Stables how much

angela_l_b

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My parents have offered to lend me the money to buy a field and set it up as a small yard... which is amazing but the trouble is that I need to do a detailed costing of how much it will be to set up - and I haven't really got a clue! Obviously i know how much the field I want is, but on top of this i have to sort out fencing, stables (prob a block of 4), getting electricity and later on an arena.

I have had a fencing quote at £10/metre for post and rail - is this normal?
How much for arenas - either a 20x40 or 20x60?
Any idea of how much it is to connect electricity? There's a house next door so there must be some nearby.

Thanks for any ideas!
Angela.
 
don't forget to take into account cost of labour for any building you want doing, and maintanance in the long run, insurance for buildings, security measures, pasture maintenance, not only the cost of the arena but the cost of its installation, upkeep,
balanced out with the payback of liveries (which you'll need to take into account overheads such as hay/straw/muckheap/your time/someone elses time if you employ someone.....
If I were you I'd do a VERY detailed plan for not only the setup but for the overheads and try and identify any hidden costs. It'll take a while but it will be very worth it! Even stuff like how much you divide your fields into as this might impact how many horses you can cope with etc...
(however, don't let this put you off....!)
 
If you are going to fence use Post and Rail and Equ-fencing (tight knit sheep netting) as this will prevent any dogs getting in or horses kicking through the fence line.

If you want to price stables including the concrete base you want to allow about £6,000 per stable for a good quality stable.

To put in a metred water supply and a metered electricity supply from an adjacent power line will cost about £5,000 each.

Good quality post and rail fencing (using thick rails normally costs about £15 per metre including concreting every third post in.

A good quality 40 metre x 60 metre arena from a reputable company will cost about £40,000 - £60,000 depending on the site.

You will require planning permission for all these and need to allow about £5,000 including the local authority application fee and the surveyors charges.
 
If you are going to run the yard as a business you are also going to need to register it and pay all the rates\taxes which go with that. Check if you will need a license or local authority approvals. You also might need training or to comply with health and safety legislation. These things all take time and money.

You will also need insurance for you, the property and anyone else that may be on it\injured near it.
 
I bought 7 acres and built a yard and so far I have spent in excess of £ 100,000. This includes mains water and electric being installed. It doesn't however include post n rail all the way around or a sand school or a stable base which are yet to be done.
 
I bought some lovely stables from a very reputable company who advertise in H&H. I paid £13k for 6 12x12 stables, an 18ft barn with double doors, and an 8ft tackroom. Very reasonable I thought.

HOWEVER, I have now built 2 stable yards, and with both, it was a battle getting planning, AND they strictly limited its use to PRIVATE use only. Heaven knows if they would ever have given us permission if it had been for commercial use.
You need to do masses of research, and I would suggest your first port of call is a meeting with your local planning office who will tell you whether your proposal is feasible. And you may be in for a battle, and end up falling out with neighbours. It can be really horrible, but if you are strong, yet flexible, and willing to work WITH neighbours/parish council/planners etc etc, then you may get there in the end. You will probably get dictated to a lot over your proposal - even down to muck disposal ! There is a h£ll of a lot to consider, some of which you might find quite petty. They will also want samples of what you propose to build them out of, know what sort of lighting you will use (keep external lighting to a minimum!), access, noise, smell, whether it blends in with the surrounding area, whether any trees will be cut down (dont!) etc etc

And thats BEFORE youve even looked at costs. Even if you could get it done cheap (say, your dad is a builder), its pointless if you can't get permission for your project.
 
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