Please help me decide whether to rent this field or not 🙈

[PoppyAnderson]

I'm currently on a yard. No issues, all's good, horses happy, got my friends there, good support network etc. However, I have the opportunity to rent a field. I'd save several thousand pounds a year and I'd have a lovely field all to myself and be able to manage my horses exactly to my liking. No facilities there at the mo but here's the crux. If I take it on, I upset a lot of people, including and especially the people I work for (I can't go into details but it's around planning issues). I am completely torn. I like the people I work for and don't want to upset them but saving several £000 is very tempting. I'm also worried about being there by myself, having no help and the horses being in a field with residents around them who aren't happy. What would you do? Please help.....

 

[blitznbobs]

Not sure how you renting a field can effect planning tbh… it’s one of the reasons that you can evict someone off agricultural land even if they have a 1986 agreement … I’d tell the people you work for that it would literally save you thousands and you’ve been offered it and see how they react… they may surprise you but equally unless you are a sqillionaire then disadvantaging your self for someone who can’t even discuss this with you sensibly is a very one sided relationship …

 

[canteron]

Having the horses in a field on their own will throw up a whole host of other problems which will be at the least time consuming and potentially cost money (getting water, fencing, topping, spraying etc etc)

However if you decide to go for it then you need to actively manage your employers. For example make it a 2 week process and start off with a similar message as here (been offered it, very tempted due to cost, but discounting it due to the upset it would cause, what would be their advice?).

Everyone works better if they gave processing time

 

[Dino7]

My only input is, will it definitely save you thousands when you consider field maintenance, fencing, cover whilst (if) you can't be there etc etc?
Many people don't realise the costs involved of having your own land (not saying this applies to you) just checking you've considered all the extra costs.

 

[paddi22]

In your shoes I wouldn't move, not if it effected a work situation in a job I was happy in. your savings will quickly be used up by the extra fuel time and work it takes to look after field horses. what happens in winter if you have a flu and someone has to check hay and water horses? where will you ride? will you have to hire arenas? I also wouldn't feel safe with horses in an area with people from the general public who aren't fans of them being there. what happens being beside a residential area on Halloween for example. will you have to be there all night to check horses? what if a horse colics in a dark evening in the rain, where can you bring to it in an emergency for shelter and light for vet? theres a lot of cons in this scenario.

 

[Squeak]

What do you do with your horses? Do you do much competing etc? If so you might really miss the facilities at your current yard. Is the field definitely big enough for all your horses even if you have a really wet winter like this year? Has it got any shelter or places to keep things?

I would be worried about a field being surrounded by people who don't want you there.

Usually I'm the first to say go for the field but I'd be a bit wary in this scenario - you're happy where you are, you'd upset a lot of people taking the field and have no facilities or support.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I've already discussed it with them in a measured and professional way. They're very reasonable people but ultimately, planning is an emotional issue. Yes, it's the disadvantaging myself that I'm stuck on. I'm not a selfish person at all and don't want to upset people but I know I can't constantly be a people pleaser! Fencing, water etc is all accounted for.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

My only input is, will it definitely save you thousands when you consider field maintenance, fencing, cover whilst (if) you can't be there etc etc?
Many people don't realise the costs involved of having your own land (not saying this applies to you) just checking you've considered all the extra costs.

Had my own land before and yes, it would definitely save me thousands but it's worth stressing the point to me. Thank you!

 

[blitznbobs]

How real is the risk to the ponies then

 

[PoppyAnderson]

In your shoes I wouldn't move, not if it effected a work situation in a job I was happy in. your savings will quickly be used up by the extra fuel time and work it takes to look after field horses. what happens in winter if you have a flu and someone has to check hay and water horses? where will you ride? will you have to hire arenas? I also wouldn't feel safe with horses in an area with people from the general public who aren't fans of them being there. what happens being beside a residential area on Halloween for example. will you have to be there all night to check horses? what if a horse colics in a dark evening in the rain, where can you bring to it in an emergency for shelter and light for vet? theres a lot of cons in this scenario.

