Who keeps horses at home?

coen

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I am considering moving house, this would involve me moving further out which would increase my commuting time to work but would allow me to have my horse at home.

At the moment I only have the one horse so I would need to get him a companion/companions.
Do you find you set your self up for trouble if you only have two due to them becoming too attached to each other?
In an ideal world I would get a ex racer from a rehab centre along with a shetland. But I wondered whether people find it really hard finding the time to exercise two horses?
I certainly couldn't manage it at the moment but I guess having them at home would save a lot of time and I intend to have them pretty much living out 4months of the year.

The alternative would be to just get a shetland or something to keep him company.

Also if the property didn't have an arena I would need to look into adding one, can anyone give me an idea of how hard it was to get planning permission and cost?

Ooh also really want to know how many acres you have and how many horses.
 
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*hic*

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I have mine at home. Yes companions are an issue, I'm down to three at home atm and it makes me feel mean when I take two out, although realistically the one left behind is only the other side of the fence from my neighbours' horses.

As for an arena and planning. I don't have one. I have a large part of the garden which is mulched to keep down weeds though.
 

bugsysmum

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Hi
I have recently gone through a similar thing to your suggestion. We bought a house last year which had 5 acres, dodgy fencing, no stables or arena and which needed quite a lot of work inside and out. It wasn't until April this year that I was finally able to move the horses in, having gone down the route of planning permission, building of stables and arena and lots of field maintenance and fencing. I started by having a pony on loan as a companion, and have now bought the cutest 11hh Welshie you've ever seen! It's been a lot of blood sweat and tears, and I'm not looking forward to the cold and dark nights and mornings as I have no help so will be turning out and getting in from the field in the dark. I'm completely penniless - don't believe that it's cheaper for at least the first year as there is ALWAYS something extra you MUST have to make life that teeny bit easier... and whatever you do, make sure you get the experts in for your building of arena and stables. I had a groundworker dig the arena who didn't have a clue - and it's cost a fortune to get it put right! Having said all that, it is SO worth doing, there is no-one else's opinion involved in whatever you do and when you do it, and looking out of my bedroom window to see my ponies in the morning is amazing! We're so nearly there with it all how I want it - the latest is getting lights and power into the stables and chasing down the elusive electrician....
Just bear in mind that if you move too far out and have a longer commute, you can't get home quickly and you'll have to get up earlier!
Good luck!!
 

AngieandBen

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I keep my two ponies at home, they live out and have 5 acres ( 4 which is for winter!) no arena but I can hire one down the road. I used to have four, but financially I needed to cut down. Don't have any problems leaving one while I ride the other. I usually bring them in early morning for breakfast and a snooze, they are quite happy being left.

One thing I would say about companions is having a shetland with a horse that needs a lot more in terms of grass/hay/feed rarely works you're better off having two which have similar needs.

I wouldn't have it any other way, I love looking out of the window and being able to see them.:)
 

Honey08

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I'm another with the horses at home and who has built everything from scratch.

I love having them at home - but have for most of my horsey life (or else I've run the yard anyway) so am used to having things my way and being on my own!

Planning for the stables was a long annoying process for us too. We wanted 6, but got 4 granted after a big arguement with the planners, who wanted to give us two. While all that was going on, another yard was built without planning nearby with eight stables and the planners never even noticed. We have since added two portables that have been there for three years and never been noticed. We put ours up about six years ago, and laws have changed now re stables - you now have to show where drains go to and muckheaps etc.

Things to think about - how flat is the area that you want the stables - does it need much groundwork? We had to tip about 20 big lorry loads of hardcore and MOT hardcore to make the site for the yard and the drive up to it. Our ground was wet clay soil, so a deep solid base before the concrete was important. We had concreted an oblong that the stables sit on in an L shape, so there is a decent amount of nice concrete outside. We also have a large hardstanding area that we can stack haylage bales on and park the trailer etc.

Workwise, it is all down to you, but you don't have any travelling time. Any single thing that needs doing is your job - fence repairing, waiting for hay to be delivered, arranging to get the ground harrowed/rolled etc. It all adds up cost wise too - I don't think it is at all cheaper to have them at home really.

