A yard WWYD

[sjdress]

I have a semi retired mare. Mainly hacks and can school about once/twice a month with the odd dressage competition thrown in. We used to compete a lot so it’s quite a lifestyle change. She is better living out now she is doing less work as can get very lit up with limited turnout!
I currently keep her in a lovely field with a field shelter. No storage/very basic. Hay underneath tarpaulin. Two arenas to use Close-by and great hacking. The main issue is that you can’t access the field by Vehicle. I have to park down the lane and walk up. This is fine for me but impossible for farrier/vet etc.
My options are:
1. to stay there and put up with it. Field is paid up until next year anyway.
2. Rent a stable at a yard just down the road that I can use for vet/farrier visits. I was at this yard for 10 years previously. It was incredibly stressful and I have been much happier since leaving so reluctant to go back, however if it’s just for vet and farrier apts I could probably put up with that.
3. Move to a new yard altogether. New yard has no school, is mainly a happy hackers yard. The only downside to this is me spending a heap of money doing up my field shelter, which would be a massive waste if I were to move.
I really can’t decide what to do!

 

[AmyMay]

Can you walk the mare to the farrier at the end of the lane. Ditto the vet?

 

[dorsetladette]

Could you find another field to rent or share with someone? Then you can take your field shelter with you (I'm assuming its mobile)

 

[splashgirl45]

thats what i was going to suggest amymay, and what i would do if possible rather than waste money reserving a box at a yard you dont like.

 

[sjdress]

Could you find another field to rent or share with someone? Then you can take your field shelter with you (I'm assuming its mobile)

ive thought about this but unfortunately cant finD anywhere locally

 

[sjdress]

Can you walk the mare to the farrier at the end of the lane. Ditto the vet?

it’s a lane which people drive up and down, it might Be ok for vaccinations but not to shoe or for dentist for example.

 

[dorsetladette]

ive thought about this but unfortunately cant finD anywhere locally

Things do come up - maybe put an advert on your local fb page/in the tack shop. I found my place that way. A friend was here and saw my advert, mentioned it to the (then) tenant and I moved on. A few months later the (then) tenant moved off and I took over the tenancy. As your rent is paid for a while I'd just keep an eye out.

How do you go about farrier visits at present? Have you been there long?

 

[sjdress]

Things do come up - maybe put an advert on your local fb page/in the tack shop. I found my place that way. A friend was here and saw my advert, mentioned it to the (then) tenant and I moved on. A few months later the (then) tenant moved off and I took over the tenancy. As your rent is paid for a while I'd just keep an eye out.

How do you go about farrier visits at present? Have you been there long?

last time the Farrier came he managed to park at the bottom and walk up, with all his stuff. Couldn’t hot shoe. He said it was ok but I felt a little bad!

 

[ester]

If the only downside really is the field shelter, sell it to someone and move to option 3?

 

[meleeka]

Can you make a hard standing in your field, say out of paving slabs? You could then widen the gate and have access?

 

[ester]

see I was imagining it was XC to get there rather than a what was in the field issue? If the later there would definitely seem solutions.

 

[Tiddlypom]

If the lane is open to traffic, what is the problem with a vehicle accessing your field? Can you widen the entrance, for instance?

 

[Winters100]

Would the yard agree a 'per time' fee basis for you to go there for the vet and farrier? Seems a shame to have to rent a box all the time for such occasional visits, and I suppose you anyway don't need a box, just a tie up area.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

There is a family that comes to the yard just to use an area to get their horse shod. Basically a sheltered area with electric and water. I'm not sure if they pay or anything. Could this be an option? They don't rent a stable or anything. Just trailer in and out.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'm going to ask an obvious but probably unwelcome question.

If the field cannot be accessed by any vehicle, how would dying or dead stock be removed?

I apologise for asking, but having had to assist 3 years ago with getting a 15hh pts in a desperate situation, accessed by only a footpath, its something I would always plan for and file away.
The only solution was a farmer with tractor and rope and assisted by fire brigade cutting fences and small trees down across 5 acres behind field of mixed woodland, brambles etc.

