Bees and Horses...big problem??

[northepaul]

Hiya
We have just been given an allotment (Hooray at last!!) and I was quite interested in the possibility of keeping bees in the future. However when I asked the allotment officer she said because there are horses nearby (some of the "allotments" have gypsy horses on them) its not permitted.
Just out of interest, whats the problem with bees and horses?
Thanks x

[FionaH]

Off the top of my head I can't think of one. I know nothing about bees, but do know a bit about horses. They may be spooked if the hive swarmed maybe?

[zazen999]

No idea.

10 ft from my lottie in one direction there is a field of horses and 20ft sideways there are a load of hives.
Neither seem bothered by the other in any way.

The only issue I ever have with the bees is when they swarm; I always think someone is strimming and then when a few whizz by my nose I look up, and see the swarm, shut up the shed and go home. I love bees but when they do swarm a few outlyers do tend to whip past you and I just don't want to be there when the whole swarm comes over my plot.

[shirlthegirl43]

In all my years of horse-keeping (35+ years), I have never known a horse get stressed by bees. Hornets and horseflies are a whole other thing though!!

[northepaul]

Hmmm I couldnt find anything from a quick search on google either....seems kind of ironic, as none of the "owners" of the horses pay any rent and one tends to let his horses wander around other people's allotments...
Dont suppose there's any point my arguing with the allotment officer is there?!

[shirlthegirl43]

They can't kick you out for asking questions

[lizzylemon]

surely it should be listed in the lotty 'bible' of regulations they hand out to all newbies - check on there to make sure it's a real rule and not just one thats sprouted up word of mouth.

[Glutton4...]

In all my years of horse-keeping (35+ years), I have never known a horse get stressed by bees. Hornets and horseflies are a whole other thing though!!

Same here! Hornets and Horseflies are such persistent little blighters, Bees are searching for pollen, them other stripey b*ggers are searchin' for sommat to sting!

[northepaul]

surely it should be listed in the lotty 'bible' of regulations they hand out to all newbies - check on there to make sure it's a real rule and not just one thats sprouted up word of mouth.

Got a basic fact sheet, which covered things like " you need to apply to put up a shed, clearly mark plot number" and "pay your rent on time or else" etc but nothing about livestock... the allotment officer is in charge of all the allotments in Southampton...I did send her a polite email and ask why though. Watch this space...

[Nicos]

Good luck!
Being a horse owner- the only prob of horses and allotments that I can see is the flipping horseflies which hang around muck heaps/composts...but that's not much different to a normal yard.
I'd have thought bees would have been less of a nuisance to a horse be honest.

[rana]

The real question is whether one should be keeping horses on an allotment. There will be thousands of bees whether or not they allow hives.

[Two_Sheds]

Horses and bees have survived together for donkey's years (no pun intended)

I think the officer is just finding an excuse for 'no bees' because they seem a bit problematic to her (like most people, she probably thinks bees are a stingy nuisance and should be avoided at all costs)

[vicky]

On the bee course I recently went on they did mention certain 'smells' bees apparently don't like - perfume, shampoo, booze etc and horses was one of them. One lady also doing course said her daughter (has lots of horses) had tried to do the course the year before but got stung so much she couldn't...it was thought to be the ingrained horsey smell on her!
I'm not sure if the bees would bother the horses though unless they were right up by the hives and they were trying to defend against them

[northepaul]

The real question is whether one should be keeping horses on an allotment. There will be thousands of bees whether or not they allow hives.

Yes, I agree - the gypsies with horses have around 11 or 12 allotment spaces each, and they dont pay any rent. Yet the only livestock you can keep are chickens (according to the allotment officer) How does that work then....??

[Nicos]

I'd suggest to them that if you can't have chooks then you'll get a falabella instead...they're only tiny..