Simon K wrote:

We have had one up, but when one of our mares foaled last april, the
local inteligentsia decided it would be far better to have a bonfire
with it - you can appreciate my retiscence for doing anything more
than improving the natural shelter.

Oh, nice people then? No wonder you don't want to go down that line!

for £80 a month, its bloody brilliant!

Absolutely!

Its a real toughie - need to do something, even if its high
maintenance - we feed twice a day so plenty of opportunities to sort
out the surface, but cant do what is really needed (6" concrete base
and stables!) because a) landlady won't help out b) parish council
are opposed to anything building like in the area

Ah, parish councils, the love of my life NOT!!

We've got 5 pones in total, and they respect electric fencing as much
as a bluetit respects a milk bottle top - "why am I not being allowed
to go into that bit? hmm, better investigate"

LOL!! Typical ponies. A bigger energiser should do the trick. Once
they've had a decent 'kick' they rarely go back for more!

I know the feeling about racking brains - thats why I've opened up
the forum here ;-)

Yeah, it's a good one, this. Just the sort of thing to clear a Christmassy
head!!

Road shavings would be ideal (used them before) but again, Planning
Permission required, and even if we tried to sneak them in, one of
the ladies that walks past our gate each day is chairman of the
Parish Council - hence we are pretty clued up as to what we can get
away with.

Damn those PC's!! Could you apply for temporary PP, say for 12 months,
renewable on a yearly basis? That way, it's not setting a precendence for
permanent buildings and, if you explain your dilemma to the good old PC,
they might even feel sorry for you and go along with it. It might just get
you out of the stale mate your in. Also, what hope of PP does the owner
have if the other people are having trouble? You might be able to persuade
her that temporary PP would get her 'foot in the door', so to speak.

Jaqy