Stables & Paddocks

Bring your horse on Holiday

There are two purpose built wooden stables available, plus a tack & feed room adjacent for your use. The floor area of the largest box is is 13ft 5in by 11ft 3in (4.1m x 3.5m), whilst the other measures 13ft 5in by 9ft 6in (4.1m x 2.9m). The partition between the stable boxes has a window so the horses can see each other. The two stable doors are 5ft high and 3ft 10 in wide (1.5m x 1.15m, with no top door. The stables have a high apex ceiling. There is no mains lighting but does have skylights in the roof. Both stables have a hay-net/tethering ring. The floors are rubber matting laid on soil and are suitable for all types of bedding.

There is an outside tap to fill water buckets. A hose is provided for washing down your horse. A mucking out barrow, forks and broom etc are available. There are mains sockets and electric lights in the tack/feed room. You can either provide your own bedding or let me know your requirements in advance and I can supply at cost. Similarly, if you also require hay and/or feed, this can also be arranged with sufficiant notice.

Leading out from the stables there is a sand paddock area of approximately 25ft x 21ft (7.7m x 6.4m), which is fenced with wooden post and rail. This area has previously been used for my Welsh Cob who was always over weight! It is an area where your horse can wander about, whilst having access to the stables to shelter from sun or rain, or munch hay. The sand paddock area has two main entrances and are wide enough for a horse drawn vehicle to enter by. The primary entrance is a wooden gate leading in from the car park, whilst the other, is made up of two sliding bars leading out into the first of the three grass paddocks. There is a third small pedestrian gate giving human only access into the stable yard from the cottage garden.

The first paddock is suitable as a small grazing, lunging, or warm up paddock and is closest to the cottage. It is fenced on one side with post and rail, whilst the other sides have line wire, trees and hedging. There is an open ditch running partly along one edge. This paddock can be observed from the windows at the front and side of the cottage, as well as from the garden.

From the first paddock you can cross our footpath into the second larger turnout paddock. This is lined with trees, hedging and a small amount of well kept barbed wire. This is the paddock most easily observed from the upstairs windows to the front of the cottage. There is a mains water tap along the footpath with a hose connection for filling the large water bins provided in each paddock.

The third paddock is the largest area and is fenced all round with Kiwi Horse fencing. Three of the sides are 5ft (1.5m) high, whilst the cottage side with the main entrance is 4ft 3in (1.3m) high. There is a water tap with hose close by to fill water containers in the area. Mature trees surround the field on the outside of the fencing, creating shade and wind breaks. The main gate-way has double galvanised gates and large vehicles can drive into the field to unload the horses in a safe enclosed area. There are no public roads nearby making this a safe and happy environment for grazing.

From the entrance track leading up to Field Cottage, you can ride straight out into the forest. Here you will find miles of trails with many varied surroundings to explore in blissful peace and quiet. If you want to go even further afield, our country lanes are very quiet and can take you to different villages and/or bridleways. A local Ordinance Survey map is provided in the cottage to help you plan your routes.

A riding or trekking holiday in the Winter, Spring & Autumn is wonderful here, as the going in the forest and country tracks is sand based with little or no mud. The weather can be very good, with the lowest rainfall in the country and the countryside is not busy. Even on the rare occasions when the temperature gets chilly, the days are mostly bright and cheerful. There are also no or few horsefly's during these seasons and we don't see the biting forest flies which we do have during the summer weeks.

However, the Summer is great riding too, so long as you are prepared to deal with the fly issue successfully. The only deterrent I have used with real success is the Boett Sweet Itch, all over blanket. So I would recommend the Winter, Spring or Autumn season for the most fun, peace and independence with your horse. But of course it is up to you as the designer of your holiday, so enjoy!