Anyone else really struggling?

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AWinter

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I suppose I'm just looking for support/solidarity that other people are at the end of their tether with this wet winter?

Not helped by the fact we lost our dream yard we were renting last summer and have had to move to very small acreage in a place that my horses find quite unsettling. I have now been looking for 8 months and come up with absolutely nothing, its hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel.

It is so wet and our acreage is so small that my horses have been living 22hrs a day on our 10 x 15m hardstanding, with turnout onto the grazing twice a day. Even with this restriction it is so waterlogged the field is a boggy mess. Even the parts where the horses haven't been on yet are soggy, it just takes one trot/canter and there are huge divots in it. The forecast looks like rain for the forseeable future.

I just feel so trapped and guilty that my horses have gone from their dream life to....this. And no matter how hard I try I cannot find anywhere else to go that would be better. Renting land in this area is seemingly impossible and I don't know what to do. On top of that everyone else seems to plenty of land that just isn't that muddy.

Please tell me some of you are also struggling?
 
Most people I know are either keeping in, turning out in pens or continuing to turn out on fields that are too wet.

My fields are sandy soil but I can tell how wet they are. There are only 2 unshod horses going up and down the walkway and it’s slippy and greasy. I strongly suspect you are in the majority.

If they’re well fed and rugged accordingly I really would try not to stress. Nothing we do with them is natural anyway.
 
This is the most i've had to keep mine in since we moved here ten years ago. I've got a hardstanding area in front of the barn but having to use the summer paddocks as well as the Winter field mainly because one of mine has no respect for electric fencing and keeps getting himself into the boggy area which is sectioned off for that reason and then can't get out until I rescue him. Even had new wooden posts put in and he still got through! Last Winter was so easy with it being so dry but of course it makes it worse with the hay situation as well. At least the days are drawing out and Spring will soon be here. I have thought how nice it would be to just have one horse though or maybe even none!
 
smolmaus said:
Hardstanding is a life saver.

I don't know where you're looking but this isn't what I'm seeing! It's horses kept in, on hard standing, or the fields are ruined. Nobody is happy.
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I’m just being dramatic because I’ve got a friend down south with 8 horses out 24/7 on sandy soil and her fields are just fine.

Went to a livery yard here last week and their fields are also huge and fine but they are being kept in for days on end which I just won’t do to my horses. At least here they are always together and free to potter and eat their hay.

I’m just really struggling to cope after losing the other place, having no choice but to come here, horses have really struggled with the move and haven’t settled here and now just this relentless wet 😩. Desperately need to find somewhere else before next winter but I feel like I’ve already exhausted every avenue.
 
Keep asking around and advertising. Sometimes things come up. We were about to have to move ours hours away to a friend’s having found
nothing suitable earlier. Then the people across the road gave in their notice and moved. So now I have 15 acres to move to in March. Phew!

I don’t regret giving up the place we had before this though - in this weather we would have had to have them in pretty much 22/7, with two hours of exercise a day. It was bad enough last winter that they refused to go out at all other than in the driest small field by Feb, and I had to move most of them to temporary accommodation elsewhere.
 
I don’t usually get the winter blues but this year has gotten to me.

We are now on week 3 of strong wind and rain. (35-55 mph winds, non stop)
It feels a lot better at 4 degrees today rather than 1 degree earlier in the week.

The horses field is awful now but I think I would be ok with just the horses. Working outside in a draughty, cold, damp shed is starting to get me down. It’s exhausting and I’m struggling to motivate myself for anything at the moment.
The guilt for the state of the field for the horses doesn’t help and then I also feel bad for having them standing in for longer at nights, although they don’t seem to be put out at this.
 
Where Coblet and Standie are is on a welsh hill side and even the fields there are sodden, churned up and resembling mud soup around the gates, haybar and fence lines. There is a hard-standing area and open barn which 4 of them "live in" currently and basically just mooch around a round bale and scatterred haynets in an area measuring approx 10m x 10m. Coblet is on his own in his own 6m x 6m yard and his open stable and he goes out 5-6 hours a day into a small field which is also resembling mud soup!

Between FT work, family life and other committments I've managed to ride twice in the past week, and have a short 4 hour window this afternoon (half day at work) when I realistically could but after Poo picking, mucking out stable, stuffing haynets, feeding, water topping up, I cant be 100% I'll have the momentum for hosing legs, tacking up in the mud and riding, when its raining now and forecast to carry on all day.
Defo struggling here too.
 
