Gingernags
Well-Known Member
Have put in my notice at my current yard.
Its lovely in that its quiet, good grazing, no-one really knows the horses are there. BUT there are only 4 stables, my sister has taken her 2 horses away so I have only my mare and 12 week old foal there. I have no control when they advertise the stables about who comes to the yard, if anyone.
I had the chance of a yard about 2 miles down the road which is busier but I'll get a trash paddock of my own for winter, they only keep in if the fields get really wet - which I'd have done at current yard anyway - but he'll have a yearling and some ponies for company when he's weaned.
There are compromises, for the sake of company and a school for me when the mare is back in work, and better hacking - it is busier, near a walkway visitors centre, people know you are there. The grazing isn't as good but its what I'd say is proper, sparser horse grazing - not the lush stuff I have now where I have to watch like a hawk for lammi. I'm not opposed to supplementing feed/forage more as necessary rather than having to battle too much grass.
But company for weaning and teaching him herd behaviour is surely more important? We had issues with my sisters youngster as she was there with just my mare and her mother (the dominant mare) and she got very bolshy with no herd to discipline her.
The owners where I am are lovely, lovely people - but know nothing about horses - whereas moving - there are other liveries who will be handy in emergencies etc.
I just couldn't risk, come weaning time, having to leave him all on his own on a deserted yard with no equine company at all, I think that would have been cruel. Where I'm moving to, I'll also be able to ride out on the mare, no roads involved, with OH leadning the little one to get him to see the world, which is exactly what we did with her 16 years ago!
I'm just wobbling about moving them somewhere strange and busier from being on my own. I know it'll be better but it was horrible telling YO. I'm sure I'll look back next year and he'll be playing with the ponies, I'll be out riding all summer with my friend there, and it'll all be great, its just a bit daunting now!
Its lovely in that its quiet, good grazing, no-one really knows the horses are there. BUT there are only 4 stables, my sister has taken her 2 horses away so I have only my mare and 12 week old foal there. I have no control when they advertise the stables about who comes to the yard, if anyone.
I had the chance of a yard about 2 miles down the road which is busier but I'll get a trash paddock of my own for winter, they only keep in if the fields get really wet - which I'd have done at current yard anyway - but he'll have a yearling and some ponies for company when he's weaned.
There are compromises, for the sake of company and a school for me when the mare is back in work, and better hacking - it is busier, near a walkway visitors centre, people know you are there. The grazing isn't as good but its what I'd say is proper, sparser horse grazing - not the lush stuff I have now where I have to watch like a hawk for lammi. I'm not opposed to supplementing feed/forage more as necessary rather than having to battle too much grass.
But company for weaning and teaching him herd behaviour is surely more important? We had issues with my sisters youngster as she was there with just my mare and her mother (the dominant mare) and she got very bolshy with no herd to discipline her.
The owners where I am are lovely, lovely people - but know nothing about horses - whereas moving - there are other liveries who will be handy in emergencies etc.
I just couldn't risk, come weaning time, having to leave him all on his own on a deserted yard with no equine company at all, I think that would have been cruel. Where I'm moving to, I'll also be able to ride out on the mare, no roads involved, with OH leadning the little one to get him to see the world, which is exactly what we did with her 16 years ago!
I'm just wobbling about moving them somewhere strange and busier from being on my own. I know it'll be better but it was horrible telling YO. I'm sure I'll look back next year and he'll be playing with the ponies, I'll be out riding all summer with my friend there, and it'll all be great, its just a bit daunting now!
