To buy a copy of our advisory 2012 Horse Pasture calendar please visit the Horse Pasture Management Calendar page.
The purpose of this guidance is to encourage the owners of arenas and other exercise equipment to think of the impact their activities my have on the landscape. Horses can have an enormously beneficial impact on the countryside but conversely, poor management can create unsightly areas locally. Please be aware that the information on this page is available with pictures as a PDF at the end of the page.
Surrey is a beautiful county, with over 25% having been designated the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is a landscape of national importance. Also much of the county is designated as Green Belt, where there is a presumption against inappropriate development. Horses and ponies can have a noticeable effect on the landscape, and it is up to their owners and keepers to ensure that this effect is a positive one! The cumulative effect of stables, exercise areas, tracks and hardstandings can be intrusive in the countryside and unattractive on urban fringes. Exercise equipment includes everything from a few cavalletti (adjustable timber jumps) in the field to a 60m x 40m grand prix dressage arena. As well as riding arenas or manèges, some larger yards may have horse walkers, treadmills and pens.
If you are considering introducing a permanent exercise area on a piece of land you may need to obtain planning permission. The use of a field for any activity, other than pure grazing, is classed as development requiring planning permission. In addition, some planning authorities have introduced another layer of control, (known as Article 4 Directions) that remove permitted development rights. This may mean that the usual right to erect fences and other minor structures cannot be undertaken without first obtaining planning permission. It is always good practice therefore to seek the advice of the local planning authority before undertaking any changes to the use of land or any physical alterations, including ground levelling, which is classed as an engineering operation.
If you are submitting a planning application it is important to provide a justification for what you are doing and to design the proposals in a way that indicates that you have considered the environmental and landscape impact. For example, all weather riding areas may be more acceptable if they are unenclosed and have a surface material that is in keeping with the surrounding area. You may be able to show that new facilities can protect pastureland from being damaged by regularly exercising horses and will take the pressure off the local rights of way network, particularly in the winter months when tracks become muddy. Any proposal will stand a better chance of success if it is set within a good and environmentally sensitive plan for the management of the land. If you can offer environmental gains, such as additional landscaping, for example, this could be helpful.
The landscape of Surrey is sensitive to even small changes and the planning controls are there to ensure that adequate protection is given to its special character. For example, fencing small areas of land is often out of character with areas of Surrey's open landscape, and so permanent riding areas may be unacceptable for this reason, particularly in the Green Belt. Indoor riding schools are generally unacceptable in the Green Belt, as government planning policy considers that they are not essential for outdoor sport or recreation. Within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, councils will exercise even stricter control over development.
It is usually necessary to have a level site, with a one-degree fall, in order to assist drainage. On sloping sites a 'cut and fill' operation will be undertaken. Most of Surrey's local planning authorities would generally rather not see the excess soil from an area mounded up around the sides of the manège as this creates a very artificial landscape. Drainage will vary from site to site. Without a professional drainage system, the surface of a manège can quickly become as poor as the field it replaces. This drainage will probably have to include lateral French drains and possibly drains around the perimeter, which run away to a soak-away or ditch. On most sites a membrane will be laid which will help to stabilise and seal the sub soil. This will also separate the soil from the sub base material. The sub base is a layer of limestone, or clean concrete rubble, which is then compacted.
Whatever type of surface you choose, from the many now on the market, it is most important not to economise on the underlying ground preparation and drainage. The final top surface can easily be upgraded but if the arena drains badly, the only cure is to redo the whole works.
A good quality, well erected perimeter fence not only provides an important safety barrier, but is also the most prominent feature visually. Because of this it is important to give consideration to the materials used. In many situations, hedges containing a mix of native species is the best boundary treatment, perhaps supplemented with a fence while it becomes established and protected from damage by horses. A timber post and rail fence, stained in a dark colour will blend in to its surroundings effectively as well as being a safe, solid fence. White fencing is not appropriate in a rural or countryside setting and draws attention to any new artificial ground levels. Remember that any fence over 1m in height, adjacent to the highway generally needs to have planning consent granted, and any fence over 2m high elsewhere needs planning permission.
External lighting can make any site appear prominent in the countryside. Too much light can cause 'light pollution' which spoils other people's appreciation of the night sky as well as affecting wildlife. Some specialist firms can provide good, low impact lights, but as with floodlights on tennis courts, most planning authorities would rather not see external lighting except safety lighting. Planning permission will generally be required for new floodlighting around an existing exercise area.
These are usually specialist pieces of equipment used by professionals such as racehorse trainers or professional riders. Treadmills are generally kept indoors and so do not impact on the landscape, whereas pens and horse walkers can look artificial in the landscape and need to be carefully sited. As with other buildings, consideration should be given to materials used for the construction of horse walkers and pens. Ideally materials should be as dark as possible, brown blends in better than an artificial green, and white should be avoided as it is an unnatural colour in the landscape.
As erecting exercise equipment may involve "the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over, or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of buildings or land" planning permission must be granted by your local planning authority before construction or erection is started.
Pens can be used for a variety of purposes, such as a small exercise area or just to restrict the grazing of a horse or pony. A complete pen can consist of 11 panels of steel mesh, each 2.1m (7') high x 2.4 (8') wide, plus one similar size gate section making up into a ring 10m (30') in diameter. The surface of treadmills, horse walkers and pens may vary from concrete with rubber matting, through to just compacted earth. As with riding areas, the surface will depend on the level of use expected from the equipment.
If jumps are used in a turnout field or paddock, they should be immediately removed and stored after use for several good reasons. Leaving them in the same places creates poached and worn areas, where the grass is spoilt and only weeds grow back. Jumps may also injure your horse or pony, particularly if they are trodden on. Storing jumps under cover makes them last longer and keeps your holding looking well managed and clear of clutter. If jumps are needed every day, in permanent exercise areas, they should be well screened with native trees and shrubs, which not only benefit your countryside, but also give shelter from wind and driving rain in bad weather.
As with many activities that horse and pony owners carry out in the countryside, the construction of exercise areas and exercise equipment makes a significant change to local areas. It is up to those involved to prevent changes from being unsightly and ensure that they are appropriate additions to the local scenery.
Well kept horses and ponies, in a well-managed landscape can have a positive effect on the countryside.
The advice note is also available in a PDF version by following the link below.
Horse Pasture Management Project advice note
http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/?a=200861
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Copyright © 2012 Surrey County Council
