To move or not to move

[splashgirl45]

I was also going to say move but you have decided. I used to keep my horse at a yard that didn’t have a gate to it as it was the drive to the YO house. I was really worried to start with but on the odd occasion one of the horses has got loose they stopped at the first bit of grass and in over 8 years none of them ever went to the road. At my next yard if we wanted to rest our winter field we had to walk up a lane to the summer fields , first of all I put a bridle on mine as she was a bit of a loony but once she was used to the routine I went back to a headcollar, never had a problem . We used to wear hi vis on ourselves and would keep the horses furthest away from the traffic by either walking on the right hand side of the lane or we led them from our left side so whichever way we did it we were closest to the traffic..

 

[tda]

If you were really concerned you could ask all the neighbours if you could install an electric gate just inside the road end, if you paid for it , maintained it , and supplied them with gate opening fobs they would probably agree

 

[Marigold4]

I was also going to say move but you have decided. I used to keep my horse at a yard that didn’t have a gate to it as it was the drive to the YO house. I was really worried to start with but on the odd occasion one of the horses has got loose they stopped at the first bit of grass and in over 8 years none of them ever went to the road. At my next yard if we wanted to rest our winter field we had to walk up a lane to the summer fields , first of all I put a bridle on mine as she was a bit of a loony but once she was used to the routine I went back to a headcollar, never had a problem . We used to wear hi vis on ourselves and would keep the horses furthest away from the traffic by either walking on the right hand side of the lane or we led them from our left side so whichever way we did it we were closest to the traffic..

That's comforting to know. I once had a young horse that got away and went quite mad so I'm a bit mentally scarred by that, I think. In hindsight I realise she was very highly strung but at the time I had little experience of young horses. It's good to know that "normal" horses just stop and eat! It's quite a way down the track to the road.

 

[Orangehorse]

You are going to be blocking the track anyway when you get your horses in, so I can't see why the neighbours would object to a temporary safety barrier. If you time your schedule to when there shouldn't be anyone going up and down, like obvious to work or school run times then I don't see why there should be a problem. I like the idea of having a gate that can open outwards (or better either way) so it can go across the track. How much traffic is going to be generated by 4 households?

Obviously I don't know the set up, but could you have a little holding pen somehow so the horses can be safe on your side of the track while you quickly take the barrier down or shut the gate.

Anyway - it sounds like a great move and I hope you really enjoy living there.

 

[Marigold4]

You are going to be blocking the track anyway when you get your horses in, so I can't see why the neighbours would object to a temporary safety barrier. If you time your schedule to when there shouldn't be anyone going up and down, like obvious to work or school run times then I don't see why there should be a problem. I like the idea of having a gate that can open outwards (or better either way) so it can go across the track. How much traffic is going to be generated by 4 households?

Obviously I don't know the set up, but could you have a little holding pen somehow so the horses can be safe on your side of the track while you quickly take the barrier down or shut the gate.

Anyway - it sounds like a great move and I hope you really enjoy living there.

That's a good idea about the holding pen - hoping to have one both sides of the track.

 

[FestiveG]

Before you block the lane, in any form, please make sure that you have looked at the deeds of all the houses. Shared access can cause all sorts of problems and people may object to any blocking of the lane. If you can get the neighbours agreement, then all should be well, but be aware that there may be issues around that.

 

[Marigold4]

Indeed

Before you block the lane, in any form, please make sure that you have looked at the deeds of all the houses. Shared access can cause all sorts of problems and people may object to any blocking of the lane. If you can get the neighbours agreement, then all should be well, but be aware that there may be issues around that.

Indeed. That is why I have no intention whatsoever of blocking the track. As I have been saying, the last thing I want to do is to annoy my new neighbours. The house has a legal easement/right of way to pass along the track with vehicles, on foot and with animals. It is also a public bridleway so I will be OK leading the horses along/across but definitely not planning to do any blocking in any shape or form

 

[Blanche]

Contact the https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/ and they may be able to advise on encouraging your barn owl to stay.

 

[Marigold4]

Contact the https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/ and they may be able to advise on encouraging your barn owl to stay.

Thanks. That's really useful. I would really like the owl to stay!

 

[honetpot]

We used to move every couple of years, and the last but one house had 2/3rd acre plot and was near the school. I hated the house, but the very small paddock and the outbuilding we coverted to stables enabled me to have FY freedom. I rented grass, at DIY, but it gave me independance, I could prep the ponies when the kids were in bed at home, and then shove them on the lorry after the ponies.
When we sold our ugley house, I wanted to rub it out and start again if we had stayed, it owed us nothing and had been a family home, and the next family is now upgrading it, again.
No house is perfect, out present house has fourteen acres, lovely new house, cheap to run, but in the wrong place, and the land is sodden clay, but I do as I like and if I have the money, can scratch every itch. Seven acres in on the other side of a road that is a rat run, and it never worries me, and turn the cows out across the road in a group, I put out warning signs.
I would think about why you want the land, and what would be the key benifits, and are they going to last you ten years at least. The house I would asses differently, can you live in it as it is, and then make a long term plan of how you want it be. The ugley house had been extended so many times, with no clear idea of a how it would work so it was a series of rooms , not living spaces that worked, we just rationlised it. We ended up living there for over twenty years.

