[caz]

I'm looking to get a mobile field shelter for my 2 horses who have recently moved onto our field that we have been getting ready for them. I'm a bit confused.  We receive single payment scheme money from the rural payments people, Does this mean that my field is agricutural land? If i get the horses a field shelter can the council insist i change the field to equestrian and would this in turn stop our single payment scheme?
The horses will be grazing through the summer and have hay in winter that was cut from our field.

[RUSTYME]

all you need do ,if they were to ever question it , is say they are working horses . You can even have proper stables up for working horses . There is nothing to say that working horses can only work either !! they can do whatever you want to do with them . Welsh mountain ponies or even shetland ponies can be workers  !! , doesn't just have to relate to shires etc .

cheers

Russ

[old ploughman]

One of the important bits is the fact that you mainly feed them hay that is made on your land.

[Brucklay]

Sorry that this is not actually related to the post - but how do you get or what qualifies anyone to get "single payment scheme money from the rural payments people" - every penny counts these day and maybe just maybe I could get an extra few quid!! thank you

[doganjo]

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmmanage/singlepay/

The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) is the principal agricultural subsidy scheme in the European Union. Under the scheme farmers have greater freedom to farm to the demands of the market as subsidies are no longer linked to production, and environmentally friendly farming practices (known as cross compliance) are better acknowledged

Note
The information on the Single Payment Scheme applies to England only - for information on the scheme in the other parts of the United Kingdom, contact the appropriate Devolved Administration.

Devolved Administration - for us in Scotland
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture

[Roxy]

My land is registered as an agricultural holding - 13 acres used just for cattle.  The other 8 acres, is goats and horses.  The problem does arise if you put in for planning permission (we have to for any building, wooden or otherwise here due to National Parks, areas of beauty etc. etc.)

Horses are domestic animals, and therefore when planning is requested for a stable etc. you have to change the use.  If you are able to put up a field shelter without any planning, then  that should be ok and you can keep your land in the classification it is.  A mobile sheter can be moved, so should be ok.

But, out of interest, is there anything in the "rules" to say you can/cannot actually keep horses on land you are claiming the payment on?  From what my neighbour told me, who has sheep etc., she said she did not persue the single payment scheme because of her horses being on some of the land?  I have to say I have never tried to claim it, so don't know the answer to this.

[RUSTYME]

I don't know if it applies to all planning departments Roxy , but I was told by a planning officer ? , that you don't need planning or to apply change of use for a stable for a horse if ? it is a working horse .  I had asked if I needed planning for a stable ( knowing full well you did and that I wouldn't get it !!) , and he said yes if it was a for a pleasure horse , but not if a working one..ie ploughing or used in some way to work the land . I said would that include pulling a stone boat ? and he said yes (after I had explained what that was !! ) .
 Maybe they have changed the rules , or it may be different where you are ? Maybe worth asking though  ( without mentioning where exactly your land is , or your name !! )

cheers
Russ

[old ploughman]

There is a discussion on British Farming Forum at the moment which has the relevant information you need 

http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=37112

[caz]

I take it that only agricultural land is eligible for single payment scheme?  What if someone has a mixture of working horses and  retired or pleasure horses, is the land then agricultural or equine?
I'm reluctant to speak to the council over planning matters as they dont seem to be able to give any advice verbally. The last time I made an enquiry about possibly building a fixed shelter it took them 3 months to respond. I was so mad considering it was just an enquiry and not an application. So i think i will go ahead with the mobile shelter and just see what happens.