Opinions on this letter to land owner

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PinkSwoon

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Evening!

Quick post to ask on your opinion of this letter I am about to send to a local land owner politely begging (:D) for some land to rent. Constructive criticism is welcome as this is the first time I've done it & I REALLY need somewhere pretty soon.

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Dear Occupiers of Such & Such a Farm,

I am writing to you to express my interest in the possibility of renting land for the purpose of grazing. I hope you don’t mind me contacting you speculatively as I’m sure you can understand that such land is usually hard to come by.

I have had two horses on livery in the local area for over 13 years but in the past year I have decided that renting land would be a more suitable option as I live in the local area & I don’t ride competitively as I work full-time so I no longer have a need for full livery.

I have 18 years of equine experience as well as equine qualifications and references can be supplied upon request. I am happy to consider any arrangement that you may be able to offer, any fee is considered & I would be obliging to fully cover any cost incurred for maintenance of land.

Please feel free to contact me on the number above (normally after 4pm) at your earliest convenience if you wish to discuss further.

Kind Regards,

My Name
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What do you think?
 
Seems ok :) I would cut it slightly.

PinkSwoon said:
Evening!

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Dear (can you find the name) of X farm.

I am writing to you to express my interest in the possibility of renting land from you for the purpose of grazing. I hope you do not mind me writing to you directly, however I appreciate you may be busy and I would not like to intrude by coming directly to your door.

I own two quiet geldings and have done for 13+years. Renting land would be the more suitable option for us as I live in the local and the horses are not competing.

I have 18 years of equine experience as well as equine qualifications and references can be supplied upon request. I am happy to discuss arrangements and fees that would be suitable to you, if you are able to help. I would of course be obliging to fully cover any cost incurred for maintenance of land, as well as the relevant third party insurance.

Please feel free to contact me on the number above at your earliest convenience if you wish to discuss further.

Kind Regards,

My Name
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What do you think?
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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 :) ! There are big advantages in grass and worm management in grazing with sheep, though I wouldn't own one if you paid me to!
 
ycbm said:
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 :) ! There are big advantages in grass and worm management in grazing with sheep, though I wouldn't own one if you paid me to!
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Haha! As long as I don't acquire any more things with four legs then it's fine by me! :D
 
It might be worth just going to knock on the door of the farm and having a chat with them instead of sending a letter. I have been trying to find grazing recently and couldn't decide whether to just post letters or go in person. I went in person and it wasn't as embarrassing as I thought it would be and I do think going personally means there is more chance of them saying yes. I took a few letters with me and posted them through the doors of the farms where there was nobody in.
 
EmmaC78 said:
It might be worth just going to knock on the door of the farm and having a chat with them instead of sending a letter. I have been trying to find grazing recently and couldn't decide whether to just post letters or go in person. I went in person and it wasn't as embarrassing as I thought it would be and I do think going personally means there is more chance of them saying yes. I took a few letters with me and posted them through the doors of the farms where there was nobody in.
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Thanks, I was going to do that but I've been in two minds because I read a thread on here of the same topic & a few land owners noted that they have felt under pressure & didn't like it when people knocked on so it put me off!

neddy man said:
Insurance? as mentioned by Alainax, phone number and address. maybe a further line that if he cannot help you he may mention you to another suitable land owner.
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Thanks! I do have my name, address & contact number on the actual letter but deleted it for the purpose of posting it on here
 
As someone who has been approached in person, and received a letter enquiring about land, I much preferred the knock on the door as I find it hard to find the time to call even people I want to call (small children running around legs!) but can speak to someone in person with them there. If you do send a letter I would also add an email address in case, like me, the majority of their free time is in the late evening when it becomes questionable if it's too late to call someone. I think that your letter is very polite though. Good luck!
 
PinkSwoon said:
Thanks, I was going to do that but I've been in two minds because I read a thread on here of the same topic & a few land owners noted that they have felt under pressure & didn't like it when people knocked on so it put me off!
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Yes, it is difficult to know what approach to take. Pros and cons to both. I went round 5 places during the week and all seemed fine about us dropping by and I actually had a good chat with a couple if them but I appreciate not everyone would be like that. Maybe we were just lucky. I just thought that most people would put a posted letter straight in the bin.
 
Less on your personal motivations for wanting to rent land, more on what you want in terms of space, access, etc. As a land owner, my thoughts would be these and fencing, water, poo picking, muck heap, etc.
 
