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hannah28
Gold Member
England
617 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 4:00:03 PM
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How many acres do you need to keep 2 horses on?
I realise that answers will vary immensely dependant on your views, but as a rough estimate, how much land should I be looking for?
I have found a lovely property...but it only has 2000sq meters of land, think this is about half an acre???
Not sure if I should rule this one out or not..
Any views appreciated!
Han x
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rosie
Platinum Member
England
3662 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 4:05:08 PM
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I personally would like about 3 acres for 2 horses.
See what other people suggest?
I suppose it depends on the quality of the grass & drainage of the land & if you want then out 24/7 for the majority of the year.
Lisa |
     
Last picture courtesy of Sweet Photography |
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ashabarab
Gold Member
England
1378 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 4:07:33 PM
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even with picking up the droppings thats not enough
ideally you need at least an acre per horse..more if possible, then you can rest part of it
unless you can rent more grazing and use this bit of land for a turn out at home you will not have enough room
ash
ps also think that the horses need enough room to trot about too |
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hannah28
Gold Member
England
617 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 4:11:24 PM
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This is the land in question..
The land border is where the darker grass turns lighter, about halfway on the photo.
Han x |
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Eeyore
Gold Member
1181 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 4:33:08 PM
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I keep my 2 on roughly 3 acres and to be honest think that this is the bare minimum. When we have wet winters and wet summers the ground never gets a chance to properly recover.
This is with the horses stabled every night and fields poo picked daily. It is also on sandy soil.
Also, planning restrictions round here stipulate a minimum of 1.5 acres per horse, it may be different in your area but worth checking.
If they open up for a gallop they need this much space too.
Good luck in your house and land search, I know how tough it is  |
Heléna
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Joto
Gold Member
855 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 4:54:58 PM
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| BHS guidelines are 1 1/2 acres for the first horse and 1 acre for subsequent horses minimum. So thats a minimum of two and a half acres for 2 horses. I keep 2 arabs and 2 welsh ponies on 5 1/2 acres split into 3 paddocks. |
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hannah28
Gold Member
England
617 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 5:14:16 PM
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The land is in Sardinia, so not sure if they would be able to be out 24/7 as the flies may be a problem as dusk sets it. There is a hardstanding at the front of the property which would be fine for up to 4 stables/tack room/feed store.
I just think that perhaps the acreage (or lack of it!!) is really making this property a no-go-er, although everything else about it is perfect!
I could see about possibly renting the paddocks behind the one that i would have, or maybe even buying them if the landowner would agree to that...it might be worth a try!
Han x |
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NUTTER
Platinum Member
England
2452 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 5:32:20 PM
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| Rule out nowhere near enough!! thats the size of my garden.. |
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hannah28
Gold Member
England
617 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 5:41:56 PM
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Crikey Nutter, then my current garden is a postage stamp lol!
Han x |
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pleasures
Gold Member
United Kingdom
781 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 7:10:21 PM
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Sorry to bring some people down to earth but some of us have to manage on smaller than perfect paddocks that does not mean that if you look after them properly then it cannot work. I poo pick every single day with out fail my only moan is that my horses cannot open up for a gallop but when needs must you have cut your cloth. My two mares have been out 24/7 now they are getting supplemtary feeding but at least they are not cooped up in a stable. My advice is go for the largest amount of land that you can get if you can afford it.
Sue |
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hannah28
Gold Member
England
617 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 7:31:10 PM
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Hiya Sue,
How big is your paddock, if you dont mind me asking?
I just cannot afford to buy in this country, hence my reason for looking abroad...the land with the house that i have found is not ideal...but like you, it would be poo-picked every day, and horses would be in work all year round, lots of gallops, beach rides etc.
I would love to be able to have 2..3..10 acres..but unfortunately just cannot afford the extortionate price of land here!
Horses welfare comes first and foremost, so if 1/2 acre is deffo too small, then i will have to keep looking...but just wanted others opinions/knowledge on how they cope with smaller plots.
Han x |
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pat ww
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3459 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 8:10:49 PM
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When I was younger I used to read a lot of farming books, recommended acreage for cows was an acre for evey ten hundredweight of body weight, jersey cow 3/4 acre, friesian 1.3 acres.(good grazing)
The comparison for sheep was 7 per acre (good) down to one sheep per 4 acres upland scrub land.
Horses wreck land far more than either of the above, so good management is really important.
I have overwintered 6 on less than half an acre, split into 3 so they were fed according to need, as an alternative to being locked up in a stable. Just 'yard' area, but out with a friend and can mooch all day, were very happy. I saw this working successfully at a big stud, where broodmares were yarded in groups on a farm, worked well there.
The one horse per acre rule as once recommended by the BHS has been interpreted by my local authority as to allow ONE STABLE per acre if you are successful in planning application.
