Difficult decision - update

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Scheherezade

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Rightyho, thought I'd continue the saga! It helps to get thoughts down aswell, as this is now giving me sleepless nights!

My horse has been declared as happy & sound to retire, so that's one worry down.

We've been offered a field for £10pw, but no hay in winter, and we'd only be able to visit twice a week max. Could ask friends/family to check on him, but I couldn't rely on them. He's a very good doer, but still - I'm not sure about leaving him to manage on just grass. The place is very sheltered and there are other horses there through winter, so they do manage.

I've also managed to find somewhere close to home, it's grass/full livery - they bring them in to stand and have a bit of hay in the day, and in winter. It's £25pw. Maybe more in winter - I need to check this with the guy I'm seeing tomorrow. The people are very well known, very experienced and understanding of our situation (I am 33 weeks pregnant, OH travels away with work, and I lost my job early on in the pregnancy so am surviving on my £128pw maternity allowance, which will only last until April). Plus they have some lovely hunters they've said I'm welcome to ride and exercise, and after I've had the baby that will be a godsend - being able to get out of the house, as we live in a tiny village miles away from family and friends. I can't ride my horse, but I could take them up on the offer, and I wouldn't feel right going there to exercise their horses, when I've not got mine at the farm.

I can't have him PTS, I want to at least give him a chance, maybe through until spring, see how we are managing. Or I suppose this is the opportunity I've been looking for - I said I couldn't afford to have him close to home on full livery, so this seems like a decent halfway option. I suppose come spring I could then move him to the £10pw field, as he's used to being out 24/7 from March onwards. He was out last winter, but given a small feed and hay during the day.


Ho hum. :(
 
PLEASE no critical replies - I am only trying to do right by him, I'd never allow him to struggle or suffer. I'm just trying to plan in advance.

He's a fatty of a welsh D x Tb, 15.3 and a very good doer.
 
If you can only get to the field twice a week and you can't rely on someone to check him then that would be a non starter for me, mine get checked twice a day minimum, imagine if he'd been stood with a broken leg or colic.

I'd stick with the yard you've been offered.
 
I think that the £25 per week situation sounds ideal - if you can afford it. Good luck with whatever you decide
 
touch - the £10pw is with a riding club, lots of other liveries so there would always be someone to keep an eye on him, but there wouldn't be anyone to feed/hay.

We always said if he couldn't be ridden we'd just retire him to a field for £10. It'd be easier if the place close to home could offer it cheaply through summer - he doesn't need hay or any extra through summer, and then I wouldn't mind paying more in winter. Maybe I'll suggest that when i meet with the guy tomorrow - plus he feeds haylege and that makes my lad explode. But the guy is used to feeding big 18hh hunters, mine will be the smallest on the yard! If I ask for £15 without hay, then I'll pay £25 when they need more, maybe?
 
Sensible and best option is imo local livery for winter,he will be looked after and fed, you can see him when you want and relax with your new baby.
Move him to cheaper field,or somewhere else may turn up,in the spring.
I know I would not be happy to only see a horse twice a week and if we have a winter like last, him having no hay would worry me.
The offer to ride sounds good and i am sure they will be pleased if you can do this whether your horse stays there or not.
 
Yes I agree that the £10pw option is far from ideal in winter.

I assume you have tried to maybe find him a companion home for 6-8 months? You could offer a weekly sum for his hay to make it a good proposal? Just an idea.

What a hard time for you with hubby away and pregnant I do feel for you! Good luck!
 
Scheherezade said:
touch - the £10pw is with a riding club, lots of other liveries so there would always be someone to keep an eye on him, but there wouldn't be anyone to feed/hay.

We always said if he couldn't be ridden we'd just retire him to a field for £10. It'd be easier if the place close to home could offer it cheaply through summer - he doesn't need hay or any extra through summer, and then I wouldn't mind paying more in winter. Maybe I'll suggest that when i meet with the guy tomorrow - plus he feeds haylege and that makes my lad explode. But the guy is used to feeding big 18hh hunters, mine will be the smallest on the yard! If I ask for £15 without hay, then I'll pay £25 when they need more, maybe?
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I'm with you now :) In that case would it be worth trying to get hold of one of the other liveries and asking if they could feed and hay for you for a small payment? Or would all of you clubbing together and leaving large bale hay out ingthe field be an option?
 
I would go with the second option. Remember last winter, we had a foot of snow in December - You don't need any additional stress at a time like this. The £10pw option sounds like one for the spring to me.

Good luck with everything.
 
QR

You're all quite right - the £10pw is an option for better weather, but not now we're approaching winter. I'm meeting up with the local guy tomorrow at 11, so will see what we can arrange, and will report back :)

I asked about leaving out a bale in winter, but he said it's a no go, I honestly don't know what other people do? He didn't say when I text him to ask, just said they can't have hay.

Thanks everyone :) if we can sort out for him to stay local it would be ideal, the chaps who own the farm are lovely, well known and seem to be very helpful and understanding!
 
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