As a farmer, I'd appreciate a short letter saying I will contact again by phone or personally in two weeks time "as I know how busy you will be". If you can call and find them in the field when they are not trying to catch the weather, that would be good as it is difficult to say 'no' to a pleasant smiling face!

I would be more impressed with promises to keep the land tidy and purchase fodder from the farm if that is possible. The latter because I go around every year spot spraying weeds and don't want someone importing weed seeds from outside. The first because I always seem to find myself clearing up after teenage horse owners (home made jumps, water butts, white tape, litter, etc)!

Cross grazing is always a good idea so perhaps mention that you'd welcome that arrangement if it suited the farmer.

Frankly, this sort of letter goes straight in the bin with most farmers. Sorry, but it's true. So you need to supply a few carrots. Mention money and how much you are expecting to pay!

If you call or phone, do your research and find out what times of the day it is customary for farmers in your area to phone each other. Not so important now everyone has a mobile but probably is if calling a landline.

Name drop like mad! And if the answers "No" ask if they can offer any suggestions as to who might lease. We do business with friends or friends of friends.
 
EmmaC78 said:
It might be worth just going to knock on the door of the farm and having a chat with them instead of sending a letter. I have been trying to find grazing recently and couldn't decide whether to just post letters or go in person. I went in person and it wasn't as embarrassing as I thought it would be and I do think going personally means there is more chance of them saying yes. I took a few letters with me and posted them through the doors of the farms where there was nobody in.
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As in my post, if calling, be careful about picking your time to call. It would be a knee jerk "No" from me if called to the door as I might be eating or at the computer. It amazes me the number of people who call me at, say 10.30am. Do they really think I am sitting around the house at that hour of the day? I'd be outside, working!
 
Hee hee, as inyour post, is 4.30 am a good time to call?
Dry Rot said:
As in my post, if calling, be careful about picking your time to call. It would be a knee jerk "No" from me if called to the door as I might be eating or at the computer. It amazes me the number of people who call me at, say 10.30am. Do they really think I am sitting around the house at that hour of the day? I'd be outside, working!
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I did a similar thing about 14 years ago . Not one response from where I am but 6 months later door knocked and landed a great field with some one that is now one of my best friends She remembered getting my letter but didnt have time to reply and forgot all about it . Good luck . Also try the local land agents they usualy know first whats coming up .
 
Dry Rot said:
I've had that too! Some idiot working nights and got bored so phoned me up for a chat. He got a right ear full, I can tell you!

Yes, I do keep odd hours! :)
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When i was milking cows with a 4am start a feed rep used to call me at 10 pm,I used to call him back just before milking he soon got the message.
 
I always go on a farming forum before coming here and there is a thread started recently by a metal detectorist looking for land. He has had NIL invites which is pretty much standard, I'm afraid, but one reply is from a farmer who says he wants to see the inquirer, face-to-face.

I think that is good advice. But as I've said before, a short note through the post a couple of weeks before, then go and find the man in the field or call at a time you know will be acceptable (after meal times is good). Never launch straight in with your request but start talking about something irrelevant, say the weather, so he has time to sum you up.

Many years ago I was in land management and I always got on with the farmers. I'd call at the house to find where the farmer was working, then go and find him. When I did, I'd pitch in and help with whatever job was being done -- unloading a lorry, heaving bales, etc. Mostly, I was welcomed, even when doing a rent review! :) Little things will get people on your side and first impressions matter.
 
Maybe ride round to see the farmers. Show them your beautifully conditioned, well mannered equines!! How could they resist??
 
J&S said:
Maybe ride round to see the farmers. Show them your beautifully conditioned, well mannered equines!! How could they resist??
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Having been on the receiving end of this - please do not use above suggested approach, we like other people's horses even less when they are mugging off my hanging baskets.
 
How would you know their phone number? I don't display mine outside the front gate and very few neighbours have it. Definitely do not turn up on horseback as our dogs run loose and although my horses are used to them, your's may not be.
 
I thought it was a good letter - just hope it works for you! I recently did something similar and got a very nice (unfortunately negative) reply by email the same day. If I'd not had a reply so fast I would have followed up with a knock on the door a few days later. Personally, unless its an emergency i.e. you'd about to get flooded out or your stable had caught fire I would always go with a letter introducing yourself and your aims first rather than turning up unannounced and uninvited on someone's doorstep. At least with a letter in advance they know a little about who is bashing on their door!
 
I think a promise that I will look after the field and fencing and pick up the poos each and every day may soften some landowners hearts towards you.
 
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