Stables

[5LDC]

Having done the BTL route over recent years and now having sold up for various reasons, I'm looking for alternative investments to generate an income.
Currently looking into the idea of purchasing 5 acres for equestrian use along with 8 stables, with water on site.
Knowing absolutely nothing regarding horses am I mad to be even considering this?
My limited research so far leaves me to believe DIY stabled livery would cost £100-£125 month in the midlands.
Any pointers and pit falls on this idea welcome.

[akirk]

5LDC said:

Having done the BTL route over recent years and now having sold up for various reasons, I'm looking for alternative investments to generate an income.
Currently looking into the idea of purchasing 5 acres for equestrian use along with 8 stables, with water on site.
Knowing absolutely nothing regarding horses am I mad to be even considering this?
My limited research so far leaves me to believe DIY stabled livery would cost £100-£125 month in the midlands.
Any pointers and pit falls on this idea welcome.

horses are generally considered one of the most profitable uses of agricultural land - far better than farming
I would get on the ground - go to tack shops / maybe talk to the local pony club / etc. to find out what the demand is / costs are...
look carefully at liability
look at whether you can help provide a way of parking up a lorry / trailer and what security would be - you should be able to charge more if that is possible as the majority user will be people living in a suburban / small house buying into their leisure hobby by renting space... they don't want the trailer on their drive - if they can leave it alongside the stabling it becomes easy to clean out / use / etc.

It is also not unknown to take agricultural land - add horses / add a caravan for someone to live in for security / parlay it into a house - seems to be a common way around planning and can add value over time - though those with a planning expertise may have a different view on what is now possible!

[Equus]

akirk said:

It is also not unknown to take agricultural land - add horses / add a caravan for someone to live in for security / parlay it into a house - seems to be a common way around planning and can add value over time - though those with a planning expertise may have a different view on what is now possible!

Well, for a start off, equestrian isn't an agricultural land use - you need specific Planning Permission (and it therefore doesn't benefit from Agricultural PD rights, so you also need Planning Permission for the stables or any other development).

Whilst it's still exploitable, Local Authorities are becoming increasingly stringent about application of the 'essential need for a rural worker' loophole, too - especially with equestrian, since in most peoples' minds horses+caravan = .

[eltawater]

5LDC said:

Having done the BTL route over recent years and now having sold up for various reasons, I'm looking for alternative investments to generate an income.
Currently looking into the idea of purchasing 5 acres for equestrian use along with 8 stables, with water on site.
Knowing absolutely nothing regarding horses am I mad to be even considering this?
My limited research so far leaves me to believe DIY stabled livery would cost £100-£125 month in the midlands.
Any pointers and pit falls on this idea welcome.

Are you planning to buy some land and set everything up from scratch or to buy an existing business with everything in place?

There's a business up for sale near me in Bedfordshire if you wanted the latter.

[5LDC]

eltawater said:

Are you planning to buy some land and set everything up from scratch or to buy an existing business with everything in place?

There's a business up for sale near me in Bedfordshire if you wanted the latter.

Some useful info so far, thanks.
It will be to take over an existing Business, do you have a link for the Bedfordshire site ? will be an interesting comparison.

[eltawater]

5LDC said:

eltawater said:

Are you planning to buy some land and set everything up from scratch or to buy an existing business with everything in place?

There's a business up for sale near me in Bedfordshire if you wanted the latter.

Some useful info so far, thanks.
It will be to take over an existing Business, do you have a link for the Bedfordshire site ? will be an interesting comparison.

I've popped you a pm with the link.

[The jiffle king]

I have 15 acres and 5 stables and might be able to answer any questions you have

Some things to think about:
What is the soil and what does it look like in winter after rain?
8 horses and 5 acres is very tight depending on the soil type. An acre per horse would be tight in my opinion
Where will they exercise the horse? Any bridleways or ménage close by?
You need space for feed and ack. For 5 horses this could easily be 2-3 stables
How much hard standing is there?
Any space to park as on DIY livery people can come down at the same time
Be very careful who you take in. We only take friends and people who are highly recommended by those friends. I know of people who have been dumped with a horse
Are the pipes lagged for the cold weather?
Auto water feeders?
Is the fencing in good condition? And the gates?

Any questions just me a PM or reply and I might be able to help

Edited by The jiffle king on Thursday 9th January 21:18

[N8CYL]

We have 45 acres and 29 horses. The extra acreage is to rest the land and move the horses around to keep good quality grass. 8 horses on 5 acres is tough going on the horses and the land. As said before when it rains what is the land like? Mud will be everywhere.
We charge £70.00 full livery per week. Hay and straw is included as grow our own. Horse owners are very particular and can be very demanding on your time. Plus security is a must. Who looks after the horses when your not there? People are always nervous that horses will get stolen.
It's profitable but more so with more horses.

[48k]

5LDC said:

Having done the BTL route over recent years and now having sold up for various reasons, I'm looking for alternative investments to generate an income.
Currently looking into the idea of purchasing 5 acres for equestrian use along with 8 stables, with water on site.
Knowing absolutely nothing regarding horses am I mad to be even considering this?
My limited research so far leaves me to believe DIY stabled livery would cost £100-£125 month in the midlands.
Any pointers and pit falls on this idea welcome.

TBH 5 acres isn't much - rule of thumb would be an acre per horse. You've got to be able to rest and rotate fields or they will get trashed.
The other rule of thumb is that to make a small fortune in the horse world start off with a large one.

[48k]

eltawater said:

There's a business up for sale near me in Bedfordshire if you wanted the latter.

Would be interested in a link to this too please.

[eltawater]

48k said:

Would be interested in a link to this too please.

I've sent you a pm.

[Simond S]

5 acres doesn't seem a lot for 8 horses.

We work on 2 acres per horse, anything less and your fields get trashed and you spend a lot more on hay.

As a business model the stables livery yards always seem to underestimate the cost of maintenance. Electric fences constantly need attention, the liveries themselves will leave a tap on ruining a chalk floor, or leave a gate / stable door / tack room open causing damage.

Feed, water and power are the variables. Try as you might once you open the yard others will care less about your costs than you do. Leave lights on, heaters on, taps trickling, and attack the hay like it is a last supper. Maintenance is the kicker but if you intend to do this yourself it makes it bearable. (Or have 1 full time old boy managing things for you).

[POORCARDEALER]

Horsey people can be a very strange lot (we have horses ) and there is always some sort of drama occurring in livery yards.

I don't think 5 acres is anything like enough for 8 horses, as said the and will need resting and rotating'

Other thing to consider many horse owners only want one other horse in the field with their own

[48k]

POORCARDEALER said:

there is always some sort of drama occurring in livery yards.

Because wimmins.

Women are mad. Add horses to women and it cranks the madness factor up to level 11.

I have the Eastenders opening drums in my head pretty much every horse related conversation with Mrs 48K.

[PushedDover]

48k said:

POORCARDEALER said:

there is always some sort of drama occurring in livery yards.

Because wimmins.

Women are mad. Add horses to women and it cranks the madness factor up to level 11.

I have the Eastenders opening drums in my head pretty much every horse related conversation with Mrs 48K.

Agreed. But I would say that a good yard , is a 'service' business. Keep the womenfolk happy is all you can aim for. The Ex used to pay circa £450 a month to keep the horse in a very average place without full turnout and a small menage.

I'd be up for owning a yard, but have no interests in Horses - but it would be very much a 'keep them happy' requirement. A straw will break a camels back and spread like wildfire.