Calling full livery people - getting to grips with the concept/routine

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Chunky_Monkey

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Hi all

I moved Archie to full livery about a month ago (been on DIY since I had him 5 years ago), and we've both been finding it a bit hard to settle into our new lives and routines.

My question today is about riding. Archie is insulin resistant and has metabolic syndrome, so, ideally, he should be ridden regularly to keep him healthy and keep his weight down.....but I've barely ridden since we moved (firstly, because I wanted to give him a little time to settle at the new yard, and, secondly, because I've been working long, stressful hours and haven't had the time or been in the right frame of mind to ride - the main reason I moved him to full livery, so he could have a good routine not affected by my mental job!)

So, I'm currently trying to get him back into work, but I'm finding it hard to fit in riding around his full livery routine! My 'normal' working hours are 8am - 3.30pm (if I'm lucky
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!), which means that I can get to the yard by 4pm. Unfortunately, this is about the time the horses are brought in for the night. Now.....Archie comes in absolutely starving (cos he's a fattie, he's out on a pretty bare paddock during the day), and he frantically attacks his haylege/feed like it's his last meal!

Now, call me soft if you want, but I don't want to turn into the 'baddy' who drags him away from his haylege to be ridden when he's soooo hungry. I already make sure I don't just turn up and ride him every time I see him - I also go to see him just for a cuddle and a munch some days.

So, I could wait until he's chilled out and calmed down with his eating a bit.....but then, cos he's on full livery, there's nothing for me to do while I wait! Also, it's a slightly odd set-up, cos the yard is actually a retirement livery, and, once the horses are in for the night, the yard is deserted (there are only a couple of us with horses still being ridden)...so not only is there nothing for me to do, but there's also no-one to talk to
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!

I've spoken to the YO to see if he can have some hay in the paddock during the day, so he doesnt come in too hungry, and we're going to try that out. If that doesn't work, then I might be able to negotiate with my boss to change my working hours to either go see Archie in the morning before work, or take a couple of hours off work midday and go to yard then. The other alternative would be to go to the yard late evening (7.30 - 8ish) to ride then, but there is no-one about at all, so that would be a bit creepy, and I'm not sure I want to ride when I'm completely alone on the yard (careful old fogey that I am!).

I am starting to get used to the concept of full livery, but there are little issues like this that I need to work through.......can any other full livery people tell me how they manage it?

Tracey x
 
I have just moved George onto full livery mon-fri and I must say I'm loving not having to muck out! I do still make George's feeds up - because I love doing that job! At the moment the horses come in when it gets dark and I get up the yard about 5.30, I give G a groom and make a fuss of him whilst he munches on his hay (he lives to eat!!), I then ride him for about 40mins in the week. I then tie him up with his haynet, give him a quick brush, sort out rugs and then he has his tea. He certainly seems to be settling and doesn't mind being dragged away to be ridden - but then he's not on a starvation paddock - sorry not much help am I??
 
My advice would be to ask for him to be brought in first at 3 and be given his dinner then, by the time you get there at 4 and have groomed, tacked up etc then he'll be ready to be ridden!! Or if you don't want him in an hour earlier, have them give him a net at about 3 in the field... same out come!!
You'll get used to it, don't worry!
 
I do know what you mean - I had two of mine at full livery in Solihull when I was working away from home and it was a very odd feeling when you have been used to doing all the jobs yourself. I used to turn up (late) in the evening and the yard would be dark and they were all eating their hay - no lights in the school so I couldnt ride and as the owner did not have a house at the yard I always felt they didnt like me messing around there on my own at night. So I used to say hello, give them a pat and then go home again !
The feeding in the field idea before you ride sounds like a good one and the YO must be OK if she is considering it. Good luck
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I'd just ride at 4pm, waiting another hour for his grub won't hurt him, lucky you to be able to finish at that time!!! At the end of the day our horses get pampered for 23h of the day, it's not to much to expect of them to work for 1 hour at a time suitable to us!
 
