Barefoot planning. Help please.

pistolpete

pistolpete

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My boy will be due back from Rockley early next year if all goes well March time just as the spring grass starts I guess. My dilemma is will our yard be suitable for him? I have a yard where Pete can be brought in when necessary and can be out 24/7 only big worry is the grazing is really good and YO is a bit fond of large horses. Hers are show cobs. What are the best tips and biggest pitfalls. I have access to hay ad lib. I do have a friend with her own three acres with two retired ponies good natural shelter grazing could be controlled there with electric fence but no stable. My only real worry is he is not a fan of being in. I have never kept him in in the daytime and worry he will stress. Lindt balls and turkey sandwiches if you got to here! Thanks in advance for thoughts.
 
Take your lead from whatever recommendations Rockley make for aftercare - think I'd have a long chat with both YO and your friend to see what is possible to do with the facilities to hand. Work your way through everything - you may find that a number of small changes in a few areas may make all the difference and you can get a good regime going between you.
 
Thank-you, really want it to work for us it's daunting dealing with any change eh? This does feel like a big deal. He loves to be out, just wish I could build tracks!
 
We had to make changes due to changes in circumstances - 'tisnt easy at all!
I found that talking it out with a few people was really helpful as they came up with (sometimes blindingly obvious) ideas I hadn't thought of just because I was 'locked' into what I did! Your friends/vets/YO etc. may amaze you with some very creative solutions - mine did.

If it helps, I found making a list of what we needed to do, then looking at how we could do it with what we had helped enormously (for example: a chance half-jokey remark about 'natives doing best on a mountain' led to us re-jigging an existing sand surface as a substitute and now the ponies spend part of their time on it)
 
Going to have to get Y.O. on side a bit more. Or just tell her he had laminitis while away so she takes the cutting down of access to grass seriously! My horse loves his turnout though and I worry about stressing him keeping him in a lot when the grass is growing :(
 
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