Are you a 5 star home?

[blitznbobs]

Isn't this a bit like saying in a dating ad 'good sense of humour'? I can't imagine anyone saying to a potential vendor

'Nah, we're only a 2 star home'

Does anyone think that they wouldn't give a horse a 5 star (or even 10 star home)?

 

[Red-1]

I think I give them a fair deal. I think I try to make things better for them.

However, I'm sure other people could do more/better. My set up does have some disadvantages. I only go so far.

On balance, I would say I am a 4 star home!

ETA - I suspect Goldenstar gives them a 5 star home!

 

[PoniesRock]

I think it partly depends on the horse. I would not be a 5 star home to a horse who wanted to be out competing or thrived on school work. I also wouldn’t be able to provide a 5 star home to horses who aren’t happy to be stabled in the winter.

However - I hope my own horses agree! - that they have a 5 star home with me. One is a hunter and the other is a glorified happy hacker who does a bit of this and a bit of that as and when we fancy. So hacking across the bridleways/country lanes/hunting ect is much more their kinda thing. They are both spoilt rotten, and I like to think have a fabulous life but that’s because they enjoy the same things as me.

 

[MissTyc]

Interesting question!

I can give a horse a 10 star home, but not "any old horse" ... I run a herd of good doers, mostly natives though not all, on very poor grazing with supplementary hay only from October to March, if they're lucky! They need to be good doers, they can't be shod, they need to be friendly with one another. It's the absolute dream life for the horses we have but I know it would be a total nightmare for some horses (and owners!).

ETA: some are hackers, some compete (including mine), some hunt, some do nothing ... They all look fantastic and are happy horses.

 

[SO1]

I don't offer a 5* home as we don't have 24/7' turnout on our yard. We do have daily all year turnout.

If my pony has to be PTS then I probably won't get another as too hard to find 24/7 turnout that is also part livery which I need due to the hours I work and family commitments.

 

[nagblagger]

I offer 3 star - grass, (hay) water and shelter! Horses probably think 5 star, that's all they need mooching around 24/7, however humans would only rate it about 1 star as no real facilities for them, indoor/ outdoor school, only 1 emergency stable etc.

 

[ameeyal]

I think I give a 10* home ?. mine live as a herd on a grass track in the summer, big field in the winter, they have a large barn to come into with haylage on tap, and a large separate sleeping area that is very cool in the summer, they have brushes to scratch on, a water sprayer in really hot weather, I bring them in to stables in the morning for their breakfasts, that’s when I ride as well, then they get turned back out again, I never get any injuries from them, and they are all so chilled out.

 

[J&S]

I would say mine (15 yrs and 25 yrs) get 5 star attention to detail but only 3 star living arrangements in the fact that they live on just about 2 acres, I would dearly love them to have more space. This also means stabling at night over winter but they can come and go as they like in spring,summer and autumn providing its not too wet. They get fed very good hay to supplement meagre grazing, get exercised 4 times a week, water changed regularly, farrier comes regularly, vet when needed. They seem happy enough to me! This would not suit any larger, more athletic horse nor would it be suitable for youngstock. It might well suit minis but i don't want one, mine are mature ladies, know how to behave, are not escape artists and are 13 hh and 15 hh so not too large.

 

[PurBee]

My place offers amazing views of the entire milky way on a clear night…pfffft 5 stars ??

 

[Bobthecob15]

I think its a fairly pointless thing to put on an ad to be honest...unless someone comes up with some sort of grading system ? like most horse things...totally subjective!

 

[scats]

I suppose it depends on your version of 5 stars. My horses have all year turnout/grass- weather not a problem, nice sized stables to come into on winter nights, the best veterinary treatment, regular Chiro to keep them feeling well, a visit from the dentist every 9 months and a personal slave who bends over backwards to give them the best life she can. 5 stars? I’m not sure, but I think they’ve got it pretty good.