I initially had my mare, and we loaned, then bought a 12h welsh pony that my son rode. They both got stupidly attached to each other (both mares) and were a pain if at shows in company. We had DIYs for a while, and thankfully one attached itself to my mare and wouldn't let the welsh mare anywhere near her, so it weaned them for us! We then ended up with just our own, but four, which worked well. Now we have three, but my mare is again obsessed with one of the geldings, so it doesn't always change things having three!

When you think of company, if you go for small natives, seriously bear in mind the laminitus aspects and that you may need to restrict grazing (more fencing!). I find that you can never have too much electric fencing! I would consider having one that you ride, and two other field ornaments that always stay in the field.. I have two that need riding, and find that neither gets as much work as I'd like - its either each gets two small rides or they get a decent ride alternate days (on my days off).

We were lucky in that we found a good freelance groom who will cover the work if we go away, or when I'm at work and the horses need to be kept fit. That is another major issue to consider - holidays become much harder.

All that said, it is wonderful having them at the end of your garden, and so close. I've literally just got off my horse, turned her out and am sitting in my own house with a coffee having lunch.. You can also have your dogs at the yard/chickens etc, and its great having everything exactly how you want it.

ps. We don't have an arena yet - its in the plans for the future, but can't afford it yet! I expect another planning nightmare then! You're possibly more likely to get one if there are others in the area - same goes for stables, but it can depend on who you get in the planning dept. They don't come across as the most professional/consistent department in my area!

Good luck.
 

catkin

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We've had horses at home for many many years and there is nothing to beat it IMO, though of course be aware that you have to do everything yourself including the horrid late-night emergencies etc.

Make sure you talk to your local planning authority before you start any works - they will give you advice on what is wanted in your area and whether there are likely to be restrictions on it. Don't be tempted to start works without PP - you can be asked to restore the land to its former state and that costs an awful lot more!! Check on access - make sure that you can get delivery lorries, tractors etc in when they are needed - I think new access onto a road needs PP too.
Stables, or somewhere safe to bring in in an emergency, are an essential even if your horses live mostly out.

We've had small ponies as companions and kept pairs of horses successfully - you just need to lay down the rules very carefully when they first move in - 'you will be left alone for a while but we will return' - ours have always settled down quickly - a haynet in a stable seems to sweeten the job well:).

As for exercising more than one horse - before we had our school I used to get two of them fairly fit in the summer when there was enough daylight to ride both then exercise them alternate early mornings through the darker months. They had daily turnout too. I've only got one riding horse now so she's ridden most days, though I like to do a bit of longreining occasionally with the companion so that the riding horse is 'reminded' about staying settled on her own.

It's wonderful having horses at home - they really become part of the family - though you will be spending your holidays fencing and spraying and painting and cussing the creatures that have bust the gate AGAIN rather than relaxing on a beach:D
 

Clippy

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If you're thinking about getting companions, a couple of 2 year olds will grow into money or something you will use rather than a shetland who will escape from even the best fenced off fields, and you can get youngsters for a song at the mo
 

idx

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FOr those with horses at home - do you worry when you are at work all day in case something happens? Or do you have watchful neighbours?

OP - if your commute is going to be longer this maybe something to think about - what happens in an emergency?
 

MagicMelon

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I've always kept mine at home. I moved out 2 years ago of the parental home but the horses still live there so I guess they're not at "my" home anymore as I travel to see them daily.

I've never had only two horses, always 3 - 5 at any one time. But I dont see why they'd become too attached. If you take the horse to shows then it'll get used to being away from the other anyway.

I had always had 2 horses on the go (being ridden / competed) until 2 years ago when I decided financially I couldnt afford to compete two anymore so I'm down to one. I still take on friends horses though if need be for schooling / re-selling (got one now) so I find the time to ride 2 most evenings. Its only difficult when it starts to get dark in the evenings (like now). I simply turn mine away for 3 months over the winter for a break which suits me fine. Mine live out 24/7 all year round which saves so much time. You could give it a go with yours, just think how much riding time you could save by not mucking out stables ;) No idea about how much a school costs as I dont have one - just school in the paddocks which isnt ideal.

I love keeping mine at "home" and hate the thought of a livery yard. I'm like you though, I'm looking for a house with land (my current house doesnt have, hence why neds are still at my mums). I really dont want to go down the livery route if I can help it - mainly because for two of my retired veterans it just wouldnt work (they have very specific grazing needs).
 

canteron

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Yes I keep horses at home and its fab!!

