House move has stables!!

[time2changeCharlieBrown]

We’re due to move location and house in February
we have found a property on the edge of new city my husband will be working and commute is great
the house is an ex farm house and a bit of renovation project but it also comes with a couple of fields and a stable block that will house up to five horses plus a tack room and a storage barn
they are in need of a bit of Ttc but otherwise solid buildings

so ideas!! We are not a family that has ever had anything to do with animals other than pet fish , dogs and cats! We have these pets we are bringing

are horses very difficult to care for? We have two teenagers and then two younger kids so I feel be nice to learn
or would something else be a better idea?

we’ve never had land either
were moving from down south to a lot more space! But wondering if we should have gone for a new build
but my husband and the kids loved this house and we do like a project to get nice how we want it!

DO NOT get horses if you don't know what you're doing.

This.

Don't forget they are a 24/7/365 proposition. If you like to travel, have lazy days or be out at other activities, it's cruel to neglect the horses for that. They are a lifestyle not a pet.

Don't launch into horses too quickly.
Finish some of your renovations.

In the long term It might be sensible to brick the floors of the stable and have the complex as a BBQ-entertainment space, playroom, kids game area.

Learn how to care for your property by observing the neighbours who have nicely kept places of similar size and seeking and taking advice from them. Locals usually know best.

Get to know horses by booking riding lessons for acouple of years.

Maybe transform the stables into a mini garden center or other plant-based hobby/business? Or antique/vintage shop?

Considering what? OP has some stables, has asked if horses are hard to take care of or whether she should consider using them for something else instead. She isn't considering buying some horses to be ready for her upon her arrival!

Perfectly normal to think of the possibilities land/outbuildings can offer prior to moving in I would have thought?

My advice to anyone moving from the city into the country - especially if you are going to own land - is to be humble and courteous to the local population. Fit in and go with the flow.

You may want local farmers and contractors to maintain your land, doing ditching and hedge-trimming. They will have little time or incentive to help - they are busy enough. Fit in, and you will be fine. Don't object when the manure from the cattle barns is spread on the field next door in the Spring. And do not rock up to the neighbour and suggest you buy some of their land land. It has probably been in their family for two hundred years or more and is the only permanent capital they have. They will not want to sell it and you will only get their back up.

Please direct me to where I've said OP should get some horses?

She is considering what to do with her land/stables, so she's asked for advice. Hardly irresponsible and worthy of snotty comments.

Exactly. It’s in the chat forum and I think most people moving from a presumably small space in the south to somewhere with land would be excited and daydreamy about the possibilities: OP is asking! She’s not pre-ordered a horse off amazon. It’s no different to any house move starry-eyed plans: don’t most people in the run-up to completion and moving day start poring over paint charts and imagining how different their lives will be in the new house? I’m always convinced THIS will be the house where I waft around in tea dresses baking my own bread while chickens and adorable children roam at my feet playing the grand piano in the orchard.

No one has mentioned the cost of finding at least 1 suitable horse I would have thought you’re looking at the very least £8k probably more then you have to have it vetted that well over £1k. The sort of horse you would be looking for are like hens teeth plenty of people will happily sell you a completely unsuitable horse.

It's just not as simple as that.
Keeping a horse to ride at home is a whole different ball game to riding one in a school or. Keeping one at livery yard.
You should be experienced in stable management, basic vet care, grass land management and have access to transport to vets etc
Buying horses is also a gamble and you need an experienced eye to see that you are not buying a dangerous/lame/problematic horse.
Deep pockets basically!

I think renting the stables and fields out is the best first step and then see how you enjoy it.
As the previous poster said, a great way towards being in some income.

Haha, I've been in my house 8 years now and I'm still wandering round daydreaming about the possibilities 🙈 I purposely bought it as it has so much potential, unfortunately life has meant I haven't realised these yet!

There's a brick built summerhouse in the garden which I've probably considered running about 10 different businesses from and imagined it being countless things, from a bird room, bar, partner wants a vinyl room, library, sewing room (I don't know how to sew), the list is endless. The reality is it's a bit leaky and damp, needs insulating and is currently filled with broken toys and various other crap 😳 One day though....

Getting horses just because you have a stable is frankly batshit. Can any of you ride? Have your DC ever shown an interest? Who will be the one committed to the early mornings and the mucking out and the huge bills?

Horses are amazing animals to have, but it's not a hobby it's a lifestyle.

I was up at 7am on Christmas morning shoving shit. They are very time consuming and VERY expensive. Think of a large, sensitive, fragile giant hamster that you have to clean out its cage once a day and visit twice a day. If it gets a tummy ache or feels sick could die, a vet appointment will cost at least £150 before they do anything and if you buy anything horse related you should put an extra zero on the end of the price tag.

In your shoes I'd make sure the stables and paddocks are secure and sound, and then rent them out for livery. You could earn between £30 and £55 per week per horse depending on what facilities you have. But even that requires a certain level of knowledge so maybe do a few online courses beforehand. Go into the British horse society website for starters or talk to other livery owners

If you have never kept horses before then I would suggest the start if a new renovation project is not the time to start.

Keeping horses is hard work. Unlike cats/dogs they can't ve left unattended overnight etc. Fields still need poo picking. Beds turned over if they are stabled.

They need food over and above grass

You need to ensure you have a good vet local blacksmith for shoeing them.

You would be best getting in contact with a local riding stables, get some lessons. Maybe do some "own a pony" days or volunteer so you know what is involved.

As others have suggested. If the buildings are in good condition and the fields are flat with no significant diverts (if a horse slips and becomes lame) then renting them out to others to support running costs would probably be a better bet. Although if you are having renovations done it would be worth being honest with the owners. Some horses don't like loud noises etc so could spook or become distressed.

Noo this is helpful advice thank you!!

Stables? Brilliant! Turn them into holiday accommodation and put people in them instead of horses. Much less trouble.

Please DON"T do this.

@time2changeCharlieBrown Horses need a lot of knowledge on the part of their keepers and are expensive to keep WELL.
They are absolutely not like any other pet.

If you haven't any horse care experience, maybe get the children to join a Pony Club and hire a pony that someone else is caring for.
One pony can't be kept on its own, they need company.

As novices, you'd be prey to every rogue out there selling you a horse.

Do you know how to look after pasture and poo pick, does it have secure fencing?

Son bought a house with old {Victorian} stables , but he uses them for other things.

The correct answer, is pygmy goats.

A local farmer has outbuildings and he refuses to have horses on his land.
Because of the trouble the owners cause.

He used to be a show jumper and hunted in his youth as well.

He rents out the buildings as workshops instead, because of the lack of hassle.

May be start with something like this, you get the idea of riding an horse without all the feeding, grooming and mucking out.

Once resonably proficient you can remove the rocking bits and go around your paddock on the wheels.

The property sounds amazing but please don't get any horses when, in the nicest way possible, you clearly don't have a single clue about how to take care of them.

My childhood friend used to have a lovely old house {or rather her parents did!} near Richmond Park.
There were two large stables originally built onto the house {1900's}
They used to rent them out to the local riding school, and I used to ride ''Rocky'' a large Irish Draught marked like a rocking horse {hence his name} sometimes..The stables have long been converted into an extension for humans, sadly.
There were other stables locally attached to the larger houses, but all have been turned into human accommodation as the house values are so high there now.
{Apart from one listed building}, but the stables there are gloomy {18th century}

are horses very difficult to care for?

You don't have to put horses in stables just cos they're there. Settle in, see what your lifestyle will allow.

If you want horses, I'd suggest riding lessons to see how you all get on with horses first, and the reality of the care. Then go from there.