Hi Trish...I'm glad you answered, cos I've been reading about you moving George to full livery recently, so I feel like we are sharing the same experience!
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I have been tempted to PM you, but thought it was a bit cheeky, as I don't even know you!

I guess I could just stay late at work (I'm sure my boss wouldn't mind in the slightest, and I have plenty to do!) and get to the yard later, at about 6.30ish. He would have had a couple of hours of eating by then, bless him. The trouble is that it's a b*tch of a journey during rush-hour and it can take me more than an hour to do the 12 miles to the yard.

Tracey x
 
Hi Ifield - the problem is that the YO has the horses on a very strict routine (which is great for the horses!).....they come in in pairs, with their paddock-mate, and each pair of horses comes in by paddock order (she has approx 50 horses to see to
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). The routine works so well (except if you want to ride your horse, that is!) that I don't want to mess with the system.

The YO is happy to feed a net each to Archie and his pal in their field shelter, so that might be the solution.

Thanks for your advice - I'm sure I'll get used to it.......I'm already enjoying the lie-ins and occasional evenings off...I'm getting married next April and it's lovely to be able to plan everything without worrying about making arrangements for Archie to be looked after as well.

Tracey x
 
Hi cobden....the YO is great, very open to suggestions and only ever wants what's best for the horses, but she does have a big yard and lots of horses to take care of, so I sometimes feel a bit guilty about asking her to change her routine just to suit me (not that she's ever said anything to me, I just don't want to be too much of an inconvenience
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)

My YO lives on-site, so I do feel like I'm intruding a bit when I turn up at the yard and switch every light on, making a racket! But then she really doesn't mind me going 'after hours'.......I think I need to get over myself and get a grip, don't I!
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Tracey x
 
Christ your YO is very organised!! That's great for your horse though! Ours, although in a routine, isn't as strict as that and individual needs are catered for. I'd try him having the net and see how you go.
Don't be worried about your horse thinking you are the bad one that only comes to ride, my horse knows who his mum is even if I'm not the one that feeds him! He's been on full Mon-Fri for about 4 years, maybe a little longer.
 
The trouble is that I know he'll be a total pig to ride when he's so hungry and in a strop like that, and the whole session will be wasted with a battle of wills! Been there, got the T-shirt
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I know I'm a softy, but I don't want to be the person he dreads seeing (I was already thinking that might happen when he went onto full livery). If I just turn up every night, drag him away from his feed when he's so hungry, and then work him, he's going to go off me pretty sharpish! I really didn't want to be that kind of owner.....I am only a leisure rider, happy hacking mostly, and my relationship with Archie is as important to me as is riding him. Drippy or what!?!?
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Tracey x
 
Hi stacey.....YO is going to 'trial' feeding him some hay in the paddock (well, actually, it'll be soft straw, which he already has overnight to supplement his haylege - he's on a permanent diet, a bit like me!
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)

We'll see how that goes. Fingers crossed! Hopefully he'll come in in a better mood, and not ready to eat anything put in his way!

Tracey x
 
She is VERY organised. She is more than happy to cater for individual needs, but she does have a monumental task on her hands, which she does brilliantly. It really is the best run yard I've ever seen, the horses are all so chilled out and well cared for. We'll see how we get on with the day-time net, hopefully that will take the edge of his appetite.

I think the "my horse will hate me cos I'm not feeding him" phase has passed, he's still always glad to see me even if I don't get to the yard for a couple of days running, and we both enjoy our "munch and cuddle" sessions. I do really like him being on full-livery, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it more once I get more used to it
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.

