A nosey, unimportant "how do you keep your horses" thread!

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3BayGeldings

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Just because I like to know what you lot get up to ;)

So are you on a livery yard, what type of livery, or are you at home or on a private yard - or other?

I have my 3 boys on a working farm. The owner's late wife evented, so it has about 14 acres (1 big 12 acre field and two one acre paddocks), a 20 x 40 school and 5 stables - three for the horses, 1 I use as my tack room and 1 I use for my straw and hay. It's in a beautiful little village where I grew up, now live 10 minutes away, so lots of quiet hacking. It's perfect for me, I couldn't be without the flexibility these days although I was on a large DIY for a long time before. I love being able to do entirely my own thing. Whether it be feeding in the field, letting them walk themselves to and from their stables, just letting them mooch about whilst I'm mucking out or fannying around - bliss! The horses live out pretty much all year (even the ex-racers, shock horror) but I bring them in for a break from bad weather.

Your turn.. :D
 
My two are kept at home. At the moment they are on very limited turnout [ 2 hrs per day]as we have a lot of grass and they are a little overweight. So its diet time.
The normal routine is out at night in summer and in during the day; and during the winter they are in at night and out in the day.
I have 2 paddocks approx 3 acres each and one has a field shelter in it. Both paddocks are surrounded by hedges.
I live in a village with good hacking and bridleways.
 
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We have 2 private yards, one with 4 stables and a small paddock that is not being used at the moment but is where my stallions will be going when we get teh ragwort cleared off it, the other 30 acres+ where the herd currently live and we produce hay. The buildings on the big yard are pretty derelict but hopefully will be getting an overhaul very soon - watch this space!! Ours all live out because that is what they prefer.
 
I keep my horse on assisted DIY (he gets turned out or brought in for me) On a large livery yard and riding school.

we have 40 livery stables plus the riding centre horses. we have a 40x60 outdoor 40x30 indoor jumping padock xc course lots of well maintained grazing. gets a little busy sometimes but it is lovely :)
 
Small, stable group of three - a mare and two geldings. They live year round in a 9 acre, hilly field with natural shelter (trees and hedges), and I am able to pretty much do what I like - so, yes, they are fed in the field, some schooling/training is done in the field, and the field is located a very short ride along a quiet road from a Sustrans track which means I can ride for miles off road on a surface that's in good condition all year round. I do own headcollars, but not sure when I last used one ;-)

I pay grass livery to the "YO" who is a smallholder, and he also produces the hay we feed in winter.

At present, they are on summer restricted grazing - I have chosen the nicest 3 acres with a steep hill up to the shady trees and down to the water source, so they're spending their summer getting fit walking up and down the hill. I really enjoy just spending time with them - in summer, I usually ride in the morning early, but will often go up in the evening and just mooch around the field with them. There are two other owners, but we all tend to visit at different times so I'm usually there in the quiet of the evening, nice relaxed horses, birds singing... bliss :)
 
mines kept at home, small yard with 8 stables we own 6 of them and currently only have 1 livery, 20x65, arena, 10.8 acres of paddocks, horse walker, lunging pit, miles of on road and off road hacking in a quiet village, can also hack to a couple of event venues for
 
I rent 2.5 ish acres, split into one 2 acre paddock and a smaller half acre one. The big paddock has a field shelter and a stable (where I store my hay), and a stream running through for water.

I have a 14.2, a 13.2 and an 11.2 on there, all of them are on diets at the moment. None are ridden, no jockey for the little one, the biggest isn't broken in yet and although I would love to ride my Highland lad my dodgy hip is preventing me riding :( I don't think any of them mind being field ornaments at the moment though!

We have access to miles of mountain drovers tracks and bridleways, and a short ride through the village takes us to the beach - should I be able to ride that is!
 
I keep my 3 year old on DIY about 3 miles away. 16 stables and loads of land. All horses must come in at night (or day in summer, up to us).

Lovely little rubber school and jumping paddock. Short 100m down busy-ish road to get onto endless hacking.

I love the yard. very reasonable rates, and every one is lovely.

