Advice

L

leanda

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 January 2013
Messages
65
Visit site
Back in January our YO gave us the choice to move to another field to graze for a few months to let the fields settle and grass come through...Myself and another friend decided to stay due to work and not really being happy about paying for our current yard then a further £40 to graze on the other field ( which is rented by someone else).
The YO wasn't too happy that we decided to stay and we were told we could only have the top field which was away from the field shelter and the horses being exposed to all the elements of winter and that she wouldn't have time to check on the horses (not that we would have expected her too as we visit everyday...
Anyway, just recently she has let the local farmer bring his sheep on the yard and they are currently in 2 of the other fields and have use of the field shelter!
We are currently paying £70 a month plus buying haylage on top...
Both me and my friend feel rather upset that the sheep have now been moved on and feel we are being punished because we didn't move off the yard...The sheep are going to be on for about 3 weeks but the farmer has said he will harrow and seed the fields when they move off? The YO is currently feeding and watering the sheep... I just feel she made demands for us but has happily replaced some of the horses that have moved off for sheep and is happy to look after them...I was having to fill the horses water trough using large water carriers and a wheel barrow but has soon as the sheep come on the hose pipe came out! ( I now use the hose pipe!)
again I know we had the choice to move off for a few months but I feel we are being treated unfairly!
 
At £70 per month I'd be helping her to feed the sheep!! :p

It is my understanding that sheep will eat different grasses and weeds to horses and that they can be very useful in eating down any poorer grasses. I also thought that their droppings were good for the land too???
 
We were told our horse had to stay in one particular field whilst the other field settled for a few months, the reason the sheep have been brought on is because some of the sheep were lambing and a dog had one of the sheep, initially they were in the barn and stables but now they have brought all 80 on using the other fields whilst our horses have to remain in the one field with no grass whilst watching the sheep eat what bit of grass we did have in the 2 other fields...
 
leanda said:
The sheep are going to be on for about 3 weeks but the farmer has said he will harrow and seed the fields when they move off?
Click to expand...

This will be why she has allowed them, plus the fields will benefits in terms of worms/fertilizer (sheep poo) and even grazing (sheep eat all not selectively like horses), plus their feet don't poach the ground like horses.
 
I understand there may be benefits, my point is that the YO wanted us all off to allow the fields to settle for 2 months and then bring the horses back on...2 of us decided to stay, were told we can only have the top field till the others moved back on which would have been March/end of...Now we have to wait even longer for the fields to get sorted which could be the end of April whilst the sheep have access to the fields and field shelter that we were told we couldn't have! We are paying after all...
 
Even with the added 40 pound a month to go to the other field seems good. I do apologize but I am not seeing the issue and seems a good deal.

And you use the hose pipe now too :)
 
The sheep wiki help the land.

However I do think the yo was unfair.
If she wanted you to move to another field then you shouldn't have to continue to pay her.

Yoy need to speak frankly to her.
 
If she had put other horses or cattle on there you could be peed off. Because it is sheep you should be glad. They will eat down the crap, gently fertilise the land but not in a dodgy artificial fertiliser way, break the life cycle of the worms that may be in the ground and tread in any lumps and bumps.
the issue about paying to move fields is different and something you might need to address or else move somewhere that is more agreeable if you cant sort it to your satisfaction.

But the sheep , nope I'm afraid they are a good thing and the grass will recover all the better for their being on there
 
I would gladly give up some of my grazing until the end of April if I could borrow sheep to clean the land up and fertilize for me, they are the very best thing to strip the land of the dreaded ragwort too.

Between now and the end of April this evil little plant will be showing itself at the rosette stage, ideal for the sheep to completely eradicate for this season, without any use of chemicals.

I think you are being a bit short sighted OP, the long term benefits to your grazing and your horse are far in excess of some inconvenience now IMO.
 
If its really such a big deal to you op, then move. Except I can't think of many yards who offer 24/7 turnout with shelter, running water, & year round lovely dry, unpoached grazing for £70 a month. Maybe have a ring round local yards & get some prices for grass livery & what the fields are like for that, it might give you more idea whats the norm in your area.
 
MrsJingle, the sheep haven't been borrowed to graze the fields...They started to lamb early in the farmers field hence they ended up in our barn n stables...The farmer was going to move his heard of sheep to another one of his fields then one got attacked by a dog and our YO offered to watch the sheep hence they moved onto our yard ... Ok I'm seeing that they will in fact help the land now but initially the fields were going to be left hence why we were told we could only have 1 field...
 
moosea said:
At £70 per month I'd be helping her to feed the sheep!! :p

It is my understanding that sheep will eat different grasses and weeds to horses and that they can be very useful in eating down any poorer grasses. I also thought that their droppings were good for the land too???
Click to expand...

We would have still liked access to the field shelter and automatic water for our £70 not denied this, after, all it is what we are paying for...
 
Littlelegs said:
If its really such a big deal to you op, then move. Except I can't think of many yards who offer 24/7 turnout with shelter, running water, & year round lovely dry, unpoached grazing for £70 a month. Maybe have a ring round local yards & get some prices for grass livery & what the fields are like for that, it might give you more idea whats the norm in your area.
Click to expand...

We aren't allowed access to the field shelter or automatic water and yet this is what we pay our rent for...
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
If she had put other horses or cattle on there you could be peed off. Because it is sheep you should be glad. They will eat down the crap, gently fertilise the land but not in a dodgy artificial fertiliser way, break the life cycle of the worms that may be in the ground and tread in any lumps and bumps.
the issue about paying to move fields is different and something you might need to address or else move somewhere that is more agreeable if you cant sort it to your satisfaction.