 

[SEL]

I suppose it depends on your version of 5 stars. My horses have all year turnout/grass- weather not a problem, nice sized stables to come into on winter nights, the best veterinary treatment, regular Chiro to keep them feeling well, a visit from the dentist every 9 months and a personal slave who bends over backwards to give them the best life she can. 5 stars? I’m not sure, but I think they’ve got it pretty good.

I run a hotel much like yours!

Having discussed the star status mine say 10* should mean unlimited grass. In their dreams...

 

[ponynutz]

In terms of love I'm a 5 star home but I wouldn't say facilities and time wise I am, no.

Think people do tend to think down on themselves though and so people who put that in their ads are possibly losing potential buyers.

 

[rabatsa]

Good home wanted, does anyone admit to being a bad home?

Mine a bit miffed at the number of michelin stars we do not have in the catering department.

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

I think I give a 10* home ?. mine live as a herd on a grass track in the summer, big field in the winter, they have a large barn to come into with haylage on tap, and a large separate sleeping area that is very cool in the summer, they have brushes to scratch on, a water sprayer in really hot weather, I bring them in to stables in the morning for their breakfasts, that’s when I ride as well, then they get turned back out again, I never get any injuries from them, and they are all so chilled out.

This is what I would like have for mine. I think I might have a 4 star home for a native pony, because that's what I'm set up for, they have all year round turn out, friends, food and stables for bad weather or hot weather to escape the flies, something more high maintenance, that doesn't gain weight just by looking at grass would be a faff just because their needs would be different to my others.

 

[windand rain]

Nope not a 5 star home they live out 24 7 365 they are fed every day the get short grass to mooch around so trickle feed. They get all medical care including physio but we Don't have a fancy school or stables or horse walker. Just as natural a life as possible and loads of love within boundaries

 

[Maryann]

I love these threads and read them to see if I can glean any ideas as to how to improve the way I keep my horses.

 

[TPO]

Compared to the squalor and neglect baby Chip came from I think he'd class his home of plentiful forage and care with me as 5* ?

The day he arrived direct from the stud 14 June 2014 vs 6mths later, Dec 2014 (living out), as a 2yr old

 

[SO1]

I think that very few people can honestly say they offer a 5 star home. For me that would mean living out with free range access to a shelter and the appropriate amount of food, company, plus time to be able to make changes depending on the weather at short notice, access to vet care, if ridden then ridden by an excellent rider, with perfect fitting tack and not in the school all the time.

Sadly I fall short of this. I provide a lot of love but it is not adequate. In order to provide a 5 star home I would need to own my own place and be wealthy.

Sometimes I feel I have let my pony down. He does get daily turnout every day but in reality I am not sure it is sufficient. It is far from the perfect rolling country fields of grass and large herd turnout that I know he would love but that would probably give him laminitis.

I did have him living out for 6 years and in some ways it was lovely but a pony came down with really bad laminitis, another was lost to Sycamore poisoning and there was no poo picking so he kept being reinfected with tape worm despite 4 wormers a year, no services so very restricted in terms of jobs I could do as I could not travel for work, had to be able to take time off for farrier and vet and could not work late and incredibly difficult to see my family who didn't live locally as would need to find someone to check he was ok if I couldn't get to yard. I was the only grass livery who checked their horse every day.

I moved him after the Sycamore death as didn't want to risk it even though it was the first death in 15 years and also as vet said he needed to on part livery where the fields were poo picked to prevent the tape worm problems.

For most of us there will be compromises. If you cannot offer the perfect home do you think you should not have a horse?

 

[Caol Ila]

Yes.

Obviously.

Hahahahaha. Like most other people, I am at the mercy of the winds of livery yards.

 

[Red-1]

Compared to the squalor and neglect baby Chip came from I think he'd class his home of plentiful forage and care with me as 5* ?

The day he arrived direct from the stud 14 June 2014 vs 6mths later, Dec 2014 (living out), as a 2yr old

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Well your bedding is certainly 5 star white!!!

