law on having horses in back garden in city

Errata

There are quite recent new laws covering the conditions animals can be kept in and I don't think a back garden for horses, or even one horse, will meet them. Something about sufficient room for the animal to exercise itself.

orlao

Errata wrote: »

There are quite recent new laws covering the conditions animals can be kept in and I don't think a back garden for horses, or even one horse, will meet them. Something about sufficient room for the animal to exercise itself.

I agree!!!!!:D

countrygirl27

Hi!
I keep horses myself out in the country and work with them. This idea sounds like madness to me! Just because they are small doesn't mean they don't require as much space! Roughly horses need about an acre each to graze. I have a horse, a large pony and a child's pony and they have a field of approx 2.5 acres as well as stables to live in. A 10m x 10 m plot is nowhere near big enough for a horse to exercise, riding schools have menages which are used to exercise horses in confined areas and these are usually around 40 x 20 m or bigger! Also they will churn a small area into mud during the winter and make it bald of grass in the summer which means they will need feeding from another food source most of which will come from hay. This will need to be stored somewhere. I have a shed which is 2m x 4m and I can store about 3 weeks supply of hay in that. So the shed would take up even more of the room and the ponies will eat them out of house and home! Also where is the muck heap going to go? My muck heap is about 6m x 4m and 2m high. These are a FIRE HAZARD! I know it sounds daft but they can catch fire on their own! I knwo that there are definitely laws about how close you can have a muck heap to buildings, particularly residential buildings because of the fire risk! Also most ponies will not enjoy being exercised in the city. People forget that they are a flight animal and their reaction to anything frightening or unusual is to run away. Even small ponies are much stronger than people think, thats why they used to haul coal out of mines instead of men.

Thats my rant over, it seems like a daft idea to me. If you wanna stop them living there, I think the muck heap law is a good way to go!

JennyW_2

scope wrote: »

I have called the council, waiting for them to call me back..

Its not for me, btw, its our neighbour who has decided they might get horses, something I am not very keen on for obvious reasons.. I just want to get confirmation you cant do such a thing in the middle of a housing estate, just to rest my mind.

I like animals, but I would not want to live next to a house with horses in the garden.

that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard :eek: One plot of land isn't enough. You need to rotate fields in order to rest them and fertilise them. Can you imagine this piece of land in the winter months if it's not given a chance to rest? The horse will be 2ft deep in mud. I assume shavings or straw would be used as bedding in the shelter? Well that'll blow all over your garden and I can just imagine how big the muck heap will get???? Once all the grass in the gone then the horse will no doubt break out in an attempt to find food. It's a cruel idea if you ask me.

I've had horses all my life and horses need to be kept in proper circumstances

Chesnut1

I would report them to the RSPCA and or get up a petition to stop this act of cruelty before it begins. There is no way any pony let a lone a horse could be kept in this situation. I am sick and tired of parents pandering to the wants of the child over the welfare of tha animal:mad:

Bromley86

Couldn't find anything regarding Swindon, but North Cornwall DC have an excellent page for you:

http://www.ncdc.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=25917

Key part:

Stables in Gardens

It is rarely appropriate to keep horses in a garden unless that area is very large. Stables, paddocks and manure heaps should be kept as far away as possible from adjoining residential properties to avoid causing distress to occupants who do not share an enthusiasm for horses. Stables should be sited at least 30 meters from the nearest adjoining dwelling and there should be a minimum area of ½ an acre where horses can be safely turned for exercise without reaching into the neighbour's garden. It is not normally appropriate to keep more than two horses in a garden area unless that area is very large.

Of course, whether this means that there is some common guidance behind this page or whether it is a local Cornwall thing I don't know.

scope

I have spoken to a very nice lady in the Animal Walfare department and she said they are unable to stop somebody having a horse in the garden; however, planning permission might be needed for the stable and they were unlikely to get this she said (considering the location of the house). They wouldnt really get involved until the horses becomes a problem (smell, noise, etc).

She did say she thought it was a ridiculous idea, however most of the protection/action they could offer was after the horses had been bought.

She did mention RSPCA as first port of call if they indeed did get horses.

I am pleased to see the reponse this thread has been getting though, and the fact that most people agree with me that this is a ridiculous idea.

I guess time will tell if they go ahead with the idea.. I certainly hope not, both for the horses and our neighbourhood.

JennyW_2

scope wrote: »

I guess time will tell if they go ahead with the idea.. I certainly hope not, both for the horses and our neighbourhood.

can you not print off our replies and put in through their letterbox they'll soon get the message.

Errata

I guess time will tell if they go ahead with the idea.. I certainly hope not, both for the horses and our neighbourhood.

The second you hear the pitter patter of tiny hooves call the RSPCA. Your neighbours will be breaking every Animal Welfare law in the book.

sarahh56

Just seen this, what a crazy idea, I'm in Swindon too, hope they are not near me!

Good luck and hope your neighbour changes their mind.