Keep my fillies on my dads land. They just eat grass :)
 
Brightbay said:
At present, they are on summer restricted grazing - I have chosen the nicest 3 acres with a steep hill up to the shady trees and down to the water source, so they're spending their summer getting fit walking up and down the hill. I really enjoy just spending time with them - in summer, I usually ride in the morning early, but will often go up in the evening and just mooch around the field with them. There are two other owners, but we all tend to visit at different times so I'm usually there in the quiet of the evening, nice relaxed horses, birds singing... bliss :)
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Wow! When can I move in? ;)
 
Brightbay said:
Small, stable group of three - a mare and two geldings. They live year round in a 9 acre, hilly field with natural shelter (trees and hedges), and I am able to pretty much do what I like - so, yes, they are fed in the field, some schooling/training is done in the field, and the field is located a very short ride along a quiet road from a Sustrans track which means I can ride for miles off road on a surface that's in good condition all year round. I do own headcollars, but not sure when I last used one ;-)

I pay grass livery to the "YO" who is a smallholder, and he also produces the hay we feed in winter.

At present, they are on summer restricted grazing - I have chosen the nicest 3 acres with a steep hill up to the shady trees and down to the water source, so they're spending their summer getting fit walking up and down the hill. I really enjoy just spending time with them - in summer, I usually ride in the morning early, but will often go up in the evening and just mooch around the field with them. There are two other owners, but we all tend to visit at different times so I'm usually there in the quiet of the evening, nice relaxed horses, birds singing... bliss :)
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Sounds very similar to my set up, complete with hills/trees/stream. Lovely :)
 
At the minute my gelding is on 7 day assisted livery about 11 miles away. Hes out at night and in during the day. Its a big yard with about 50 stables, a 60x30 outdoor school and no idea how many acres.
My mare is about 7 miles away on diy. At the mo she is out 24/7. I bring her in in the morning to take her rug off, brush her and pick her feet out and then at tea time she has a feed, hay, groom and her rug back on before she goes out again.
At the end of the month I'm moving my gelding to be with my mare.
 
Wow! When can I move in?
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Always room for another ;) (too much grass for our three :D).

Did I mention the water supply is a natural spring that never dries up in the summer and never freezes in the winter? This is practically enough to sell me the livery after a year of having to transport water in my car to the old field...
 
Up until 6 weeks ago I have been loaning/riding horses about half an hours drive away from where I live.

However, now full loan one and have been able to move him so he is now....AT HOME :D Well, 400 yards down the road lol on my neighbour/friends private yard.

I have the use of 4 fields, an all weather flood lit menage, 2 stables, a tack room and haybarn.......ALL TO MYSELF :D

It's bliss, not going to lie though, it can A) be quite lonely as I'm used to being on a busy yard, although there are people about who I hack with a couple of times a week. And B) difficult as I'm used to having horses on assisted DIY, so turned out and/or brought in for me which gives me a lot more flexibility/time. Now I only have me, myself and I. Oh and my mum will help out occasionally if needed but it's not quite the same as having staff around to pay if you need anything done if you can't get to yard etc.
 
My boy is kept on diy, out 24/7 now but have access to a stable, this is for the summer.

When the feilds get wet/winter sets in they come off the grass and go into the winter turnout which just mud and scratch land so they get hay in the day and in at night. y/os turn out for me and I bring mine and theirs in come evening.

We have a lovely big school, jumps and lots of good hacking. Mostly hack out with y/o (only other livery has show ponies who don't hack), he also lets me tag along with him to peasure rides and hunting, so I get to take Buddy out to quite alot of stuff without annoying my mum for a lift unless its stressage or a show.

I have my own big tack room, stable and parking for my trailor which is great. Its really good price too and Buds is very happy. I like that he gets to be turned out all year rmound and in a herd too, couldn't stand a yard with limited/individual turnout.

The yard is 5 mins away from my house aswell which is a huge bonus! Have had some trouble with the grass being too good for a fatty cob like mine but he now has a grazing muzzle on for half the day.