 

[fidleyspromise]

Likely not as they get fat on the grass = reduced grazing and one unimpressed pony. I do a mix of paddocks and track system.
They live out 24/7, get vits and mins daily, hooves picked out, access to a shelter, fresh water.
Vet/farrier/dentist/physio/saddler all provided as required.
A small arena on yard that I don't use but amazing hacking on doorstep.
I spend time hanging out with them, grooming and massaging them, providing scratches to one, they get a few odd treats, in hand walks to forage/ride down to beach to play in water.

 

[marmalade76]

I'd say I offer a quiet, relaxed, kind, no pressure home; lovely grazing in old wildflower meadow and former orchard, lots of mature trees & hedges to shade, shelter, browse & scratch on, 12 x 14 stables when needed. Riding consists of mostly hacking with occasional schooling and the odd fun ride or a couple of hours following hounds.

 

[Annagain]

I'm not around 24/7 as they're on DIY livery. They (within reason) have to fit in around my life rather than vice versa. I might go a day without picking out their feet if I'm in a hurry. I don't clean my tack as often as I should. I don't spend hours hand picking out every tiny bit of broken up poo from their bed. Archie is more or less permanently filthy, especially in winter. I don't spend a fortune on rugs, brightly coloured saddlecloths or things that look nice but don't do anything.

But they have plenty of decent grass, 24/7 turnout in summer; out every day in winter in well fenced fields; company; a well-built safe stable, ad lib haylage (in winter) and an owner who loves them to bits and does her best for them (and their friends seeing as I called in on my way home from work last week in sandals hoping to give them a check over the gate only to find my friend's horse with mild colic. I couldn't get hold of her so phoned the vet, stuck my riding boots on without socks and started walking. Vet arrived in half an hour, horse is fine. My feet are ripped to shreds.)

 

[SEL]

@SO1 most of us are making compromises in all areas of our lives. I've got my own place but it's still not perfect plus what horses would LIKE vs what they NEED aren't always the same thing. Mine would currently like to be stuffing themselves on my one rested field that has decent grass despite no rain. That's not happening. My big lad hates wormer, vets and the farrier but has to put his big boy pants on for all 3.

My Appy would like her rugs changed at 3am when the temperature drops and all of them would like some of the sticky, molasses filled veteran mix in their buckets.

I used to live next door to a top competition yard where technically the horses wanted for nothing. Mine are settled with happy faces most of the time - those weren't!

 

[Sealine]

That very much depends on what you call 5*. A friend viewed a horse to buy on a posh yard (solarium, horse walkers, huge arenas) with, what I would consider, poor turnout (small, bare, individual turn out paddocks). She told us the horse hadn't been out that day because it had rained. This was in May! The owner had let 6 people view the horse and then asked for photos of the yard the horse would be going to and then picked who to sell to. The livery yard we are at isn't smart and doesn't have great facilities but it is safe, tidy and we have excellent turnout in single sex herds. Friend sent the yard photos and we weren't the slightest bit surprised to find out a few days later the horse was sold to someone else. I don't think the photos prove anything as she could have sent photos of another yard and/or move the horse to a different yard next week. Personally I'd choose a new home based on the person's experience, suitability for the horse I'm selling and approach to horse care rather than the facilities they can afford to provide. At the time my friend said to me 'This feels too much like internet dating and you know how good I am at that!'

 

[exracehorse]

I give my horses a five star home. Love. Attention. Food. Stable. But the actual yard is probably a 1 star. Would have terrible reviews on trip advisor. It’s all held together with bale twine ?

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I have no idea exactly what a 5 star home is. I suspect that the Queens various stables that I saw a few days ago are 5 star, Christ, I'd move in tomorrow. In reality I think it's just a saying that means you'll love your horses & provide the best for your horses. Quality stables, individual turn out paddocks, quality arena with good surface, jumps & poles, horse shower, access to quality haylage & feed them & exercise them regularly. Feet picked out prior to going out & likewise when they come in. Regular grooming & regular cleaning of tack so no dirty bit goes in their mouth & all tack is clean & soft.