Potential land purchase, WWYD?

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katymay

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We have been searching and searching for land to rent or buy in our area, letter drops, estate agents, approaching farmers etc with no luck for two years now, previously shared a field with a lady who's daughter rode our pony but now she has taken another pony on loan so our little one has come home and is sharing with my youngster, we have limited land here, barely an acre but two stables so I do limited turn out in the winter which I hate. some land has come up for sale about a 15 minute drive away from me, seems ideal but I have yet to view, already has horses on half of the field and its the other six acres up for sale, will split into smaller lots as I don't really need 6 acres for two ponies, providing we can raise the capital, what are your thoughts? I am thinking turn out 24/7 with mobile field shelter during the late spring, summer, Autumn months and home for the winter where they can be stabled? its on a quiet road, bridleways near by and also having the space means me and the boys can ride safely in the paddock! is it worth sticking my neck out and going for it? other half is all for it and he isn't horsey at all!
 
We looked at 5 acres near us, but it went far over its value! If its decent land, fences ok, water acces able and you can afford it go for it. As you said, you have been looking for ages, and as twiggy2 said buy the lot if you can afford, and hay make and sub let.
 
going to look at it this afternoon, slightly sloping so seems like good drainage, three sides good hedgerow but would need to construct a proper fence on one boundry as they only have posts and electric tape, water bore so natural water supply, its on for a guide price of 60k and they haven't had any interest so far, 10k an acre round here seems a fair price, but not sure we can raise quite that amount, will keep everyone posted!
 
Based on round hereitmay well go for more than £60 k.
Check it's planning Status if ifs not had change of use for horse remember you can't feed them or ride them on it if your councils a strict one .
Shelters are usually easy to get permission for but stables can be very hard and if rent stables out that's another change of use .
Selling the spare grass to make haylage or hay on a barter system is good if you too many acres .
 
Def buy the lot - shared access is a nightmare as I well know.

We rented 8 acres, split into two 4's on a long term lease, did it all up then one of the owners sold the back half without telling us it was up for sale, the chap who bought it has a 12 ft shared access track to his field but seems to prefer coming across mine, frequently feeding my horses carrots and crap en route GRRR We have since bought the first 4 acres and he still doesn't respect me asking him not o walk through.

6 acres for two ponies is ideal - spring / summer you put a track around all of it and rest/ grow/hay the middle. Then you could have two acres resting, two planted and two in use and rotate over the years as bits need reseeding etc :)
 
Go for it be just keep in mind its not just buying it its doing all the changes & upkeep. I bought just short of 4 acres three years ago and I am just getting to the fencing stage, I have been really suprised about all the hidden costs that keep cropping up, but looking forward to moving in late summer !
 
Buy it if you can. A borehole would cost £10k at least to put in, so that's something extra value in the land already.. For two ponies it will be more than enough and you should be able to make enough hay to get you through winter and hopefully a bit to sell? Fencing one side isn't that big a deal really.

How did you go on?
 
my friend has done exactly the same, she has a small paddock at home with stables but bought a parcel of land about 10 mins away. she put hers out 24/7 in the summer in the bigger area and brings them back home as late in the year as poss.for the winter..its not perfect but works really well, she turns out all day in winter and put hay out as there isnt enough grass but her horses always look really well..
 
Go for it, I have matted field shelter on hard standing which adjoins arena, no need for stables so u may not even need to take them home! My land is 13 mins drive away, never regretted buying it for a second....
 
As Mark Twain said "Buy land - they don't make it anymore". If you can stretch to the whole acreage you can always consider selling on a smaller parcel (2 acres?) at a later date, and the price per acre for 2 would be higher than the £10k/acre now.

Mains water connection doesn't always cost thousands, especially if you can do a lot of the preparatory work yourself, and with hedges around most of the field you can probably manage without proper field shelters for some time.
 
Why would you want them home and in over winter? With 6 acres you can have them out all year - track system for most of it, then a rested patch they can go onto when the worst weather comes
 
I think bringing them home and resting the field is a good idea for a few months of the year. It also makes life easier for you in any bad weather having them nearer.

Also there is already a borehole established, so there wouldn't be any need to pay out to get mains installed. The fact that it already has a borehole is a good thing..
 
ridefast said:
Why would you want them home and in over winter? With 6 acres you can have them out all year - track system for most of it, then a rested patch they can go onto when the worst weather comes
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There is nothing I enjoy more than putting them in their stables on a lovely deep bed, and to watch them munching away contented :) plus, if this rubbish weather is going to be a regular thing every year its likely I might not be able to get to them as all the roads around here tend to flood badly :(
we did do a bit of a drive by yesterday but it was getting dark, going back tomorrow afternoon, we have permission to walk around the field and check things out! if it all seems do-able then its off to the bank
 
smellsofhorse said:
I think yes go for it.
15 mins is close enough.
Could you even ride there leave ponied in field cycle or get a lift back in winter?!
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In an ideal world yes but one pony is only about 10.3hh and his little legs would be stumps and the other isn't backed properly yet so feel that distance might finish him off! but who knows in the future, I just hope to god I can raise the money!
 
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