We also have a hound puppy me and y/o's o/h are walking which is mint and I get to take my dogs with me whenever i'm up there (2x daily generally). Its great, no politics really and I can do my own thing.
 
At home small yard I only have four horses now plenty of grazing a outdoor school a big grassed prepared working area big enough to easily get a 100 by 80 driving area in and have room around about it lots of work to keep it right but brillant we work it on flat in summer and jump its so good for them best thing we did.
Adjoining we have just bought a small wood eight acres or so in an old quarry we are in the progress of opening up the tracks to use it for slope work but it's definatly work in progress we have fab sea views and marvellous hacking on the two adjoining farms that belong to good friends it s a great spot.
In summer the horses come In during the day and out at night I love this time of year the flies have not really got going and thehorses are so happy.
 
OH and I have 6 at home, 24/7 all year turn out and lots of their friends! I love it, get to watch them playing, sleeping, goofing about and being embarrassed when you notice etc. Couldn't not have them in the 'garden' now!
Pan
 
My two are kept on a friend's small farm which is no longer a working farm due to the owner's age. She used to ride and breed horses and ponies too but has ahd to give all that up due to age. There arfe just a few horses and sheep their now.

Mine live out all year and have done since I fell prgenant. There is enough ground available so they are never without decent grazing through the winter and there's plenty of natural shelter available and there are stables should I need one in an emergancy. I have the use of an orchard, a couple of paddocks, a cow shed and a little yard all to myself. The area is fantastic for hacking with many bridleways, two of which go straight off the farm. There are three schools available for hire within hacking distance.

I condider myself very lucky as I get all this for mates' rates of six pounds a week for two! I just have to give the owner a helping hand whenever she needs it.
 
3 are kept at my house and a broodmare at my mums farm.

My house has 2 paddocks with a total of 4.5 acres, one paddock has a field shelter (other one to have one built this year, fingers crossed)
The feilds back on to a 60ft sand school which they have to walk across to get to the stable block (4 stables) so I only have to lead one and the others follow in :)

I got my stables built recently but they mostly live out 24/7 as they prefer it. They come in in winter only when it is very wet and windy, or the snow is too deep to walk in :)

I have lots of lovely hacking and am only a 10min trailer ride to the beach (20km hack on the endurance horsey) and 15mins to amazing forestry off road hacking.

I built most of my own show jumps for the sand school.

Pretty much living the dream!! and all by 27years old - i am a very very lucky lady!! and i count my blessings everyday - its amazing what a bit of hard work can achieve
 
I keep my boy on a huge livery yard/riding school. The livery yard is sectioned off from the riding school so that no clients can come wandering over and mess with our horses etc. and must have around 40 stables alone. I have no idea how many stables the riding school has, they had a ridiculous amount of horses aha!
My boy has daily turnout (unless it's raining- he's perlino and LOVES to roll so he just gets disgusting!) but only for a few hours, usually he is out 10-3. I don't like him being out for too long because he is a 15hh Connemara X and I worry about possible lami as our yard used to be a dairy farm so the grass is VERY lush! He is a proper gooddoer, two large, double haynets a day (with hay, no haylage!) and a breakfast and dinner consiting of Baileys high fibre, it is only a token meal because all the other horses get food so he isn't left out! Also its a good way to sneak in my various supplements in order to make his mane grow extra long! :cool:
So yeah, usually ridden around 4/5 times a week, normally 3 schooling sessions and 1 or 2 hacking around the farm ride. I only ride him for 30 minutes in the school though because he has only been backed since September so I don't like to overface or mentally exhaust him :D
 
DIY although usually have a deal with YO in winter that they will turn mine out am with his field buddy (who is a full livery) and I bring both in pm :)

Smallish yard, mixed livery/trekking/classical dressage yard. Decent floodlit arena, plenty of turnout (have to come in nights over the worst of the winter but I would do that anyway), lots of space for storing stuff, ad lib hay or haylage and shavings included in price (separate winter and summer prices).

Lovely atmosphere - can stay and chat or just sort out your own horse and leave. YO is fantastic but is happy for people to do their own thing - no interfering at all. Always people around for help if you need it though.

