Top tips for small acreage management

[ihatework]

So something very exciting is happening in IHW land …. Pending no disaster, it looks like I’m becoming a land owner

I’ve had an offer accepted on 6 acres of slightly sloping good draining land, no pp but sellers supportive of up to 50sqm of equine buildings. There is water on site and road access, reasonable boundary fencing but no electricity.

So I essentially have a blank canvas to set up as low maintenance as possible 2-3 horse (prob Youngstock) private facility.

General idea at present

Hard standing area (as large as planners will permit). Drainage underneath. Split into a storage/parking bit and then a bigger bit with a treble field shelter (with option to convert into temporary pen/stables.) fence in the hard standing but gated and free access to the grazing.

I’ll need to shift the current water point to a more practical location - ? Build in some sort of insulation to minimise freezing?

Power supply - solar on the shelter roof? Batteries? Other?

Would like to get some sort of camera system set up - am clueless on this!

So - top tips / things you have done successfully/ things you wish you did differently

 

[Dasher66]

Things I wish I had done when we had the horses.
A loafing area with all weather surface adjacent to the stables to allow the horse to choose in or out without wrecking the field.
2 gates between the field and the road.
Mud control in gateways.
Congratulations and good luck!

 

[FestiveG]

If planning could be a problem for your hardstanding, then mud control mats could well be your answer. They are not "permanent" but create a very stable dry area and ours have not moved in three years

 

[SEL]

Mud control in gateways
Somewhere to store hay (my hay barn is 3 sided and awesome)
We run lights off a car battery set up. There's a large solar panel gathering dust in my spare room that should be on a roof. Only been waiting 2 years.....
Mud control around water troughs
Good tie up area under cover on concrete for farrier / vet etc
If you're going to have a trailer then make sure there's turning room. I got a 3.5 tonne because my yard is the wrong design for trailers!
Plan where the muck heap goes so it's easily moveable by tractor

I'd get some sort of hardstanding down as quickly as you can but otherwise take some time to plan when you're actually in. It's hard work owning land but also very nice knowing it's all yours

 

[Hallo2012]

extend the hardstanding through the gates in to the fields of those pints will become bog.

 

[druid]

Largest sweep/set back you can manage for road access so HGVs can deliver without issue. Narrow gateways are a pain in the backside.

Double gated field gates

 

[Xmasha]

Congratulations.

Land drains even on well draining land particularly with the weather we are having these days
Good equipment to maintain, so small compact tractor/quad/old 4 x4/harrow/roller/sprayer
Check out local farm dispersal sales, loads of stuff thats usually a good buy.
CCTV / intruder alarm a must. a variety of different systems out there. Try the farming sites. ( i think its called livestock eye )

 

[Annagain]

How exciting.
I haven't got my own place but having just moved from a livery with not much in the way of facilities but properly stoned gateways to somewhere with lovely facilities but rubbish gateways, it's the one thing that would make me go back!

You'll probably be ok with the numbers you'll have but double gateways would be the other thing on top of my wish list. It's just so much safer. Archie is bottom of the pecking order and sometimes geting him through the gate without one of the others trying his luck on getting out is really tricky. The added safety net of a second gate would make things so much easier. Also plan where your gates are so horses don't get trapped, at the old yard the gateway in one of Wiggy's fields was at the end of a narrow run. If the dominant (out and out bully) horse was at the gate, the others would be really reluctant to come past him. In their other field, the gate was in the middle of a long run of fence and we never had any issues.

 

[MagicMelon]

I have limited land with 2 horses on it 24/7. I had an area of hardcore put down where I built a large 3 stable block. 1 stable I use as my tack room, other 2 stable doors I leave open all the time so horses can come and go if they want. I had a round bale feeder on the hardcore yard bit out the front which is where they stood to eat hay all winter (I also fed hay throughout summer etc. if they wanted it) - Id roll the bale up onto a pallet then had the metal feeder which pulls round it and Id tie it together (with solid lower half so they couldnt get legs stuck in it). Has worked great for years (until now as one horse needs soaked hay so its haynets now!!), was great for encouraging them off grass which kept mud at a minimum. My land is right by my house so I was lucky to easily add services (mains electric and water supply), I had big floodlights put in outside and my stables are fully lit. My only regret was putting the water tap outside (wish Id put on inside of tackroom) as it freezes very easily in the winter.

