Arrggghhh rant :(

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acw295

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Just need to vent this out.

I'm on a basic DIY yard, herd ternout etc. Very few rules, generally a nice place and we are very content. But this has got my goat. We have an established herd of 8 mares inour field, new mare came recently and has been in individual paddock for a couple of weeks as is the norm in case of infections and to get worm count done (we're on a strict worm count programme).

It's frozen solid here, hay is being out put in the fields (we don't normally do this). The ground is totally rutted from all the wet weather (mud was knee deep as we are on clay) and now frozen snow/ice on top. YO has decided that tomorrow the new mare can go out with the herd.

I can't understand why they can't wait a bit longer - the idea of them all charging about in the lethal conditions and also with the potential for squabble over hay. Sounds like a recipe for injury :(

I'm not normally precious about things - in herds they have to sort things out and a few war wounds are inevitable. But seriously, why do they have to introduce new mare now, when conditions are so poor. Surely it wouldn't hurt to wait until conditions are better?!

My mare only just recovered from a splint fracture - I'm probably going to keep her in until the dust has settled as I just feel sick at the thought...I'd rather they did all the running around on the first day without her tbh.

Is it just me or does this just smack of poor judgement?
 
It does sound a bit silly as they won't have grass to take their mind off the newcomer. Have they been able to get to know her over the fence? Perhaps something new is coming in that needs the isolation field?
 
Just do what I do if a new one is being introduced at a time when you're not happy for various reasons, I remove mine for a few hours and ride or stable them until the excitement has died down.
 
I see that your options are;

firstly discuss with y/o, express you concerns... could she be looking at it from the other way round, the field isn't knee deep in mud so less chance of serious injury?

Ask new mare owner her views

Discuss with other owners, is someone going to be there all day to keep a close eye?

If you are worried about you mare's leg then keep her in, or boot her up?

New mare is going to have to be introduced at some point, you can't wait until spring so have someone there keeping an eye and stick support boots on your mare.

Also make sure there is at least 10 or 12 piles of hay, so everyone has their own to munch on.
 
Nothing new coming, we are now full again.

I've never seen our fields so bad (in 4 years), the ruts are so deep and its like a skating rink on top.

Trouble is, with them doing it on a Friday when I'm at work it will mean mine staying tonight, all day tomorrow and Friday night - and I can't ride as we are literally frozen solid (we don't have a proper school and the access to the hacking is via a 1 mile lane that is sheet ice).

But yes, keeping in for 36 hrs is what I'll have to do. Trouble is I think most of the other mare owners are going to do the same now, so actually it'll just mean the new one out on her own and all ours in. Hey ho. We can't all do that until the thaw though.....

The isolation paddock is isolated - no touching over fence so they haven't "met"

I just can't believe they can't understand our concerns. If it was just muddy and wet I wouldn't worry. But 8 mares plus a newbie in less than 4 acres, frozen solid with piles of hay = potential disaster.
 
It appears that your fellow liveries share your concerns so, in your shoes, I would be having a chat with the YO to ask if an area of the field could be paddocked off first for the newbie so the horses can all become acquainted more safely.
 
Buds_mum said:
I see that your options are;

Discuss with other owners, is someone going to be there all day to keep a close eye?

Also make sure there is at least 10 or 12 piles of hay, so everyone has their own to munch on.
Click to expand...

Sadly no-one will be there, we all work and we've had no notice so can't take time off. If it were the weekend it would be easier as I would be there. The yard put out the hay, we aren't allowed to do it, there will be plenty of piles but they are still quite close together and the established herd includes some very bossy characters. No nasty mares but they are prone to extreme silliness.

We've introduced new horses before, usually I don't stress - but the ground conditions are just hideous :( I never keep in normally but even without the new mare I've considered it as my mare really not happy on the ruts - keep thinking she's lame (but she's not its just very hard to walk on)
 
What does the owner of the new horse think? I don't think I'd be wanting my ponies to go into an established herd in those conditions, either!
 
Flummoxed said:
It appears that your fellow liveries share your concerns so, in your shoes, I would be having a chat with the YO to ask if an area of the field could be paddocked off first for the newbie so the horses can all become acquainted more safely.
Click to expand...

This.

and to be honest if you are all keeping your mares in then surely you are all thinking the same thing so you should all speak to the YO together and say you are not happy with the arrangement.
 
Sounds like an accident waiting to happen, id just keep mine in if the yo wont listen to reason ....... This sort of thing is why i am so glad im not on a livery yard, i hope you get something sorted out
 
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