Mine are still on daily turnout, only til 1.30 now but still 7 hours though. They were out longer until it turned really wet after Xmas. Was hoping with the lighter nights they could stay out longer but can't yet.
 
You are definitely not alone, in 50+ years of having horses I cannot remember a winter like it. First we got deep snow and now rain, constant rain, everyday it has rained and we are on to week 5, my fields are standing water and they are saying the weather pattern will not change for the next 7-10 days. I am so sick and tired of it all, it's meant to be a hobby but there is nothing enjoyable about it just now, yeah winter will pass but winter weather has changed so much, I just can't cope with the endless dull wet miserable conditions.
My horses are so lucky to have access to a decent sized old cattle barn and are choosing to stay in rather than going out.
 
In that situation I would honestly just give myself the winter off.

I’d look for full grass livery in an area of the country where the ground is well draining.
 
I always think that February is the hardest to get through. I struggle with the damp and the mud and the unrelenting yuk. My joints are sore and I am fed up of full barrows of muck each morning. Our fields look poor, and the gateway is not great (thank goodness for mud slabs!) but we have low density on our side and there must be grass as mine is holding weight. Further out in the field it is soft but not very muddy. I could definitely do without the puddles/mini-lakes, which are mid-calf and full width of the track. Bringing in 3 last night got me absolutely soaked and it is quite 'fragrant' water...

There have been a few winters recently that have been similarly wet and at least December was cold and dry where I am.

We never have had to keep in on my yard, which is a relief. I do worry about hay, but the reseeded fields at ours and rested ones at the farm next door seem to be coming through quite strongly so far.
 
My fields usually drain really well but have all now got ponds on any lower lying ground. I have given up worrying about the state of them. On the wet and windy days the horses are only getting out for 4 hours or so and spend 2 of those waiting by the gate to come back in.

The rain has been relentless so far and doesn't show much sign of stopping but the horses all seem quite content.
 
ihatework said:
In that situation I would honestly just give myself the winter off.

I’d look for full grass livery in an area of the country where the ground is well draining.
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Can’t do anything like that as one of they both need to be carefully managed on grass, I’ve even looked at the track liveries but none of them are suitable and honestly out of budget.
 
Our field is sloped so drains well but is still boggy and the gateway is awful.

Horse has decided he would like to hibernate now, despite friends, plenty of grass and hay, and lots of shelter.
Unless I want to fly a 17h angry kite back inside, or deal with injuries, he gets his wish and now has reduced turn out. He is very content with this.

You are doing your best. Don’t be so hard on yourself! It will soon be spring and we can all have a bit of a breather
 
Today it’s the wind which has wound me up, why does everything take longer in the wind? Fields are very muddy bogs so if they go out it’s for 2 hours just to reset the day but they are always pleased to come in.
 
Mine has no interest in leaving her hardstanding. She has access to a sacrificed bit of grass but that’s become totally churned up now.
The place is a mess and there’s loads to be done. Her companion (neighbours old pony) was put down before Xmass so she’s on her own at the moment and coping fine but the guilt is never ending.
 
I am extremely lucky that my wonderful yard owner is quite flexible about what we want to do regarding our horses x

Even with the above, and having grazing to swap mine onto (I do smaller paddocks within my allocated 3.5 acres that I share with my friend), I'm finding that it's getting muddier than usual quicker and I'm having to swap them around, which means regular moving of the electric fencing x I've noticed putting the posts in is a hell of a lot easier, but it has also lead to some rather interesting ice skating moments - much to the amusement of my friend!

My boys are happy enough to spend a day inside if needed and are usually by the gateway dead on 2.30pm if they are turned out - I've tried leaving them out for longer, but it's not worth the injuries or havoc it causes x

I know it's easy to say but I think every equestrian hates the winter months with a passion - on the upside we are heading towards spring, the nights are drawing out, and hopefully this wet winter will help us all have more hay/haylage etc this year x
 
Really feel for you AWinter but no suggestions I'm afraid other than perhaps try and ride as much as possible to give them some variation. I had to move to a yard with very little turnout as my mare had a hoof abscess and I needed to get her off her muddy field. She was very difficult to treat which didn't help. However, she was fine at the new yard and settled in really well going for occasional turnout in a sand arena plus hand walking/grazing throughout the day. They do adjust but I can see it's not at all ideal for you. I do hope something turns up for you and you start to feel better.
 