Yep, all stuff that's preying on my mind. It's a very expensive, rich, 'posh' area with a few huge houses on a quiet lane, not like an estate. Horses currently live out 24/7 anyway. I have a friend locally with a yard who could step in to check them and whose arena I can use. Horses can colic in a stable at 8pm and not be checked until the next morning, so no difference there really but yes, all issues that are keeping me awake at night!

 

[PoppyAnderson]

What do you do with your horses? Do you do much competing etc? If so you might really miss the facilities at your current yard. Is the field definitely big enough for all your horses even if you have a really wet winter like this year? Has it got any shelter or places to keep things?

I would be worried about a field being surrounded by people who don't want you there.

Usually I'm the first to say go for the field but I'd be a bit wary in this scenario - you're happy where you are, you'd upset a lot of people taking the field and have no facilities or support.

No I don't compete. All your other comments are exactly why I can't decide what to do.

 

[paddi22]

yeah thats the bit that gets me. sorry to disagree with you but it's a totally different ballgame having an injury or illness in a field compared to a yard. true that horses can colic in a stable , but they are dry and sheltered. and when the vet comes they have a solid surface and lighting. a horse colicing in a field and having to lie down in wet mud for twelve hours overnight on a wet freezing night is a totally different ballgame, and comes with a lot more risk and side effects. when I moved first I only had my field and I found it very difficult. especially if they have a bad cut and you don't have access to a dry area, hose or equipment. or the colic situation happened to be and I was stood with a freezing wet colicing horse waiting for a vet to come that could hardly see. once that happened I swore i'd make sure I had hard standing and shelter and light.

and its great you have a. friend who can check them but you have to troubleshoot the worst case scenarios in your mind. what happens if you are laid up with a broken leg for a few weeks? will you have to pay someone to cover the horses for you, same with holidays - if you are away for two weeks, who covers them.

also the winter we had the bad snow I physically couldn't get to field. luckily I had a neighbour close by who was very kind and checked them, it doesn't sound like that would be the case with your situation.

 

[ihatework]

No I don't compete. All your other comments are exactly why I can't decide what to do.

How many acres for how many horses?
What type of soil - ie how muddy does it get
If you need emergency stabling, what happens?
Is there any storage?
Is there access to riding, suitable for what you enjoy?
Have you got access to power and transport for emergencies?
Topping/harrowing/muck management/repairs - is this all included?
Are your horses all reasonably easy to ride and do - ie you don't need company to hack out a young one etc.

In all honesty - unless you really have to cut your outgoings down, then I'm not sure I'd move ridden horses from a yard where I was happy and settled for literally a field.

 

[Polos Mum]

At worst - how easy would it be for you to replace your job if you having your horses there REALLY upset your employers. They shouldn't sack you - but as you say these things get out of hand emotionally some times.

I'd be surprised if after field maintenance, getting holiday cover, hiring arenas and companions (if required) really would net save "thousands.

 

[Dino7]

Fireworks are something else to consider in a residential area. And not just on Bonfire night.

 

[Timelyattraction]

If you ride your horses regularly I wouldn’t move my horse to just a field. Its just the standard stuff you take for granted as in having somewhere decent and dry underfoot to tie up and get them ready etc, for farrier, vet etc which you wont have

 

[SantaVera]

Rent the field but use it only occasionally and stay where you are too

 

[Squeak]

Just re reading this and if there's an upset over planning, would you have any long term security there? Would you be risking moving your horses from a good yard, upsetting everyone and then ending up without the field in a few months anyway?

 

[Nasicus]

Having spent a few years with the spectre of planning looming over my head (and resulting in the yard/field being sold for planning anyway), it's honestly not worth the stress and uncertainty.

 

[eggs]

I am not sure what the issue with planning in this instance is but if the hope of the field owners is to get planning on this field then what will you do?

 

[Patterdale]

It’s hard to say without more info but I can understand why you wouldn’t want to say on a public forum.

I keep my horses on just fields and it’s bloody hard. The horses seem to like it but it sucks a lot of the joy out if I’m honest.
I would choose this over stabled horses, but I’d choose better facilities too if I could. And that’s without the potentially upsetting people scenario.

Having your own space is great though. But I would need literally tens of thousands to make my fields good enough to actually school and compete all year round. And I have 16 acres which is quite dry!

