Yard layouts inspo … Blank Canvas!?

Lilly-Mayspookatbags

Lilly-Mayspookatbags

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Very excitedly getting a field in the next two weeks .

It is a blank canvas , so I am currently deciding what to put on it.

Just over 10 acres on clay soil. Max 5 horses.

How do people yards set up? Any do’s and dont’s?

Currently leaning towards a timber workshop, with a triple open field shelter attached that also serves as a carport. Then a separate double field shelter in the actual “field”
 
On clay I would put in the largest area of hard standing I could with each paddock coming off that with a large hard standing gateway into each one so you can rest and rotate but shut them on the hard standing through the wettest times. Will the 5 horses be living together? You will have to consider shelter arrangements, the ability to separate one off if needed and a separate clean area for vet/ farrier etc
 
TheMule said:
On clay I would put in the largest area of hard standing I could with each paddock coming off that with a large hard standing gateway into each one so you can rest and rotate but shut them on the hard standing through the wettest times. Will the 5 horses be living together? You will have to consider shelter arrangements, the ability to separate one off if needed and a separate clean area for vet/ farrier etc
Click to expand...

Agree. Dont scrimp on the hardstanding.
Also lay drainage under it.
 
Agree on the hardstanding and field set up. Also if you have all the fields off the hard standing, it'll make putting water in each field much easier/cheaper as you won't have to lay miles of pipe or lug water across fields.

In terms of any buildings, really think about what you and your horses need. Some of the things to consider would be secure storage, hay storage (and bedding if you're going to bed down the field shelter), room to park a lorry/trailer. Will you have mains electricity and water or will you need solar panels and if so where is the best place to put them? Will you need to harvest or room to put an IBC for water? Do you need a stable you can use in emergencies (e.g if one needs box rest) and if so could you block off a part of the field shelter or do you need a separate stable. Will you need lighting outside as well as inside for winter or can you do most of your jobs in daylight?

Have fun planning it all!
 
Thanks all - field is heavily slopped and already has land drains on + surrounded by ditches on two of the boundaries.

In terms of hard standing :

25m x 15m x 2in area then I have acquired 20 flagstones for parking trailer and muck trailer on . I think this should be enough … maybe even slight overkill .

Mains water is being put in and yard will be solar with a power pack.
 
Try to build with the backs of the buildings to the worst of the weather - nothing worse than battling against wind and rain constantly in winter.

I also would put any permanent fencing in until you have done all 4 seasons on the land. Then you will have a good idea where to place gates, shelters and water troughs.

Mark out the size of your yard and where your stables/buildings will go on that area before committing - you'll be surprised!
 
25x15 is ‘ok’, might be a little tight if there are 5 big ones on it, especially if any are a bit grumpy.

Mines 30 x 10 with the treble shelter on it, for 3-4.

When you say, 25 x 15 x 2, what does the 2 mean? If you mean 2 inches of stone then that’s no where near enough

I put my trough and tap in the hardstanding.
 
Sorry I should have clarified - only one 16hh horse then a couple of ponies ( one elderly) over winter. Then occasionally extras in summer.

That hard standing is for the yard. Then a separate hard standing in the field. Field Shelter area + 7ft in front.
 
I have hardstanding that then leads to the fields. That is at the back of the stables. Each horse has its own hardstanding pen with access to the stable, the smallest is about 15m X 10m and the bigger one 30m X 15m.

It is fab in summer too as they can be in at night but with access to the patio, and turnout is achieved by just opening a gate. They fetch themselves in at night, I just have to shut the gates behind them! On bad weather days I no longer have to worry as they can simply bring themselves in.

It also saves on bedding as they choose to go outside to poo!
 
How very exciting! If I was starting again I'd love several paddocks and one large field. So one four or five acre field and the rest divided into four paddocks. Hedges and post and rail fencing. Gates into all paddocks from all paddocks so some can be shut and acess to one or more is possible. A stable block and large field shelters in each paddock and shelter in the field. A dry hard standing area in at least one paddock and in the field. Lights and reolink cameras powered by solar. Watertroughs with piped water. A large barn, bigger the better for hay and ground care equipment. A secure tack and feed room. A menage. Car parking area for self vet and farrier. A solarium and wash facilities for horse. A toilet and sink for self.
 
dorsetladette said:
Try to build with the backs of the buildings to the worst of the weather - nothing worse than battling against wind and rain constantly in winter.