Tracey x
 
Hi

It is very difficult when you change to full livery. I used to fell completely out of place when I was there as if I was in the way. But this was deffinitely my proplem not there's. It took a few months to settle in and feel confortable not doing everything for my horse. I tend to ride in evening because it fits in best for me. I am usually the only one there except one member of staff who lives on site. No one minds my odd hours and I am sure your YO won't if you choose to ride in the evening. As for riding at four I would just ride and let him eat later. If you ever want to chat more just PM me.
 
ride him before his tea....he'll soon get the idea after a day or two.

don't pander him..he hasn't a clue that "oh, its 4 oclock, she'll be here in a minute, and i'm going to be a git because i haven't had my tea"!!
 
Hi eddy16, thanks for that. It is hard changing your thinking from DIY to full livery, I agree! Like you say, the issues are all mine and not the YO - she is more than happy for me to go to the yard at whatever time I like (within reason!) as long as I let her know if I'm going to be very late (as she lives on-site).

I know Archie will be a complete pig to ride the first couple of times I drag him off his haynet, but he'd get used to the new routine, I'm sure. And I suppose, looking it at it from a whole different angle, coming back to his haynet AFTER being ridden could be his 'reward'!

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Tracey x
 
Hi JM07 - you haven't been introduced to Archie have you!
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LOL!

No, I agree, he will get used to whatever routine he has (he has a strict "two day rule" with changes to his routine....he's a pain in the ass for two days, then he settles right into it, like it has never happened!

I just need to bite the bullet and get on with it, I think!

We also have a horsewalker on the yard....I can see that being put to use pretty soon.

Tracey x
 
Wow. You ask him to behave when you ride him 1 hour out of 24 and he doesn't want to! Perhaps only put in a tiny amount of haylege and ride him when he has finished it. Then give him the remainder of his haylege when you have ridden. They don't have enormous brains, and he will probably think he has eaten the whole lot before you ride.
 
Easy, only give him hay when he comes in or a handful of hard feed. I bring mine in and let then eat hay while I groom/tack up and get ready myself. I then ride and give the tea after wards as long as he is cool and chilled. He'll soon get used to it and will still love you as you feed him trea after wards everytime you ride!

Although mine is DIY the yard feed and turn out in the morning and I bring in around 3-4pm so not much difference to your rountine.
 
I agree he will get used to the routine - when my mare was at livery the routine was very set but the YO would, if I asked, give her a small mouthful of her feed so she could have the rest after I had ridden.

When I brought my mare home, in the winter I used to ride her before her breakfast, which always made me feel really guilty as I had probably had mine! However, she didn't mind at all and once we got out it was business as usual, just a little quicker on the way home!

Your YO sounds very accommodating and I am sure you will sort your routine out. I quite understand about your relationship with your horse - I am very much the same! Good Luck!
 
He's not that bad, really....I hope I haven't made him sound like a complete spoiled brat of a horse! He's not at all, I just feel quite sorry for him when he's obviously so hungry.

Hopefully, having something to nibble at in the daytime will help with that though.

Tracey x
 
He doesn't have hard feed as such, just a handful of HiFi Lite and a mug of balancer to mix his supplements in. His feed is mainly haylege. So he could have his feed before or after being ridden, really.

Tracey x
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'd just ride at 4pm, waiting another hour for his grub won't hurt him, lucky you to be able to finish at that time!!! At the end of the day our horses get pampered for 23h of the day, it's not to much to expect of them to work for 1 hour at a time suitable to us!

[/ QUOTE ]

Whole heartedly agree with this!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd just ride at 4pm, waiting another hour for his grub won't hurt him, lucky you to be able to finish at that time!!! At the end of the day our horses get pampered for 23h of the day, it's not to much to expect of them to work for 1 hour at a time suitable to us!

[/ QUOTE ]

Whole heartedly agree with this!

[/ QUOTE ]

DITTO
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Change your thinking? For example:
Poor thing, if you don't ride just imagine how bored he is with standing in by midnight

Or think how pleased he is, on returning to the stable after work to be greeted by all that hay - he's forgotten by then that he was taken away from it, you are taking him back to it
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