Land round here is from £6000 to £20000 per acre bare land with no buildings, no water supply, no electricity, no planning permision for stables. good luck with your search. |
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Bex
Gold Member
Wales
559 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 8:18:43 PM
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Hi Hannah
I have two horses and I only have just under one and a half acres of grass, I manage it very carefuly and it does very well. However saying that it's drains really well and the grass that's on it is good quality, I poo pick every day and pull up any weeds regularly-it's split in to two paddocks and rotated.
The paddocks lead on to my yard area and the stables-which have a large verranda so they can come and go as they choose and I leave some hay on the yard. I have them out 24 hours May- September and use the land carefuly over the winter if its very wet I turn out on to the menage.
In an ideal world I'd have more land- but thats not possible so I do the best I can with what I've got!
Good luck
Bex. |
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Red Rum
Gold Member
England
508 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 8:25:32 PM
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Hi I have three arabian horses and six acres and it is only just about enough. I spend all me time poo picking and lawn mowing the grass that they donot eat by hand. My fields are spotless but if the rain is not there the grass does not grow and you really need two acres per horse minimum. Mandy |
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Joto
Gold Member
855 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 8:52:06 PM
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| I agree with red Rum [mandy] as stated above I have 5 1/2 acres, split into 3 paddocks, 2 arabs and 2 welsh ponies. If I had 3 acres more it would be absolutely ideal as I could rest more area for longer. so 2 acres per animal would be ideal. |
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hannah28
Gold Member
England
617 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 8:52:17 PM
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I have got an email back from the vendor stating that he isn't prepared to include any further land in the asking price, or indeed sell any of the further paddocks, as he grazes other livestock on those, and needs them
Hey-ho, back to the drawing board
I sometimes despair....looking for house, plus land, even in the current "buyers market" in this country, or abroad, just seems so difficult.
I don't want to go down the livery route again...but trying to find our own affordable place, is sooooooo hard, it makes me wonder if that might be the only option.
Thanks to all that replied on this thread.
Going to buy lottery ticket now...
Han x |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 9:25:33 PM
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| rule of thumb is 1.2 acres per horse minimum. |
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Edited by - gossy on 19 Sep 2008 10:07:55 AM |
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pleasures
Gold Member
United Kingdom
781 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 09:17:36 AM
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Hi Han
I have access to about 3/4 of an acre this is divided into a smaller turnout mooch about paddock and one that's used most of the time. My trouble is that the owners dad had a system whereby everyone had their own piece of land and there is one guy with just one horse that has an enormous field for his only horse. Its very difficult but I keep it immaculate and when I spoke to my vet about worming etc he said that if in my area you can find any land that is not horse sick you would strike gold.His advice is that you would need to rest your fields for 2yrs to avoid that. So do what everyone suggests go for the largest piece of land you can afford if not try to rent more if that economically viable. |
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pleasures
Gold Member
United Kingdom
781 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 09:18:44 AM
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Sorry Hannah, my reply posted before I could finish and say good luck with your search.
Sue |
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vjc
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4952 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 09:52:46 AM
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| Got to say it would be to small for me! i like to see horses being able to gallop flat out at play if they want too, especially youngsters as this helps build their muscles! and if it was only a small paddock i would be worried they might crash into the fence or gateway if they got excited. A lot depends on the type of keep for your horse too, if stabled a lot (not my choice!) the ground would last longer, but obviously as we are getting wetter and wetter summer and winters turning out on a small piece of land in time it will enivitably turn to mud! |
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Edited by - vjc on 19 Sep 2008 10:01:26 AM |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 10:06:36 AM
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| We have 7 horses on 10 acres, 2 huge filds not split and i to love to see them galloping around. |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
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pleasures
Gold Member
United Kingdom
781 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 4:31:53 PM
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Well as I said when needs must you cut your cloth I am not mega rich and I will always do the very best for my horses and what I have is preferable to going into a livery yard. We would all like to see our horses as natural as possible but I have managed for 2 yrs and my land is not a mud bath its very well drained. I only stable my mares in the very worst of the winter weather and they want for nothing.They are healthy and well cared for.
Sue |
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hannah28
Gold Member
England
617 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 4:38:56 PM
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Sue, that is precisely what i want to do, give my (future) horses a natural a life as possible...and not go back down the livery-yard route.
I would like my own land/stabling, but wasnt sure on what the workable minimum could be.
I think my half acre in Sardinia would possibly be workable, due to the fact that there is minimal rainfall there, so no risk of flooding or becoming too muddy in winter.
The only thing thats stopping me going for it, is like some people have pointed out...the lack of real opportunity for the horses to have a real good gallop round
Han x |
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Bex
Gold Member
Wales
559 Posts |
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pleasures
Gold Member
United Kingdom
781 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 5:03:48 PM
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Hannah
Is there a reason for looking in Sardinia (not meaning to be nosey) but I was wondering as I have seen a very nice place advertised in France but obviously do not know what it is you are looking for and your budget. Thanks also for the support from other Aliners who realise that we are not all fortunate enough to own our own land but we still do the best for our horses
Sue |
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