To those who rent fields

[AbFab]

How did you find the field you rent? Or how did you go about inquiring into renting?

I've always been on livery yards but now I'm thinking I'd benefit from renting a field off a farmer. I haven't a clue where to start though. Can anyone offer any guidance on finding and contacting farmers? Would it be rude to go knocking on doors? How about leaving notes on field gates? I live in Lancashire and there are empty fields as far as the eye can see, surely someone would appreciate the money for letting some little ponies graze?

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[scewal]

I found my current field by just knocking on the owners door. I have also put wanted ads in local shop windows, worked a few times in the past. Good luck hunting.

 

[AbFab]

Thank you!

I'll have a go putting some wanted adverts up. I spied a few empty fields when I went to buy fire wood before xmas too so will go investigate that. Ooh it'd be great being away from a livery yard!

 

[Sherbie]

I am looking to find a field too and finding it really difficult. I think the only option left is to knock on doors

 

[Honey08]

Thank you!

I'll have a go putting some wanted adverts up. I spied a few empty fields when I went to buy fire wood before xmas too so will go investigate that. Ooh it'd be great being away from a livery yard!

No harm at all in asking, but a lot of fields round here, including ours, are empty as they get too churned up in winter with horses in them...

 

[sadiedeb]

hardest part is often finding who owns the land. Ask neighbours of the land (especially people who've been there a long time), even put a note on the gate.

Even if someone says no at first get them to take your number in case they reconsider (that's how got one of ours) the other was a letter to field owner that if they ever consider renting please could they keep us in mind and we were happy to get references etc.

Good luck

 

[tinap]

I knocked on a door of a house which had land behind & just asked! He let me rent it (3 acres, 2 stables, tack room & hay barn) for £10 per week. The only access was through his garden but he didn't mind! We were there for 4yrs but recently had to move onto livery as we just couldn't manage without lights with the daughter having so much revision & not finishing school till 6.

I've just heard that someone else has moved on after she knocked on his door too! Good luck with the search! xx

 

[Ibblebibble]

i found mine because i passed the farm every day on the way to the livery yard, noticed that there were some horses in a field and sent hubby to enquire have now been there 6 years and 2 days

 

[pinklilly]

I put an ad in the local paper and local garage / shop and contacted local landowners, I was working as a hunt groom so fairly easy to find out who owns what near by. I got offered a field when someone gave it up, at 200 per year for 4 and a quarter acres it's well worth having, I was paying that a month for grass livery.

 

[AbFab]

I put an ad in the local paper and local garage / shop and contacted local landowners, I was working as a hunt groom so fairly easy to find out who owns what near by. I got offered a field when someone gave it up, at 200 per year for 4 and a quarter acres it's well worth having, I was paying that a month for grass livery.

Wow that's an amazing saving! I'm paying that per month at the moment. I wonder if I could get in touch with the local hunt and see if they can recommend anywhere?

Thanks for all the suggestions and stories of success! I do worry about the lack of light but I'll have to see what's available. I have a feeling I'll be knocking on a lot of doors over the next few weeks

 

[sadiedeb]

Wow that's an amazing saving! I'm paying that per month at the moment. I wonder if I could get in touch with the local hunt and see if they can recommend anywhere?

Thanks for all the suggestions and stories of success! I do worry about the lack of light but I'll have to see what's available. I have a feeling I'll be knocking on a lot of doors over the next few weeks

Make sure you have notes to put through doors of people don't forget your contact details!

Lack of light is a problem (as is mud as moment for us) but it's lovely to have the boys close by which wouldn't be if had to have them in livery - not many people can look out of bedroom window and see them in field - mind you realise how nosey they are when you're unpacking shopping from car and they're at the fence just opp across lane seeing if anything for them, they also know the sound of the door and are waiting

 

[MrsElle]

I door knocked and found a 1.5 acre field with water supply, accessed through the owners garden. I paid £300 a year for it, and the owner was always on hand to keep an eye out on the horses, which was great.

When we moved house I put an ad in the local feed merchants and have now got 2 acres with water supply, a stable and a field shelter. I pay £100 a month for it, which is pretty good for round here. I have two ponies there.

 

[AbFab]

Thanks for all the replies. It'd be such a huge saving for me and I know the ponies would love it. Just hope I can find somewhere now!

 

[The_snoopster]

You should also try the local council has they have land for rent, I rent a council field and a private field. The private field was advertised in my local paper, it turned out to be a field 5 mins walk from my house which I had been looking at for years but did not know it was up for rent.

 

[ABC]

I put an ad up at my feed store and got a call about a 3 and a half acre field. I pay £200 a year, and it turned out the field was the one next door to my house! Couldn't have asked for more!