What are the problems with this that I'm missing?

[Moreisnnogedag]

I'm not sure why but I'm pretty sure that I'm overlooking a big problem and wondered if anyone could help.

We've just moved to a rural village into a place with fields. Out and about with DS he met two men and when they found out which place we owned one of the men asked if we'd be interested in renting one of our paddocks to him as he's bought a horse in foal and doesn't want to move her until she's foaled.

Apparently the previous owners rented the smaller paddock to him (they also owned horses). We aren't planning to do anything with this field this year.

We've checked with our insurance company, our own livestock insurance would cover someone else's horse. We would have his vets details (and of course would check that his vet would be billing him) and his brother is the farmer on one of our bordering farms.

What am I overlooking?

[Moreisnnogedag]

Oh the horse was with the men. It was in good condition and appeared well looked after.

[mrslaughan]

Hhhmmmm I am sure those that know better will be along soon, however there was a thread awhile ago, where someone bought a house , where some locals were grazing a horse...they had terrible trouble getting rid of them......

Also my understanding is that if it's on your land, ultimately it's your responsibility as to welfare....

[Moreisnnogedag]

Yeah that was my concern too. What I'm not especially keen on is ending up feeling (and actually being legally) responsible for someone else's horses.

[Pixel]

Well in the other thread the horse was there when the OP moved in (had been promised on viewing house that horse would be gone) so it was sort of an 'inherited' situation, not the same at all. For a start there was no contract or lease or anything and the people weren't even paying rent or for water iirc. Basically they were squatters!
I'm sure there are some things that could go wrong but that doesn't mean they will. People rent out fields all the time, luckily or most of us here wouldn't have anywhere to keep our horses! Could you perhaps ask them to supply some references? Or maybe ring the previous owners yourself? It sounds as if they are known in the area and not just passing through.
If you do decide to go ahead take a deposit (we paid a month's rent plus we pay a month in advance) on the understanding that if there is any damage to fencing etc when they leave you will keep the deposit to pay for repairs.

[PoshPenny]

it could all be fine, but you might do better just settling in and getting to know people before renting your land to anyone, they may be ok, but then again they could be crazy psycho horse owners from hell. I had to move my mare the night before she foaled due to adverse weather conditions, not ideal but it was an emergency and everything was perfectly ok, so don't be guilt tripped into thinking its a disaster waiting to happen.

[Pixel]

True. I did wonder why they were so worried about moving the mare. People move pregnant mares all the time don't they?

[Floralnomad]

I'd be very suspicious of why he wants to rent your field if his brother has the farm next door - does he not have fields ?

[Moreisnnogedag]

Ah sorry got back late from work. more info from DH who got wrong end of stick, typically not paying attention. They popped round. They own the house down the way, not the attached fields. The farmer they were renting off wants to put the land back to use.

The ponies are their daughters and they are trying to keep the ponies local so they can see/ride them regularly. They actually live round the corner from us. They have insurance for them and can give us their vets number.

I'm actually very relieved and feel a bit 'towny'. I think I'm still stuck in that suspicious London mindset.

[Floralnomad]

I still wouldn't do it ,come the winter your fields may well end up trashed .Do you have stabling/ shelters in the fields and a water supply / electric .

[PoshPenny]

So I Am now wondering why they are not offering the farmer as a reference... My guess is he's fed up with them and doesn't want the hassle anymore. I really wouldn't rent the fields to them until you know more. what kind of insurance have they got, and frankly what has giving you the vets phone number got to do with anything, I can't see how that will help you in any way?

[PoshPenny]

When is this foal due, ideally foals are born in the spring and then are weaned any time from 4 months on. bit late in the year to be having a foal now. these days one tends not to ride the mare whilst she has a foal at foot, so they wouldn't be able to ride her, only see her in that time.

[britnay]

How much land do you have?
What is the fencing like?
Is there a water supply to the field?
How many horses do they in tend to put on the land?
How much is he offering to pay you?
Do you have facilities e.g. stable for foaling in?
How would you feel about these people staying on your land overnight whilst on foal-watch duty (as mares generally foal at night, you would need someone there overnight to keep an eye on her, assist if need be or possibly call a vet)?
Do they have experience with foaling?

[britnay]

Oh, and is his horse insured? Especially for 3rd party and vets fees.

[Moreisnnogedag]

Horse insured and I wanted vets number so that if I had concerns I could call their own bet directly. There is a shelter on land used by previous owners horse. She did have two horses on here previously. Fencing sound all round. Our own insurance separately covers us for damage to fencing and 3rd party liability too.

It's a separate paddock to the rest of our land (backing onto barn) which is about 2/3rds of an acre. I have no idea as their foaling experience - will ask. I'm waiting for the previous owners to email me back - I've asked them for a reference.

[Zazzles007]

Tbh, I wouldn't do it if I were in your situation. You don't know these people, and the first thing they do is rock up to you and ask you for an enormous favour on land that you have just bought? Sod that for a joke. There are so many things that could go wrong in this scenario that I can't even begin to articulate. Just tell them "No, we have only just moved in and would like some time to settle into our property before we add any sort of extra pressure like x number of horses/ponies boarding on our land. And even before that, as inexperienced with horses as we are, we don't even know if we want horses boarding on our land."

Google "bad horse boarders" and you will get loads of bad boarding stories both from the property owners/managers side and the other side.

[todayisnottheday]

The land they want to rent is 2/3 of an acre? If they are wanting to move multiple ponies onto it then it will be trashed over winter. It's not really even enough for 1. Then there's maintenance, will they poo pick? (If they don't the land will sour in no time) are you up for enforcing things like that? Two or more ponies on a tiny field will need doing daily rain or shine.

Their hard luck story is not your problem. If you feel for them now imagine how you'll feel when you want the land back and you are actively contributing to the dc having their ponies moved away! Honestly, I'd steer well clear.

[Moreisnnogedag]

Hmm thanks. I think this does seem more hassle than it's worth. Will let them know. Shame because we really need that grass bringing down!

[todayisnottheday]

Ask around for a farmer with sheep or cows if your grass needs eating, much less hassle

[higgle]

We inherited a horsey lodger when we moved into our old house. it worked very well for us as the horse's owner kept an eye on our house when we were away, became a great friend and when we got our own horses later on we used to horse sit for each other when we were away. Not always a negative thing. ( the "rent" used to buy us a pub meal onece a month at a time we had no spare cash which was nice too!)

[frostyfingers]

Offer your grazing to a farmer with sheep (not cattle as they can do much more damage to wet ground) and in return get him to cut your hedges, check the fencing and keep it "topped" (mown so that thistles and other weeds don't get out of hand).

Maybe next spring when you're feeling more settled you could look into renting to someone with horses, but although it's probably entirely innocent this just sounds as though you're being pushed into something a bit too quickly. Remember, it's your land!

[ShitStickSugar]

I did much the same to someone as has been done to you. Moving to a new area and needing grazing for our horse. We were desperate so ended up paying 2 times the norm round here. We let the lady ride our horse and she was lovely. We looked after the field. Unfortunately we had to move the horse after a few months because he was lonely.