Do I need Planning Permission for Mobile Field Shelters?

The short answer should be “NO” but it’s not quite as straightforward as that and you need to ensure that you have dotted all the "i's" and crossed all of the "t's" before assuming that you don’t need planning permission and also ideally before plonking your field shelter in said field.

The heart of the matter perhaps lies within the word “mobile”, for if your shelter is truly that – “mobile” then in most cases it is likely to be exempt from planning permission. However, if any ground works have been carried out in order to situate your shelter, then this is an altogether different matter and is much more likely to be subject to planning permission. If you cannot move your field shelter around the field or from one location to another, then it really isn't considered “mobile” at all!

What might the people in the planning regulations department be looking for when deciding whether your structure is indeed mobile or not? They might look for evidence that it has been moved on a fairly frequent basis (perhaps every 6-8 weeks). You are permitted to place your shelter on skids (steel or wooden). They will also require evidence that no ground works have been conducted in order for the shelter to function. Of course, the easiest way to sort it all out is to contact your local planning office and outline your intended plans to them – this will hopefully prevent any controversy further down the line.

Once you have overcome any potential planning hurdles, you will be free to enjoy all of the benefits that a mobile field shelter can deliver. You can move it around your field (or fields) into the best location depending on the season – you might want to avoid a quagmire in wetter, colder weather. You can also position your shelter so that it is largely sheltered from any inclement weather conditions.

Once again, however, if you are in any doubt whatsoever, we strongly advise anyone looking to build a mobile shelter to contact their local planning department in advance thus avoiding any chances of problems arising after the structure has been erected.

Please contact the team at Cheval Liberte for much more information regarding mobile field shelters.

Preparing for Horse Shows and Events with Temporary Stables

The summer months are a popular time to host various horse shows and events around the UK. With dressage, show jumping and a whole host of other equestrian based events taking place, you may be considering taking your horses to compete. If you are new to the equestrian world and wondering where you might be able to house the horses during the event in question, you will be pleased to know that help is at hand in the form of Cheval Liberte’s temporary stables.

Providing proper shelter and accommodation can ensure that the horses are truly the stars of the show. At Cheval Liberte we stock and supply what we call Hyppic Temporary Stables which only take a few minutes to assemble from their flat pack arrival.

They are fairly light in nature, whilst remaining strong and sturdy enough to keep your animals safe and secure, thanks to a galvanised steel framework. They are also pretty versatile and they can be set up either side by side or back to back, which can be particularly useful if you are travelling the country attending multiple shows and the available amount of installation space changes from venue to venue.

For lots more information about temporary stables, please visit the main Cheval Liberte website.

Cheval Liberte Alphabet - F & G

France - Of course, with a brand name like Cheval Liberte, you would expect France to figure somewhere, so it won’t surprise any of you to learn that the company was founded in France back in 1995. Neither will it surprise you to learn that “Cheval Liberte” (literally translated “horse freedom”) is passionate about horses and their well-being.  Primarily established to produce high quality stables, stalls and stable equipment, the company’s products can now be found and purchased in a whole host of countries, especially around Europe – Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg and Poland to name just some of them.

Gallery – Over on our main UK website, there are a vast array if images to go along with the products available but if you just want to get a better feel for how the products will look on site, then you could head straight over to our Cheval Liberte Gallery page, where you will be able to see stable doors, stable partitions as well as internal stables in situ. You can also check out the American barns and Hyppic temporary stables.

Tune in again next time, for another bite sized look at our Cheval Liberte alphabet – we are not even half way through yet!

Cheval Liberte Alphabet – B and C

In the first part of this blog series, we looked at Cheval Liberte via the letter A and our challenge was to bring you something relevant to the business for each letter of the alphabet. So, what have we managed to unearth for the letters “B” and “C”?

B

Blanket Racks – A Blanket rack does it exactly what it says on the tin! It’s essentially a rack or a bar that can fixed to your stable walls so that you can conveniently store your horse blankets. If the blankets have become wet, these racks also come in handy when trying to dry them.

C

Comfort – Comfort is a really important word at Cheval Liberte simply because all of our products are designed with the comfort of horses as the main priority. This is closely followed by issues like security etc. However, first and foremost we are passionate about horses, and their comfort and well being will be considered through each and every design decision. If horses are content, it actually makes the job of looking after them so much easier.

If you want to learn more about us, please visit our main website at www.cheval-liberte.co.uk and tune in next month for the next slice of our alphabet.

Who Are Cheval Liberte?

With an extraordinary passion for horses, Cheval Liberte began life in France 18 years ago with its primary goal to produce and supply stables, stable equipment and stalls that catered specifically to the needs of both the horses and their owners.

As riders and breeders, the owners are in the perfect position to understand the needs of both the animals and those that are tasked with taking care of them, as well as having an in depth knowledge of the wider equine world and industry.

In 2005, Cheval Liberte (UK) Ltd was established. They are now the sole importers of products from the Cheval Liberte brand and distribute those products in and around Great Britain and Ireland.

The comfort and security of horses is behind every design decision and development. A product that serves both the best interests of the animals and their owners is of the utmost importance as the company strive to produce a range of products that are skilfully designed and engineered.