 

[Marigold4]

We used to move every couple of years, and the last but one house had 2/3rd acre plot and was near the school. I hated the house, but the very small paddock and the outbuilding we coverted to stables enabled me to have FY freedom. I rented grass, at DIY, but it gave me independance, I could prep the ponies when the kids were in bed at home, and then shove them on the lorry after the ponies.
When we sold our ugley house, I wanted to rub it out and start again if we had stayed, it owed us nothing and had been a family home, and the next family is now upgrading it, again.
No house is perfect, out present house has fourteen acres, lovely new house, cheap to run, but in the wrong place, and the land is sodden clay, but I do as I like and if I have the money, can scratch every itch. Seven acres in on the other side of a road that is a rat run, and it never worries me, and turn the cows out across the road in a group, I put out warning signs.
I would think about why you want the land, and what would be the key benifits, and are they going to last you ten years at least. The house I would asses differently, can you live in it as it is, and then make a long term plan of how you want it be. The ugley house had been extended so many times, with no clear idea of a how it would work so it was a series of rooms , not living spaces that worked, we just rationlised it. We ended up living there for over twenty years.

All good points! The house needs lots of love but is south facing and surrounded by a large private garden as well as the field. I love doing up houses so fine with the work involved. The security of owning instead of renting is an enormous benefit - and removing the worry about the sycamore tree. Where we are currently is surrounded by holiday lets and the footpath that runs alongside our house means we have 50 people a day gawping at us during summer. Looking forward to a lot more privacy.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Indeed

Indeed. That is why I have no intention whatsoever of blocking the track. As I have been saying, the last thing I want to do is to annoy my new neighbours. The house has a legal easement/right of way to pass along the track with vehicles, on foot and with animals. It is also a public bridleway so I will be OK leading the horses along/across but definitely not planning to do any blocking in any shape or form

Do check that you have a specific right to access your field across the track. Sometimes ownership of parcels of land changes and the access rights aren't always clarified at the same time.

 

[Marigold4]

Do check that you have a specific right to access your field across the track. Sometimes ownership of parcels of land changes and the access rights aren't always clarified at the same time.

I've checked at the land registry and the right of way is registered as a legal easement. These are proprietary rights so run with the land, meaning that successors in title/new owners get the right. The current owner used to lead her horses across and the track is also a public bridleway so I think all should be well.

 

[Spirit7]

Having to make a decision on moving house by Monday and need some help thinking this through!

We've got about 24 hrs to make a decision to sell or not to sell our house. Can you help me weigh up the decision.

We've had an offer accepted on a nearby house with a field and have got two really good offers for our house. Just trying to think the move through. Our own house is lovely and finished but now the kids are grown up we don't use the whole house and it feels a bit empty. We rent a field next door and have built our own stables (American barn style) in our garden. The roof leaks and we need to spend money on re-roofing. Field is 4 acres, loam, well-draining but I have to lead the horses from stables to field across a busy footpath - in summer there can be 50 people a day. There is a sycamore tree on one side that means I can't use some of the field and spend the autumn weeks picking up seeds and worrying about it. The people who own the tree won't hear of taking it down. Field has a bindweed problem. It has electricity and water. Can't see the horses from the house. I have a mobile shelter but other than that there's not much natural shelter or shade. I've no reason to think that the person renting to me would take the field away but they could. I have access to a bridleway but have to ride through a busy village square to access it. Cars from the local school and pub sometimes make it difficult to get my lorry out as they park on the keep clear sign at the end of our lane. We have busy holiday lets on two sides.

New house needs LOTS of work but we're both looking forward to a project as we are winding down work-wise. We would make enough money from our sale to do it up properly. It is smaller and cosier. It's a much quieter location (a hamlet of 4 houses) rather than the current full-on village setting. There are brick-built stables (American barn style) but in need of work. There is a door from the house into the stables so I wouldn't have to go outside in the cold and rain when they are in! There are other outhouses and a 3.7 acre field. It is loam and well draining. No sycamores. Water but no electrics although this could be sorted, I think. needs re-fencing. Field can be seen from the house. It is surrounded by hedges with another hedge down the middle. Trees on one side (mostly hazel and ash) provide shade. I can move my mobile shelter there. However, I would have to lead the horses across and along a narrow track (a journey of about 60 feet) to get from field to stable. The track is quieter than the footpath but there would be the odd car from the neighbours and if the horses play up and get away they could end up on a road if they took off down the track (unlikely but possible). Access to a whole network of bridleways. I would own the field. Near the same village so still in touch with same friends.

Would you move? Is the upheaval worth it? I guess it's down to how much do I value the security of owning my own field after renting 3 different fields for 20+ years. Would the dangers of crossing the track put you off? But no more sycamore dangers.

Move and lead in bridles until you’re comfortable

 

[Spirit7]

Do check that you have a specific right to access your field across the track. Sometimes ownership of parcels of land changes and the access rights aren't always clarified at the same time.

Massively good advice.

 

[Marigold4]

Massively good advice.

Checked it out and it's all good. I'm a solicitor and teach land law at university