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!

*land management. I'm struggling with this MN app! You can't edit?

Im glad you rethought your decision. Geese are brilliant for keeping grass under control and the eggs are delicious. They are noisy though and do massive poos.

They will. And will spend relentless hours attempting escapes of said restricted grazing in ingenious or violent ways so you spend all your time repairing fences. Not bitter.

@FoxtonFoxton yes they don't respect fencing, or humans, or anything for that matter. May be less on hard feed and roughage in the winter but feet, worming etc still cost the same. Ride on lawn mower more economical.

I’m an ex groom. Horses are a lot of work and money. SIL still keeps horses and the money she spends on vets and dentists and new saddles and chiropractors is bonkers. Dh and SIL actually own a DIY livery yard between them, it makes us no money at all. By the time we’ve paid for insurance and sorting out collapsed drains and walls, and reroofing the stables, etc. though this may be due to the fact that SIL seems to have taken over the majority of the occupancy 🤣

If I were you I’d have some goats or some donkeys. I used to have a little herd of donkeys and they were very cute and a lot less work and less expense than the horses.

so unless you have a burning desire to learn to ride (and it will take over your life) I’d say no.

Had no idea re that and geese.

If that was for me, sadly I know but so love a 🫏

@time2changeCharlieBrown When thinking of how to use your land, you may want to consider putting it into a BNG Scheme, either alone, or more realistically with a near neighbour/ operator who may manage the land as part of a wider scheme. You will get paid credits for contributing the land into a biodiversity scheme though it will have to be in the same management for 30 years. We are looking into it for land we own and the figures quoted are quite meaningful (£500k of which we keep about 60%). You can still use the land and occupy it so long as not detrimental to the scheme whether that is rewilding or in the extreme tree planting. Note that there will be a reduction in the marriage value of your home and the land, but that is normally more than offset by the BNG credits.

Do not get goats. They are not easy to look after.
Ducks and Geese both graze and are easy.
Sheep are easy as well and can be as friendly as goats but much less work.

Reminds me of this https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/tell-me-about-goats.829656/

😆😆

Horses are hard work, need mucking out and grooming daily/twice daily and then riding or exercising. The people I knew who had horses were mad about them, but to me seemed also slaves to them!

I thought sheep were trouble, you have to comply with lots of agricultural rules like getting them dipped, sheared, etc. Ducks and geese are OK but watch out for foxes you may need to catch them and shut them in at night, which can be great fun (not!), geese can be very stroppy if you have to handle them.

Wtf!? Don't just give the horse away! That's how they end up in bad homes with bad owners and lice awful lives.

Be a responsible adult in the first place and don't buy a large animal you have no idea how to look after. Horses are a lifestyle and it takes a decade to become a good horseperson who can ride well, train and keep horses in good health. It's not something that happens overnight just because you bought a stable.

Goat keepers are also required to be registered and follow all the agricultural rules. I think there are more rules for goats than sheep.
You must have a holding number and record when sheep or goats move on or off your land and complete an annual survey. All bird keepers now have to be registered as well.
Ive kept a few sheep for most of my life. Yes they needed shearing annually unless you keep easy care sheep who shed their wool naturally (some primitive sheep also do this but they are difficult to catch). Very few people dip now as the health and safety and environmental laws around dipping are so strict. Everyone uses pour ons, a bit like dogs and cats or injections, it depends what you are treating them for or aiming to prevent. Sheep also need worming
Ducks and Geese need water, worming annually and locking in a night. Usually they will take themselves to bed and the owner just has to count them and lock them in. They mainly graze but do need feed morning and night.

Donkeys are easier than horses. They don’t need shoes, just trimming hooves. We were in a similar situation to yours and got two rescue donkeys for ten years. When me moved the donkey sanctuary took them back.
But they weren’t rideable off the fields only good to cuddle and in spring/summer took a couple hours three/four times a week to move electric fences so they didn’t blow themselves up.
However if you don’t get something to keep the grass down you won’t have a lovely wild flowers meadow, you’ll have two acres of rampant weeds, tippers and constant traveller invasions.
Rent them out until you and the kids learn to ride.