But the sheep , nope I'm afraid they are a good thing and the grass will recover all the better for their being on there
Click to expand...


We had buffalo one year but I was loaning a horse then...The yarders were fuming...


My point is we were told to stay in 1 field without access to the field shelter and automatic water and we still pay the full rent... Now the sheep have taken over, ok I am now see the benefits but the sheep haven't been borrowed to graze the land, the YO offered to watch them because a dog attacked one and they have been lambing early...
 
Wigwam_bam said:
We don't graze our land over winter (Cattle are housed inside.) and we have had abour 35ewes off a friend to graze the grass, they were there for about a month and have done a lovely job, we just harrowed the top field (Fairly flat and dryish) and it looks wonderful, we've always used sheep to graze over the winter, they do a wonderful job stripping the rubbish and don't poach the ground as much as a couple of horses/herd of cattle :)
Click to expand...


that's a kind reply, some have been quite kirt...
 
That's my point op. See if you would get all year for the same money elsewhere. I bet if you ring round every yard & farm within 10miles & ask what you get for £70 per month you will be suprised at how little yard owners offer in the way of facilities for that. As for the hose, at that price I'd expect to buy my own.
 
Littlelegs said:
That's my point op. See if you would get all year for the same money elsewhere. I bet if you ring round every yard & farm within 10miles & ask what you get for £70 per month you will be suprised at how little yard owners offer in the way of facilities for that. As for the hose, at that price I'd expect to buy my own.
Click to expand...

Do you not think we should have still had access to the field shelter and automatic water then? That's what we pay our rent for too... We were told we couldn't! The hose pipe came out as soon as the sheep moved on...I have got one but the farmer had broke the the connector to the tap, he said he'd replace it but hasn't to date but the YO found another as soon as the sheep moved into the fields...
 
Jeez get a grip your YO was protecting the fields, so you have grazing for this year. The sheep will improve the grazing. You were given another option, but chose not to take it.
 
leanda said:
Do you not think we should have still had access to the field shelter and automatic water then? That's what we pay our rent for too... We were told we couldn't! The hose pipe came out as soon as the sheep moved on...I have got one but the farmer had broke the the connector to the tap, he said he'd replace it but hasn't to date but the YO found another as soon as the sheep moved into the fields...
Click to expand...

There are lots of DIY yards around our area and all much of a muchness...

The field some of the horses have gone to has no shelter and no access to fresh water just a steam and they have to pay £40 on top of their rent...
 
leanda said:
MrsJingle, the sheep haven't been borrowed to graze the fields...They started to lamb early in the farmers field hence they ended up in our barn n stables...The farmer was going to move his heard of sheep to another one of his fields then one got attacked by a dog and our YO offered to watch the sheep hence they moved onto our yard ... Ok I'm seeing that they will in fact help the land now but initially the fields were going to be left hence why we were told we could only have 1 field...
Click to expand...

I find this very, very odd. I would never move a flock of sheep when they've started to lamb.

I wouldn't have any problem with the sheep being in the field, they're good for the land.

If your diy locally are all much of a muchness why on earth are you still at the current one?
Last I checked a stream was fresh water? You can fill our horses troughs to the brim but it's the stream/lake they drink out of. And you've no shelter at the current yard anyway.

Still confused as to why you've been there this long if unhappy and diy all the same though.
 
you were paying for your field and field shelter - she has asked you if you wanted to move to a different field- fair enough - but it should be for the same amount.

You are essentially paying the same and getting less - it is irrelevant if it is a good deal - you agreed £70 and are not getting what you agreed.

The sheep will help but the grass will need time to grow after they are taken off otherwise you still wont having any grazing.

I would probably live with it if it is only short term if you are happy otherwise but I would not be impressed !!
 
Hose connectors are £1, if that, I wouldn't dream of even mentioning it to our farmer, let alone waiting for him to replace it. You get what you pay for, move if you don't like it. And if you want better, expect to pay more.
 
piebaldsparkle said:
Jeez get a grip your YO was protecting the fields, so you have grazing for this year. The sheep will improve the grazing. You were given another option, but chose not to take it.
Click to expand...


No, our YO offered to watch the sheep as they have lambed early and a dog attacked one...The farmer was about to move his sheep to another one of his fields, they haven't been borrowed yet as a gesture of good will he has offered to harrow and seed the fields ... Before this back in January we were told we couldn't have access to the field shelter/automatic water and that's what we pay our rent for... Gosh you are very rude aren't you...
 
meesha said:
you were paying for your field and field shelter - she has asked you if you wanted to move to a different field- fair enough - but it should be for the same amount.

You are essentially paying the same and getting less - it is irrelevant if it is a good deal - you agreed £70 and are not getting what you agreed.

The sheep will help but the grass will need time to grow after they are taken off otherwise you still wont having any grazing.

I would probably live with it if it is only short term if you are happy otherwise but I would not be impressed !!
Click to expand...

Thank you Meesha for being understanding...

There are 5 acres/ 3 fields that are fenced and gated, the horses rotate throughout the year...When the others moved off we were given 1 field away from the field shelter/automatic water and still pay full rent... I just wanted advice and thats just what you've given me...
 
leanda said:
Gosh you are very rude aren't you...
Click to expand...

Nope.

leanda said:
There are 5 acres/ 3 fields that are fenced and gated, the horses rotate throughout the year...
Click to expand...

So you do normally use the field without a 'shelter' then.:rolleyes:

You pay for grass livery, you still had grass livery. I'll put money on there being shelter albeit natural (hedges/trees/hill). As for being 'denied' running water, we are talking about a hose pipe connector (£2 tops).

I guess you can't reason with stupid, so I'm going to give up trying now.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top