Letting my field - how much?

[Covert19]

I have recently bought a field (adjacent to my garden) and there is a horse owner in the next field along. She has asked if she can use my field for a short time in the spring, whilst her own field is re-seeded for grazing.

She has about eight horses - all rescues - but she's promised I will only have two well behaved mares, and that she will put in an electric fence to stop them getting into my garden, and poo-pick every day.

Horses are lovely to look at, as far as I'm concerned, but I don't know anything about their behaviour or care.

So should I agree to rent the field to her? How much should I charge? Is there anything else I should be aware of, or ask her to do?

Thanks, horsey people, for any advice.

How big is your field and what are you planning to use it for 'normally'- is it big enough for the 2 mares would be my main concern as horses need a surprising amount of space, usually an acre per horse plus one spare is the usual guidance, although I guess in the spring on fresh grass and for a short period less would be OK, but from your point of view you don't want your lovely fresh ground totally churned up and trashed so that it then needs resting again the whole rest of the year. I would want to know from her where her other 6 horses are going so you don't find yourself with more horses than you agreed to on your land (and the owner doing face and saying she's got no-where else to put them, poor lickle rescue ponies she is very very poor and has to feed 600 elderly relatives and orphans, couldn't you just help her out, just for a "while" and hey presto the whole herd is your problem now - maybe I'm cynical/harsh but I have some experience with that type of person so naturally wary), and also a very clear undertaking that she definitely is removing them back to her own land at the end of the agreed period, I have known of a few people having problems with horses 'squatting' or being dumped on their land and it can be a real PITA getting rid of them once in situ... I would also want her to agree in writing she is not to ride on the land as this can really churn it up, by spring it will be light enough to ride out on the roads so hopefully OK but a lot of people without proper schools/arenas ride on their grazing fields through winter esp now as it's harder to get out and about to proper venues and unless the ground is very well draining it can be a problem. Also I would be a bit cautious re her plans for the taping to keep the horses enclosed if the field isn't properly fenced right now, some horses are respectful of electric taping but some absolutely are not, my two fatties broke through 2 layers of tape and one proper wooden fence last summer to get out of their 'diet' paddock and onto a neighbour's lovely lush lawn and stuffed their little faces all night , cue much embarrassed grovelling and having to pay him for the damage to his plants and turf, if you are a gardener it may not be worth the risk to you?

In terms of cost, grass livery usually costs £20-£25 p/week p/horse around here (SE), may be cheaper elsewhere, I guess though as she's putting up her own fencing and you don't have things like shelters and automatic waterers and it's essentially a short favour to a neighbour, you could charge more like £30-£35 p/week for both?

How big is the field and what is your future planned use? Horses are picky and that makes them untidy grazers. They also have favourite hang out spikes which if wet can cause significant ground damage so if you want a neat tidy field it might not be the best bet. As above they need a good amount of space too which can make the impact they have on the land less

Does your paddock have planning permission for equestrian use, or is it agricultural land?

I’m a land agent and have always let pony paddocks for £10 per horse, per acre, per week. You should have someone write you a grazing agreement that sets out the terms, especially setting out that she is responsible for keeping fences, boundaries etc

Why have you bought the field - what are your plans for it and how big is it? What condition is it in now and what has it been used for in the past? How good is the grazing, fences and does it have water?

Only consider renting it if it fits in with your plans, ponies wreck paddocks, especially small ones (small paddocks, not small ponies) and horsey people can be difficult to deal with. If you can give a little more info, you'll get much better advice.

Thanks for the advice so far. I bought the field because it was available, and I didn't want anyone else buying it and using it for something that bothered me. I don't have any plans for it at all really (maybe getting a load of friends over after lockdown and having a big camp-out but that's about it). It hasn't been farmed for over 15 years, so is just lots of tufty grass and the odd thistle waving in the breeze. I'd wondered about getting some sheep or goats to keep it trimmed, but I don't really want the hassle of being responsible for animals.

It's about 4 acres, so big enough for a few horses.

Fencing is a mixture of post and rail, and high hedges, but there'd only be the electric fence between it and my garden, as I removed the fencing that separated the field from the garden. There's a narrow pedestrian access out to the road, but probably not big enough for a horse to get through (I have to squeeze past a bush and step over a large log). I'd have to ask the horse owner to look it all over with me, and see if she thinks it is suitably fenced.