If I was in your position, for the second horse I think I would get something on loan from a rescue home. If you then decide that you can't keep your horses at home, for whatever reason, pony 2 can always go back to rescue home.

Shetlands are delightful, but in practice you have to manage their feeding very carefully so they don't get laminitus, ie they can't just be left out with other horse 24/7 or else it will go wrong.

And you do need to build up a support network of people who can 'pop in' check, fill up water, etc when you are away, but I bet there will be someone in your village who is up to that job.

But go for it, its great!!
 

Sprout

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I keep 4 at home, one is retired and acts as companion to anything else left behind while others are hacking/eventing etc, but he is also happy to be left on his own in the field if the other 3 all go out together.

We have about 8 acres, and I am careful with how much grass they get anyway, so there is always enough grass.

I had a school put in a few years ago, 20X40 and the going rate was around £20K
 

Paddy Irish

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We have 7 acres , 2 rescue shetlands on loan - which means if things did get tight they could be returned - if you have 2 companions they'll always be together so you don't end up with one alone. Our other 2 riding horses are either exercised together or apart but have the shets as visual company only which seems to work really well. Obviously the shets have much less need for grass so are sectioned onto smaller paddocks but in the winter both sets have about 3.5 acres to wander over and shelters for winter , as we use electric tape to make the paddocks , it's easily removed in winter and then put back up in spring.
 

becca1305

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I keep mine at home :)

we have 4 horses atm and 14 ish acres which is plenty and allows me to make our own haylage saving more cash :)

I have a DR horse (for sale), an eventer, my retired first horse and a freebie an exracer who had a splint fracture which healed with some TLC and he became rideable (lame atm with a sore foot :rolleyes:). My exracer doesnt care whether he is ridden or not and is more than happy to bum round his field altho when I get back on board he is a little more whizzy and awkward (only recently been rebacked). Ours arent too attached and will cope being out on their own tho they do stand at the gate and look miserable :eek:. tho they do all adore my mare (field alpha, its true women do make the best leaders :p:D)

We converted our stables out of an old redbrick barn. We had a manege put in 50x25m and planning went through with no issues, cannot be seen from road or other houses tho. We were advised not to ask for floodlights on initial application and are now going down the "portable" route as our planning permission does not specifically deny "illumination". You have to be quite careful with this.

Its so lovely to look out your window and see them in the fields or with their heads stuck out the stables :D good luck!
 

Cortez

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Have always kept my horses at home, so the idea of livery sounds like heaven! Lie ins! No late night trips down to the stables in the pouring rain, etc. Realistically 'though I think it's always best to look after your own. We have three (one of each; a mare, a gelding and a stallion), all of whom have to just get on with occasionally being left home alone, or going out alone. They have to get used to it. We have seven acres, more than enough for all our very easy keepers. We built our arena ourselves (no planning permission required where we are here in Ireland), and additional stables.
 

coen

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The idea is that in the winter they will be out from 7am - 7pm, in the summer they will practically live out full time.

My horse is a skinny retch who can also be quite clingy so something prone to laminiti's wouldn't be great and I would worry about just having two, and I suppose if you are going to get a horse as a companion you may aswell get one you can ride, looks like three may be the magic number.

Clippy your comment is a good one but truthfully I don't want that level of responsibility. The idea is to get them from a rehab centre so that they could always go back if they needed too, although I would probably never do that its comforting to know you could. I would never sell my horse for worrying where he could end up (not the easiest:) .

Ah so it is really tricky even getting PP for stables, I figured for an arena but not stables. That is definitely something for me to bare in mind as obviously your options are all facilities and less land or lots of land and nothing there.
I would eventually need an arena for the winter and would get it done properly but how much do they cost for something basic?

Getting up earlier won't be an issue thankfully as at the moment I am up early to go to the yard turn out muck out ect then back after work to skip out ride and feed so basically I leave home at the crack of dawn and don't get back until really late.
That is a major factor in moving.
 

Orchardbeck

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I have always kept my horses at home - we've just built our own house with windows strategically placed so I will be able to see them wherever they are in the field! You have so much more freedom to make decisions that are best for you without other people breathing down your neck.