Best bit - direct access to 46,000 acres plus of off road riding :D No roadwork whatsoever.
 
Currently round the corner at a friends :D they moved away, sort of, so their horses and sheep are no longer in the field so mine is. Its about a min walk from my house, theres just a field no arena as such but I can school in the field and theres access to a farm out the back to ride round thats perfect for fittness work. Its within hacking distance of my new instructor so I'm not reliant on the parents driving me there. He lives out 24/7 when ever he isnt at uni with me which is also great as he is happiest that way.

Used to be on a DIY yard but owners changed when we were at uni, used to have a 20x40 with a fab surface and plenty of off road hacking. Might go back there some time, as have friends there, if he can no longer stay where he is.
 
I rent a few fields close to home, the nicest field as a water supply so I rigged up a tap and a huge thick firemans type of hose right up to my troughs which makes it easy for me. I bought a 12ftx12ft stable with a 8ftx12 feed shed attatched to it, I have no sand school. And all my horses live out 24/7 although my old 15hh mare and shettie go in the stable together as they have access to it at all times.
I have hardcored the front of the stable and shed and fenced it off with a gate at either end leading to a different field either side, I thought I was quite a snob when that was done lol
 
GingerTrotter said:
3 are kept at my house and a broodmare at my mums farm.

My house has 2 paddocks with a total of 4.5 acres, one paddock has a field shelter (other one to have one built this year, fingers crossed)
The feilds back on to a 60ft sand school which they have to walk across to get to the stable block (4 stables) so I only have to lead one and the others follow in :)

I got my stables built recently but they mostly live out 24/7 as they prefer it. They come in in winter only when it is very wet and windy, or the snow is too deep to walk in :)

I have lots of lovely hacking and am only a 10min trailer ride to the beach (20km hack on the endurance horsey) and 15mins to amazing forestry off road hacking.

I built most of my own show jumps for the sand school.

Pretty much living the dream!! and all by 27years old - i am a very very lucky lady!! and i count my blessings everyday - its amazing what a bit of hard work can achieve
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whats your secret?! ;) sounds lush.

No horse at the mo for me :(
 
H is on working livery and out 24/7 (very cheap to keep ;) )

It is a riding school (in a small way) and livery yard - she has about 50 horses, including the Arabs that she breeds/shows etc. It suits me down to the ground - he is ridden in the week when I can't get there. Indoor school and plenty of varied hacking. During the school hols when I can go every day, I can do exactly what I want with him. There are lots of ladies of a similar age to me to go out with or just have a chat. All about 10 minutes from home.
 
Mine are on a farm which has now totally been turned over to livery as well as haylsge/straw production. There's 40 loose boxes in 4 different barns. Only 3 others in my barn do get to avoid the bitching. Fields are well looked after and have different winter/summer field. 24 hour turnout from may - Oct and in over night the rest of the time.Its a diy only livery but yard owners sister does any thing you need which is fab. We have a sand school and ok hacking only thing that i don't like is its 8 miles from home. We are planning on moving near by due to family though.
 
A wealthy family have a donkey, pony and horse - I loan horse, another girl loans pony and there is one livery. Between the three of us we DIY the whole yard which works out almost like part livery :D we have 4 paddocks (poor grazing though really) one with sheep on, a floodlit school, seperate lunging school, large tack room and feed room with a surround sound system plus a gate straight from yard onto excellent hacking with lots of maintained hunt jumps...for me this is all free!

In return I do have to placate the owners from time to time, keep everything beautifully tidy and keep steed reasonably sane so of owner decides he'd like to pootle out on a hack at the weekend he won't get ditched lol, he's pretty novice!! I'm happy with my lot though!
 
I am another horses at home keeper. I have about 3 acres divided into 3 sheltered paddocks and a stoney track which is about half a mile long and bursting with hedgerow plants. Most evenings in the summer my 2 take themselves for a 'snack-hack' down the track and return to their field at dusk.

Hacking to die for,but I do miss a school,particularly as my KWPN HATES HACKING!
 
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