 

[YourValentine]

If it is just one large parcel and you plan on splitting it up, think about a gate/ access system that allows you to rotate grazing and rest sections, but can still access the hardstanding from each field. Or putting in a mud mat/reinforced walk way that fields open up off.

Plant trees ASAP of there aren't lots already. Shade is becoming so important in summer that trees are really important and long term better than field shelters. Also great environmental benefit and will help with drainage.
Small leaf lime is meant to deter flies.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Split it into two permanent 3 acre paddocks. Plant a small coppice for shade in each if not present already. Mud control measures in gateways. We made wooden frames filled with sand and it worked very well. Make sure your building is facing the right way against the prevailing weather and if possible set it up so your horses can choose in or out. At least a 16’ gate to access the property. Have an area of concrete or similar for your farrier or trimmer. Don’t underestimate how bloody minded planning departments can be and don’t invite objections from neighbours by sectioning off the land with flapping electric tape and other eyesores. Photovoltaic panels will be great but consider how you would power portable X-ray, dental tools, etc.

 

[teapot]

Road planings in your gateways and on routes to said gateways - useful for so many reasons other than reducing mud!

I'd also try and get some form of roof for the hardstanding area, even it's for one part - just makes the inevitable vet/farrier/etc visit that bit drier for everyone. I always think areas with hard standing that have a roof and perhaps a box sized storage room/double up as a spare box look smarter, and looking smarter can sway any potential planning objectors, rather than piles of wrapped bales and leccy tape everywhere.

 

[rextherobber]

Congratulations! I'd set it out along the Equicentral lines, Stuart and Jane Myers

 

[ihatework]

Unfortunately the topography probably doesn’t lend itself to equicentral unfortunately (because I love the concept), but I think I have the bulk of everything else pencilled down.

So planning dependant:
1. try and get gateway/access widened
2. Go into drained hard standing area 1 for parking trailer/truck, muck heap, hopefully secure storage (?shipping container.)
3. Gated access into drained hard standing area 2, with a covered hay feeder and a treble field shelter (that can be gated/sectioned for emergency stabling and/or vet farrier. 2 gates off that area (all with mud control - will prob just fence a meter in from the hard standing then add mats as required) to 2 x 3 acre paddocks.
4. Luckily the field has 2.5 sides of decent hedge/tree cover for shelter and the hard standing area is naturally sheltered.
5. Don’t rush into expensive solar, see if can find a really good generator maybe.
6. Love the look of the 360 livestock cam, that is totally bookmarked!

Now just got to battle the planning

Thanks all really useful

 

[Cocorules]

Got 4 acres for two large ponies and that is plenty. Have three field shelters in separate paddocks as they get rotated round, these are great and are used all year round. Mine live out but one shelter converts into stables. Another one converts one side into a stable when needed. We also have a shed to store feed. I don't feed hay unless there is snow on the ground or the farrier comes out.

My farrier never chooses to use the stables, but the vet does when they are having their teeth done.

Site shelters away from trees as that stops you getting sleepless nights when the wind is bad. Trees are no where near as good as proper field shelters, at least based on the behaviour of mine.

We have double fenced ours so there is a shockproof fence around the perimeter and post and rail inside it. We also have a fenced off area to park in.

If you have a car that can tow it isn't too bad to pull a harrow or roller behind.

 

[HorseMaid]

This sounds incredibly similar to what we've done, we are a year ahead though. Bought 7 acres, first thing we did was have a large hardstanding put down, from memory it's about 35 metres x 15 metres. Fenced it off, separate end bit and put in a gate. Car park bit big enough to manoeuvre a car and trailer.

Sourced and put up some buildings - a double field shelter and a triple stable block with shelter in middle section. Arranged in L shape on yard bit, horses have free access from field. Use one stable as tack room and have just converted other stable into barn with big doors for hay storage. We haven't concreted the yard yet (hoping next year) but have covered it with rubber mats for the time being which is working well.

Gutters up to catch water, 3 IBC tanks on the go and we've never not been overflowing with water because of the damn weather this year!

A few wooden posts banged into the field as strainers and we've divided into decent paddocks with electric fencing.

We made 32 big bales of haylage this summer.