It’s not supposed to be a competition as to who can do best! Horses are largely happy if they have food and shelter. Yes it’s great if those who benefit from being out 24/7 can be …but it’s not essential. Years ago working horses of all types survived in a stall with regular food, good grooming and exercise. It might not be ideal or considered correct these days but it still happens. Horses thrive on routine not on wadding through mud or getting bogged down in a field for hours on end. If they have to have restricted grazing or occasional turnout during the winter it’s not the end of everything. Another few weeks and things will improve.
 
estela said:
Really feel for you AWinter but no suggestions I'm afraid other than perhaps try and ride as much as possible to give them some variation. I had to move to a yard with very little turnout as my mare had a hoof abscess and I needed to get her off her muddy field. She was very difficult to treat which didn't help. However, she was fine at the new yard and settled in really well going for occasional turnout in a sand arena plus hand walking/grazing throughout the day. They do adjust but I can see it's not at all ideal for you. I do hope something turns up for you and you start to feel better.
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They’re both retired, they’re basically much-loved family pets. Even if they were in work there is nowhere safe to ride anyway, it’s straight onto a horrible road 🫠

I’m just feeling a bit sorry for myself with everything that’s happened over the last year, but we will plod on. I just wish I could provide them with the environment they deserve. They have hard standing, shelter, rugs, nice soft bedding and all the hay they desire. Hopefully something will come up before next winter.
 
AWinter said:
I’m just being dramatic because I’ve got a friend down south with 8 horses out 24/7 on sandy soil and her fields are just fine.
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She's telling fibs!!!

I have 3 out 24/7 on sandy soil and it's not fine - it's really not fine!!! I've never had a problem with mud, but even my 'it never gets wet' field is struggling. I'm totally done with heaving water through ankle deep slurry type mud. I've not ridden since 1472 and and I think that was the last time I also saw the sun.

We're all in the same boat (pardon the pun). Last night I was trying to work out how to minimise the amount of hay needed between now and when the grass grows back, but I can't even see us being able to close off a field to rest it anytime soon. I think the BHS or similar need to set up a free support line for horse owners in winter.
 
gallopingby said:
It’s not supposed to be a competition as to who can do best! Horses are largely happy if they have food and shelter. Yes it’s great if those who benefit from being out 24/7 can be …but it’s not essential. Years ago working horses of all types survived in a stall with regular food, good grooming and exercise. It might not be ideal or considered correct these days but it still happens. Horses thrive on routine not on wadding through mud or getting bogged down in a field for hours on end. If they have to have restricted grazing or occasional turnout during the winter it’s not the end of everything. Another few weeks and things will improve.
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I keep being told the long range forecast doesn’t look like it’s going to dry up at all 😩
 
dorsetladette said:
She's telling fibs!!!

I have 3 out 24/7 on sandy soil and it's not fine - it's really not fine!!! I've never had a problem with mud, but even my 'it never gets wet' field is struggling. I'm totally done with heaving water through ankle deep slurry type mud. I've not ridden since 1472 and and I think that was the last time I also saw the sun.

We're all in the same boat (pardon the pun). Last night I was trying to work out how to minimise the amount of hay needed between now and when the grass grows back, but I can't even see us being able to close off a field to rest it anytime soon. I think the BHS or similar need to set up a free support line for horse owners in winter.
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I promise she’s not I’ve seen the fields 😅, just plenty of well draining land.
 
AWinter said:
I promise she’s not I’ve seen the fields 😅, just plenty of well draining land.
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Can you chuck yours with hers for a bit? Sandy soil is not great grass growing soil so I'd be less worried about your one that needs managing. Plus if it's a large enough space they'll be getting plenty of exercise. Just a couple of months to give you and the horses a break - worth and ask?
 
dorsetladette said:
Can you chuck yours with hers for a bit? Sandy soil is not great grass growing soil so I'd be less worried about your one that needs managing. Plus if it's a large enough space they'll be getting plenty of exercise. Just a couple of months to give you and the horses a break - worth and ask?
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Unfortunately not she’s 7 hours away and it’s not actually her land she is a livery and they don’t want any more.
 
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