I'm a bit wary of her optimism that the electric fence will keep the mares contained, and that she will only need a month to get her own field re-seeded so that it is suitable for grazing again. Surely it's a good six months to establish a grazing field? So I am not sure if her optimism is genuine naiveté or if she is being disingenuous, to get me to agree to something I will later regret.

I've also been looking into the legalities and I would need insurance as the landowner can be held responsible for the actions of animals on their land - so any escape onto the road, or biting a trespasser, could land me with a large damages bill.

But on the other hand I want to be neighbourly, and the extra income would be nice. Lots to think about.......

At 4 acres it's big enough for 3 horses, but with it being in such poor condition 2 is probably about right. However I would say no. With no firm plans it will be hard to get rid of them, poo picking is really hard in rough grazing, and horses aren't the best to get it in reasonable condition - if anything they'll make it worse. If I was you I'd get someone in to top it when it's dry enough (cut it not too short with the cut bits chopped up small) then let a local farmer graze it in short periods with sheep and/or cut it for hay so it's there and good to camp on when you want it, it's kept in good condition and you get to look at soft and fluffies without having to care for them and you'll get a bit of income rather than it costing you. Ask your local land agent/neighbouring farmer for help. She's probably been after it for years, and you're right about the time needed to re-grass - way longer than a month!

Dependant on where you are in the country you could easily let it year round as grazing rather than just for a month to a friend. I’d have let it for £80 a week based on what you’ve said (as long as it had sub metered water). That’s an easy £4,000 a year for not doing very much. Last time I advertised 3ac of grazing for horses I’d done a viewing and let it within 45 minutes of posting it to the local towns Facebook page.

Letting to a local farmer for grazing will be easier but bring in less money. You can stipulate as part of the grazing agreement that the grazier fence and maintain the land adequately and be responsible for any damages.

If it's agricultural land,technically you'd need planning permission for change of use for horses. They are not classed as agricultural. I would be very wary of letting it out,for one thing, electric fencing is unlikely to keep them out of your garden,as the land owner YOU are responsible for the welfare of horses on your land,so if she isn't a responsible owner, you will be liable. Is she going to poo pick the land? Where will the muck heap go and who will arrange and pay for it to be removed? Is the owner likely to come at silly o'clock in the morning to ride/ care for them and disturb you. Another thing to consider is that a lot of land letting specifies that the animals must be off the field for 1 month in a 12 month period,to prevent the renter claiming possession of it by continual use. Best of luck whatever you decide.

I wouldn't. Plant yourself a butterfly meadow or some native trees and dig a big wildlife pond. Much nicer to look at.

Don't do it; horsey people take the piss, especially those with too many...

You can graze horses on agricultural land. It is a common misconception that you cannot. You cannot carry out activities that would not be considered agricultural such as exercising, breeding, or husbandry considered specific to the maintenance of the horses for non-agricultural purposes such as feeding bucket feeds, or setting out of round pens among other things. It is a relatively grey area - the field I own has had horses kept in it for an unbroken run of over 40 years and is agricultural land. The planning department have shown remarkably little interest in the horses in the paddocks as long as the area they are stabled, fed and ridden on has the correct planning permission.

Are you sure that it wouldn't need land use change? You can graze agricultural land, but she wouldn't be doing that, she would be letting the land for horse grazing which isn't agricultural.

Echo, electric fence isn’t always successful in keeping the buggers contained. It may be sufficient until the grass is eaten down, then they’ll be eyeing up your lawn
If you do let her graze it, be very strict re timing and don’t let her take the piss. Also insist that the field is poo picked regularly and the poo disposed of
In all honesty, it may not be worth the hassle...

Similar situation to yours Op.
Borrow sheep to clear mine - job done in 36 hours with no damage to the ground.
Consider also if the land only accessible via your house/driveway? - in which case beware owner coming at random times onto your property and in your space, vehicles, deliveries, then owner bringing guests then asking to come and use your toilet - on and on it goes.
I started off being open, giving and friendly to anyone who asked - but had to learn to put in boundaries and time limits from the outset to clearly manage expectations - and the unhappy reactions when you take back what is yours.