Just this weekend have bought a power pack thingy and installed some lights, hoping will work well and can take the power pack home to charge overnight.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Congratulations, lots of ideas to consider. Depending how it’s accessed, I have the field Poo pile at the bottom for easy daily poo pick. The uphill collection is done with a tractor.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

A few sheep will help keep your grazing in good condition, so long as your boundaries are sheep proof.

 

[ihatework]

A few sheep will help keep your grazing in good condition, so long as your boundaries are sheep proof.

It had crossed my mind but are they not just more hassle than they are worth???

I was planning on trying to find a local farmer to graze the field with sheep for the 6 month period + that it’s likely to take getting planning and finishing the work.

Should do the land some good

But long term hmmmmm

 

[Esmae]

Congratulations. Lots of excitement and lots of work as well. Definitely divide the land. It is easier to manage that way. A frost free tap is a must. https://www.arleymosssupplies.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=334_336&product_id=2710. Best money we ever spent. Solar panel and battery for LED lights. Build twice the amount of storage than you think you will need. You will use it. We have electric fencing on wide isolators it stops them from rubbing and leaning on the fence. Good luck

 

[brighteyes]

Mud control mats are game changers. Electric fencing also handy. Good security gates. A camera for spying on horses - solar powered or rechargeable. Reolink do them. A Cooper-Pegler 8litre sprayer for weed maintenance and other boundary maintenance equipment.

 

[PurBee]

Split it into two permanent 3 acre paddocks. Plant a small coppice for shade in each if not present already. Mud control measures in gateways. We made wooden frames filled with sand and it worked very well. Make sure your building is facing the right way against the prevailing weather and if possible set it up so your horses can choose in or out. At least a 16’ gate to access the property. Have an area of concrete or similar for your farrier or trimmer. Don’t underestimate how bloody minded planning departments can be and don’t invite objections from neighbours by sectioning off the land with flapping electric tape and other eyesores. Photovoltaic panels will be great but consider how you would power portable X-ray, dental tools, etc.

Thats a good point quigleyandme makes about being able to power more high wattage tools/machinery on the odd occasion, if you’re without mains. We’re off-grid household and yard, and despite the renewables we have a massive back-up generator and also a spare generator should the massive one be out of action. To be honest, the smaller 3kva lightweight ‘spare’ generator cheap “made in china POS” …has been far more reliable than the beefy yanmar bankrupting genny!

150 quid for a small lightweight cheap spare genny to have stored in the store-room and easily hauled out by 1 person is likely to be very useful if you plan to also build the place yourself. We have fab Bosch power tools battery powered, but also have 240V tools when the battery tools need a recharge and we need to carry on with the job, which we use the genny for.

But i would advise, if your land is right close to a landline power cable passing by, seriously consider getting mains hook-up, if connection isnt too expensive.
It depends on what gear/machinery youd be using, eventually use on your yard, but if you wanted an outdoor horse wash shower, solarium, ability to have boiling water for winter de-thawing without wanting to store gas bottles, rug drier, power for vet equipment etc, mains enables all that very easily. Renewables have to be a serious set-up to power larger electrical items. The battery bank alone costs thousands, every 10yrs (if youre lucky, 8yrs is more usual)
(Our mains hook-up quote cost is @300k due to being so far from the last electrical pole, hence off-grid status.)

But if you want to remain low-key and ‘rustic’, a back-up small genny is very handy to have to hand *just in case*.


Another thing i’d love to build is a concrete block manure pile enclosure. A large 5/6ft high U-shaped wall, open-fronted, to contain the poop, so you can really load it up well. A random pile without walls is difficult to keep stacking past 5ft high. Walls help to really load-up the same space equivalent to 3 piles without walls.
Pallets fall over due to the weight of manure bearing against it.
A concrete floor and walls prevent leaching - which you should be aware is part of the nitrate leaching laws in each county, there are laws about farm dung piles, but many dont follow them, and theyre barely enforced. But dung piles shouldnt be open and leaching the nitrate onto land, tracks/waterways.
If you have no enclosure, a tarp thrown over the majority of the pile prevents a lot of loss of nitrogen.
If you want to use the dung to spread back onto the land when its fully rotted down, you want to preserve the nitrogen content anyway, rather than have winter rains leach it out.
If you want to use your own dung as field fertiliser, i’d build 2 manure wall enclosures. One can be left to rot while the other one gets filled with fresh. Work a system so you never spread fresh unrotted dung on the land, and spread the best rotted-down stuff.
Wherever you have your dung pile, dont have it leaching directly onto the grazing field. The high nitrogen that will build-up in the soil by that area will be a risk for nitrate toxicity in the grass for grazing animals, with potential to make them really quite ill.