Although on the downside, it can get a tad lonely! When I was still at my parents we kept five horses there, four of ours and one belonging to my neighbour who lived down the road and that worked really well - just nice to have someone to bounce ideas off.

We are just in the initial stages of putting stables up at the house and I'm considering putting in more than we'll actually need, so I can rent one or two out, just for a bit of banter!
 

bumblelion

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I love having my horses at home. I have two which is a problem as they get separation anxiety if I even take one out of the field without the other! Actually looking for another, to babysit. Thinking of a pony (as will be useful for my daughter soon, she's 1!!) but am anxious about laminitis etc as it would have to be put out with my boys on 4/5 acres depending on field and possibly would have to come in during the summer which will defeat the point if I want to take my tb out! The only option is to have 4 horses and then, mix and match and cut down all hedges to they can all see one another lol!!!
 

bumblelion

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Ah so it is really tricky even getting PP for stables, I figured for an arena but not stables.

If you need any advice regarding planning, pm me some details. Our company specialises in consultations for architectural work, designs, engineering you name it, we generally do it!! We also do timber frame builds, so have got a few tricks up our sleeves for pp!!!
 

coen

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Thats the problem, I would love to just keep my boy and a companion but I know he will become ridiculous, he cannot even be in a field on his own next to another, takes to jumping over the fences.
What do you think the minimum about of acres you could have for two horses and a little pony. 24/7 summer 12hrs a day winter?

As for being lonely, that could happen as I have never been totally on my own although it would be great to get a couple of extra stables and rent them my boyfriend is against the idea and to be fair some liveries are a nightmare.

After hearing all these positives I am becoming really excited although slightly put off at the idea of going through the pp, hopefully I find somewhere that has it all....in my budget.
 

be positive

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You would need 3-4 acres really as a minimum, if you are lucky you may find what you want already in place.
If you are worried about planning,if there is a big enough garden you can often build stables within the boundaries and not need pp.
The regulations regarding water run off ,muck disposal etc are getting more restrictive so it would make life much easier if buildings are already in place,although you do tend to have pay a premium for this.
 

dalidaydream

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I keep my horse at home on his own. I understand he is probably a freak and I will probably be shouted down about horses being herd animals and need companions but he is only really happy on his own and was never happy sharing a paddock when he was in livery. When I first moved him home I was completely prepared to get him a companion, and if I did I would definitely go to a rescue centre, but this was never an issue as he settled in immediately with no problems at all.
 

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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Would second suggestion from above poster re. getting something from a rescue place coz if you get stuck with Shetlands or something which is always escaping, then you're stuck with it for ever.

We've got enough space here to take a livery with two horses: which is a good solution if you're needing to watch the pennies a bit and also provides a useful source of "companions" without your having to pay out for it and keep it.

The problem arises when a livery leaves, and then your horse is left out in the field hoo'ing away coz his field mates have gone; so you need to have a useful friend who's able to "lend" a pony, donkey, or whatever, at short notice in case this happens. Also we have a farmer who grazes his sheep in the field which cleans up the pasture nicely and also provides a bit of income in the form of field-rent (again, not our sheep so no hassles - apart from the blimmin things when they escape!!).

But having always had to keep mine at livery in the past - and pay through the nose for it - it is sheer bliss to look over the fields and see one's own horse grazing out there; or go out of a winter's night and he's contently munching his hay! Nothing beats it IMO.
 

Honey08

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The other thing that I forgot to mention is that you can never have too much storage. So you need more stables than horses.

We have six stables for three horses (one of which is a foaling box) - three are stables, one has haylage bales rolled into it to be opened (has a wider than norm door - was a shelter previously) two are full of straw/feed/equipment. We also have three/four internal pony stables - one is full of junk, another logs, another lawn mowers etc!
 

coen

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Ok I have a few more questions:
As far as the arena (20x40) is concerned I understand that the going rate is around £20,000 which is bound to be out of the budget so I wondered if it is possible to do for £10,000 (We have a friend with a building company who can do work at a good rate but doesn't have equestrian experience).
If so can anyone recommend good providers?

Again we are likely to need to fence the fields so I wondered how much your post and rail cost or any alternatives to this?

In addition to this I wondered how you all dispose of you muck heap?
 