I also would put any permanent fencing in until you have done all 4 seasons on the land. Then you will have a good idea where to place gates, shelters and water troughs.

Mark out the size of your yard and where your stables/buildings will go on that area before committing - you'll be surprised!
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Very good advice
 
Sanversera said:
How very exciting! If I was starting again I'd love several paddocks and one large field. So one four or five acre field and the rest divided into four paddocks. Hedges and post and rail fencing. Gates into all paddocks from all paddocks so some can be shut and acess to one or more is possible. A stable block and large field shelters in each paddock and shelter in the field. A dry hard standing area in at least one paddock and in the field. Lights and reolink cameras powered by solar. Watertroughs with piped water. A large barn, bigger the better for hay and ground care equipment. A secure tack and feed room. A menage. Car parking area for self vet and farrier. A solarium and wash facilities for horse. A toilet and sink for self.
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wow that sounds amazing - is your fantasy rest room heated? 🤣

I like having options for grazing so my set up is 1 larger paddock for winter and 2 smaller ones for summer. I have a large shelter and auto water drink in a small yard area which then opens out into the 3 paddocks. The winter paddock has a hay feeder so we can feed ad-lib with round bales.

I'm so lucky to have sandy soil so little mud even this time of year. But no grass in summer, luckily I have natives.

In winter I have a deep straw beds in the shelter which helps keep legs dry and clean. I have 2 'spare' shelters which the sheep use most of the time, but these turn into stables or shelters with small pens for emergencies. This means I can 'stable' all 3 ponies if I need too (although that does upset the sheep as they become homeless 😜)
 
dorsetladette said:
wow that sounds amazing - is your fantasy rest room heated? 🤣

I like having options for grazing so my set up is 1 larger paddock for winter and 2 smaller ones for summer. I have a large shelter and auto water drink in a small yard area which then opens out into the 3 paddocks. The winter paddock has a hay feeder so we can feed ad-lib with round bales.

I'm so lucky to have sandy soil so little mud even this time of year. But no grass in summer, luckily I have natives.

In winter I have a deep straw beds in the shelter which helps keep legs dry and clean. I have 2 'spare' shelters which the sheep use most of the time, but these turn into stables or shelters with small pens for emergencies. This means I can 'stable' all 3 ponies if I need too (although that does upset the sheep as they become homeless 😜)
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I've got about half of it. Bought a field many years ago. Set about building a yard and dividing it up. Planted hedges fenced, invested in hard standing and field shelters. It's all off grid. If doing it again I'd add another stable another field shelter and a larger Hay shed and menage.There's no electricity so can't have hot water. It's been fun, frustrating and expensive but worth it to have happy horses.
 
Sanversera said:
I've got about half of it. Bought a field many years ago. Set about building a yard and dividing it up. Planted hedges fenced, invested in hard standing and field shelters. It's all off grid. If doing it again I'd add another stable another field shelter and a larger Hay shed and menage.There's no electricity so can't have hot water. It's been fun, frustrating and expensive but worth it to have happy horses.
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I don't have running water or electricity. But i do have a very good friend next door who isn't on a water meter ;) I collect rain water off the shelters in IBC's which feed the auto drinkers. I use rechargeable magnetic lights round the place so I can see where I need too.

We've done it fairly cheaply so it isn't the Ritz but it makes me and my animals happy. My OH is a builder, so any useful materials come home and are stored until we have enough to build something. We work with what we have so shelters etc. aren't conventional sizes but still useful. I'm very proud of our little shanty town!

For hot clothing or hot poulticing I use a little gas camping stove and a kettle. I'm going to treat us to a horse shower of some sort for next year, but I'll need one that pumps from a bucket.
 
Lilly-Mayspookatbags said:
Thanks all - field is heavily slopped and already has land drains on + surrounded by ditches on two of the boundaries.

In terms of hard standing :

25m x 15m x 2in area then I have acquired 20 flagstones for parking trailer and muck trailer on . I think this should be enough … maybe even slight overkill .

