LaurenBay
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
Really need some advice regarding field management.
I've had my mare on grass livery nearby since May, she is very settled and content, she had arthritis and the 24/7 turnout has helped her in regards to pain management. So keen to keep 24/7 turnout.
When looking back in May, there was literally nothing around, or retirement livery which was far too expensive for me (£300 per month) I currently pay £108 per month, this includes 1 daily check (myself and another owner go around 5 times a week also)
The lady who runs the field has now told me she doesn't want it anymore.
So my choices are take over the field myself or move - the field is £200 per month for one 5 acre field and one 1 acre field. I have discussed this with the other livery and she is happy to go halves with me. There is a 3rd Horse also, the owner doesn't come up but does pay her bill on time. So bearing in mind we would have to take over checking this Horse (to be fair the Horse is very easy to do and very laid back so can't see her causing me an issue) the problem we have is winter checking, both myself and other livery work very long hours and it will be hard for us to check them in the dark. However could use the 3rd ladies money to pay someone to check? weekends aren't a problem for us, only during week. I'm not sure we could find someone to check them, money obviously won't be great as not many jobs to do as such as it will just be straightening rugs, picking hooves and checking them over for injury. So first question, does anyone have a similar set up to this? how much do you pay the person? Automatic water feeders in both fields so nothing to do there either.
Poo picking:
Currently field is harrowed so no poo picking to do. The problem is, neither of us have a car suitable for towing, another thing is we don't have a harrow. So we either poo pick, which could be very hard in winter (potential job for groom though) Or we find someone to harrow for us. Does anyone pay another to harrow their fields?
I don't want to move her if i ca help it as the location is perfect, field is great with fab post and rail fencing, lots of natural shelter, farmer is lovely (he tops the fields for us) the 3 Horses are very content, none cause any issues and they are such a happy little herd.
Any other options I haven't thought of? I've only ever been on DIY with stable so field management is new to me, would the 6 acres even be enough for the 3 all year round? I have electric fencing and energizer already so we could look at sectioning off bits to let parts rest.
Really need some advice regarding field management.
I've had my mare on grass livery nearby since May, she is very settled and content, she had arthritis and the 24/7 turnout has helped her in regards to pain management. So keen to keep 24/7 turnout.
When looking back in May, there was literally nothing around, or retirement livery which was far too expensive for me (£300 per month) I currently pay £108 per month, this includes 1 daily check (myself and another owner go around 5 times a week also)
The lady who runs the field has now told me she doesn't want it anymore.
So my choices are take over the field myself or move - the field is £200 per month for one 5 acre field and one 1 acre field. I have discussed this with the other livery and she is happy to go halves with me. There is a 3rd Horse also, the owner doesn't come up but does pay her bill on time. So bearing in mind we would have to take over checking this Horse (to be fair the Horse is very easy to do and very laid back so can't see her causing me an issue) the problem we have is winter checking, both myself and other livery work very long hours and it will be hard for us to check them in the dark. However could use the 3rd ladies money to pay someone to check? weekends aren't a problem for us, only during week. I'm not sure we could find someone to check them, money obviously won't be great as not many jobs to do as such as it will just be straightening rugs, picking hooves and checking them over for injury. So first question, does anyone have a similar set up to this? how much do you pay the person? Automatic water feeders in both fields so nothing to do there either.
Poo picking:
Currently field is harrowed so no poo picking to do. The problem is, neither of us have a car suitable for towing, another thing is we don't have a harrow. So we either poo pick, which could be very hard in winter (potential job for groom though) Or we find someone to harrow for us. Does anyone pay another to harrow their fields?
I don't want to move her if i ca help it as the location is perfect, field is great with fab post and rail fencing, lots of natural shelter, farmer is lovely (he tops the fields for us) the 3 Horses are very content, none cause any issues and they are such a happy little herd.
Any other options I haven't thought of? I've only ever been on DIY with stable so field management is new to me, would the 6 acres even be enough for the 3 all year round? I have electric fencing and energizer already so we could look at sectioning off bits to let parts rest.