 

[chaps89]

I moved away from the area where I have good vet, physio, saddler etc contacts. Luckily there is a yard I know well in that area who are happy for me to use their car park for such appointments - I usually tie it in with an arena hire or drop them a box of choccies or some home made cake off as a thankyou.
Do you have anywhere local you could do the same, or could you change/improve your field access if you are otherwise happy where you are?

 

[sjdress]

If the lane is open to traffic, what is the problem with a vehicle accessing your field? Can you widen the entrance, for instance?

Sorry wasn’t clear. The gate is the issue... it’s a steep hill into the gate. The vet managed to drive up it in a defender but the farrier couldn’t get up it in his van, nor could the dentist! We’ve looked into flattening it but there are pipes underneath!

 

[sjdress]

I'm going to ask an obvious but probably unwelcome question.

If the field cannot be accessed by any vehicle, how would dying or dead stock be removed?

I apologise for asking, but having had to assist 3 years ago with getting a 15hh pts in a desperate situation, accessed by only a footpath, its something I would always plan for and file away.
The only solution was a farmer with tractor and rope and assisted by fire brigade cutting fences and small trees down across 5 acres behind field of mixed woodland, brambles etc.

Fair point. The field is split into two and the other side of the field has a lovely wide flat gateway to come through. For me to get through that I would have to go through 3 lots of electric fencing and 2 ponies, one of which is a colt! In an emergency we could do this.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Fair point. The field is split into two and the other side of the field has a lovely wide flat gateway to come through. For me to get through that I would have to go through 3 lots of electric fencing and 2 ponies, one of which is a colt! In an emergency we could do this.

Phew, glad to hear that.
Is there any way this could all be rejigged permanently so you can all access the big gateway?

 

[ester]

rather than scrape it away can you build a smoother slope down (aware that you might want to be spending much though!)

 

[yhanni]

Could you move your horse to the 2nd yard and then sublet the field to someone else? Or just rent a tie up space at the first yard as has been suggested.

 

[HashRouge]

Could you not ask the yard down the road if you can bring your horse down for vet/ farrier/ dentist visits and just pay a set amount each time you do this, rather than renting a stable? They might let you do this, depending on how well you know them. It would be extra money for you of course but might be worth it if you really like the field. I've rented a field before with no vehicle access in the winter (due to the ground) but luckily you could park on the road just outside the gate - your set up sounds really tricky!

 

[Red-1]

I think I would re-jig so the colt etc were nearer the inaccessible gate permanently. Or, electric fence in a walkway so you could bring individual horses to the correct point for treatment.

 

[HashRouge]

I think I would re-jig so the colt etc were nearer the inaccessible gate permanently. Or, electric fence in a walkway so you could bring individual horses to the correct point for treatment.

That would be my preference too, assuming the whole set up is owned by the same person.
I used to rent the furthest section of a huge field that was split into four and grazed by various horses, but there was a walkway so I could bring mine to the gate safely.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I'm going to ask an obvious but probably unwelcome question.

If the field cannot be accessed by any vehicle, how would dying or dead stock be removed?

I apologise for asking, but having had to assist 3 years ago with getting a 15hh pts in a desperate situation, accessed by only a footpath, its something I would always plan for and file away.
The only solution was a farmer with tractor and rope and assisted by fire brigade cutting fences and small trees down across 5 acres behind field of mixed woodland, brambles etc.

This is a really valid point for everyone to keep in mind, having had hubby's mare die in a corner stable on a very tight U shaped yard, we had terrible trouble getting a vehicle onto the yard to winch her out. A horrid situation for anyone but made much worse by all the access difficulties.

 

[dorsetladette]

I think I would re-jig so the colt etc were nearer the inaccessible gate permanently. Or, electric fence in a walkway so you could bring individual horses to the correct point for treatment.

This sounds like the easiest and most sensible solution if its possible with the other owners. Having a colt behind electric fencing would worry me.

 

[zaminda]

My horses are shod in the lay-by. Have had teeth done their too, although we do have a stable at the yard our field owner has which is very helpful.