Stables etc

The Creation of Our Stables & Paddocks

Over the years, we came to learn that our wee field had no drainage as the pipes had accidentally been uplifted when there was a crop of Potatoes growing in it! This, in turn, created a problem not only for us, but for the previous tenants who also kept ponies in it. We Know of 5 people to date prior to us renting the field who couldn't cope thus moving on.

Determined not to let this beat us, given that it affects the entire field, we made the use of strip grazing that we added over the years, followed by a wintering area with steel gates erected at the stable block with drainpipes fitted to the front, back and side of the stables which would help to eliminate the terrible mud accumulation due to the rain sitting and the ponies then churning up the ground. The above photo shows paddock 1 that was sectioned off for winter with access to the stables, leaving our other paddocks to rest so we at least had some grass to turn them on to come Spring.

Every effort has been taken in our project to ensure minimal disruption to neighbours, our landlord and those visiting by devising a system for keeping manure and any odours out of the way - this system can be viewed below in the photo archives. Measures to keep the stagnant mud at bay in winter is an all year round maintenance job which we strive hard to keep, this in turn, allowing neighbours and visitors to have a pleasant, enjoyable outlook from the boundaries of their cottages / our paddocks.

Keeping ponies is hard work, and entails not only tending to them, but tending to the confines in which they are kept to maintain their welfare and wellbeing which is paramount.

Not the most pleasant of places to be, confined to a sectioned area of a paddock knee deep in stinking mud with stable access but it was better than having the entire field churned to mud due to no drainage.

We did this for 3 yrs but it all became too much having to roll the mud flat by hand with a heavy iron roller, then re-seed with grass every year. We felt we were fighting a losing battle - hence our next plan of action was to make a smaller area with metal gates so we could confine the ponies in the worst of weather which in turn would save the ground.

This is where our wee field benefits from having small ponies graze on it. Its not suitable by any means for larger horses.

Winter 2015 / 2016

preparations now in place

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Manure Container	Lifting the full bag out	Lifting the full bag out
Lifting the full bag out	On its way to be used as fertiliser	On its way to be used as fertiliser
On its way to be used as fertiliser	On its way to be used as fertiliser	Cleaning out & sanitising
Fresh liner in	Ready to fill up again	Blank Canvas Posts in place for paddocks
Paddock 1 Finished with electric roping	Paddock 2 Finished with electric roping	Paddock 3 Finished with electric roping
Paddock 4 John (Hubby) working to finish paddock 4	Ice Paddock Ice paddock finished	Stable Block Before modifications With Gardener Bills hanging baskets up
Stable Block Bungee gates now added for Samson	Samsons little kingdom	Samsons little kingdom
Tie up Tie up	Samsons nameplate	Leos nameplate
Hudsons nameplate	Before the next alterations	Windbreaker in place
Windbreaker in place	Windbreaker in place	Hudsons Overhang
Windbreaker & Overhang finished	Windbreaker & Overhang finished	16b.jpg
Inside Stable clearing the glass fragments and prepping the floor	Inside Stable clearing the glass fragments and prepping the floor	Inside Stable Lining now down
Inside Stable 5 Interlocking stable mats at Hudsons stable	Inside Stable 3 rubber stable mats for Leos stable	Sitting area before modifications
Breeze blocks in place	Breeze blocks in place	Breeze blocks in place
Breeze blocks in place	Bro delivering my wood	Bro delivering my wood
Bro delivering my wood	Framework	Framework
Door & Windows in place	Door & Windows in place	Door & Windows in place
Door & Windows in place	Door & Windows in place	Door & Windows in place
Door & Windows in place	Summer house finished	Summer house finished
Summer house finished	Summer house finished	Metal backing on stables
Metal backing on stables	Metal backing on stables	Arrival of workmen Mike Keith & Bruce Forfar
Arrival of workmen Mike Keith & Bruce Forfar	Arrival of workmen Mike Keith & Bruce Forfar	Arrival of workmen Mike Keith & Bruce Forfar
Arrival of workmen Mike Keith & Bruce Forfar	Arrival of workmen Mike Keith & Bruce Forfar	3 Stable gates being put in
3 Stable gates being put in	3 Stable gates being put in	3 Stable gates being put in
3 Stable gates being put in	3 Stable gates being put in	3 Stable gates being put in
3 Stable gates being put in Finished	Stable gates being put in Finished	Stable gates being put in Finished
3 Stable gates being put in Finished	3 Stable gates being put in Finished	Top metal entry gate being put in
Top metal entry gate being put in	Top metal entry gate being put in Finished with gate signs added	Start of fence Erection of fence back to back with cottage fence
Fence Erection of fence back to back with cottage fence	Fence Erection of fence back to back with cottage fence	Fence Finished
Fence Finished	Fence Finished	Fence Finished
Arrival of joiner Ken Reid	Ken Reid Joiner Cutting overhang of roof metal sheeting	Ken Reid Joiner Cutting overhang of roof metal sheeting
Ken Reid Joiner Cutting overhang of roof metal sheeting	John Roft (Hubby) Putting guttering up	Guttering Putting guttering up
Guttering Guttering finished	Tree Pretty but dangerous if it falls on the stables in high winds / storms	Tree Pretty but dangerous if it falls on the stables in high winds / storms
Tree Pretty but dangerous if it falls on the stables in high winds / storms	Tree Pretty but dangerous if it falls on the stables in high winds / storms	Digger arrival For tree removal
Scott Murray Attaching strapping to tree digger	Tree Last photo of her standing tall and proud	Tree Over she goes gently. Sad to see it away but it was far too tall and dangerous
Tree A new Look to the stable block