Mains water is being put in and yard will be solar with a power pack.
Click to expand...
I have 20 x 20 plus an adjoining stable yard and can also open up my 20 x 40 sand/fibre arena off the same area, for 3. So essentially 60 x 20 plus the yard, plus a 100m track I can open up although it's muddy for the first third of its length. Granted I only have 3 acres, but clay is VILE in winter and they can be off the land for 6 months. Believe me - no amount is overkill, however large!!
 
Where are you planning to put the buildings in relation to the field (you may be limited by planning obviously) but you need a good track to get from external entrance to you buildings for deliveries - hay, pallets of bedding, space for them to turn around. Balances with the nearer the middle of the land the less far to walk to each field / ease of a central shelter area.

We have a long thin rectangle of land with the buildings at the bottom which I hate. 2 summers ago (after 8 years here) I took out 5 internal stables a cut a massive hole in the back of the barn and built a track to allow horses free access from two winter fields into their own turnout barn. Game changing - which I had done it years ago.

They do poo in it IF they are in - so I know how they are finding the weather, I don't shut them in every (unless waiting for farrier or riding one) I know they have shelter whenever they choose to use it and I don't have to worry about schedules or turning out first thing or late night skipping out etc. etc. etc.

I put hay in there an it cut wastage by 30-40% - I've never found a good way to feed hay in the field outside.

I would fence the perimeter to be best of your budget, then electric all other field areas - until you have been there and used it for at least 12 months
I would go for movable field shelters and mud mats initially - massively easier on planning and again you can change your mind about what you want where and which direction it should face.
 
I've have just had a similar opportunity, my hard standing is big because i wanted to be able to turn a trailer around on it. I drove a car in a circle and measured it from there. Also to be able to feed the donkeys and have room for a stable/barn. As I don't know how the field drains, as it is new to me i fenced around the yard but got 2 gates put in so if needed i can divide the field (9 acres) with separate entrances (for more equines ;) !)
Photo before buildings, taken from me standing at the main gate entrance.

yard.jpg

Then came the field shelter choice, all had to be mobile. I did not scrimp on the cost as i want it to last so cement fibre roof panels, with see through panels, antichew surround entrances, metal skids, guttering and good overhang.
field shelter 2.jpg

I chose similar shelter with added storage, to be based on my the hardstanding. A partition divides the 2 openings and i will be getting a gate to convert one into a stable.
stable.jpg

I have allowed enough room for carparking (vets, farrier) and i could eventually section off the 'stable/storage' , having the donkeys loose on the rest of the hardstanding. My main gate entrance to the middle field gate has a large enough swing to get a tractor and trailer in eg for hay. Still very much work in progress and no doubt will be slightly altered once the equines have arrived.

Hope this helps, as I didn't have a clue, just tried to be practical.
 
I have sliding rails to convert to stables which work well for me, but I have smaller openings. Big shelter has 2 x 6ft openings, so I don't know how a full length opening would work. Although the smaller pony was a challenge to contain but I think I've got the heights of the rails right for him now.

Is your green storage container a shipping container? I have 2. 1 is insulated and works a treat. The other is used as a feed room and tack room and isn't insulated. It condensates quite badly when the weather is bad. I keep all tack I don't need in winter at home and try to keep wet rug and coats out of there as much as possible. Relentless rain doesn't help.
 
My treble shelter is designed to convert to 3 stables if needed. With mesh gates in the front openings and currently slip rails inside.

I keep the gate attached and tied back on one, that area I use as a vet/farrier/handling area if needed.

I think if I wanted to use it more permanently as stabling I’d want the internal dividers as gates.
 

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TheMule said:
On clay I would put in the largest area of hard standing I could with each paddock coming off that with a large hard standing gateway into each one so you can rest and rotate but shut them on the hard standing through the wettest times. Will the 5 horses be living together? You will have to consider shelter arrangements, the ability to separate one off if needed and a separate clean area for vet/ farrier etc
Click to expand...
This. Im not on clay, but I have a large hardcored area (some of which the stable block sits on) so I have a round bale hay feeder sitting on the hardcore yard which encourages them to stand about on it and not muddy the field too much, I have all the stable doors pinned open so they can use them anytime they like. I only have 2 horses and they get on well so no concerns about one being trapped in a stable.
 
I draw you a picture.

Imagine its an open barn.

I know this isnt anything to do with your plans or what you have asked for. You probably dont have the planning permission and are not budgetting for such beauty.

But you started me off and we can both look at it and dream about it.
 

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