Whether it’s temporary stables, American barns, internal stables or a range of accessories such as shutters, windows and doors, those hallmarks of quality will be present throughout.

You can learn lots more about the company and their products by visiting the main website at www.cheval-liberte.co.uk

American Barns Prove Popular in the UK

American barns are obviously synonymous with the United States – the clue is in the description, American. These massive barns can be seen dotted all around Midwestern towns. They are often painted a lovely red and have large wooden doors. The minute a visitor sees the magnificent structure one knows they are in horse riding territory and the horse rules.

Cheval Liberte knows how important horses are to their owners which is why the company, based in north Wales stocks American Barns. These are luxurious barns which will keep any horse in tip-top condition.

The famous structures are often used in television shows. If Dallas or Dynasty ever wanted to show horses in a stable it was always inside a grand American barn and not a timber lean-to.

Most recently Emmy winning series Homeland had a scene inside an impressive American barn. The scene was used to set up a conversation between lead actor Damian Lewis who plays Brody and a wealthy horse breeder wanting to finance a political party in the upcoming US election.

American barns lend themselves to large equestrian yards but Cheval Liberte’s products can be used for smaller projects too. There are a number of American barns to choose from including the Laminate and Manoir.

Available throughout the UK and Ireland, American Barns are growing in popularity. 'The Manoir' barn is a modular design which enables customers to have an unlimited number of bays, each comprising two stalls for their horses. The barns are supplied with large, double sliding doors at both ends and have the added advantages of sheltered areas along both sides.

The Laminate Barn could allow you to have an unlimited number of stalls. It has double sliding doors at both ends and the galvanized steel framework is clad with timber.

The barns have grown in popularity in recent years and help UK equestrian yards stand out from the crowd.

How to Turn Empty Stables into Money

If you have a barn lay idle why not make the most of it? It may just be an empty shed to you but with a bit of tender loving care it could be turned into internal stables. The new look stables could soon provide you with an added revenue stream.

Internal stables such as those from Cheval Liberte are a popular choice for livery yards, veterinary practices and keen equestrians alike.

The internal stables can also be used to partition a large barn into sections. This could prove ideal for a horse and foal.

The stables are light and airy and allow horses to see each other, something which many horse owners are in favour of. Equestrians also highlighted that the internal stables are warmer and less draughty than some of the traditional alternatives.

Cheval Liberte has a choice of stables available including the Prestige and Standard Range. Both provide exceptional strength and durability and are highly practical in assembly, installation and operation. Cheval Liberte’s Standard Range is strong, durable and practical. The internal barns in this range can be purchased with a frontage panelled in oak, recycled plastic or hardwood.

There is an internal stable available for most budgets. Not only do they have the potential to bring in more money, they will also take care of your animals.

As summer approaches horses still need time in the shade, especially if they are getting on in years. On very hot days it is important to bring the animals in and hose them down to keep them cool. By keeping them inside you can monitor their behaviour to ensure the heat isn’t affecting them. If your horse is suffering from heat exhaustion it is important to keep offering water.

Stable Doors, Windows and Other Stable Accessories

You may be in the process of building new stables or perhaps upgrading or refurbishing some existing stable buildings and if so, are probably on the lookout for suitable doors and windows to either fit into a purpose built space or a pre existing one.

Cheval Liberte stock and supply a range of different options when it comes to stable doors and windows as well as a variety of other accessories that can add the finishing touches to your equine environment.

The main ranges of doors stocked at Cheval Liberte are the Club and Haras range. Each of the doors in these particular ranges has been specifically designed to be strong and durable and considering the quality involved, are very competitively priced. The most important thing is that the horses inside are in a safe and secure environment. If you are looking for a rectangle shaped door then your best option is the Club range. The Haras range in contrast has rounded edges and is generally both wider and higher. So, it’s very much a case of what will suit your particular building.

If you are looking to add some style to the stable as well as simple functionality, then you may prefer to look in the direction of the Prestige range of doors. There are a number of different designs available and these can be made per your design requirements. You can also choose from a selection of door panels.

If you need other accessories such as feeding buckets, clock towers and hay racks, we also supply a range of these products.

For much more information about the complete range of stable doors and windows, please feel free to check our main website over at www.cheval-liberte.co.uk, where we also stock a range of internal stables, American Barns and Hyppic Temporary stables.

What are Temporary Stables?

What are temporary stables apart from the very obvious – stables that are temporary? The main idea is to create a structure for horses that can be quickly assembled and taken down and packed away just as quickly.

They can be used for all sorts of occasions but perhaps especially for events that might last a few days or a weekend, where the horses need a comfortable shelter for a short period of time at a venue that might not normally have any stabling solution. I suppose the classic example would be if there is an Eventing (or horse trials) competition that horses need to be transported to and be accommodated for a few days.

Cheval-Liberte can supply a range of temporary stabling that is ideal for the uses mentioned above.

Some of the benefits include:

Construction/assembly is very quick – from flat pack to fully functioning stable in just a few minutes.

The design is such that although the materials are relatively light, they are still plenty strong enough to safely house the horses.

Flexibility – Depending on the available space, they can either be assembled side by side in a line or back to back.

These are just some of the reasons why temporary stables can be a useful solution in certain circumstances. Please visit the main website at Cheval-Liberte for more information.