached up ,ragwort infested land these days!
PS: FW you made me smile at this time but it may help
at least this farmer.
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
Pinkswoon - how did you get on?
We have 3 soon to be empty paddocks and 4 stables but my OH has decided they were rather empty than ever see another horse.
I do wish you luck.
We have 3 soon to be empty paddocks and 4 stables but my OH has decided they were rather empty than ever see another horse.
I do wish you luck.
rhylis
Well-Known Member
This would actually work on my OH! He'd happily hand over a field on the promise of reliable payment and nice bottoms in jods!
JanetGeorge
Well-Known Member
Just be aware that if you co-graze and need to feed forage that you will have to feed it high to stop the sheep eating it, and they can climb into a ring feeder
lol, that's not the only problem. One loopy I owned from 4 to his death (an accident with another horse) used to pick them up bu the wool and swing them around!) I had to run a single line of high electric fence across the field so they could escape. But the best way is horses, then sheep, then harrow and rest.
Dry Rot
Well-Known Member
If I have learnt anything from letting grazing (only a fool will let "a field") it is that "No good turn goes unpunished". The more you try to help, the bigger the punishment!
So, it's a 'No' from me.
So, it's a 'No' from me.
Damnation
Well-Known Member
If it was me I would be going to the local pub and getting to know a few people before trying to ask for land.
Up here it is cows/sheep. In an emergancy I know the farmers who rent the land around the house (we rent the house they rent the land) would cut me a deal to have my horse on the land with their sheep.
However, they are the only horse friendly farmers I know really, unless its their horse or their childs horse/pony.
They cannot be bothered with the hassle and they think that horses are useless creatures (why have it if it costs you money instead of making you money?) that spread weeds and churn up land.
I know alot of the farmers quite well from the pub and even then I would really struggle to get them to agree to my one very well behaved, unshod horse.
Up here it is cows/sheep. In an emergancy I know the farmers who rent the land around the house (we rent the house they rent the land) would cut me a deal to have my horse on the land with their sheep.
However, they are the only horse friendly farmers I know really, unless its their horse or their childs horse/pony.
They cannot be bothered with the hassle and they think that horses are useless creatures (why have it if it costs you money instead of making you money?) that spread weeds and churn up land.
I know alot of the farmers quite well from the pub and even then I would really struggle to get them to agree to my one very well behaved, unshod horse.
Sparemare
Well-Known Member
I think the issue with renting land to horse owners isn't the horses themselves, but the people that potentially accompany the horses. We have a hay field that could potentially be rented out, but what starts as one quiet woman popping up twice a day to sort her horses could morph into family trips for owner with children, aunties and uncles visiting the horses along with loaners/sharers. It's just not worth the potential hassle.
DD
Well-Known Member
I would remove the bity about such land being hard to come by its not necessary and may put the rent up!. Try to find out the name of the farmer to make it more personal.
MotherOfChickens
MotherDucker
then just put it in the grazing tenancy agreement? Such a shame that horse owners have such a bad rep and I have obviously been very lucky in finding farmers that don't think I am a nutter!
TheOldTrout
Completely Unknown Member
I'd cut that sentence 'Renting land would be a more suitable option as I live in the local area & I dont ride competitively so I no longer have a need for full livery.' Landowners will be more bothered about what's suitable for them than what's suitable for you! In the first paragraph, I'd say 'grazing for my horses' (or 'my two horses') so that they know straightaway what type of animals you have.