 

[dorsetladette]

If the move didn't upset anyone would you have bitten the landowners hand off?

If your answer to the above is yes (And I can see from answers above you have kept horses this way before so you know what your letting yourself in for) maybe you need to look for a different bit of land to rent and save your self the upset and potential fall out.

I cope perfectly well with all the mentioned above issues in 'just a field'. yes you need to have running water, shelters (mine convert to stables with a couple of slip rails), hardcore and rubber mats, solar or battery lighting. You also need to be organised and I wouldn't be without transport of some sort no matter where I kept my horses in case of an emergency.

I've had the colic mentioned above in the p**sing rain - lets face it how many yards have indoor schools - you'd still be walking circles in the rain keeping a horse from rolling. The vet dealt with him in the dry of the large shelter under battery lights until it was unsafe for us to be in an enclosed space with him - I don't see the difference. The outcome wouldn't have changed.

The vet and farrier can both work on the horses in the dry of the shelter - under battery lighting.

I compete from the field, I have a support network around me. I would say winters can be long, cold, dark and boring if you don't share/have anyone with you, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I've had liveries over the years share my space, some good some back, but the happy medium I've now found is having my friend store her lorry here - she's out most weekends so I see her often and that's enough for me to get my 'human' fix as my own space is very valuable to me.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

At worst - how easy would it be for you to replace your job if you having your horses there REALLY upset your employers. They shouldn't sack you - but as you say these things get out of hand emotionally some times.

I'd be surprised if after field maintenance, getting holiday cover, hiring arenas and companions (if required) really would net save "thousands.

I'd get another job in a heartbeat! I'm very in demand!!
Yes, I'd definitely save thousands. I've costed it all to the nth degree. No cost for arena hire, companions not needed and I no longer go on holidays!!

 

[PoppyAnderson]

Field currently has nothing on it but there's an application in to planning for stabling. It'll be years before they get pp for a property but that's the eventually end game. So I'd have a field in the short term and a stable block in the medium term. Obviously the rent would go up once stables are built but that's fine.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

Rent the field but use it only occasionally and stay where you are too

The hope is to save money, not add to the cost!

 

[SEL]

I have mine in a field that's just mine and it isn't at home so the risk of turning up and finding one of them has hurt themselves is always there - but it was there when I was on livery too.

I do have somewhere for the vet and farrier though so I'd make sure you have somewhere dry before next winter.

I guess the reason the neighbours are upset is because at somepoint someone wants to build on it? That'll happen whether you and your horses rent it or not!

 

[blitznbobs]

If the friends weren’t an issue would you move?

If the answer to this question is yes then move - if no then don’t.

Take them out of the equation - yes the problem is important to them but so is your horse care to you, why are their feelings/ welfare more important that’s yours?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Renting your own field is a great feeling but lots come with it.

1. Fencing
2. Water
3. Repairs to anything
4. No friends there
5. When you go away who does the horses.
6. Is there security
7. Is there enough shelter
8. Are there many poisonous plants.
9. What is the layout like as in summer and winter/resting fields
10. Manure heap
11. Is there a foot path
12. Is there stables or shelter for any injuries
13. Do you have a farmer to spray/roll/fertilize the fields
14. How many horses are there as in if you ride on will the other be on their own.
15. What is the drainage like
16. What is the hacking like
17. What are the immediate roads like
18. Is there hard standing for the farrier to shoe or clipping
19. Is there running water for a hose
    Lots to think about aside upsetting your yard.

 

[paddi22]

also to be aware that when they have stables being built, you will have periods where concrete trucks and builders will be opening gates and going across field. and workmen randomly going in and out. i know when we got our stables build our field got destroyed in parts with trucks turning

 

[Nonjumper]

This whole situation seems a little ... odd.
Reading between the lines, and making a bit of an assumption based on the info given, your employers are owners of at least one of the posh houses and don't want planning given for a yard full of horses in the field behind their home ...

Regardless of how close or not my guess is, there is nothing more vindictive than a human being, especially one that feels they have been scorned. If having your own field will genuinely save you a lot of money (and having done it myself I know it definitely can do) then I'd be looking for another place to rent instead. However I do agree with other posters that a horse should have a stable available even if you don't usually use it.