Putting a Stable in Your Garden: What You Need to Know

Do you need planning permission for a stable in your garden?

The rules depend on your property, where you want to place the stable and how the land is currently used. Keeping horses on land can also involve a change of use in some circumstances.

Speak to your local planning authority about what you're planning before spending money on your new stable. 

You can also read our guide to planning permission for stables and field shelters for more information.

Can you keep a horse on your property?

Yes, if you have enough suitable land, keeping your horse at home can be a great option. You'll have your horse close by, won't need to make daily trips to a livery yard and can set up the space to suit the way you look after them.

But having enough room for a stable is only part of it. You'll also need to think about turnout, grazing, water, drainage, storage and access.

Before you decide, ask yourself whether you have enough space to look after your horse comfortably year-round, including during wet winter months when the ground may be harder to manage.

How much land does a horse need?

As a general guide, the British Horse Society recommends around 1-1.5 acres of permanent grazing per horse.

How much land you'll actually need depends on your horse, the quality of the grazing, soil and drainage and how you manage the land. 

If you have more than one horse, you'll also need enough space to prevent the ground from becoming overgrazed or badly poached.

Choose the right place for your stable

Where you put your stable can make a big difference to how easy it is to use throughout the year.

If possible, avoid low-lying areas that are likely to get wet or boggy. Choose well-drained ground to help keep the stable and the area around it drier in wet weather.

Think about access too. You'll need to get hay, bedding and other supplies to the stable, and you may need access for larger vehicles from time to time.

Keeping the stable reasonably close to your turnout can also make moving your horse between the two much easier.

Choose the right stable

Once you've worked out whether keeping a horse on your property is a practical option, you can start thinking about the stable itself.

There are a few questions worth asking:

• What size stable does your horse need?
• Do you want a fixed or mobile stable?
• Where will you keep tack, feed, hay and bedding?
• Will you need groundworks or a base?
• Can you easily get water and electricity to the stable?
• Do you eventually plan on keeping more than one horse?
• Do you have space to expand your stable block later?

Thinking about these things now can save you having to change your setup later.

At Colt Stables, we offer standard 12ft x 12ft stables as well as larger 14ft x 12ft boxes for bigger horses.

Is keeping your horse at home practical?

Having your horse outside your back door sounds ideal, but remember that you'll be responsible for everything that a livery yard would normally help provide.

Think about where you'll store hay, feed and bedding, and how you'll get them delivered. You'll also need somewhere suitable for your muck heap and a plan for removing or managing manure.

Make sure you have easy access to fresh water and enough secure storage for tack and equipment. Good lighting is worth thinking about too, especially during winter when you'll often be at the stable in the dark.

It's also worth planning for times when you're away or can't look after your horse yourself. Having someone nearby who can step in when needed can make keeping your horse at home much easier.

Build your stable with Colt Stables

Whether you need a single stable or want to create a larger block with space for tack, feed and hay, Colt Stables can help you plan a setup around the space you have available.

Our timber stables come in a range of sizes and layouts, with options to customise your building around your horse and the way you'll use it.

Take a look at our timber stables and mobile stables, or contact the Colt Stables team to talk through your plans.