Congrats on your land acquisition It’s loads of fun and great learning. Fingers crossed the planners you approach allow your plans. Throw in buzz words like ‘sustainable horse yard’ and they’ll green-light anything these days with an eco-twist to tick boxes theyre doing everything they can to save the planet
If you mention you want to grow native mixed species grasses and meadow herbs to encourage healthier grazing pastures and ’wild’ borders of fields to encourage bees/pollinators - that will tick some boxes in the ‘re-wilding’ category. Mention use of sustainables if you plan that direction. These aspects all go in your favour, and also are very hot farming directives the uk government are actively encouraging in the agri-sector overall.
If you plan to plant mixed species indigenous deciduous tree or bush border for shelter to aid soil health/soil retention/natural drainage, mention that.

They want land worked and used for the health of the land’s current use and future use. Horse pastures are generally seen by most farmers as very sick depleted lands - and im not sure how much of that attitude has seeped into the planning bods minds about horse yards generally - but if your plans also include notes on your planting/re-seeding plans that align with ‘eco’ principles, the whole proposal can be viewed in a different light altogether, than them getting a barebones stables build application and refusing due to prejudice.

 

[cauda equina]

It's worth considering a muck trailer, rather than a heap
It's much more flexible (if you find it's not convenient in one place you can easily move it) and planners might look on it more favourably

 

[Nudibranch]

Lots of good points already made. I just have to add that sheep really aren't hassle imo. Especially if they're someone else's! And they do help maintain the grazing and worming situation. I have a flock of Herdwicks with a ram and, horror of horror, goats. All of which have a bad reputation as escape artists. None of them do. You just need fencing without holes in!
One other thing worth considering is having the water pipes moled in. It's quick to do and sorts your insulation as well as protecting them.

 

[TGM]

I would second the suggestion of rainwater harvesting from the gutters of your buildings. Even though you have water on site horses use a lot of water and if you are on a meter that can be costly. Also the water supply system in this country is becoming less reliable, due to a mixture of aging infrastructure, incompetent water company management, climate change and increased demand - personally we've had two water outages lasting several days in the last few years, which is stressful when you have a number of equines to supply with water. We have now installed a 1500l water tank in our barn to collect and store as much water as we can to guard against future shortages. I think you will find that rainwater harvesting measures will be helpful with planning as well.

 

[ihatework]

Good advice thanks PurBee

I definitely need to give more thought to muck management.

Electricity wise I might look into costs but ultimately I don’t think it will be cost effective. The land will primarily be for my non ridden horses, so fancy extras won’t be required. Although there is lovely hacking from the field so maybe an eventer can come for some down time every now and again (especially if weather nice)

 

[HorseMaid]

We're not bothering with mains electricity at the moment, but there's a pylon cutting across the field if we did decide in the future. All tools are battery powered, also clippers etc which I can charge in my car with an inverter if needed. We've got gas hob in a crappy old caravan for making tea etc. And as mentioned this battery pack thing which I've hooked to a couple of cheap "work light" floodlights and is doing a good job so far!

 

[HollyWoozle]

We use my uncle’s old 4x4 (no longer roadworthy) for harrowing. Cost us nothing and works great! We also use mud control mats, real game changer, and have a small area of hard standing with a cover for farrier, grooming, vet etc.

My stepdad also built these gaps into our fencing which have been amazing - instead of having to open gates all the time or climb through the fence holding hay and who knows what else, you can just shimmy through easily!

 

[cauda equina]

Good old Irish gates!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It had crossed my mind but are they not just more hassle than they are worth???

I was planning on trying to find a local farmer to graze the field with sheep for the 6 month period + that it’s likely to take getting planning and finishing the work.

Should do the land some good

But long term hmmmmm

Tbh, ours are very little trouble. We did have 6, now we are down to 3 (because of old age) and it is noticeable that they are not keeping up with the weeds as well as they did before.
They need daily checking, we feed them so that they come to call and get them used to handling but apart from shearing they don't need much interference, really.