Polotash

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I keep mine at home... 12 acres of pasture with 6 horses, plus another 8 acres over the road with another 4 (not all mine - liveries too!).

I keep my three together and the baby just has to lump it when I take the two riding horses out, they get used to it.

Ditto shetlands being more trouble that they're worth... but I'm not convinced about youngsters "growing into money", there's no money in them until a hell of a lot of hard work has gone into them! Maybe an older retired pony would be a better option.. just bear in mind laminitus risk, there's no point having a "companion" shut away in a starvation paddock all year.

Re school, yes we have a 20 x 40 floodlit arena. We did it very cheaply by taking an already raised up area by our big barn, levelling it with fine hardcore and surfacing with fine quarry dust/ washed grit. It drains beautifully, isn't slippy and doesn't ride deep. Whatever you do DON'T dig down and DON'T use sand unless it's the proper silica stuff (therefore expensive).

Re planning, if you arn't overlooked just do it! You're more likely to get planning on retrospective IMO anyway, and if you get away with it for 4 years you're home and dry. At my Hampshire yard I put down a peat arena without planning and I've been fine...
 

Polotash

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PS, re arena cost out grit one cost about £1000, including levelling site, grit and relevelling surface, plus another £1000 for three-rail post and rail, but you don't have to have post and rail, post and rope/ tape works just as well, just isn't as pretty. We top it up with another 10 tonnes about every 5 years.

My peat arena was £40, got the peat free from strawberry farm neighbour and paid to have it levelled! (the land was alreday level) Fencing was post and tape, leftover from fencing the rest of the yard.

Post and rail is lovely, but expensive, we're slowly upgrading to it at my Cornwall yard. Wooden posts (approx £2 each from sawmill) with insulators and electric rope work well and is much cheaper. I've tried the 40mm electric tape on wooden posts and wouldn't use again, it stretches so my youngsters walked throught it (even with mains current) and once they've stretched it the metal conductors break... this doesn't happen with rope.

Bear in mind planners prefer green tape/ rope to white...
 

TGM

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What do you think the minimum about of acres you could have for two horses and a little pony. 24/7 summer 12hrs a day winter?

Depends how well drained the land is and whether you are happy to feed additional hay/haylage in the summer.

We have two horses and one 14hh pony on 2.5 acres - usually in for a few hours in the day in spring/summer/autumn and in at nights, out by day in the winter. But we often have to give additional haylage in the summer to supplement the grazing. Thankfully, our fields are sloping and have a sandstone subsoil, so doesn't get too deep in mud - I think the same acreage in the bottom of a valley with clay soil would probably be a nightmare!
 

abitodd

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I have done exactly what you are planning.
I bought a youngster (foal) as a companion,with the intention of backing her and selling her.........but love her too much now!
The best thing is; to check the horses first thing in the morning all I have to do is open my eyes and look out of the bedroom window! And I can keep a continual eye on them when I am working from home.
The down side is the extra travelling when I do have to go out to work, the bloomin thistles that refuse to die, and I must admit,the loneliness! If you are moving to a new area you might need to think of ways to get out and meet the locals..........Its quite easy to end up reclusive when you keep your horses at home,work from home and live in deepest Devon!
 

ILuvCowparsely

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It very much depends on
type soil
whether its been looked after before
how much weeds
type grass etc


you could phone horse welfare and have one of the rescue ponies on loan so you only have 1 to exercise and you would be giving a pony a home.



I have 4. horses..1 donkey ..all kept here ay home along with the 6 liveries.:D

we have 8 acres approx we rest 2 paddocks and use two. our land is well drained harrowed fertilized and weedkilled . nothing stays out 24 hrs except the donkey who is in the garden . We have way to much grass we can even do hay too if we want ( hay guy let us down).

the land copes why you ask??


Because we have good fields

other type of land would not cope

And before i get jumped on for too many horses here is one of the fields

.
 
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Ranyhyn

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Do you find you set your self up for trouble if you only have two due to them becoming too attached to each other? I bought a companion pony for my mare for the same reason, I stupidly let them get attached and now have another companion to keep the companion company lol

Ooh also really want to know how many acres you have and how many horses.
I have 1 x 16.2, and 2 x 12hh and we have 25 acres or so.
 
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